Demo Impressions: The Wonderful 101

Nintendo recently held their Direct Conference via the internet to discuss some of the upcoming games that are heading out later this year. While there were some good news like NIS America publish two ATLUS titles for the 3DS for PAL regions (finally) and Ace Attorney Vs. Professor Layton are getting a west release in 2014, the rest was mostly updates on some games for the Wii U and 3DS that we know about already.

But the also stated that later in the week, there is another Direct focussing on PlatinumGames (of Madworld and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance) newest title for the Wii U titled The Wonderful 101.

Originally unveiled at E3 a year ago titled "Project P-100", it's an action game with a mix between Pikmin and Viewtiful Joe and it's from the brainchild of Hideki Kamiya, who's well known for games like Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry (the original), Okami and Bayonetta.

The direct was hosted by Kamiya while amusingly wearing a suit like he was trying to emulate Iwata and showcases and talks about the games features, combat and utilization of the Wii U gamepad which all seemed very interesting as well as repeating the release date over and over again after each section. After ending with a 7-minute trailer (which I felt was very spoiler-heavy), the game's demo was released an hour later after the Direct was finished.

I managed to get the demo after midnight but didn't play until morning. The first time I played around with it, I had a bit of a hard time getting used to how it played, how you moved the heroes was fine but the combat, the use of the gamepad and the scope of the game was really tricky to get used to but as I progressed I was kinda getting the hang of it but then the gamepad stopped because the battery was dead.

So after a while of charging, I gave the game another go and it became more clear every time I kept playing it over and over again, it seems simple at first glance but it's surprisingly complex for a game like this. Something I never thought it would be possible in an action game but Kamiya knows how to pull it off and pulls you in for the ride.

The camera is placed on an isometric view and since it has a fixed zoom level within battles (depending on how big they are) it can be hard to see where you are at times but if you keep your eyes focused, it shouldn't be too hard but you do need to time your blocks and dodges at the right moment but careful as abusing them can drain your battery meter. There are two different kind of attacks, one to use your team and the other to use your morph abilites which can be swapped by drawing with the touch pad or using the right analog stick. So for a fist, you draw a circle. For a sword, a straight line or for a gun, a right angle.

The gamepad also has other features like swapping heroes and other details but not really that important but the information and the tabs kind got in the way which made the experience a bit of a hindrance. But it was intuitive enough to make it functional and it works very well when changing morph powers or using other morphs to create special combo attacks. Even using the right analog stick worked perfectly. You can also use the D-pad or touch pad to swap items and hold the item on the touch screen or down on the D-pad to use the item

The gameplay consists a lot of crazy action but also emphasizes on rescuing citizens of Blossom City and allow them to be in your team to make larger morph abilities which can be more powerful than the previous amount depending on how long/big you draw. Your team attack is primarily used as a stun attack for the enemies while you blow them away with a morph attack but each morph attack is useful for different attacks like the sword to vertical attacks and the gun for aerial attacks as well as for solving puzzles like turning a wheel with the fist or unlocking a door with the sword like a key. Hell, you can even use your heroes to form into a ladder or a bridge when needed to go from one place to the other.

There is a bit more to the gameplay but it'll take a while to explain and some of it is best to experience it yourself if you want to play the demo. But as for the other features the game has, you can play it off-TV or with a Pro Controller but there's one part in the demo that requires you to go into a warehouse and requires you to look on the touch pad to see inside but luckily, you have the option to swap screens by pressing the minus button.

The presentation isn't anything too spectacular but if anything, it's a nice reminder for those who loved Viewtiful Joe as they took the feel of that game and it's obvious "Super Sentai" influence that gave that game it's personality with Kamiya's touch and it's been done again but with a more fun and chaotic feel. The graphics aren't the most technically advanced I've seen on the Wii U as the environments looks simple and the characters look like mini Xbox Avatars but the lush colors and design gives the game a sense of charm that only Kamiya and PlatinumGames can do. The sound design isn't anything remarkable either but the voice acting (which can be switched to Japanese in the options) and the music fit the tone of the game perfectly.

So all in all, I'm very impressive with The Wonderful 101, it's shaping up to be PlatinumGames next best things since Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and it'll probably be one of the better offerings on the Wii U thus far even if the system isn't so hot right now. The game does have it's shortcomings but can be overlooked with some trial and error and it's overly chaotic which may not appeal to everyone but for those who are looking for something new in their action games, fans of PlatinumGames or Hideki Kamiya in general or just want something to play on their Wii U, This is a must buy.

I have this game on pre-order at EB Games after making some big trade ins and I cannot wait, it's coming out later in Australia and Europe later in August but it's coming out on September 15th in America which doesn't bode well since it's two days before the worldwide release of Grand Theft Auto V and the combination of the game's niche appeal and it's on a system that hasn't been a big seller, it may end up selling poorly but I can see it being a cult gem in a few years.

That's it for this blog, thanks for reading!

The Gaming Community is the worst.

The title of this blog is no joke. I fear that the gaming community is dead in my eyes.

Why do I say this, you might ask? Well, the answer is rather simple. The people in the community, especially those in forums, blogs or almost anywhere else on the internet are usually full of crybabies, ritualistic fanboys (both video games and fanboys), nostalgia-tards, the list can go on and on.

Now I am aware there are a few smart people online that talk about gaming without any sort of bias (at least with a decent reason) or stupid (unless they're reasonably joking about it), including well known people that I see on YouTube. But sadly, the smartest people in the world are easily overshadowed by the self-absorbed and closed-minded dimwits of the world. My first question is where can I start?

Why not start off with those who complain about certain things in the game that they think is missing or needs to be rectified when the developer intentionally did so in form of artist's creativity or the game doesn't need a certain feature because it's not built around it.

Starting off with artist's creativity, when certain things are created in a way that they think is good enough no matter what the outcome may be, gamers can rant and rave about it so highly that they give in and have to "fix" it due to their demands. Mass Effect 3's ending is a fine example of that. While I can agree that ending was very underwhelming, I didn't have the raging hate that made me want to send hate mail to both EA and Bioware in order to have the ending more stretched out since the ending got such a bad response since it was the end of a saga that matter via player's choice, they decided to release free DLC in order to extend the endings and even then, some players were still divided by it!

It's one thing to be disappointed about and have the right to talk about it reasonably but raging and sending hate to the developers is a high level of low that I can't bare it not matter what.

There's also the complaint of certain gamers who don't buy games because of certain aspects in video games, games that don't have multiplayer for example. While it is nice to have that feature in games to extend the value of it and some who didn't added in is a bit of a missed opportunity (Vanquish for example), not every game needs that. Games like Codemned, Resident Evil, The Darkness and many more tend to have (or their sequels) forced in multiplayer which weren't designed around it and only placed in there to extend the value when they can be shallow as hell. Not all games are like this but for the ones that do, they tend to be forgettable and tends to make the game feel unfocused when the main campaign isn't as strong as it should have been.

Another problem with the gaming community is that whenever something is changed, especially in reboots, die-hard fans can flip out like crazy. Now this problem isn't as prevalent because some can be taken for granted and some of it can be agreeable but if you don't like on how a certain franchise has changed, why do you keep playing/talking about them and focus on the good old games?

The infamous DmC: Devil May Cry reboot is a prime example as the developer Ninja Theory got heavy fire since they changed around a lot of the details and mechanics that the previous games have been known for but I still say most of that blame has to be laid on to the publisher Capcom for allowing them to do whatever they wish in order to get a new image for Dante. Some fans have been more accepting than others but it's still something that die-hard fans loathe to this day.

(Personally, I found the reboot to be a nice surprise since I wasn't a fan of the original game (most likely due to it's age) but the 4th game was alright.)

I understand the frustration of changes no matter how good the actual product can be (my feeling towards Max Payne 3 can be a test to that) but I don't think it's a good idea to go on a rampage about it or otherwise it'll make a bad name within the fan-base of your beloved franchise.

This part of the problem also applies to those who rely way too much on nostalgia on newer installments/additions to franchises. Sonic 4 was one example where one person I know online (not personally by the way) raged about on how it was meant to be a throwback to the old design of the blue blur but instead was the modern design with the long legs and green eyes. Nitpick much?

Understandable that you'd prefer the old days but that's no excuse to talk down to those who do prefer newer things or say that the older games are "superior" which may be true but doesn't mean you should use that in an argument.

One of the more obnoxious things within gaming is the age of gamers playing certain games, now I'm all for everyone regardless of age or gender playing video games but when it comes to age (especially children), there are some games that needs to be restricted from their reach, especially multiplayer games like Call of Duty which results in unintentionally hilarious videos of kids ranting, crying or being trolled by other players on Xbox Live.

Think video games are the cause of violence or other criminal activities? Then why are kids younger than the intended age for certain games playing them? I can put the finger on both the parents for buying the game for them and/or stores for selling the game to them without much caution.

Now onto one of the most occurring plagues of the gaming community which is the "console war".

Going on since competitive systems like the Super Nintendo and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis consoles back in the 90s, it was proven that two big game systems can survive and compete at the same time with their game library, regardless of exclusives or multiplats. Nowadays with 3 big console developers at the helm, it's almost impossible to have a decent talk over what console is the best or what you like/dislike about a certain system when the main focus is the games.

Words cannot fail me when someone complains about certain consoles saying it's the best because of certain features when (as I've stated before) it's all about the games. But even the games part is an issue itself. For starters, some gamers complain about certain titles going multiplatform, no matter what the reason it is. Rayman Legends was originally intended to be a Wii U exclusive which does seem rather strange since the previous game Origins was a multiplatform release but due to the sales of the Wii U being rather poor, Ubisoft decided to release it as a mutliplatform as well as delayed the game which caused so much outrage by fans, they made a Challenge App for the Wii U version. While the Wii U version may still considered the prime platform with the most features, the inclusion of other consoles won't exactly hurt since the predecessor was made on every system to allow more sales and players to experience the game.

The same can be said for Crysis as it was originally made for PC but due to requiring high-tech PCs to run it smoothly and the fact that not a lot of gamers have a good PC to run it as well as it's price (which you can, of course, find high quality parts at a low price to rectify that) made it hard for Crytek and EA to sell in which for the later installments (including a downloadable version of the first game) on the home systems along with the PC but people complain on how much of the series has gone "consolized" without considering the reason why the developers went through with this idea in the first place.

Also count in Final Fantasy XIII when they announced it'll also be on Xbox 360 alongside PS3, it caused a massive outcry because the Final Fantasy series have been on Sony consoles for a long time even though it's start and various spin-offs have been on Nintendo platforms as well, which completely destroys the argument of Square's signature series being a Sony product.

So that's one awful truth about exclusivity in video games but the other one that people complain is why a certain game is an exclusive to a specific console and demand it to be on the other or multiplatform. If that was the case, wouldn't the system not sell? Or do you just hate the system and want the game on the console you hold so dear when it could end up with porting issues, not that it's a problem nowadays but still.

The announcement of Bayonetta 2 at one of Nintendo's Direct feeds is a big example of that. After the sales of the first game didn't meet expectations, Sega decided to drop the franchise and sent it back to PlatinumGames where they were picked up by Nintendo to help them fund the sequel and make it an exclusive. A lot of people raged about it and while it's strange for a multiplatform title to go exclusive (like what I talked about earlier), sometimes there's a good reason why and that's because a sequel wouldn't have exist at all if there was no one to back it, even the developers mentioned about it themselves.

And then there's those fanboys who say that a certain game is exclusive to their system when it's also on PC. A majority of 360 games like Bioshock (on their first run), the first Gears of War, Fable III, Mass Effect, etc. have been either released along side or came out later on PC which destroys the argument of a console exclusive. I assume the same thing applies to those who say that Final Fantasy XIV Online on the PS3 when it's also on PC since it's an MMO.

Another issue within gaming is when gamers claim that you're not a "hardcore" gamer if you play specific games, especially games that are more or less like Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield and many others similar to it. I hate to break it to some people but when I think of "hardcore" games, I think of games like Zack & Wiki, Ghost 'N Goblins, Dark Souls, Mega Man and many others. No matter what the intended age group the visuals are, if the game is hard as nails or deep as the earth's core, that is what I consider a hardcore game.

Although it probably doesn't help with the rise of casual titles that we see on mobile platforms that cement the image of casual games so like one look without looking into it is completely wiped off. One of the many reasons why gems like Little King's Story are often forgotten.

There's also plenty of other matters that I would talk about such as sexism against female gamers, DLC and video games in the media but half of those are either irrelevant to what I'm talking about or too touchy that I might have to do a separate blog if I feel the need to.

But the bottom line is the gaming community to me is just dead because from what I remember when I was growing up, gaming was all about having fun and enjoying an experience at the comfort of your own home by yourself or with friends and family. Nowadays (somewhat thanks to the internet) those days have been long gone since people have a reason to complain, troll and various other ways of spouting bullshit to others.

You could call out on me if you want by saying I'm doing the same thing and I do acknowledge that I too am not the ideal version of a gamer but unlike some people, I have at least a sense of common knowledge and try to restrain/explain myself or correct my mistakes whenever they occur. I know others who do the same thing as I've mentioned but the majority of the gaming public is so out of control that I can't stand it.

You might be asking, if I hate all of this so much, why do I continue gaming? Because it's my passion, it's been a favourite thing for me to do since my childhood and it's not going to die no matter what. I may have not been much of a crazy gamer as I was years ago but I still enjoy it to this day and I treat each platform with respect no matter how flawed they may be.

This blog is over.

Kickstarter Report: Shadow of the Eternals

Starting up a new series of blogs that I want to do that I might transfer into video form some day. It's a series of reports about interesting Kickstarter/Indiegogo projects that I find and want to share with you all why I believe they're a worthy or not worthy to donate to.

To start off this new series of blogs, I'm here to talk about one that was "re-launched" recently after having a rough start. Yes, I'm talking about Precursor Games first big project...

 Shadow of the Eternals

Made as to be a spiritual successor to the psychological horror Gamecube gem Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem by Silicon Knights with some members of the original team working on the successor including the infamous Denis Dyack. Shadow of the Eternals is being developed for PC and the Wii U with CryEngine 3. While not only it was bringing back a lot of the elements from Eternal Darkness, it was also asking people who pledge the game to have their input within a special part of the forums called "The Order of the Unseen" where they can share and discuss ideas on how the gameplay should be handled, what insanity effects should be placed, etc.

While it had a rough start with it's first attempt back in May with the goal for $1.35 million dollars for a game that was going to be episodic but how they handled it was rather strange with the funding of the first crowd-fundraiser to only produce the first episode of the game, it also didn't help that they had this on their website and due to a high amount of demands, they made a separate Kickstarter page in order for their pledges to be more secure...but it only got rather worse from there.

Dennis Dyack who was known for the CEO of Silicon Knights hasn't been having a good track record as of late. While some of their earlier games like Cyber Empires (or Steel Empire as it's known in other countries), Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Eternal Darkness and the Gamecube remake of Metal Gear Solid have been praise-worthy titles for good reasons. The last two games put out by Silicon Knights haven't been up to par, such as the nearly-decade long developed Too Human on the Xbox 360 which received mixed reviews and poor sales within the public despite some good aspects added into it but by far the most flawed was when SK was given the task to develop a game based on the popular Marvel comic book franchise which was titled X-Men Destiny and was way below par in terms of reviews and sales due to it's lackluster quality.

Adding insult to injury is that Dyack has been known for spouting things out that he shouldn't have said like the effects on forum culture within gaming but the worst is when him and the rest of SK filed a lawsuit against Gears of War developers Epic Games since the engine that they provided for Too Human didn't seem to work for them. After their lawsuit failed, Epic Games counter-sued and won the case which resulted in Silicon Knights having to pay over $4 million in damages which soon caused their company to go into debt, which resulted in recalling all titles using the engine and selling off equipment to the new studio Precursor Games which Dyack left to persue but stepped down as CEO to CCO for the new developer.

So with all that left behind, Dyack is still accused of being accused of being an enemy, especially to a Kotaku article that accuses him of embezzling the budget that was given to SK for X-Men Destiny by Activision as well as other shady dealings (when there hasn't been any proof from what I know), which he did post a video explaining that it isn't true a few months afterwards. Unfortunately, the video is now set to private by the time of this blog is posted so instead, Kotaku posted another article with the details (as well as the video itself).

  After that, there was still confusion over the handling of the two fundraisers and Precursor Games decide to cancel both the Kickstarter and in-site donations to reconfigure their strategy to fund their big game. 2 months later, Shadow of the Eternals return to Kickstarter with a new goal of $750k, a complete 8-10 game instead of being episodic, an eventual stretch goal to develop for Sony's new-gen system the Playstation 4 and they have David Hayter (Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid) voicing the main character.


So with all of this said and some of the burdens that Precursor Games has received with plentiful amount of mistakes and other bad omens, why I am supporting this? As you might ask.

My answer is rather tricky. While it is true that the previous efforts that Dyack has been involved has been less than stellar and the bad press haunts him to this day. He has made quality games in the past that while may not say much to him as a person but as a developer, he has given a good reputation when compared to the games that he did with Silicon Knights before the release of Too Human.

I also want to see this game become a reality because while I don't have much experience with Eternal Darkness considering that I didn't like the Gamecube back in the day (despite having a really good level of stellar games on the platform), I can see why it was considering an excellent game with it's storytelling, presentation and creative features like the Sanity meter. Something about those aspects added into this spiritual successor really speaks to me with a lot of intrigue that I can't help but be fascinated by.

The early demo that they showed which the game utilizes the CRYEngine3 (the same graphic engine used in the more recent Crysis games) looks superb with solid environment detail, character design and superb use of lighting. The sound design within the music is nicely done although the voice acting could use a little bit of work, it's not awful but not really stellar.

Also with the addition of those who pledge get to have their input in the game really shows that they're trying to make the best game for gamers as much as possible by allowing them on how the game is going to be made via a special forum called The Order of the Unseen. Such as creating ideas for how the game works, what insanity effects, what kind of enemies, etc. It's a very cool incentive, no matter how much you pledge for what incentive, you get access to the forum to partake in helping the developers creating the game.

All of this really impresses me on how ambitious they are as well as how willing to allow community input in their games, combined with an impressive demo and high promises, I feel inclined to check it out once it's complete.

However, there are two problems standing in the way. The first one is not detailing how the funds are going to be spend and considering the bad press that Dyack got in the Kotaku article, it's something that should have been addressed from the start like every other good Kickstarter campaign and the second one is more recent as Nintendo has re-registered their claim for Eternal Darkness which could lead to a follow up to the Gamecube gem on the Wii U with a different developer in mind (or it could be them buying out SOTE but that might be too much of a stretch).

But even with that said, I have a level of hope that it gets funded but it could be a slow build and depending on the time they have left, it's either a do or die moment for the project to reach their goal. I'm also wondering on what they're gonna do if the game doesn't get funded (like Project Awakened which has now been accepted into Steam Greenlight).

But if you're as confident as I am, check out the game's Kickstarter page here as well as vote on Steam Greenlight. It's only your choice, you can say yes or no to whatever you desire.

Thanks for reading.

PAX Australia: A long time coming (Part Two: Games and Hardware)

Welcome to part two of my PAX Australia: A Long Time Coming blog, if you haven't seen part one, click here to read it to see my experience of the main event itself. This post will be focusing on the games and hardware I checked out.

First off with the hardware as I'd like to talk about them very briefly before I get onto the games. On Saturday, I went in line (which was REALLY big by the way) to see Microsoft Presenting the Xbox One which they also had on display in the Expo Hall but was behind a glass case for certain times during the day. Trust me when I say I have a little rant planned for that later.

Anyway, one of the reps of Microsoft came up and discussed about what the Xbox One has in store that most of us probably knew like switching to TV on the fly and back again, optimal hardware, cloud saving and 1080P Skype calls then they showcased the Kinect 2.0 which to my surprise really showed off a lot of neat things on how it tracks your body as well as work in low lighting and has in place an "Active IR" sensor which on how they displayed seemed really impressive but since it's the Kinect, I don't think gamers like me will be wasting time or using it at all.

They also discussed about the controller on how it's seems similar but revamped to make it more comfy and engaging with the use of rumble in the triggers which actually seems very cool but it's more of something that you need to feel for yourself to know how you feel about it.

They then showed off the games they had for demos which were only 3 games that we already knew about. Two exclusives and one multiplatform title. Let's talk about them shall we?

Ryse: Son of Rome - A very grounded in reality, Roman-set, hack-n-slash game by Crytek originally as a Kinect title but now not so much. From what I've saw of it, I had worries it was going to be a QTE action game that people said but it's not the case here, they're only there for executions which they claim to have a hundred of (yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it) and visually looks great, the player had a bit of trouble but not so much at the end.

Battlefield 4 - A rep from EA discussed about how they want to make it as an engrossing story for players to experience and using motion capture with actors to make the drama feel more realistic but we all know most players will be focusing on the multiplayer of that game. They did mention vehicular combat and other aspects from MP into the main campaign but still. The game looks fantastic running at 60fps but really, I don't think I'll be getting it as it looks way too similar to BF 3 that I just don't care but they also mentioned a map pack to come out first on the Xbox One but really I don't give a shit.

Killer Instinct - This is the one game I've been really excited about. I never played the older KI games so I can't really say on how this one is going but despite some of the usual decisions to promote the game, I think it looks impressive even if I'm still weary about the developer behind it. It runs at 60fps like Street Fighter IV and Mortal Kombat and the game itself looks like a lot of fun but lack of an ultra combo at the end was a minor disappointment. Even the rep himself said that.

After that, they also explained the best feature of the Xbox One having a built-in gaming DVR which you can record gameplay and share it with others as well as Twitch integration for livestreaming. While I do want to know if I can add recorded videos to my computer and still hasn't answered that, it's still an awesome feature regardless. So that was pretty much it besides stating the release is in November and they showcased the reveal trailer of Halo 5 that we already know about and I honestly don't care as I was leaving the main theater.

So the presentation was okay but that leads to my rant about Micosoft's appearance at PAX this year. So skip over if you don't want to read but if you want to see, get ready.

Microsoft's appearance other than to promote and showcase the Xbox One is nothing more than meaningless because they still didn't address the concerns about the Kinect being required, does Xbox Live Gold still needed to play online or any other matter that affects the system due to the poor PR they showed at the reveal earlier this year. But the worst of all is that they didn't have any demos for people to play at the Expo Hall. All you had was the system on display for a very limited amount of time and no one can get a feel of the controller with it's rumble triggers or try out the new games that they showcased at E3. Instead of playing them at PAX, you have to play them at the EB Games Expo in October which is happening in Queensland which really hurts those who don't have the effort or money to fly over there like myself. I would love to go there some day but I don't have the money, time or effort to do that this year.

So this was somewhat of a missed opportunity for Microsoft to regain the lost buyers even with the DRM removed and while it may be sold out at pre-orders (in America at least), it's still annoying whatever the case may be.

Okay, that's the end of the rant, let's talk about something more interesting with...

The MOGA Mobile Controller. This has been hyped for some time now and now we get a chance to feel it at PAX. A lot of big developers for Android gaming apps are working with it and it's great to see a controller being made for a more core gamer who prefer not to use the touch screens for certain games like Dead Trigger, Dungeon Hunter 4 or even Sonic The Hedgehog. While the normal version they had felt pretty good but the analog pads felt rather off when compared to the analog pad on the Nintendo 3DS as it had a more concave feel to keep my thumbs in place rather than slipping off. Luckily, they also had a Pro version that I got to feel which was bigger but way more comfortable and featured a D-pad which the basic version lacks. They had original versions on sale for pre-release for $59 as it will come out to EB Games and Target later this year with the Pro version coming down later.

I never been into mobile gaming and I sadly own an iPad for all of my gaming app needs but if I ever do get a better phone or an Android tablet, I might consider picking the pro version of the MOGA Mobile Controller up! It was a pleasant feeling.

Now for the biggest accessory I got to try out which was the Oculus Rift, after waiting an hour in line to speak to the VP of Product manager Nate for a few interesting questions. I got the chance to check out their updated version of the 3D VR goggles (which was a development kit by the way) which goes up to 1080P and was displaying the Unreal Engine 4 at 60fps. I tried a pair of the original 720P developer's kit and while the motion tracking was neat, it was very fuzzy and had a lot of issues with the resolution. The new version was more crisp, detailed and in your face but still had to try and get used to it as it's hard to see properly with all of the 3D imagery in the way but it does showcase how cool it is with a lot of particle effects and details that the Unreal Engine 4 can do and it pulls it off amazingly at a smooth motion. Like you're actually in the game.

They don't have a set date but hoping it'll sell around the $300 price tag, if it gets lower and if I see a game on the PC that I could see working with it for a more immersive experience, I may actually pick one up.

Now to the moment you've all been waiting for...

THE GAMES!!!

I'm gonna start off with some of the big releases then work me way to the indie side as there was quite a lot of games they've showcased. So let's start off with.


Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z - What do you do when you take a beloved yet challenging franchise and collaborate with Mega Man/Dead Rising creator Keiji Inafune? You add zombies to the mix! This spin-off plays very similar to Ninja Gaiden in every aspect which is excellent and the addition of using zombies as weapons makes the gameplay more fun than it already is but my only problems are on how the fans will take this considering the new look, character and style and you press the jump button to dash rather than hold the block button than press a direction.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - A sequel to a sleeper hit reboot of a classic franchise. It's practically the same game but with a lot of refinements like camera control, enhanced detail in the visuals and plays the same as the original but with a lot of refinements to the combat making it more diverse using different abilities and weapons and the sound design is fantastic.

Super Mario 3D World - Similar to Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS but with 4-player co-op and introduces the Cat-suit that can help you climb walls and attack enemies easier. It's pretty fun but won't be seeing myself getting it straight away.

Sonic Lost World - The Wii U version didn't make an appearance but the 3DS version did and it's a lot better than the 3DS port of Sonic Generations but it's rather slower than most Sonic games because I feel they wanted to make it more of a basic platformer than just always speed as you now have a run button but what's cool is the level design, new tricks like the parkour system and other neat little things to make it a rather interesting entry in the Sonic franchise.

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - A sequel to one of the fan favourites of the lengendary series, A Link to the Past. It features the same gameplay with the top-down view and features an ability to traveling along the walls. It's very easy to pick up and play and to have fun exploring. Not a fan of Zelda but this is something I'd like to try out.

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD - The Gamecube gem which had a bit of a mixed reception with the fans comes back for a second chance with an enhanced coat of paint and a few tweaks added into it. Just as fun as any other 3D Zelda game and cannot wait to check it out.

Rayman Legends - The follow-up to the awesome Rayman Origins which was a Wii U exclusive but now on all platforms (except PC which will come soon they say). If you loved Origins, you'll be wanting this game. 'Nuff said.

Flashback - A HD remake of the cult classic cinematic platformer from the 90s with a lot of tweaks and enhancements to make the game more accessible for a newer audience and already, I'm keen on checking it out when it's released.

The Epic Quest for Mighty Loot - A free-to-play title which you can infiltrate another players castle to steal their loot if you can avoid the traps and enemies placed in your way but be careful they can do the same to your castle, so be well guarded! An action-RPG with tower defense aspects sounds crazy but it's really cool. Might give it a go.

I did sit down to check out a presentation of Watch_Dogs at the Ubisoft booth but the problem with that was the presentation only showed an introduction from the Creative Director and footage of the game we've seen back at E3, nothing new. At least, I got a free poster while I was there.

Now with the big games out of the way, let's move to the indie titles as there as a lot and some of them very interesting.

Freedom Fall - You play as a prince who gets duped by an evil Princess and have to go down a big castle from the top to the bottom while avoiding devious traps. Reminds me a lot of Super Meat Boy but a bit more slower paced and it's pretty fun with it's 2D artstyle and silly humor. Out on iOS, Android and Ouya, hoping to come to PC via Steam Greenlight when gotten enough votes.

Zombitsu - An endless runner with action-RPG elements and a level of open-ended platforming. Pretty fun but it's more of a time waster which is a perfect fit for Android phones. Also coming to the Ouya.

MacGuffin's Curse - Now available on Steam, a comedy werewolf puzzle game from Brawsome, the developers behind Jolly Rover. A pretty straight-forward but interesting puzzle game.

Burden - A tower defense game where you place turrets on a giant titan as it tries to deviler cargo from one place to another while being attacked by enemies. It has an organic atmosphere in the game that is well suited with a really good soundtrack. The gameplay isn't my thing but I can see it working with a lot of people who are fans.

Framed - You control what happens to the fate of a framed man on the run from the law as you swap comic panels to progress through the story. Reminds me a lot of Ghost Trick with the concept of changing fate of the main character within the setting of a Noir comic-book. I liked it and it's coming out on iOS and PC soon.

So that's pretty much it, there were others but didn't get a chance to play them or just wasn't interested.

So this concludes my blog about my experience at PAX Australia. Finally glad a new gaming convention has come to Melbourne after a long time and for some photos, be sure to check out my Facebook or Deviantart page for some of the shots I took and I'll probably link my video on PAX itself once it's done.

But with all that said, thank you for reading!

PAX Australia: A long time coming (Part One: The Event)

No Aussie Gamer has had a proper gaming convention since the eGames & Eletronics Expo died out about 5 years ago, especially those who live around Melbourne (like me). Sure, there was the EB Games Expo in Queensland but I don't live anywhere near there and could cost me a lot to fly back and forth for an entire weekend.

But no one saw this coming when one of the biggest gaming cons in America, spawned off from a very popular web-comic would be coming here.

Yes, this happened to everyone's surprise...including me. PAX Australia happened over the weekend and I started off with one Saturday pass but kicked myself when some of the best stuff happened on Friday and Saturday, also the possibilities of so many games appearing, both from big league and indie developers so more than one day was needed.

After being at the Melbourne Showgrounds for two days, I can say that it's one of the best cons I've been to a long time and being video game related really resonates with me. It's not without it's problems but it's definitely not much of a problem for me to destroy the experience for me.

Starting off with the positives...

PAX was REALLY well organized with events being on time, plenty of enforcers around and the queues are very well placed that it doesn't block people's way when walking around the Expo hall. What makes it even better is that the walkways for the Expo Hall, the Main theatres and the Big Top, they had tents placed up to keep people under cover when it was raining and boy, it was raining on Saturday a lot which makes it really helpful.

Also, as with most cons, they have a cloak room which asks for a gold coin donation which goes to a charity fund called Child's Play which they raise money to give video game related gifts to kids in hospital. I commend them strongly for that.

They had a good array of different panels to check out within the video game industry or anything geek related. Special guests like Ron Gilbert of Secret of Monkey Island fame, Mick Gordon who is the composer behind the new Killer Instinct and even the development team behind Borderlands 2 came along as well!

The Expo Hall and the Big Top were very spacious, even when there was so many people at PAX. There was also a great amount of games and stalls to check out (including a laser skirmish battlefield) and they not only focus solely on video games, they also allow card games, board games, table top games, etc. but that's where I lead to some of the biggest problems I have with PAX this year which I hope they improve in 2014.

While there was plenty of developers showcasing their video games, there was only 3 big league developers showing off their games. Nintendo, Ubisoft and Mindscape (the aussie publisher for Konami and Tecmo/Koei's games) and that's about it where as the rest were mostly indie developers and the bigger stands were for World of Tanks and the ever popular MOBA game League of Legends. While the variety of games was awesome, I still feel they needed more big league developers to even out with the indies. Not there's anything wrong with having a lot of indie developers showcasing their material but still, needs more showcasing for big titles coming out.

Another problem is that there wasn't enough merchandise stalls, while it's cool to buy PC parts, accessories, T-shirts and Jewellery (not counting in PAX's main merchandise) but not enough variety for those who want different things, not even video games! Which is baffling to me. The last problem I had with PAX which is only a minor one, there wasn't enough cosplayers at the event. A lot of my friends came in costume but most people who came was in plain clothes. Not a big deal considering that I knew a lot of gamers aren't cosplayers but still.

The disappointments I had was (as I mentioned) missing a few interesting presentations and panels on Friday, one featuring Bioware, another featuring Mick Gordon on the music behind the new Killer Instinct and Nintendo Presents but those are more of a personal issue than anything else.

So overall it was fantastic and I hope they improve the next time I come and will be getting a 3 Day Pass so I won't miss anything. But what about what I played and checked out? Well, that's gonna have to come next in about two parts, so stay tuned!

My thoughts on the new Grand Theft Auto V trailer

Before I start, I want to apologize as it's been a while since my last blog but I've been really busy lately and I'm not going to rest as I have a few conventions to go to in the next few weeks and I have personal matters to worry about. For more information, check out my latest video to get the low-down but with that out of the way, let's get onto this blog.

If there was one hyped game that I'm not particularly excited about this year, it'd be Grand Theft Auto V. Why you may ask? It's rather simple.

As much as I loved the PS2-era games (most especially Vice City), I felt Grand Theft Auto IV was a bit of a letdown. Still a good game but not nearly as good as it's predecessors as I hated the driving controls, some of the fun and diverse aspects from the previous games have been dropped out as well as some newer features that were a bit sparse during the main campaign and the story in the main campaign had a few odd plot holes that didn't make sense until the two story-based expansion DLC came out (less said about the inconvenient phone calls the better). Also, the graphical engine wasn't that fantastic when compared to the Table Tennis game that Rockstar had on the Xbox 360.

So with that said, I'm not particularly excited for this one but that's not to say I'm ruling it out though as it does have a lot of potential to redeem themselves as the addition of 3 main characters seem rather unique and not as cut-out as GTA IV was. A former bank robber turned family-man, a hustler and a crazy southern. It all seems like a bizarre trio that can make the story interesting and entertaining on how they direct it, especially if they can make the characters likable, deep or at the very least, interesting.

With the new trailer released, it details the features, the world and what the main characters are like. It all seems like a huge step-up from the previous GTA game and previous games that Rockstar has done in the past like the amazing L.A. Noire (not developed by Rockstar but still counts), the well-stylized Red Dead Redemption to the unnecessary Max Payne 3 (might discuss that game in a future blog).

The ability to swap different main characters on the fly with their own scenarios to deal with that can link to each other like the one mission where you can swap to Frankie using a sniper rifle, the tons of character and car customization, mini games like golf, tennis, mountain biking and even scuba diving.

Also the addition of a weapon wheel that was featured in Max Payne 3 with more guns to carry is a nice addition because it makes swapping different weapons a lot more accessible than the previous GTA games and lastly, the landscape of the city you're placed in is expansive with a variety of different areas from cities to suburbs and the countryside.

I won't bother to talk about GTA Online because I don't really have much of an interest in that mode but they didn't talk much about it either so it really doesn't matter. All I focus on is the story mode and what is featured in the recent trailer.

Back on topic, from what I've seen from this trailer is very promising and I believe Rockstar can succeed with these new additions and features but what worries me is how will it play? Will it play more well-rounded and fine tuned unlike GTA IV because the controls while responsive, didn't have the same flow that the previous games have in order to incorporate realism which also included the driving. I don't mind realistic visuals (for the most part) but realistic controls is something that I can't stomach, especially driving because it's not as fun as arcade-style driving imo.

Also the story has to be well rounded and while there is also DLC incoming, I'm hoping it's not a cut out job like some games that have been released that should have been in the game without any extra payment.

Lastly, there's also the worry of the game not coming to PC and Wii U at this point or even the new-gen systems like the PS4 and Xbox One. They haven't commented about the PS4 and Xbox One but they have stated the Wii U and PC haven't been ruled out but nothing announced at this moment. (I'd be disappointed and not surprised if they didn't make it for the Wii U since Chinatown Wars was a poor seller on the DS and was later ported to the PSP and iPhone.)

So overall, I am looking forward to checking this game out since I've been a loyal fan (for the most part, I wasn't into the PSP games that much) and these new features and additions seem enticing...But I'm still weary of it because of GTA IV with all of the issues that I've talked about.

Not sure if I'll be getting it day one and if I do, I won't be purchasing the Collector's Edition and will settle on the Special Edition if I can.

That's all for now, I'll be away for a couple of weeks but hope to be back to blog more soon, thanks for reading.

Snake needs a rest (A Metal Gear Solid V blog)

Ah, Metal Gear Solid. What can I say about it that hasn't already been said? Hideo Kojima's signature franchise that started all the way back on the MSX computers but didn't make the popularity until the PS1 days with the first MGS game that added a layer of stealth, story telling, characters and a cinematic presentation to boot making it one of the best games on the system and the franchise continued with multiple sequels, spin-offs and ports onto various consoles (i.e. Twin Snakes on the Gamecube and both Subsistance games on the PS2 and Xbox).

I haven't been the biggest fan of the series but have been playing a lot of the games as far as I can remember as Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty being my favourite despite it being called the black sheep of the series by the die-hard fans and while I can understand why at certain points, they don't detract me that I just couldn't stop playing it over and over again back in the day.

After the 4th game in the main series subtitled Guns of Patriots on the Playstation 3, I thought it would be the end of Snake's legacy and Kojima and the rest of his production company as well as publisher Konami can leave the series behind to work on something fresh and new.

I was wrong...Dead wrong.

First shown sometime last year as Ground Zeroes then later as The Phantom Pain at the Spike Video Game Awards to finally announcing the true title at GDC earlier this year. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a new game in development from Kojima. While a lot of people will no doubt be excited for this game, I can honestly say that I am not one of them and I'll explain why.

First off, why do we need another Metal Gear game? Most of the plot points that lead up to the 4th game were pretty much wrapped up as far as I can tell so why does the entire series need to be extended even more? Well to be fair, from what I've gathered, this game is meant to take place after the PSP exclusive game Peace Walker as it's more has to do with a different Snake rather than Solid Snake, so it could mean like Big Boss or a different Snake altogether but that being said, does the back story of his character and others like Ocelot need to be further developed? I feel it's rather unnecessary, mainly because I don't think many people have played Peace Walker considering it was on a platform that not many people owned compared to the Nintendo DS but that said, the game was also included with the HD collection on the PS3/Xbox 360.

Another reason is that Kojima has stated in the past that he wants to do another Zone of the Enders game and personally, I was more excited for that than another Metal Gear title but alas, that's not going to happen as the release of the HD collection for Zone of the Enders kinda fell short in terms of a few promises and left the game on indefinite hold for the time being which I find that to be rather disheartening as I did like what I played from the first game on the PS2 back in the day, even if I did get it to play the MGS 2 demo.

That being said, will he work on something new then?...Well....

Anyone who knows Kojima from reports online that he's very "careful" of this franchise and doesn't want anyone screwing it up, even if he did let a different developer work on a game in relation to the franchise but to be fair it was a spin off (MGR: Revengeance is awesome btw), so I can't really fault him much for that. But what also baffles me on how Konami wants him to keep going with the franchise as it's the only thing they have left (aside from Castlevania) because in this day and age, new IPs don't sell very well because developers and publishers want to rely on franchises that they know will make a profit rather than taking risks which is something I might have to rant at another time but not right now.

So it really hurts me on how a developer like Kojima with a huge level of talent is locked up like a slave in order to work on something that he's best known for, whenever it's his decision or not. I just feel he needs to break out of the series and do a new IP and the more he and the rest at Kojima Productions as well as Konami hears this, the better (imo).

Now with my negative statements towards MGS V, I'm not saying it'll be a terrible game. From what I've seen in the Red Band trailer (WARNING: Shocking content featured), it does look very impressive with the tone, graphics, new mechanics and other aspects that we know and love of the series are in this game even if it's odd hearing Keifer Sutherland voicing as Snake in this game rather than David Hayter.

So I'm not writing it off completely, I'm just not excited for it as much as other people are because I feel the series should have been done with he 4th game and I'm very burned out on the series as a whole. I will play this one but won't be getting it within the first few weeks.

That's just how I feel and I hope Kojima can work on something new in the future.