Category Archives: Video Games

January 4, 2014

Fighting the Post-Xmas Blues with the PS4

By Joe

Every year it’s the same. The Christmas decorations and merchandise show up in stores in early October, in homes right around Thanksgiving, and everything is pretty festive come December. Then like a rush, it comes and goes and we all settle in for a cold winter (unless you live in a warm climate, in which case I hate you right now) and wait to do it all over again come the fall. I love Christmas, and I’ve talked about that at length in other posts, and whenever it’s over I get the post-Christmas blues. A friend and I used to refer to December 26th as the most depressing day of the year, because it’s the furthest away from Christmas one can be. My adoration for the holiday is not rooted in the fact that I have to wait another year for gifts. Certainly, that was a big part of it as a child, but as an adult I’ve just come to appreciate the season even more and that special connection I have with it via my childhood. Now I appreciate the lead-in to Christmas more than the actual holiday. I like seeing the specials on television, I enjoy having decorations all over my home (I don’t decorate for any other holiday, though my Danzig/Misfits theme could be considered a Halloween one, if it wasn’t year round), and I even kind of like the stupid songs on the radio and in every store.

Whenever Christmas leaves, though, I get the blues. Each year it seems to be slightly worse. This year it took me a good week to shake it though sitting here and thinking about it brings the ache back. The only way to combat the post-Christmas blues is the same today as it was when I was a kid: with new stuff! Namely, the stuff I received for Christmas. As a kid, this worked pretty damn well and while I was bummed Christmas was over I at least had a ton of new action figures, games, and movies plus no school until after New Year’s. As an adult, the material things are less important and less fun (I typically use Christmas as an opportunity to refresh my wardrobe), but this year I did receive a most excellent present: Playstation 4.

I was actually quite proud of myself for not buying the PS4 when it launched. Part of that was I did kind of expect to receive it as a gift from my bride-to-be, but part of it also was me trying to be more financially responsible. I had a Disney World vacation in September to budget for, plus a wedding in the new year (and the bill for the engagement ring), and an expensive summer to recover from that included a new water heater and central AC condenser. 2013 was an expensive year and I actually did a good job of not buying a bunch of video games and records and such. It still wasn’t easy to resist the call of new hardware though, but I am glad to say the wait was worth it.

A new controller for a new generation.

Getting a new console like the PS4 is less fun than others. Not because it’s inferior or anything, but because it’s so ordinary. With consoles like the Wii and the Wii U, there’s excitement over the new input device but with the PS4 it’s just a more powerful PS3. It’s a modern console and works in a modern function. I did not get the camera, so I can’t talk about how that works, but everything else is pretty much as expected. There’s a new interface that modifies the cross-media bar of the PS3, but not drastically so. It’s nicer to look at and there’s more emphasis placed on the Playstation Network features though not at the expense of the actual game loaded into the system. That, and any downloaded titles and demos, are front and center so jumping right into a game is seamless and easy. The new setup is different enough from the old one that first-time users will have to actually pay attention to what they’re doing, but it soon becomes second nature.

Really, the PS4’s most distinguishing features are it’s physical look and dimensions. The new console is pretty sleek looking and reminds me of the technology from the Mass Effect series. It’s black with about 2/3 of the console having a matte finish, and the remaining third a glossy one. There’s a single stripe that runs through it that glows when the console is on or in standby mode. There’s a couple of USB ports on the front for controller charging, and the only two buttons are almost impossible to see. They’re actually just touch panels, one for power and one for disc ejection, and are placed amongst the stripe running through the console. I couldn’t even find the power button with my eyes the first time I hooked up the console and brushed it accidentally. The console is also quite small and tidy. It’s smaller than basically all of the prior Playstation consoles, save for the PSOne and the PS2 Slim. It’s practically tiny when placed beside my model one PS3 and much smaller than its direct competitor, the Xbox One (it dwarfs the Wii U though). The size is perfect for me as it just barely fits into my entertainment stand beside the Wii U with both laying horizontally. Like the PS2 and 3, the PS4 can be displayed vertically. Sony recommends users buy their stand if opting to do so, though the console seems pretty stable to me without it. The console runs quiet and runs cool as well. I have played it in marathon sessions for five to six hours at a time and it’s only ever warm to the touch, not hot, so it appears to be well ventilated.

The biggest change for the PS4 resides in the controller. The dual shock controller was first introduced by Sony during the PSX era and has received only minimal modifications since. The new dual shock 4 represents the biggest change for the venerable controller, though it still retains its traditional shape. The handles have been elongated and the body of the controller is a touch thicker. The face buttons, including the directional ones, are ever so slightly closer together. The directional buttons feel better, which is great considering the Playstation console has always had the best d-pad, and the analog sticks are now closer to the rest of the controller. The new ridges added to each stick does help keep one’s thumb in place (and makes them basically the same stick as what’s on the Wii), and both still retain button functionality. The handles of the controller have a satisfying grip texture to them, and the R2 and L2 buttons are better shaped for human fingers. The start and select buttons are gone, replaced with an options button and a big touch panel that also acts as a button. It remains to be seen if the touch functionality of this over-sized button will have any worthwhile applications, but it’s there for developers to utilize. The Playstation button has been moved in between the sticks to accommodate this touch pad, and a Share button (for social media integration, if that’s your thing) and speaker have been added. The console also comes with a headset that can be plugged into the underside of the controller. I haven’t used it, but it’s a nice feature to have.

The high seas have never looked better.

The dual shock 4 truly feels like a home run for Sony. It’s an improvement in pretty much every way from the dual shock 3 and its updates are both practical and tasteful (well, maybe not the touch pad but we’ll see). The only negative I have found with it is the battery life. Like the dual shock 3, the dual shock 4 contains a non-removable rechargeable battery. Unlike the PS3, the PS4 can charge controllers when it’s in standby mode. Unlike the dual shock 3, the dual shock 4 cannot be charged by plugging it into a non PS4 device such as a PC or cable box. With the dual shock 3, I could often go days in between charges but with the 4 I find I’m plugging it into the console whenever my gaming is finished for the day. I haven’t ridden it down to nothing yet, but I would estimate the battery only lasts 6-7 hours on a full charge. That’s suitable for one gaming session, though there are some who may not agree, but if I were to forget to plug it into the PS4 when I’m done for the day I’d be regretting it the next time I went to play. Part of this issue will be rectified by getting a second controller (I’m holding out for the colored ones), but it is disappointing to see the battery life so poor. Some users have also complained that the rubber of the analog sticks wares out quickly. I just inspected mine which has logged probably around 30 hours at this point, and the heavily used left stick looks no different from the little used right one. Maybe some people are just getting duds or are really hard on analog sticks.

Thief is looking like it will be my second PS4 game, hopefully it doesn’t disappoint.

The only other fault I currently find with the Playstation 4 right now is a problem all too common, it seems, with new consoles: the games. Now, I should state that I am not a first-person shooter fan. If I was, I’d probably be having a good time with the new Kill Zone game. Since I’m not, I have Assassin’s Creed 4. The Assassin’s Creed series is a popular and well known one published by Ubisoft. I have previously played Assassin’s Creed 2 and enjoyed it, but when it was over I was not itching to play another. AC4, which I am around 25 hours into, is a better game. It’s a good game, it’s just not a “wow” game. It was developed for and is available on the Xbox 360 and PS3, so it’s visuals on the PS4 are not a true representation for what the console can output. It’s a great looking game, just not a great leap over what I’m used to. And like AC2, there are little things about AC4 that bug me. There are too many missions where I’m asked to just follow somebody and eavesdrop on their conversation. AC has always been an action game masquerading as a sneaking one. The sneaking mechanics just aren’t anything special, especially considering that I just finished up Dishonored a few weeks ago, and the enemy AI is downright shoddy when it comes to sneaking around. The fighting is fun, though it can get annoying during big conflicts such as ship-boarding when Edward (the main character) starts attacking the wrong guy. Or when he goes into one of his long kill sequences only to get struck from behind by another enemy. Controlling him out and about the various locales is equal parts fun and frustrating. He can scale almost anything, and often will start climbing something you don’t want him to. Sometimes the game calls for quick decisions and Edward makes the wrong one by jumping to an unintended spot or assassinating the wrong enemy.

Assassin’s Creed 4 may be flawed, but it’s also really fun. It can aggravate me greatly at times, but I’m also hopelessly addicted to it so clearly it’s doing something right. It’s a meaty game too, which is great because nothing else currently available for the console interests me in the least. The next game I have my eye on is Thief, which drops next month so I should be all set. Especially considering I still have last generation games to play including The Last of US, Ni No Kuni, and Skyward Sword (which I received for Christmas in 2011, and have yet to play, which is embarrassing). I’ll be plenty busy the next few months with or without PS4. I look forward to more games though, and the PS4 has made an excellent first impression on me. Hopefully the various developers comes through and the PS4 ends up with a library of games that rivals its predecessors.

2 Comments | tags: assassin's creed, christmas, pirates, playstation, sony, thief, ubisoft | posted in Video Games

November 19, 2013

Ranking the Mario Games – Conclusion

By Joe

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

There’s certainly very little suspense with these kinds of things. Anyone familiar with the Super Mario franchise can figure out at this point which two games are going to top my list, whether people disagree or not is another story. Rather than dive right into these last two games, I think it is important to point out just how many of the games that I’ve talked about could have been number one. Super Mario 64 seems like an easy one to argue in favor of. What the original Super Mario Bros. did for the 2D side-scroller, Super Mario 64 did for the 3D platformer. Only the games to follow in that genre have really done very little to deviate from the Super Mario 64 style of gameplay. Sure the worlds have gotten bigger, and the graphics have certainly improved, but the core mechanics are still mostly in play. Super Mario Galaxy 2 could also be argued as top dog. The inventive gameplay of the Galaxy franchise has a ton of appeal, and Galaxy 2 is bigger and harder than its predecessor. In a world where Mario games seem to be getting easier and easier, it’s nice to know some of the games are trying to hang onto some semblance of difficulty. And of course Super Mario Bros. 3 will always have a claim to best Mario title on the planet. It’s the game that really expanded on the Mario world for the first time giving gamers tons of variety in terms of level design, power-ups, boss fights, and basically every other aspect of the game. Many of the titles today still borrow heavily from Super Mario Bros. 3, and I feel like I could go on for another two-thousand words on the subject and it still wouldn’t feel like enough.

In short, Mario has had a lot of great adventures over the years. As overexposed as he tends to get, it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of just how important the character has been to gaming. A lot of people my age claim to have outgrown Mario, but I don’t think that’s possible. You can’t outgrow fun, just lose touch with it.

2. Super Mario Galaxy (2007, Nintendo Wii)

For the first time ever, Mario gets to spend an entire game in space.

Super Mario Galaxy wasn’t the first title to take Mario into space, but it’s definitely the most memorable. Galaxy is basically the sequel to Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64 before it as Nintendo decided Mario’s 3D adventures were ready to continue on the Wii. Many people were curious how the Wii’s motion controls and Mario would meld, as I think many assumed Nintendo would use the game as a way to showcase what the console was capable of. Instead, the developers for the game mostly downplayed the Wii’s motion controls in favor of a fairly traditional scheme. Mario was still controlled via analog stick and he could bounce around just as he could in the two previous 3D games. The only addition for the Wii was a spin attack that could be initiated with a simple flick of the wrist. The Wii remote could also function as a pointer and could fire star bits. These star bits could momentarily stun enemies but it mostly was just a tack-on feature. I assume most forgot the feature even existed while playing.

Where Nintendo sought to distinguish Galaxy from the prior Mario games was to place an emphasis on gravity. Mario would travel from galaxy to galaxy, planet to planet, and encounter all kinds of unique situations. Some levels had Mario sticking to tennis court sized planets that were still large enough to apparently have a gravitational pull. This could lead to some really disorienting experiences with Mario basically upside down or sideways but the game’s camera was so well crafted, and Mario so weighty, that it rarely felt as bad to the player as it looked. I know initially I was skeptical at just how good a game could be that focused so much on trying to disorient the player but Galaxy proved me way wrong. Running and jumping from planet to planet, sometimes within a level, was pure joy. The only comparable experience I can even compare it to are those warm, fuzzy feelings I had when playing Super Mario 64 for the first time. Mario handles so well and the level design is so spectacular that it’s hard to not constantly wonder what’s next while enjoying the present.

I think Donald Duck tried this once. It didn’t go too well for him, from what I recall.

Since this is a Mario game, there are numerous power-ups available to experiment with. Of the new ones, the best and most enjoyable is definitely the bee suit which allows Mario to fly for short bursts. Bee Mario flys just by holding down the A button, but he can ascend for so long before he needs to “recharge.” It’s all pretty quick, but the ability to fly is curbed just enough to keep the player from flying constantly. For more intense flight, there’s a special power star that lets Super Mario impersonate Superman. It only exists in kind of a bonus level, but is fun while it lasts. Some of the new power-ups are duds, like spring Mario who can do nothing but bounce which gets frustrating, and there’s some sequences where Mario has to balance on a giant ball. For the first time in a 3D Mario title, the fire flower makes an appearance as does its opposite, the ice flower. Both are kind of interesting in that they function very much like an invincibility star in that they only bestow Mario with special abilities for a brief period of time. This does lend itself well to some puzzle situations, but it is a little disappointing to not be able to remain as fire Mario until damage is taken.

Mario gets shot out of canons (pipes) quite frequently in this one.

From a technological standpoint, Super Mario Galaxy is a star. The Wii was never considered a powerhouse by any means, but Galaxy looks great. The environments are varied, the color pallet is gorgeous, and many of the enemies dwarf Mario, especially Bowser. The music is high quality as well, composed mostly of orchestral instruments giving it a very “Zelda” feel. The plot for the game is basically the same as always, though the character of Rosalina is introduced which makes things slightly more interesting. The game’s storyline may not be enough to get gamers to keep coming back, but the numerous objectives and hidden stars will. As with Super Mario 64, each level has stars for Mario to collect and after collecting a certain amount challenge stars begin to appear. This is where the game really turns up the difficulty and gives Mario vets a true challenge. It’s probably not as hard as its sequel, but it strikes a very nice balance between challenging and frustrating. That, along with all of the other positives I’ve cited, is why Super Mario Galaxy is the best of the 3D Mario titles to date.

1. Super Mario World (1990, Super Nintendo)

The layout of the world according to Mario.

The mark of a truly special game is one that is inherently fun. There are many games where aspects of them fit this description. Mindlessly rampaging in any of the Grand Theft Auto titles is always a blast, political correctness be damned. When it comes to multi-player, I’m not sure I’ve ever had more fun with a game than I did with Super Bomberman and three of my buddies. Both of those games contain moments of pure joy, but neither is able to achieve that and hold it for the entire duration of the full game. Super Mario World is a game that is non-stop entertainment from start to finish. Expertly crafted level design, colorful visuals, and tweaks to the Mario formula helped introduce a legion of fans to the Super Nintendo making Super Mario World not just the best Mario game, but the best pack-in game of all time.

Super Mario World was not the leap forward for Mario that Super Mario Bros. 3 was. It didn’t have to be as that game was nearly perfect itself. It only needed to improve upon it and give gamers a reason to play Super Mario World other than its inherent “newness.” Obviously, that’s easier said than done as many developers have tried to improve upon a game like Super Mario Bros. 3 and failed. When it came time to create Super Mario World, it would seem Nintendo took a back to basics route when comparing it with its predecessor. Power-ups were de-emphasizd as the game only included two permanent power-ups (aside from the mushroom) for Mario and Luigi: the venerable fire flower and the shiny new super feather. The fire flower worked the same as always, but the feather gave Mario a yellow cape and the ability to fly. Rather than have the cape mimic the raccoon tail, it worked in an entirely different manner. Mario still had to run to take-off, but once airborne Mario zoomed to the top of the screen before dive-bombing back to the ground below. This could double as an attack, but if the player so desired Mario could be made to “parachute” his cape for extended flight. It took some getting used to, but once mastered a player could easily soar Mario over an entire level.

Mario’s dino-buddy Yoshi, was the most talked about addition to the Mario universe.

The other major gameplay addition was Yoshi. Yoshi functioned as a power-up himself, giving Mario not only an extra hit but also giving him a new attack. Atop Yoshi, Mario could direct his dino servant to devour all kinds of enemies. As a bonus, certain turtle shells gave Yoshi special abilities such as fireballs or his own ability to fly. Mario could also use Yoshi to reach higher places or travel over certain terrain. Green Yoshi was the standard, but different colored Yoshi’s existed in the secret Star Road area that had limited power-up potential, but also an exploitable skill (the blue Yoshi, for example, would sprout wings and fly with any turtle shell in his mouth, while green Yoshi could only do so with a blue shell) that had its own advantages.

The storyline for the game was really no different, other than the fact that Mario is on vacation in Dinosaur Land. Mario still has to topple Bowser’s seven children before facing him to save the princess. Where the game stands out is in its scope. Super Mario World is appropriately titled. It may not seem huge compared to today’s games, but at the time it seemed massive. Each world is distinct and varied as well, and they’re full of hidden exits and secret levels. This made Super Mario World both challenging and highly replayable. Some staples of future Mario games were introduced in this one, such as the Ghost House or Wiggler enemy. Furthermore, the game was hard. It eased the player in with the deceptively tame first world but the difficulty increases as the game moves on. There are plenty of scrolling levels, levels with small platforms for Mario to negotiate, and levels requiring some puzzle solving to escape. The boss encounters with the koopalings were also more varied, and the final showdown with Bowser was satisfying as well. And if the main game was too simple for some, the Special Zone provided its own brand of torture with many having their own personal nightmare level among one of them.

Secrets abound in Super Mario World.

Aside from the bells and whistles, Mario also handled better than ever and the score was another strong addition to the Mario universe. The main melody is used throughout, though I was also most fond of the subtle bongo notes introduced whenever Yoshi shows up (a trend that has continued over the years). If the game has short-comings, it’s that there are less mini games when compared with Super Mario Bros. 3. The lack of more power-ups is also a slight mark against the title when holding it up to the others, but it’s the gameplay that matters most. Always. When it comes to Super Mario World, there just isn’t a better Mario game on the planet. Everything that came before it was refined and improved upon to craft the perfect platformer. Nintendo wisely chose to not truly follow-up on the title for well over a decade because it couldn’t be topped. There was nothing left for Mario and Nintendo to prove with this genre. And over twenty years later, Mario still hasn’t appeared in a better game.

Leave a comment | tags: luigi, mario, nintendo, platform games, super nintendo | posted in Video Games

November 3, 2013

Ranking the Mario Games – Part 3

By Joe

Part 1

Part 2

This edition of ranking the Mario games is going to be slightly different than the two previous ones. In trying to summarize each game in my previous posts I tried to keep it to one paragraph, which lead to some really long paragraphs. One paragraph is fine for the lesser Mario outings, but now as I enter the top 5 one paragraph seems like too few, so this post will capture the titles I ranked from position five to three, with one more post to follow for the top two. This way I can elaborate more on each individual title and attempt to give each game the time it deserves. These games are some of the best of the best, and while I feel very strongly about their position in the top five, it’s debatable how each should be ranked amongst each other, but that’s what makes these things so fun.

5. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010, Nintendo Wii)

Yoshi is the major selling point of Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 might be the favorite Mario game for some people, or a lot of people, and with good reason. It falls to position five on my list not for quality but more for redundancy. Super Mario Galaxy felt like a revelation while Galaxy 2 felt like a continuation of that game. In a way, it’s Super Mario Galaxy’s Lost Levels. That’s not to say it was entirely the same, as there are some obvious additions to the formula, just not necessarily worthwhile.

The premise of the Galaxy series of games takes Mario into space aboard a ship that serves as a hub world. From there, Mario enters various levels that play out over a map similar to Super Mario Bros. 3, or more recently, New Super Mario Bros. The levels themselves range in size, and the setup is similar to Super Mario 64 in that the game asks the player to re-play each level to collect stars by beating it in a specific manner. Sometimes replaying the levels opens up larger parts while other times it just tasks Mario with a new objective in the same setting.

As with any new Mario game, new power-ups have been added to differentiate from prior games. For Super Mario Galaxy 2, we have Cloud Mario, Rock Mario, and the Spin Drill. Cloud Mario allows Mario to create cloud platforms to utilize to reach higher areas or cover wider gaps. Rock Mario is basically a wrecking ball that powers through areas and certain pieces of the environment. The Spin Drill isn’t a suit, but an object Mario can grab and use to drill through an entire level, emerging on the other side. All three are kind of neat, but none are exceptional when compared with some of Mario’s other abilities. The ice flower from the first game does not return, nor does the flying star, but Bee Mario is still around as are the other power-ups from Super Mario Galaxy.

Even though the more powerful Wii U console boasts a Mario title of its own, Galaxy 2 remains the best looking Mario game to date.

The other major addition, and the one promoted right on the box, is the return of Yoshi. Yoshi is more advanced than ever in Super Mario Galaxy 2 as he’s more than just a second power-up. His tongue, controlled using the Wii remote’s pointer, can not only consume enemies from afar, but also trigger switches or be used to swing across gaps. He can still flutter jump and give Mario a boast to his jumps, but he also has power-ups of his own that bestow special abilities for a limited time. There are three fruits that do this: a dash fruit, bulb fruit, and blimp fruit. The dash one (actually dash pepper, making it a vegetable, I suppose) lets Yoshi dash at a high speed. While dashing he can run up certain walls and across water. The bulb fruit makes Yoshi glow and shows up primarily in Ghost Houses to illuminate pathways. The blimp fruit is like the P Balloon from Super Mario World, only with the helium effects taking place on Yoshi this time allowing him to float through the air while Mario hangs on for dear life. Of the three, the bulb fruit is the most conventional in that it doesn’t affect how Yoshi handles. The dash pepper makes Yoshi dash almost uncontrollably and it can be a challenge to negotiate the various obstacles in the way. That’s likely the whole point of the thing, but I never found it enjoyable. I also loathed the P Balloon in Super Mario World, mostly thanks to the infamous Tubular special world, so blimp Yoshi does little for me. Controlling Yoshi without the power-ups is infinitely more enjoyable, but few Yoshi levels don’t include a power-up of some sort. And as you can probably guess, Yoshi is only usable in certain levels.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 does score points over its predecessor by being the more challenging of the two. Getting to the final battle with Bowser is a moderate challenge, but the extra levels and special stars can be exceptionally difficult. It tends to be challenging without being overly frustrating, though the hardest level in the game may drive you to break a controller or two. Super Mario Galaxy 2, disappointing power-ups aside, is a marvel of game design that basically gave gamers more of what they wanted. I personally found the original title more enjoyable as it was more new and I found some of the challenges less annoying (though both games contain balance ball levels, the shoe-horned Wii remote feature that most could do without. And Spring Mario). Every fan of the 3D Mario games should have this one in their library though, as should anyone who thinks modern Mario titles are too easy.

4. Super Mario 64 (1996, Nintendo 64)

Running through the early stages of Super Mario 64 was a kind of joy I can’t begin to describe.

If you’re someone who grew up with a Gamecube or Playstation 2 as your first console, then you cannot possibly understand what it was like to play Super Mario 64 for the first time in 1996. It only took a moment for Super Mario 64 to blow you away and convince you that you were playing something special. It arrived at a really interesting time with Nintendo taking a backseat to Sega and Sony in getting its new hardware to market. Sega’s Saturn never set the world on fire due to its hefty price tag and lacking software, but Sony’s Playstation was winning gamers over worldwide with new franchises and old, proving once and for all that a CD-ROM based console could work and work well. Sony had even won Nintendo staples like Final Fantasy, and up till now it seemed like Nintendo was just going to stand and take it. Then the public got a glimpse of the Nintendo 64. Sure it was kind of plain looking and still boasted a cartridge medium, but with promises of 3D Mario and Zelda people were convinced it would succeed and the pre-orders came pouring in.

At this point in my life I felt I had “outgrown” Nintendo and the prospects of playing a new Mario game didn’t excite me in the least bit. My first experience with the console should have been totally unremarkable as it occurred at a Toys “R” Us prior to the system’s launch at a demo kiosk. It couldn’t have lasted more than ten minutes, and was maybe closer to five, but I remember it so well because of how incredible it felt to control Mario in 3D for the first time. There was nothing like that currently available anywhere, and seeing Mario run around such an immersive world was shear joy. The game was inherently fun, and I felt like I could have just run around in that first stage for hours. I remember after playing it I went to the Saturn kiosk and tried the upcoming NiGHTS and frowned at the pixilated visuals. Sony was demoing its Mario adversary, Crash Bandicoot, who’s commercials ended up being more fun than his games. I probably tried to convince myself that Crash was superior, and that Mario was too kiddie, but deep down I knew I had just experienced the future. The game was such an experience that I feel kind of stupid for not ranking it number one, though I know as I write about the games to follow I’ll feel better about my decision.

Bowser was very big, though not exactly frightening.

Years removed and numerous star challenges completed, I can still say that Super Mario 64 is an exceptional game, even if it’s imperfect. Super Mario 64 was the first true attempt at a 3D platformer and it’s still the core of what all the games in the genre still follow, especially future Mario titles. For the first time, Mario could jump, double jump, and triple jump his way to Bowser and free the princess. Familiar foes returned like the goomba and koopa troopa, while new power-ups and locations were unveiled. Super Mario 64 felt unique not just because of the new interface, but by creating its own world. Traditional power-ups like the super mushroom and fire flower were absent from the game with Mario now having a life meter for the first time. Mario could no longer breathe underwater or ride Yoshi or even partner with his brother Luigi. There was more emphasis on exploration and uncovering hidden challenges and levels. Beating a stage once awarded Mario with a star and opened up additional challenges in the level. To proceed further in the game Mario needed to collect a set amount of stars to face Bowser for a final time. And for the first time, Bowser truly towered over Mario. Looking more like a turtle than ever, it was intimidating encountering Bowser and also fairly challenging as the player needed to position Mario behind him in order to grab his tail.

The game was so flashy and new that many seemed to ignore the few areas it fell short, while time has made them more apparent. As was the case with seemingly every 3D title from this era, the camera can be problematic and there will be times where the player is forced into making a leap of faith hoping there’s a platform out of sight. And while controlling Mario in wide open spaces is a breeze, negotiating platforms and narrow ledges is less so, and there’s a reason why Mario hasn’t been able to punch and kick enemies following this game. And other than the wing cap, the power-ups were decidedly un-fun, and no Luigi seems like borderline blasphemy. In short, the Mario titles to follow were clear improvements on the interface enough to overcome nostalgia. Or rather, I should say one title in the 3D Mario universe is clearly superior, though if someone held a gun to my head I might opt for Galaxy 2 over Super Mario 64, but that’s all right. Here, nostalgia counts for something which puts Super Mario 64 at a strong number four on my list.

3. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990, Nintendo Entertainment System)

The map layout common to many Mario games originated with Super Mario Bros. 3.

It took me a long time to admit to myself that Super Mario Bros. 3 was no longer my preferred Mario game (and no, it’s not number 3 on my list because that number appears in it’s title), which is a testament to just how great it is. I still consider it amongst the most highly anticipated video games of my lifetime. Following the rather odd Super Mario Bros. 2, I think most people were excited about returning to what felt like the more traditional style of Mario games. And knowing Mario was going to be able to fly was the kicker. The game came out in 1988 for the Famicom in Japan, so US gamers had to endure nearly two years of screenshots in Nintendo Power (and a cameo in The Wizard) before getting to play the game, but it was worth the wait.

Super Mario Bros. 3 was the true sequel to Super Mario Bros. and the clearly superior one at that. It was everything the original game was times 100. It looked better, Mario and Luigi felt better (they could now slide down slopes and carry koppa shells), and the worlds of the game were so much more immersive and fun when compared to the original. It felt huge having eight worlds with each map seemingly larger than the one before it. It starts innocently enough with World 1 and its clear path to the castle. Then World 2 stretches to a second screen, while World 3 has Mario sail across the map. World 5 is basically two maps with one hidden from view at the start. The game was always throwing new things at the player, especially when it came to the power-ups.

Super Mario Bros. 3 is remembered for a lot of reasons, but mostly it’s for the power-ups.

Super Mario Bros. 3 can be credited as the game that really took the various power-ups to a new level. It’s still the game I use as a measuring stick when evaluating all of the new and old abilities Mario acquires in his latest games. The super leaf was the major and much hyped new ability which gave Mario a raccoon tail and ears and let him fly. We excused the ridiculousness of the whole thing because, after all, MARIO COULD FUCKING FLY! It blew my little mind that Mario could soar through the air like Superman. It might seem like such a small thing younger gamers today, but it really was unheard of at the time. The first time I laid eyes on Super Mario Bros. 3 it was all I wanted to see, just show me Mario flying so my head could finally wrap itself around the idea. It didn’t just end there, of course. World 3 introduced the frog suit which made swimming fun for the first time. The water levels are kind of that thing we all overlook (except when it comes to the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game), but we all kind of secretly hate them. The frog suit was a needed addition, even if trying to hang onto one through the land-based levels was a chore as Mario could only run in the suit if he was carrying a koopa shell. The tanooki suit in World 5 was a cuter take on the super leaf, but it did allow Mario to turn into a statue and avoid damage, a deceptively useful tool. World 5 was also the world that held the one stage (5-3) everyone remembers for the Kuribo’s Boot, a green boot Mario could steal from the goomba’s in the level and pound his way to victory. The hammer bros. suit was the most sought after though. Found in World 7, it was a more powerful take on the fire flower and most players would hang onto it until the final showdown with Bowser.

Now Bowser really has to contend with a “Super” Mario.

Super Mario Bros. 3 also introduced a lot of enemies that became staples of future titles. The koopa kids made their first appearance as did the boo ghost and variations of the hammer bros. like the boomerang bros. and fire bros. The airships were introduced for the first time and various mini games dotted the maps along with Toad Houses where power-ups could be found. Mario and Luigi could also store power-ups for later use that could be activated from the world map. Fortresses appeared and toppling them were necessary to reach the final fortress in each level. The magic whistles replaced the secret warp zones and acquiring all three was the quickest way to reach the final stage. With no game save feature, they were almost necessary for beating the game as the game was almost too big for on session forcing many gamers to leave their NES on all day to save their spot.

For the most part, Super Mario Bros. 3 is just a really fun game that keeps throwing new things at the player the further into the game they go. It’s scope felt epic back in 1990, and it truly is the ultimate 8-bit Mario title. Really, the only thing the top two games on my list succeed over it is with level design, but even they owe a lot to Super Mario Bros. 3 which really paved the way for all of the Mario games to follow. It’s, simply put, among the greatest games ever made.

1 Comment | tags: bowser, hammer suit, kuribo, luigi, mario, nintendo, playstation, saturn, sega, sony, tanooki, ultra 64, yoshi | posted in Video Games

October 27, 2013

Ranking the Mario Games – Part 2

By Joe

It’s part two of The Nostalgia Spot’s look at Super Mario games. In this section, a couple of under-appreciated titles and a few too recent to benefit from the effects of nostalgia, but I’ll try not to hold that against them. Part one can be found here.

10. Super Mario Bros. 2/Super Mario USA (1988, Nintendo Entertainment System)

Mario throws vegetables now. Accept it!

The American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 has always been the black sheep of the Mario family. It was pretty weird going from the original Super Mario Bros. to this game. There were no fire flowers, no goombas, no koopas, no Bowser or green warp pipes. In their place were shy guys, flying carpets, vases, an egg-shooting bird-dinosaur thing, and Wart. By now, most people know that Super Mario Bros. 2 was so odd compared to the first game because it actually wasn’t a Mario game. Originally released as Doki Doki Panic in Japan, Nintendo re-skinned the characters and added a few Mario-type items to the game for the American audience after Nintendo of America rejected the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2. What most people didn’t know at the time, and what many still don’t realize, is that this Super Mario Bros. 2 is actually the REAL Super Mario Bros. 2! The game that would be released as Doki Doki Panic in Japan actually started off as Super Mario Bros. 2. Mario’s daddy, Shigeru Miyamoto, wanted to really change things up for the sequel with more characters and an emphasis on vertically scrolling levels. A prototype was developed by Kensuke Tanabe, but when the project became too ambitious Nintendo basically got cold feet so they put the brakes on it and went the safe route for the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2. Not wanting to waste the foundation of the game, it was re-dressed for release as Doki Doki Panic. By the time Nintendo of America was clamoring for a different sequel, Nintendo’s development techniques had improved enough to the point that it was comfortable going full speed ahead with this iteration of Super Mario Bros. 2. It was so successful that it would be released in Japan later as Super Mario USA, and today it’s pretty much considered the preferred Super Mario Bros. 2 in all territories. Even knowing that, it’s still a weird game and a lot of the sprites created for Doki Doki Panic were left in which is why there’s no familiar Mario enemies. Instead of jumping on enemies to destroy them, Mario can stand on top of them and lift them up and hurl them as projectiles or do the same with vegetables. The jumping and platforming is just as good as ever, and the soundtrack is beyond catchy. The game looks nice, and the additions of Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool as playable characters added variety. One thing Miyamoto really wanted to get into the game was simultaneous co-op, but that would end up needing another 20 years for refinement. Super Mario Bros. 2 is often overshadowed by the game that followed it, but it was an improvement on the original, albeit unconventional. It’s odd take on the Super Mario franchise is what makes it endearing decades later.

9. Super Mario Sunshine (2002, Gamecube)

Being a plumber is a stinky job.

I must confess, part of my placing Super Mario Sunshine immediately after Super Mario Bros. 2 is because it just seems so appropriate. The games are both great examples of their genre, but both find themselves some-what unloved among the other Mario titles. Super Mario Sunshine was a late arrival on the Gamecube, late in the sense that it wasn’t there for the system’s launch. Mario had been a fixture at every Nintendo system launch of any consequence before, so gamers kind of just assumed he’d always be there. With the Gamecube, Luigi got to bat lead-off for a change with his first solo outing leaving Mario to arrive a year later. Super Mario Sunshine is the sequel to Super Mario 64 and just the second 3D Mario title in the span of six years. 1996-2002 was kind of a dry spell for Mario, but Super Mario Sunshine is another superb outing for the venerable plumber. Unfortunately, Nintendo saw fit to saddle Mario with FLUDD, a water-powered jetpack type of thing that dominates a lot of the gameplay. FLUDD really wasn’t well-received by Mario fans (though reviewers seemed to enjoy it) even though it was a rather fine gameplay addition for the most part. With such an established star as Mario though, fans are often resistant to change. Super Mario Sunshine brought back a lot of the platforming elements of prior games with an emphasis on level exploration. It was well conceived, and using FLUDD as a means of propelling Mario along works quite well. It’s the more mundane actions that become tiresome, such as needing to spray the environment clean incessantly. As the player, you’ll do a lot of just standing around spraying water. There’s also the need to replenish the water supply that’s not much fun. Yoshi did make his return in Sunshine, and Bowser Jr. his official debut. Super Mario Sunshine is a game that’s likely better than most people remember, and is absolutely still worth checking out.

8. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009, Nintendo Wii)

New power-ups and co-op play; it’s all you really need to know about New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

New Super Mario Bros. brought the plumbers back to 2D in a way that was commercially very successful, though creatively felt more like a straight nostalgia trip and little else. Which was fine, but I’m not sure what people expected of the franchise going forward, or if it even would be a true franchise. New Super Mario Bros. Wii arrived three years later and for a home console this time, the Nintendo Wii. This is where the franchise really started to leave it’s mark, with more interesting power-ups and better level design. For the first time a Mario game was also able to be played cooperatively with up to four players all at once. This was something Nintendo wanted to do as early as Super Mario Bros. 2, but the technology just wasn’t there. To be fair, it’s not New Super Mario Bros. Wii’s strongest point as only two players of equal skill will be able to find much enjoyment in co-op. Otherwise, it feels more like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with one player controlling the action and the other frantically trying to keep up. The level design for the Wii game is much better though, after being mostly forgettable on the DS. The added power-ups of the propeller suit and ice flower/penguin suit also add to the experience. The propeller suit especially is one of the more fun power-ups to come along in a Mario game. With a flick of the wrist, the propeller on the player’s head spins sending Mario ever higher on the screen and allowing for a slow descent. Yoshi, again, is back but is limited only to certain stages which is kind of disappointing. The challenge is a bit better than the DS title, though it’s still a pretty easy game for Mario veterans. The final showdown with Bowser is both memorable and, if you’re aiming to collect all of the star coins, pretty tricky as well. The reintroduction of the Koopalings is also a welcome development after the many repetitive boss battles in the first game. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is another fun 2D Mario game, though it falls short of being a truly remarkable.

7. New Super Mario Bros. U (2012, Nintendo Wii U)

For the first time ever, Mario is in HD but the end result won’t knock your socks off.

It should be considered a good thing that the most recent entry in the New Super Mario Bros. franchise is the best. Though that does kind of ignore the fact that the edition released just a few months prior to New Super Mario Bros. U is the worst in the series. The console editions are the stronger games, and they’ve apparently had a little more love during their development cycles. New Super Mario Bros. U also has the distinction of being the first original Mario title to debut alongside new hardware since Super Mario 64 back in 1996. Unfortunately for the Wii U, while New Super Mario Bros. U is a good and enjoyable title it’s not the system-seller that Super Mario 64 was. Sales of the Wii U have been putrid, to put it nicely, so a lot of people still haven’t played this one. Admittedly, when I first played it last year I was feeling a little fatigue after just recently finishing New Super Mario Bros. 2 and it took me awhile to actually play through this one. That’s not the game’s fault, though I suppose it is a short-coming for the title that, despite being in HD, it still looks and plays more or less the same as the previous games. The game borrows conceptually from Super Mario World in how the map is laid out. There are several hidden paths and special levels to uncover throughout the game and each world has its own distinguishing features. They’re also controlled by one of the seven Koopalings once again, with the King of Koopas waiting at Peach’s castle for Mario to arrive and save his princess. All of the power-ups from New Super Mario Bros. Wii return though in a diminished capacity. The main new power-up is the flying squirrel suit, which makes too much sense for a Mario game. With it, Mario can glide and he knifes through the air rather quickly, as opposed to the slow descent of the super cape or tanooki suit. He gets a one-time hop in flight that does bring him to that slow descent we’re used to. He also has the ability to cling to walls, though he can’t move along them (which is what the new cat suit will allow in the upcoming Super Mario 3D World). I was a bit lukewarm on the suit initially, but after extended playing time I’ve actually come to enjoy it quite a bit. It’s different, and probably Mario’s best flying suit since the cape. The best thing I can say about New Super Mario Bros. U though is the difficulty. It’s still exceptionally easy to rack up 99 lives, but the levels in this game will actually force gamers to use those lives. The star coins are also better hidden, and like previous games extra levels are unlocked after defeating Bowser for the first time. If the main game isn’t challenging enough, there are extra challenge levels that are designed to bring about controller-smashing frustration. Lastly, the game also makes use of the Wii U gamepad by allowing it to function as a second screen, meaning you don’t even need your television on to play the game. I’ve said a lot about a game that basically feels like more of the same, but New Super Mario Bros. U is the best side-scrolling Mario game since Super Mario World, so I suppose it deserves all of these words.

6. Super Mario 3D Land (2011, Nintendo 3DS)

Many of the stages in 3D Land exist in a three-dimensional environment but force Mario to a 2D-like path.

Over the years, Mario fans have become divided into two camps: the ones that prefer the 2D side-scrolling games and those that prefer the 3D titles. In truth, most fans like both but there are preferences. In general, those that grew up with the 8-bit NES tend to prefer the games that remind them of the old titles, while those who first experienced Mario via the Nintendo 64 tend to favor the 3D games. For the first time, Nintendo decided to try and please both with a single title: Super Mario 3D Land. This was not just Mario’s first 3D portable adventure, but also his first trek on Nintendo’s new 3DS handheld and Mario was expected to demonstrate the advantages of stereoscopic 3D gaming. I don’t know if Mario was able to sell audiences on that feature, but people in general seemed to love the game and with good reason. The style of the game is basically an open world concept for each stage, but with each level being a small level reminiscent of the old games. Some of these levels force Mario into more of a 2D plane that may allow Mario to hop in and out of the foreground and background. The use of stereoscopic 3D meant a few stages at a high camera angle and some platforms are nearly impossible to negotiate without the 3D effect enabled. For power-ups, the tanooki suit was brought back but in a diminished capacity as Mario could only slow his descent, not fly (the stone form ability from Super Mario Bros. 3 is only available after beating the game once), which was a shame. The boomerang bros. suit was the other hyped addition and it’s a good alternative to the traditional fire flower (and a nice homage to the hammer bros. suit from Super Mario Bros. 3). The layout of the map is as linear as it gets, but completing the game once opens up what amounts to a second game. The first set of stages are fairly painless for Mario veterans, but the bonus worlds are much tougher and contain a good amount of challenge. Mostly, the game works as designed, though I could do without the 3D effects. Mario controls well and the approach allows the developers to pick and choose from the best of Mario’s past and stuff it all into one game. Hopefully Nintendo is able to build off of this game and it ends up being the first game in another successful Mario franchise, the Wii U is banking on it.

2 Comments | tags: 3ds, bowser, luigi, mario, nintendo, peach, shigeru miyamoto, toad, wii, yoshi | posted in Video Games

October 20, 2013

Ranking the Mario Games – Part 1

By Joe

Super Mario, the portly plumber with the black moustache, is not just the mascot for Nintendo but the ambassador for all video games. Gamers are intimately familiar with Mario, his history, forays into pop culture, and of course his games. He was the nameless Jump Man before he was Mario and though early titles like Mario Bros., which introduced brother Luigi, kept true to the plumber occupation it was Super Mario Bros. that helped launch the Nintendo Entertainment System into video game legendary status. Since then, Mario, usually alongside Luigi, has appeared in a great many games in either a starring or supporting role. He’s dabbled in just about every genre save first-person shooter (don’t take that as a suggestion, Nintendo) and has done so successfully, for the most part. He’s been challenged along the way by other would-be mascots and felled them all.

Mario’s games are typically of a high quality, and while some are better than others, there really are no true lemons. These next few posts are going to attempt to distinguish the best from the not best, but in truth, all of the games to follow are still a good time, even today. This list only concerns itself with Mario’s starring platform adventures which began with Super Mario Bros. in 1985 and will continue this fall with Super Mario 3D World. Excluded are two titles which borrowed the Mario name for marketing purposes, namely Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. I think most would agree those two games are actually the first in new franchises for Wario and Yoshi, respectively. This also excludes those educational Mario titles that popped up on the Super Nintendo, and the few games starring Luigi. I considered excluding Mario’s 3D adventures and relegating them to a separate ranking but decided against it. They’re still Mario titles, and whether the game is a side-scroller or in 3D, they actually manage to play very similarly. Maybe it would just be easier to list the games about to be ranked, so here they are in chronological order of release: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2/The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2/Super Mario USA, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Land, Super Mario World, Super Mario Land 2, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, New Super Mario Bros. U. That’s 16 Mario titles in total, and if this thing drags on long enough, maybe I’ll do a 17th as a postscript for Super Mario 3D World, though the pile of dust that has collected on my Wii U suggests that won’t be happening. On to the rankings!

16. Super Mario Land (1989, Gameboy)

Different, but similar, Super Mario Land was a worthy first attempt at bringing Mario to the smallest of screens.

Perhaps it’s a bit unfair to immediately pick on the Mario title with the least amount of technological backing, but I’ll reiterate what I said in the intro which is that all of these games are worth playing and remain so. That said, Super Mario Land is basically a scaled-down version of the original Super Mario Bros. for the then recently released Nintendo Gameboy. Nintendo should be commended for actually not just porting Super Mario Bros. and actually giving Super Mario Land its own distinguishing characteristics. Set in Sarasaland, the game puts Mario in an Egyptian inspired setting with tried and true Mario gameplay. There are some noted differences from the console games, in that Mario’s fireballs shoot at an angle and bounce off walls and hearts are used for extra lives while coins function as a currency. There are also some scrolling levels where Mario pilots a spaceship or submarine which help break up the routine. Otherwise, it was a pretty basic platforming-side-scroller. The Gameboy’s display made it a little tough on the eyes, and Mario felt a little loose as a result. Gamers who had this title in 1989 mostly seemed to enjoy it, even though they knew they were getting a somewhat lesser experience than what they had on their home consoles, but considering the Gameboy’s main competition was Tiger handheld games, they were pretty content to have Super Mario Land.

15. Super Mario Bros. 2/The Lost Levels (Nintendo Entertainment System, 1986)

One of the defining characteristics of Super Mario Bros. 2 was the emphasis on making the Luigi experience different from the Mario one.

By now, anyone with an interest in video games is well aware of the story of the “original” Super Mario Bros. 2. It was a Japan only release for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the difficulty which Nintendo of America thought would prove too frustrating for US gamers. Also, Nintendo of America wasn’t very impressed with the title simply because it was too similar to the original Super Mario Bros. For that, we should be thankful as NOA was absolutely right with that stance. Super Mario Bros. 2 would eventually be released as The Lost Levels in the US alongside the other NES Mario titles in the Super Mario All-Stars compilation released on the Super Nintendo. The game basically plays like a set of add-on levels for the original title. The original was such a massive success, that Nintendo of Japan felt it had to strike quick with a sequel. When early attempts at a sequel proved too ambitious (more on that to follow), this game was created in its stead. It’s basically just a harder version of the original, with the addition of poison mushrooms and Luigi being given his own characteristics (higher jumps but slippery feet) to make him play different from Mario for the first time. Needless to say, when the game was eventually released in the US, few American gamers felt like they had really been missing out on anything.

14. Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1985)

Where it all began.

The original, but not still the best, Super Mario Bros. set the standard for all Mario games to follow. These types of lists are always a little tricky because one is forced to weigh present value against past value. My take is always to just judge the games as they are. Perhaps that gives the modern titles a huge advantage but a good game is a good game, regardless of era or graphical horse power. Plus, games should be better today than they were 20 years ago as I’d like to think we’re always moving forward. With that out of the way, it should be said that Super Mario Bros. still holds up today as a fun and challenging game, just one notably simplified. It’s the classic “go right” game and the player is expected to run and bounce along to each stage’s flag pole in an attempt to rescue the princess. The clock actually plays a role in this game, as opposed to the more recent games, and later levels force the player to hold the run button throughout. The game’s challenge is mostly found in negotiating jumps and platforms that become smaller as the game goes along while dodging classic Mario enemies like koopa troopas and Lakitu. It’s true that it may be hard to impress a young gamer today with the original Super Mario Bros., but it is a textbook take on the genre it launched even if its sequels have improved upon it immensely.

13. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Gameboy, 1992)

New bunny ears and a new villain are the defining characteristics of Super Mario Land 2.

Super Mario Land 2 was a huge improvement over its predecessor. It borrowed heavily from the the current console games in terms of defining Mario’s look and power-ups and pushed the Gameboy to produce one if its best looking and best playing titles. This game also introduced Wario, who served as the primary antagonist for Mario for basically the only time before becoming a playable character in his own line of games. Super Mario Land 2 held onto the first game’s quirks while giving Mario some new power-ups, most notably the bunny ears. Mario being able to fly had been a big deal since Super Mario Bros. 3 so it’s no surprise he was able to do the same in this game. Keeping things weird, as they were with a raccoon tail bestowing flying powers in SMB 3, the bunny ears let Mario fly by rapidly pressing the jump button. Mario didn’t gradually descend, like he did with the cape and tail, so it gave Land 2 a unique feature. The fireballs had their angled shot replaced with traditional fire power, and the game had a map layout like Super Mario World. The worlds the map is segregated into can be played in any order, giving this game a less linear feel, and secrets abound which help the replay factor. Which is a good thing, because the 32 levels will be breezed through by Mario veterans making Super Mario Land 2’s biggest weakness its short duration. This is a fun game though, and it was the first Gameboy experience that came close to matching the console one where Mario titles are concerned.

12. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo 3DS, 2012)

I did a big write-up on this one around the time it was released, so I won’t go into too much detail here. Suffice to say, if anything my opinion of the game has lessened since. It’s a fun experience, but in general it did little to nothing as far as advancing the series goes. The focus on coin collection was a mistake as it didn’t add to the experience. The much publicized street pass functionality and downloadable content was basically a dud, and the game’s difficulty was basically non-existant. This is a by-the-numbers Mario game, and its sister-title New Super Mario Bros. U is the far superior game, and not just because it’s on the more powerful console and in HD. I did enjoy the return of the super leaf power-up as well as the inclusion of the Koopa Kids and the game does not have a shortage of levels.

11. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS, 2006)

New Super Mario Bros. was a welcome return to the side-scrolling genre for Mario and Luigi.

New Super Mario Bros. was a supremely refreshing title when it was first released in 2006. A new side-scrolling Mario game had not been released since 1992’s Super Mario Land 2, unless you count the Wario and Yoshi games in between. New Super Mario Bros. was a like a kid’s dream of what the original Super Mario Bros. could have been with mega mushroom power-ups and the mini mushroom, letting Mario shrink to a microscopic size. Of the two, the mini mushroom was actually the better as controlling a lightning quick Mario was a lot of fun. Not that it wasn’t fun to control the Godzilla-like Mega Mario, but it got old after a few experiences. Mario also retained some of his 3D controls like the ability to double and triple jump. Not very useful, but a lot of fun. The game is also massive with 80 levels to explore, some of them only unlocked after finding the various star coins hidden in each stage. Like its sequel, the game’s biggest drawback was its lack of challenge. Notably trickier than the follow-up, but still lacking compared with the well-balanced Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario 64. This is a good game though, and as you can probably guess from these rankings, I actually recommend it over New Super Mario Bros. 2 for its tighter gameplay and better level design, though the level design is actually a weakness for the game when compared to other Mario titles. This one was a nice nostalgia trip in 2006, and even though the New Super Mario Bros. franchise has had a hard time living up to the classics, I still think we’re better off for having it.

6 Comments | tags: bowser, gameboy, luigi, mario, miyamoto, mushroom kingdom, nintendo, peach, toad | posted in Video Games

September 28, 2013

Bucky O’Hare – The Video Game

By Joe

Bucky O’Hare – Nintendo Entertainment System (1992)

I’ve been away for awhile, a combination of life events and vacation, but I’m back and ready to talk about some old things. Here is one such old thing and a topic I’ve discussed before: Bucky O’Hare. Bucky O’Hare was a part of that glut from the late 1980s into the 1990s of anthropomorphic cartoon characters riding on the coat tails of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Very few of these properties (Street Sharks, Biker Mice From Mars, Battle Toads) had any staying power and Bucky proved to be no exception. His show lasted one season, and it was a half season at that, before getting cancelled. There are a number of theories why from poor marketing decisions, bad distribution of the toys, too serious, though I personally think a lot of boys just didn’t buy into the idea of a green space bunny saving the galaxy. Despite Bucky’s outward appearance, I liked him and the show quite a bit as did a number of my friends. Bucky probably dominated a good six months of my young life and during that time period he was even able to overtake the TMNT for a brief spell.

Even though Bucky didn’t last long as a cartoon hero (he didn’t last long as a comic book hero either), he was still around long enough to have his likeness inserted onto just about every product imaginable. From the obvious items like toys and clothing to the less obvious such as dishes and light-switch covers. Not surprisingly, another item that took advantage of the Bucky O’Hare license was a video game, simply titled Bucky O’Hare. The game was developed by Konami and released in 1992 a short while after the cartoon had finished its run. Right away, it should be noted that Bucky dodged a major bullet in that his game was developed by Konami, and not LJN, whom Konami had a tendency to hand all of its licensed products to. LJN is known as one of the worst game developers from that era; it possessed the opposite of the Midas Touch when it came to game development. The fact that Bucky managed to avoid such a fate is really quite surprising, in hindsight. Even more popular properties like the X-Men were unable to avoid LJN but somehow Bucky snuck through.

Bucky O’Hare on the NES is an action platformer starring Bucky O’Hare himself. Players control the funky fresh rabbit and navigate him through various levels, mostly going left to right but not always, as they run, jump, and gun down the evil toads to save Bucky’s crew. The game starts off giving the player a choice of 4 different stages, represented by different planets, that Bucky can choose from. On each planet, one of Bucky’s crew-mates is being held captive: Blinky is on the green planet, Jenny is on the blue planet, Dead Eye the red, and Willy DuWitt is on the yellow planet. Bucky can choose to rescue his mates in any order, though at least one planet requires the aid of one of Bucky’s comrades, for when Bucky rescues a character that character becomes playable. The player can switch on the fly with a press of the select button. All characters share the same health bar but have their own power bar.

The power bar is where the characters distinguish themselves. Each character had a unique attack and unique ability. Attacks are simply done by pressing the B button. Bucky can shoot horizontally and vertically and his special ability is a super jump. By pressing and holding the B button, Bucky crouches down and charges up a jump. The power meter determines how high he can go and it can be increased in size by collecting certain power-ups. Blinky has a jetpack that allows him to fly for a short duration. His attack is a canon-ball like weapon that fires in an arc. It can also break certain blocks found in the environment. It’s more powerful than Bucky’s attack, but has limited range. Jenny fires a laser that may or may not inflict more damage than Bucky’s gun, though it’s rate of fire doesn’t seem to be as good. Her special ability is some kind of telekinetic ball that the player can control with the d-pad once it’s been fired. It’s useful in certain spots where the player can sit out of danger and attack from cover. Dead Eye has a scatter-shot for his main weapon. Think the spread gun from Konami’s much more popular Contra series. His special ability lets him crawl on walls for a short duration. Not particularly useful. Willy has a fairly normal attack with his special being a charged shot. Unlike, say Mega Man, Willy is stationary when charging making his special ability the least useful.

Mega Man fans, does this look familiar?

Willy’s special ability isn’t the only comparison to Mega Man one will find when playing Bucky O’Hare. In many ways, the game is like a Mega Man clone. The non-linear setup at the start is certainly reminiscient of the blue bomber’s games and the general run, jump, shoot mechanics seem to be clearly inspired by Mega Man as well. There’s also some levels, or parts of levels, that are inspired by some of Mega Man’s more famous levels such as the red planet’s nod to Quick Man and the vanishing blocks from the Toad Mother Ship. A quick google search will reveal that, in some circles, this game is known as the Konami Mega Man. I’ve never heard anyone actually refer to the game as such, but the internet never lies. Bucky owes a lot to Mega Man, but it’s different enough to maintain integrity and similar enough that it’s safe to say most fans of the blue bomber will enjoy the green rabbit.

Bucky O’Hare may not be among the most popular NES games, but most people who are into NES games seem to know about it and associate it with one word: hard. Many games from this era are hard, but Bucky O’Hare is often placed in that upper tier of really difficult games. I’ve never heard anyone outright call it the hardest NES game ever made, but I’ve seen it included in several lists or youtube videos amongst the elite. This is mostly a good thing, as Bucky O’Hare is able to achieve it’s difficulty without being too cheap. There are some areas, when playing for the first time, that will piss a gamer off. The most obvious to me occurs on the yellow planet where the player has to hop on these futuristic mine carts that zip along a track. Jumping from one to another is not difficult, as they slow down long enough to make the timing easy, but before long a wall of spikes will pop up that result in a one-hit death if the player doesn’t react fast enough. These one-hit deaths comprise the majority of player fatalities in Bucky O’Hare. Very rarely can I recall actually having my life depleted slowly during a non-boss encounter. And even the boss fights, as one might imagine, include a number of instant death attacks that can put an end to the fight rather quickly. What keeps Bucky O’Hare from being among the hardest of the hard is its generous continue system. Each level is broken up into several acts which, by themselves, are pretty short. If a player loses all of his or her lives the continue screen is displayed and electing to go on will bring the player to the start of the most recently completed act with a new set of lives. Continues are unlimited, and completing a full level gives the player a password which isn’t overly complex or long. This means anyone of moderate skill can probably complete Bucky O’Hare so long as they’re persistent. And given that much of the game’s difficulty comes from being surprised, practice does indeed make perfect.

Right around the time it seems like the game has thrown everything it can at you, it introduces the flying stages. Prepare to die.

Bucky O’Hare is deceptively long and offers a good amount of gameplay. After completing the first four stages the player is abducted by the toads and (annoyingly) must also re-rescue the trio of Jenny, Dead Eye, and Willy. The setup, beyond the run and gun nature of the game, is pretty straight-forward but there are areas later in the game that are non-linear as Bucky explores the Toad Mother Ship. After the conclusion of each level, a boss encounter occurs. They’re usually fairly challenging, but there are some easy ones, and part of the challenge is knowing which character works best. For the most part, Bucky on his own is enough to take down a boss but I did find some uses for Jenny’s special attack (namely the yellow planet boss) and Blinky has his moments too. Only Willy comes across as feeling useless as I was able to make regular use of the other four characters. Bucky never had another console video game release, but he did have an arcade game released after this one though it wasn’t very popular. This game, along with the cartoon’s catchy theme song, is probably the way most remember Bucky O’Hare. Considering most of those other shows, TMNT included, received mediocre to terrible games, I’d say Bucky came out ahead in one respect. If you like NES games and have never played this one, I whole-heartedly recommend it.

2 Comments | tags: blinky, bruiser, bucky, continuity comics, dead eye, konami, larry hama, mega man, michael golden, neal adams, nintendo, steve blum, sunbow, the toad wars, willy duwitt | posted in Video Games

September 1, 2013

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons

By Joe

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (2001)

The Legend of Zelda series tends to be late to the party when it comes to Nintendo’s newest technology. The only exceptions I can recall would be A Link to the Past and Twilight Princess. Twilight Princess should come with an asterisk though considering it was in development as a Gamecube game (and even released on that platform too) before being ported to the Wii to make that system’s launch. Typically gamers have to wait a couple of years for Link to grace their latest console or handheld. That was especially the case when it came to the Gameboy Color. Nintendo, partnered with Capcom, focused on making a set of three games that would take place in the world of Zelda and interact with one another to form one grand adventure. This would take time, and to placate eager gamers to have a Zelda adventure on the go and in color Nintendo re-released Link’s Awakening with some minor color enhancements and a new dungeon (which took full advantage of the new color palette). Development was delayed on the series with Capcom, and eventually the three titles became two. Worse still, they didn’t arrive to market until after the Gameboy Color’s successor hit retail; the Gameboy Advance. Did this stop people from picking up the old tech? Of course not, this is Zelda after all, Nintendo’s most consistent franchise. And for those who upgraded to the Gameboy Advance, the system was backwards compatible so as long as gamers could get passed the fact that they were playing a fairly low tech set of games it was a pretty easy thing to convince them to go out and pick up the latest Zelda titles.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (2001)

There are exceptions though, and for whatever reason I became one of them. I was a day one purchaser of a Gameboy Advance and I was eager to upgrade my portable gaming. I had a Gameboy Color and primarily only used it for Pokemon (I had a copy of Shantae and never got into it, and I ended up trading it in at Gamestop which proved to be a mistake). After over a decade of playing sub-NES quality games on a Gameboy I, and many others, were more than ready for the GBA. Plus I knew the eventual A Link to the Past Advance was on the way and figured I’d get my Zelda fix then, so I completely overlooked the two GBC games, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. It took a long while, but finally Nintendo has released both titles on its e-shop and both are playable on the Nintendo 3DS. A good portion of my summer has been spent on these two titles, and in short, they’re quality Zelda experiences. You don’t want short though, so feel free to read on for more!

If you’re an owner of a 3DS and are thinking of playing these games I would recommend that you play Link’s Awakening DX first, if you have not done so already. While the games are not connected in a narrative sense, the three play pretty much identically to one another with the Oracle games feeling like sequels. I imagine the fact that the groundwork was laid with Link’s Awakening is what allowed Nintendo to feel comfortable about handing the series over to Capcom. These portable Zelda games all feature diminished visuals when compared to most of the series, with the only exception being the original Legend of Zelda. Link can have two items equipped at any one time via the A and B buttons, and they can be any two items the player wants making it theoretically possible for Link to go thru the bulk of the game without a sword. These games also are unique in that they allow Link to jump once a certain item is obtained. Link could jump in the side-scrolling Adventure of Link, but not in his other top-down adventures. The portable games also bring back the side-scrolling screens present in the first game often as a basement of sorts throughout the various dungeons. There are some sequences where Link has to swim and some familiar faces from the mushroom kingdom make appearances. I actually prefer Link’s Awakening to the Oracle games in large part because of all of the Mario references which just give the game this offbeat feel. There’s even a sequence where Link needs to take a chain-chomp for a walk.

Both games feature animal companions for Link to make use of. Here he is just hanging out in a kangaroo pouch.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons distinguish themselves from the prior games with their special items, the harp of ages of rod of seasons, respectively. In Oracle of Ages, Link is able to use his harp to move thru time. Early versions of the harp only allow him to do so at certain patches of soil but later versions allow him to move thru time at will. Since there are only two versions of Labrynna, where the game takes place, it’s bound to evoke a similar feel to the light and dark worlds from A Link to the Past. As expected, changing things in the past affect the present, which is sort of the nature of the game. It’s not real specific though, and sometimes the past or present is different from each other seemingly just for sake of it (sometimes a wall is bomb-able in the past, but not the present, which doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense). As such, I was actually kind of disappointed with the whole time-traveling aspect of the game and it started to feel like a hassle. In Oracle of Seasons, Link is able to manipulate the seasons with the rod of seasons. This has obvious applications such as lakes becoming frozen in winter or dried up in summer. A weird type of mushroom is only harvestable in the fall, and certain special flowers only bloom in the spring. Having to cycle thru each season one at a time is a bit of a chore, but overall I felt the application of the seasons worked better than the time-travel in Ages and it also offered a fun visual change as well. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that sections of the overworld map are arbitrarily broken out and are assigned a default season. This results in the player changing the season on one screen, and then having it switch to another season by going as few as one screen over. The designers obviously did this to make it easier on them to block off certain sections of the map until Link obtained a certain item, but it feels lazy.

In addition to their gimmick, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are often distinguished by type of gameplay present. Ages is often described as being the more puzzle-centered game with Seasons being more action-oriented. I found this to mostly be the case, but make no mistake, both are tried and true Zelda experiences. There are still plenty of enemies to take down in Ages, and there’s also plenty of dungeon puzzles to solve in Seasons. I expected to enjoy Ages more as I usually like the Zelda puzzles, but I actually ended up preferring Seasons. The problem I have with Ages is just that a lot of the puzzles felt really drawn out and the constant switching between items (since there are only two action buttons on a GBC, everytime you need to re-assign something you have to go into the menu and do it) could get tiresome. There are also plenty of “Zelda Puzzles,” which to me mean puzzles with no logical solution that forces the player into trial and error mode. These types of situations seem to crop in every Zelda title and are often the result of the game just not being consistent. There was one dungeon where I got stuck for a while because I couldn’t figure out how to get a pot onto a floor switch that needed to be pressed in order to open a door. I tried all kinds of different things and just couldn’t get it. Then I just stepped on it with Link and walked off and the door stayed open. Every other switch in the game necessitates an object being placed on it to keep the door open. I was so annoyed. That’s a Zelda puzzle. There were some of these in Seasons too, but they just felt more prevalent in Ages.

One of the optional bosses from a linked game: Twinrova.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons share many of the same dungeon items. Both also have a trading game which leads to an improved sword for Link and both feature seeds. All around the map are soft patches of soil where Link can plant a seed. After a certain amount of enemies are slain a tree with a nut will sprout and inside the nut will be an item. Usually this item is a ring, which is the only equip-able accessory for Link in both games. They usually add some function or improve another such as Link’s throwing distance or damage output. They’re not all that essential to the experience, and both games seem to have the same rings. There’s also a password system that allows players to transport items back and forth between games. This is the only way to get some traditional Zelda items like the mirror shield and master sword. These items just make the game easier, and to be honest, they’re easy enough as is, so I never did much with them. I did take advantage of the game-link where beating one game provides a password for the other game which alters the story. The story in both games is basically crap, but if you want to face the ultimate boss you have to link the games and it does add a little more fun to the experience.

I’ve been a bit nit-picky with these games, but both are enjoyable and worthwhile entries in the Legend of Zelda series. If you were to play only one, I would recommend Oracle of Seasons as I found it to be the better overall experience. One thing I liked about Seasons over Ages is how it’s a total nostalgia trip for gamers who played the original Legend of Zelda. Oracle of Ages is basically just as good though, and if you can, you really should just play both. These two games, together with Link’s Awakening, are among the best portable games ever created and are still the best portable Zelda games ahead of The Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Hopefully, the upcoming A Link Between Worlds is able to give them a run for their money as these games have reigned supreme for long enough.

2 Comments | tags: 3ds, capcom, eshop, gameboy, ganon, link, miyamoto, nintendo | posted in Video Games

August 4, 2013

Dreaming of Kingdom Hearts 3

By Joe

UPDATE 3/8/2014: Square-Enix has posted a survey for Kingdom Hearts, and if there is something you want to see in Kingdom Hearts 3 (Gargoyles!), this is the best way to make your voice heard!

Watching Gargoyles these past few weeks has got me thinking about the upcoming PS4/Xbox One game Kingdom Hearts 3. So far, little information, aside from confirmation the title has been in development, has been released regarding the next entry in the Kingdom Hearts series. For those unaware, the Kingdom Hearts games were initially conceived as a marriage between Disney and Square’s Final Fantasy. Several games have been released in the series and, for the most part, they all follow a pattern of having the main character visit various different worlds based on classic and current Disney films. Gargoyles has got me thinking about how cool it would be to see that world brought to the series as it would seemingly lend itself well to the video game form. There was a game based on the series created for the Sega Genesis. It was a late arrival on the Genesis and while it boasted some rather slick animation it was bogged down by poor gameplay mechanics and a repetitive design. It is my understanding that the only rules for selecting worlds for Kingdom Hearts are that they be from Disney films, but not Disney owned films. This would eliminate the various Marvel films produced by Disney as well as any future Star Wars ones. It also appears to apply to Pixar films as well as so far no worlds from a Pixar film have shown up. It also excludes any worlds from Disney television, but in the case of Gargoyles, this rule could be circumvented by the existence of Gargoyles The Movie: The Heroes Awaken. It’s kind of cheating as the direct-to-video movie is just the first five episodes edited into a 90 minute film but lets not get too technical.

Using my own memory, and with help from Wikipedia, I’ve come up with the below list of Disney films to appear as worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series:

Sleeping Beauty
The Little Mermaid
Aladdin
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
Hercules
Tarzan
Pinocchio
The Lion King
Steamboat Willie
Pirates of the Caribbean
Alice in Wonderland
Cinderella
Snow White
Beauty and the Beast
Mulan
Tron
Lilo & Stitch
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Three Musketeers
Fantasia

This list may not be exhaustive, and does contain some unusual selections. “Steamboat Willie” stands out as it’s not a feature-length film, but as Mickey’s most recognizable short, it’s not surprising to see it included. It also, like pretty much all of Disney’s classic shorts, was originally released to theaters. The Three Musketeers also stands out as it was a direct-to-video release so it appears their self-inflicted rule does not mean the film needed to be theatrically released. Square has done a good job of hitting most of Disney’s biggest properties. There is also a good balance of old and new, but there’s still plenty of room for more. Below are some thoughts of mine regarding where the franchise could go for its next outing:

Bambi – Bambi the character has already appeared as a summon in the KH series but he’s never had his own world. As one of the few classic pictures to not have a world, it makes sense for Bambi to step into a larger role. His world is not particularly unique considering it’s just a forest, but a world created around the forest fire scene from the film’s climax could have some interesting gameplay mechanics. For one, it would make the world visually interesting and the fire could be the result of one of the film’s antagonists. Bambi could be an assist character and, together with Sora, they would be tasked with extinguishing the blaze. The world could either be full of peril due to the fire, or there could be a time limit in place. Considering Bambi is one of Walt’s greatest achievements, it just makes too much sense to include it eventually.

And to think, some at Disney felt The Horned King would be too scary for kids…

The Black Cauldron – The Black Cauldron is, unofficially of course, Disney’s black sheep. It differs quite a bit in tone from the works that preceded it in that there’s a distinct absence of humor throughout. A lot of critics disliked the film, and while it appears to have spawned a cult following, it’s still one of the lesser films put out by Disney. It’s inclusion here is not a defense of the film, I haven’t it seen it in so long that I really can’t offer much of an opinion on it, but it’s world would actually appear to fit in quite well with the KH universe. The Horned King would make a natural complement for Maleficent and the Fairfolk could be incorporated as well. The film almost makes too much sense for inclusion, leading me to believe the only reason it has not been is because the film is so obscure. It’s also possible that Disney doesn’t own any of the characters outright and legal issues may not make it worthwhile to include.

Toy Tinkers – I am an unabashed Donald Duck fan so I wanted to include one of his shorts on this list. I initially thought “Trick or Treat” would work well because of the Witch Hazel and her special potion that brings inanimate objects to life, but such a world would have a lot in common with Fantasia and Halloweentown. I settled on “Toy Tinkers” because it would allow the inclusion of a Christmas themed world and a unique gameplay opportunity. I conceive it as a world in which Sora has been shrunk somehow and is caught in between the fire-fight between Donald and Chip and Dale. There would be debris raining down and perhaps Sora would help Chip and Dale thwart Donald somehow. It would be a bit of comedic relief and a fun bit of level design.

This would seem to be a natural conflict for a video game.

The Brave Little Tailor – My thought process for this level is similar to the above for “Toy Tinkers,” so I consider this an either/or arrangement. In the short, “The Brave Little Tailor,” Mickey is tasked with defeating a giant. For KH, the scenario seems obvious and Sora would either replace Mickey or assist him in taking down a giant. It would feel similar to my “Toy Tinkers” scenario because Sora would be taking on a foe much larger than he, so the two would perhaps feel too alike if they both appeared in the same game. Nonetheless, it would be fun to challenge the giant and a tailor themed Mickey could be an interesting assist character. This could also easily be swapped out in favor of a Mickey and the Beanstalk themed level.

Duck Tales – Duck Tales would appear to not be eligible due to the fact that it was a television property, but it sneaks in because it did have a feature-length release, Treasure of the Lost Lamp. If the level had to be based on that film, then no matter, it could be a pseudo Indiana Jones type of deal with cave exploring with Uncle Scrooge, the nephews, and maybe even Launch Pad. Classic Duck Tales villains could still be included as well. Ultimately, I just want to see Scrooge’s giant vault of gold coins included complete with diving board.

Toy Story – Yes, I know and covered it already, it would appear that Pixar films are a no-go when it comes to KH. However, Pixar’s films have become as much a part of the Disney brand as Mickey and Snow White and their presence is felt throughout Walt Disney World and Disney Land. And if there is to be one exception made for Pixar, why it has to be Toy Story, no? It makes too much sense for inclusion as Sora could be transformed into a toy of some kind and have to team-up with Woody and the gang to foil Sid. The level basically designs itself and there are so many action sequences from the three films that the designers could look to for inspiration. Come on Square/Disney, it’s time to invite Pixar to the party. Do it!

I’d be delighted to see any of the films/shorts from this list incorporated into KH3, but mostly I just want to kick some ass with Goliath by my side.

Gargoyles – We’ll end this with what started it in the first place, Gargoyles! Gargoyles, as primarily an action-adventure cartoon, makes a lot of sense for a video game. Goliath would be a pretty bad-ass support character and Demona seems like a perfect villain for KH (though MacBeth and Xanatos would work as well). There would be some fun music to source, and most of the voice cast has maintained a relationship with Disney to this day including Keith David (voice of Goliath) who recently voiced the villain for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Gargoyles would also allow Square to set a level in New York, specifically the skies above New York. The castle would make for both a great visual and fun setting for an all out battle with Demona or the Steel Clan. Someone send the developers of Kingdom Hearts 3 a copy of the first season (or the movie, but they would need a VCR on hand to watch it) and then try to stop them from making use of it!

There’s actually plenty of other films Square could source for Kingdom Hearts 3 that I didn’t even bring up. The Sword in the Stone or Robin Hood seem like natural fits, or perhaps because they’re too conventional they’ve been ignored. 101 Dalmatians also seems like an easy film to incorporate and Cruella De Vil would be a natural as a villain for the series. And considering it drew inspiration from video games, I feel like I have to mention Wreck-It Ralph. I actually fully expect a Wreck-It Ralph scenario of some kind to appear in KH3, either as the game world Fix-It Felix Jr. or maybe a Sugar Rush style mini game. I consider all of my selections as long shots and I’d be surprised to see most of them. It actually wouldn’t shock me if Disney lifted the embargo on Pixar films and allowed a Toy Story level, just because the property is so popular, and the giant sequence I described (most likely to occur in the form of Mickey and the Beanstalk) also strikes me as a legit possibility for a KH world. The others are merely dreams or wishes, and as much as it would delight me to see Goliath and crew in Kingdom Hearts 3, I also acknowledge it’s mostly a pipe dream. Perhaps if I wish upon a star…

1 Comment | tags: bambi, disney, donald duck, duck tales, final fantasy, gargoyles, goliath, mickey mouse, pixar, sora, square-enix, the black cauldron | posted in Video Games

June 29, 2013

The Vita Experiment

By Joe

It’s been over a year since I purchased a Playstation Vita. I have made only two dedicated posts on the subject since which may lead people to believe that I have not enjoyed my purchase. Far from it actually, as the Vita has been getting a lot of attention from me and has probably been played more than my 3DS over that same time frame. Not all that long ago I made an entry about the Wii U and how it has been a disappointment for me since it’s launch last November. The Vita has similarly been a disappointment at retail, though for different reasons. And while I’ve enjoyed my Vita thus far, I’m not anymore optimistic about its future than I am of the Wii U’s. If anything, I’m more pessimistic since Nintendo has a lot more riding on the Wii U and is further incentivized to make sure it does not fail. While Sony similarly has invested a great deal in the Vita, I get the sense that Sony could afford to have it fail and move on (though such an admission would likely end Sony’s attempt at penetrating the portable gaming market via a dedicated gaming device).

Not much has changed regarding my opinion of the Vita as a piece of tech since its launch last year. The device is quite nice and it functions really well. I have had no problems with my Vita in the year-plus that I’ve owned it. No game freezing, no glitching, no nothing. The screen is large and beautiful, the buttons placed well, and the twin analog sticks much appreciated. I’m not saying they don’t exist, but I have yet to encounter a game that makes annoying use of the front and rear touch panels as developers have, so far, resisted the urge to shoe-horn touch controls into their games. Just judging the console on its own merits it’s fantastic and easily the best portable gaming device ever created.

Unfortunately, it takes more than cool tech to make or break a console. The Vita’s biggest obstacle so far has been price. The Wi-fi edition retails for $250, which is a lot to ask of consumers for a handheld game console. And that’s not all, memory cards have been obnoxiously priced from the start and easily push the total cost beyond $300 for any new adopters looking to get just one game with their system. Sony has put out bundles that help trim some of the costs but it’s still a pretty big investment to get into the Vita. Especially considering that consumers can get a pretty solid gaming experience on the go via their cell phones. While true that there’s no cell phone equivalent to Uncharted: Golden Abyss, many consumers seem content to save the money and just play games like that at home. Combating mobile gaming is not a problem unique to Sony, but Nintendo has done okay with the 3DS since lowering the price which seems inevitable for Sony if it wants the Vita to have a fighting chance.

Some titles have been promoted as a 2 for 1, in that buying one copy of the game earns the ability to play it on the PS3 and the Vita.

Aside from price, the other make or break aspect of any gaming device is the software. Namely, the games. Vita had a respectable launch on that front with several quality portable versions of strong games being made available alongside the aforementioned Uncharted title. Uncharted has been a successful franchise for Sony on the PS3, though it doesn’t move units like some of the other premier video game franchises and it apparently wasn’t enough to attract a lot of early adopters. Ever since the launch, the Vita has been spotty on the games front. Some Vita exclusives like Gravity Rush and Assassin’s Creed: Liberation have come and gone, and have failed to impress critics. It feels like every Vita exclusive has scored in that 6.0-7.5 range with reviewers. They’re good games, but not exactly system sellers. The rest of the Vita’s catalog has been reduced to ports of console titles. Some of these ports are done well, like MLB The Show, and work with their PS3 cousins. One such game, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, even came bundled with the Vita version allowing basically free portable play while others offer discounts when buying both. Being able to play a console game on the go is certainly neat, but is it worth the added cost of getting a Vita? Other ports, like last year’s edition of Madden, were done poorly which is inevitable with this sort of thing. Developers are going to spend the most time on the editions of the game set to make the most money-making the Vita port an after-thought.

This may lead you to wonder what I’ve been playing that has allowed me to enjoy my Vita as much as I have. Well, I made entries on my first Vita purchases, Rayman Origins and MLB, and my experience with both was positive. I have since added the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which contains the first two Metal Gear titles along with Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3. I also have Little Big Planet Vita, which is an all new Little Big Planet title created for the Vita and is just as good as the console games. I also downloaded a PSN exclusive called Dokuro which is an excellent platform-puzzle game. Lately, I’ve been player Persona 4 Golden, a port of the PS2 game with some added content. I think my library of Vita games is a decent representation of the console. Most of it is composed of ports with only two titles unique to the Vita. Of them all, it’s tough to say what I’ve enjoyed the most. Playing the two MGS titles in HD and on-the-go was pretty damn cool and I had not played either in quite some time so it was really enjoyable for me. Rayman Origins is just as good as the console version, which I don’t own, and is a title that works really well on a portable, well enough that I may get the Vita version alone of Rayman Legends when that comes out later this year. Dokuro was the nice surprise, and is so far the only Vita game I would tell all Vita owners they should get. It’s fun and it’s cheap which is always a winning combination in my book. It also sports a unique look with its chalk drawing graphics and the game is pretty meaty as well. Persona 4 has definitely been the title that I’ve spent the most time with. I’m currently at the 80 hour mark and still going. I never played the original so that helps, but even if I had I’d like to think I still would have bought this. It’s an excellent game, though it’s dated visuals mean it won’t be the type of game you would buy to show off the Vita’s capabilities.

Dokuro, a download-only title in which you play as a skeleton and try to lead a princess to safety, is perhaps the Vita’s best exclusive. And you get to shoot the princess out of a canon.

I’m nearly finished with Persona 4 so I’m now looking ahead. I may switch back to the 3DS for a while as I have some games for it to check out, but in looking ahead to my next Vita purchase I’ve basically settled on Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Muramasa is yet another port of a console title, this one being a Wii game from a few years ago. It’s a side-scrolling action title with beautiful hand-drawn visuals. I never played the Wii version so it will be a new experience for me. Aside from that, I’m uncertain what’s in store for the Vita. It had a fairly poor showing at E3 this year, and the only exclusives I’m aware of are a new Killzone and Batman title (with the Batman title being available on the 3DS too, though one would hope the more powerful Vita would be the lead console). I’m not a fan of the Killzone franchise, and while I’m interested in Batman, I fear it will turn out like AS: Liberations and just feel like a lesser version of the console franchise. These games do not seem like they’ll be big system sellers for the Vita, which has lost the PSP’s biggest franchise (in Japan, anyway), Monster Hunter, to the 3DS. Sony does have plans for the Vita concerning the PS4. Right now the aim is to have every PS4 game playable on the Vita via remote streaming. This is a feature the PS3 supports but never made good use of which makes me skeptical that it will be widely available with PS4 titles. Even if it is, I can’t see it being something that gets a lot of people to buy a Vita. It can’t hurt, but will people spend over two-hundred dollars for the ability to play their PS4 games on a small screen? The Wii U can do that with several games but it’s something I’ve only made use of here and there (though I also only play the Wii U here and there to begin with).

The Vita really needs this game to kick some serious ass.

All of this leads me to one question: Can I recommend the Vita to gamers? I feel as if the answer to that question is “Yes,” but with qualifiers. If you want a good portable gaming device then yes, the Vita is a good and worthwhile system to have around. I didn’t touch on it much, but there are quite a few indie developers out there making excellent games for the PSN that figure to be made available on the Vita. There are some good exclusives, and there are console games out there that are the same, if not better, on the Vita. And if you’re into playing remakes, the Vita seems to be home to many such titles with more to come. There’s also a plethora of PSOne and PSP titles available on the PSN for download and play on the Vita. However, anyone thinking about buying a Vita needs to look at the current crop of games and decide if it’s worth buying just for these games alone. The future is murky and we may have already seen the bulk of Vita’s exclusive third-party titles. I do believe Sony will support the system at least thru 2014, but if things don’t pick up third-party developers will just use the Vita as a dumping ground for inferior ports of their console games. And since the Vita, which currently is at least on par with the PS3, will soon be lagging behind the major home consoles those ports will become more expensive to make and may be bypassed all-together. Someone recently asked me if they should get a Vita for their kids this coming Christmas. The question was actually phrased as an either/or between a Vita and PSP. I told them the PSP is not worth investing in at this point, but also to hold off on the Vita since a price-cut may be imminent. I also slipped in the fact that by Christmas the PS4 will be out and their kids may want that more than a Vita and the difference in price may make the PS4 less expensive if this individual was thinking of getting a Vita for each kid. That will likely be my response for anyone who asks me if they should get a Vita. Wait for a price drop, or get a PS4 instead. The future is just too uncertain for the Vita to give it a full recommendation.

Leave a comment | tags: batman, dokuro, killzone, metal gear solid, monster hunter, muramasa, nintendo, persona, portable gaming, ps4, psp, rayman, sony, the show, uncharted | posted in Video Games

June 23, 2013

The E3 Fallout: The Next Generation Gets Less Scary

By Joe

Prior to E3 2013, I made an entry on how the future of console gaming was looking. To summarize, it was starting to look pretty bleak. Even though it was only a couple of week ago, a lot was different. We had the Wii U already on the market and failing commercially and creatively, the Xbox One was set on controlling all games distributed for it, and the PS4 was still a shadowy figure with unclear motives. E3 2013 was shaping up to be a heavyweight bout between Microsoft and Sony as both looked to generate positive hype for their debuting machines in the fall. Microsoft had a lot to answer for following the announcements regarding the policies surrounding the Xbox One and many wondered if Sony was willing to maintain the status quo or go along with Microsoft. If both companies decided to severely restrict used games then gamers would be forced to accept this new model or give up on console gaming, something that seemed unlikely. It was a strange feeling heading into E3 which is usually all about debuting new titles and consoles but the focus was squarely on one aspect of the PS4 and Xbox One.

Kind of lost in the shuffle was Nintendo, and with good reason. The Wii U has done little to captivate the hardcore crowd and heading into E3 Nintendo chose to announce that it wouldn’t be holding a standard E3 press conference. Nintendo still had a presence, and the company’s diehards were probably content to get a peak at the new Smash Bros. game and a new Mario title for the Wii U. The recently announced A Link to the Past sequel for the 3DS, A Link Between Worlds, was playable and looks good, but there wasn’t much excitement coming from Nintendo. The unique features of the Wii U have been all but ignored by Nintendo itself and third party publishers seem indifferent to the console. I had no idea what Nintendo’s strategy for the Wii U was heading into E3, and yet, I feel like I know even less coming out of it.

Despite being announced by Sony back in February, E3 was actually the fist time the PS4 console was shown.

Microsoft came out and confirmed what gamers did not want to hear, that sharing and reselling games on the Xbox One was going to be difficult and the console required a dedicated internet connection to play offline games. It really didn’t matter what Microsoft showed for games after that, because people were just plain pissed. The pricing for the console was revealed ($499) and Microsoft showed some games, but the damage was done. Sony’s conference was basically a confirmation that the freedoms gamers have today will be maintained with the PS4. Publishers can still place DRM on their games, but any restrictions beyond that are out. They too showed off some games and even brought a bunch of indie developers out, but it didn’t matter. The biggest cheers were reserved for simple announcement regarding game sharing. It was kind of surreal. The PS4 price was also revealed to be $399, and the console itself was shown for the first time as well (surprise, it’s black!), but gamers were too giddy over the used game policies to notice.

The fallout has been swift and to the point. Microsoft had egg all over its face and videos from Sony mocking the Xbox One’s policies further drove the point home. Microsoft made it incredibly easy for Sony to win gamers over, and the company was forced to suck it up and change its approach to give the Xbox One a fighting chance. Last week Microsoft began to repair the damage that’s been done by basically pushing the reset button on the Xbox One. There will now be no required internet connect, no stupid one-time sharing rules for games, and no used game fees. They’re putting the console back on the same level as Sony’s. Since so much of the emphasis of the Xbox One was placed on the cloud storage feature, it makes me wonder if most games will still require an internet connection, but at least if gamers are getting some benefit out of the feature it may make it more acceptable.

The game formerly known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII is now simply Final Fantasy XV and will be released on PS4 and Xbox One.

In a way, we’re right back where we started. So much of E3 was dominated by the pricing structure of these new consoles that the games were kind of glossed over. In looking back, there really wasn’t a whole lot to be excited about. I’ll probably get a PS4 at some point, but I’m looking at the games shown by Sony and I’m kind of at a loss as to what it is I really want to play. It was cool to learn that Final Fantasy XV is on the way, as well as Kingdom Hearts 3, but not enough was shown of either to get me excited. I just didn’t see anything, for any of the major consoles, that made me jump up and say “I want to play that!” As the launch dates for the Xbox One and PS4 approach perhaps I’ll find some games to get excited over. At least now I know that if I find some of the launch games to be lacking I can always resell them.

Leave a comment | tags: e3, microsoft, nintendo, ps4, sony, square-enix, used games, wii, xbox one | posted in Video Games

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