What's this? A Final Fantasy game with poor quality because they focused too much on multiplayer aspects instead of actually making the game fun!?! Precisely. People will say this game is great because it has multiplayer and that I am wrong for saying that it was bad.
No, it was bad because the single-player campaign was bad. Sure co-op may have been fun but I live in a place where people only play Madden. I have nobody to co-op with. Not only are the physics in this game wonky (I cheated to get to the last boss by making a tower with my characters) but it just feels unpolished. Some of the bosses get a little annoying and everything slows down at the wrong times.
I would say the only redeeming quality is the fact that this is an Action RPG but I have played better. Much better on the same system. Still, it was a decent romp through a world that I had already felt I had been to.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Contra (PC)
Infamous cheats aside, I have to get this out of the way. I couldn't beat this without the code. I barely did it with the code. I've never been the greatest at twitch shooters and games of this sort. It's the reason I never got into Metal Slug because I just couldn't get used to being in the right place at the right time.
Sure this game is a classic and if I compared it to modern titles, it just wouldn't compare. It's a hard game, really hard. But at the time when it was created, games had to be hard. Things from this gen had to be hard to keep kids interested. There was no such thing as Gamestop or DLC. Kids had to find this game and shell out quite a bit of money just to play a game where you might never see the end.
The game itself is a simple concept, go around and kill everything. Try not to die too much and move on. Where it is different is just how fast-paced and intense it gets at times. Even on the PC (Thanks to the Konami Classics Collection), there are times when there is just so much on the screen, everything slows down. You need that slow-down to survive a lot of times.
Would I play this again? Maybe. Would I beat it without the code? No. I'm just not that good.
Sure this game is a classic and if I compared it to modern titles, it just wouldn't compare. It's a hard game, really hard. But at the time when it was created, games had to be hard. Things from this gen had to be hard to keep kids interested. There was no such thing as Gamestop or DLC. Kids had to find this game and shell out quite a bit of money just to play a game where you might never see the end.
The game itself is a simple concept, go around and kill everything. Try not to die too much and move on. Where it is different is just how fast-paced and intense it gets at times. Even on the PC (Thanks to the Konami Classics Collection), there are times when there is just so much on the screen, everything slows down. You need that slow-down to survive a lot of times.
Would I play this again? Maybe. Would I beat it without the code? No. I'm just not that good.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Castlevania III (PC)
For such a simple concept, the art of vampire hunting has never been simple. Each time you get dragged to a new place with new foes and sometimes you have to wonder "Where do all these things keep coming from?" It seems Dracula has an inexhaustible army at his disposal each time he is revived. Maybe it's the sweet castle or just the fact that he steals men's souls and makes them his slaves. I don't know but I set out to find out with this game.
Now, it's been an incredibly long time since I played this and I cannot for the life of me remember if Dracula is actually in this. I can't remember if I ever even beat this. I do remember playing it on my PC with the Konami Classics Collection though. I remember being able to play as different characters at certain points and I did like climbing walls and things.
This game evokes all sorts of nostalgic feelings and it shouldn't. I didn't play it for the first time until like 5 years ago, but the feeling just oozes my childhood. I don't know if is just the overall concept but this game gives me those warm feelings. Sure I never beat it but there is still plenty of time to do that. It's not like it's a terrible night to have a curse or something.
Now, it's been an incredibly long time since I played this and I cannot for the life of me remember if Dracula is actually in this. I can't remember if I ever even beat this. I do remember playing it on my PC with the Konami Classics Collection though. I remember being able to play as different characters at certain points and I did like climbing walls and things.
This game evokes all sorts of nostalgic feelings and it shouldn't. I didn't play it for the first time until like 5 years ago, but the feeling just oozes my childhood. I don't know if is just the overall concept but this game gives me those warm feelings. Sure I never beat it but there is still plenty of time to do that. It's not like it's a terrible night to have a curse or something.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Drawn to Life (NDS)
This is a simple game. Very simple. You basically draw your hero and then draw some of the objects in the world. Platform around and get different powers. These powers are things you draw too. Like the snow-shooter or wings. You get to decide what is in the game. Sure there are limitations to this but it has it's charms.
The platforming could be frustrating at times but the game is solid. It's not a hard game at all but it isn't bad. The story is worthless and you can ruin it with terrible drawings too. Like the planet I drew in the story was actually just a green dot. Then they show it later and it kind of ruins it all.
This wasn't a terrible game. It wasn't the best game ever but it wasn't awful.
The platforming could be frustrating at times but the game is solid. It's not a hard game at all but it isn't bad. The story is worthless and you can ruin it with terrible drawings too. Like the planet I drew in the story was actually just a green dot. Then they show it later and it kind of ruins it all.
This wasn't a terrible game. It wasn't the best game ever but it wasn't awful.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Demon's Souls (PS3)
There are few words that perfectly describe this game. Difficult? Yes. Frustrating? At times. Fun? Well, let's go over this. This game is one of the few games this gen that I would genuinely say is difficult. Not difficult because of bad controls or by unfair advantages by the enemy. This game is difficult at the core and the only person you have to blame when you lose is yourself.
When setting out, it's simple. Go through the level and survive. Once you know everything you need to know about the controls (which the tutorial level explains pretty well), it is just you against the world. The world doesn't like you, in fact, the world hates you. Everything is out to get you. Even the NPCs that you save will be helpful at times but you never know who to trust.
There are a large variety of weapons in this game. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. In fact, I went through most of the game with the beginning weapon that I had modified. Once you find the right weapon, it is very hard to change up since every weapon feels different. I played as a battlemage, usually with a single-handed sword (although I switched to a katana at the end of the game) and some magic.
This game is difficult. Very much so, but deaths usually come in two forms: your own fault and completely cheap. The "your own fault" deaths usually come during difficult fights where you make a mistake and you know you messed up. This usually comes from rushing. That's the number one rule of this game, you don't rush. Rushing leads to death. The second form is moderately rare. Like an enemy glitchingly throwing you off a cliff or shooting you from incredibly far away. These can be frustrating but dealt with.
I liked this game. I didn't like it for a while but I liked it. Sure it can feel unfair at times but when you know what you are doing you can prevail. Never have I felt more satisfaction than when I finally finished this game. That feeling of accomplishment is just too much to give up on this game. If you want a difficult game, play this. If you can't put up with being challenged, don't. This game is definitely not for everybody but worth every minute. So the world might be mended. So the world might be mended...
When setting out, it's simple. Go through the level and survive. Once you know everything you need to know about the controls (which the tutorial level explains pretty well), it is just you against the world. The world doesn't like you, in fact, the world hates you. Everything is out to get you. Even the NPCs that you save will be helpful at times but you never know who to trust.
There are a large variety of weapons in this game. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. In fact, I went through most of the game with the beginning weapon that I had modified. Once you find the right weapon, it is very hard to change up since every weapon feels different. I played as a battlemage, usually with a single-handed sword (although I switched to a katana at the end of the game) and some magic.
This game is difficult. Very much so, but deaths usually come in two forms: your own fault and completely cheap. The "your own fault" deaths usually come during difficult fights where you make a mistake and you know you messed up. This usually comes from rushing. That's the number one rule of this game, you don't rush. Rushing leads to death. The second form is moderately rare. Like an enemy glitchingly throwing you off a cliff or shooting you from incredibly far away. These can be frustrating but dealt with.
I liked this game. I didn't like it for a while but I liked it. Sure it can feel unfair at times but when you know what you are doing you can prevail. Never have I felt more satisfaction than when I finally finished this game. That feeling of accomplishment is just too much to give up on this game. If you want a difficult game, play this. If you can't put up with being challenged, don't. This game is definitely not for everybody but worth every minute. So the world might be mended. So the world might be mended...
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Soul Calibur V (PS3)
It had been a while since I had played a Soul Calibur game. In fact, the only other game in the series I had played was Soul Calibur II on Gamecube. My how this series has changed.
The character creator is the key draw here. Creating my favorite characters from other games is hilarious at times and sometimes they come out really well. In fact I have spent more time making characters and play as them than playing with the stock characters. The story is weak but it isn't the worst fighting game story that I have seen.
This is a rare occasion of a game that I have actually played online. Bouts are fast and incredibly great. Sometimes you hit a terrible lag point to where the match ends but that isn't that often. It has been a while since I have played online, so I don't know if it has gotten worse.
As for trophies, they are difficult to get. I rarely talk about trophies but some of these are ridiculous. I have to say that I usually dislike online trophies. Anything that requires me to be the top of something is just not fun. I play games to have fun and relax. I don't want to have to learn the ins-and-outs of a fighting system just to get all the trophies. It's a growing trend I wish would disappear.
The character creator is the key draw here. Creating my favorite characters from other games is hilarious at times and sometimes they come out really well. In fact I have spent more time making characters and play as them than playing with the stock characters. The story is weak but it isn't the worst fighting game story that I have seen.
This is a rare occasion of a game that I have actually played online. Bouts are fast and incredibly great. Sometimes you hit a terrible lag point to where the match ends but that isn't that often. It has been a while since I have played online, so I don't know if it has gotten worse.
As for trophies, they are difficult to get. I rarely talk about trophies but some of these are ridiculous. I have to say that I usually dislike online trophies. Anything that requires me to be the top of something is just not fun. I play games to have fun and relax. I don't want to have to learn the ins-and-outs of a fighting system just to get all the trophies. It's a growing trend I wish would disappear.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Castlevania (PC)
How would one play this on the PC? This is a very popular NES game. I must have used an emulator! Wrong! I purchased this game as part of the Konami Classics Collection. It came with the first three Castlevania games and Contra/Super-C.
So how does this game fair on the PC? Not bad. The controls translate decently well. The game looks good on a wide screen despite the 8-bit graphics. This is a pretty simple game. Try to live from point A to point B. You have a whip and various magic items at your disposal. Each magic item has advantages and is good for something.
The platforming is solid, the combat is fun and patterned. The bosses are difficult and fun. I never finished this game. I would love to but I lost all my saves and didn't feel like playing much anymore. I made it to the Frankenstein and Igor battle. It was difficult but not the notorious Death difficulty.
So how does this game fair on the PC? Not bad. The controls translate decently well. The game looks good on a wide screen despite the 8-bit graphics. This is a pretty simple game. Try to live from point A to point B. You have a whip and various magic items at your disposal. Each magic item has advantages and is good for something.
The platforming is solid, the combat is fun and patterned. The bosses are difficult and fun. I never finished this game. I would love to but I lost all my saves and didn't feel like playing much anymore. I made it to the Frankenstein and Igor battle. It was difficult but not the notorious Death difficulty.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Balloon Fight (3DS)
I received this game free as part of being the 3DS Ambassador that I was. I will make this short. It is a game, where you do things. Honestly, I haven't played this game all that much. It is fun but very simple. You are a balloon fighter but have to pop other fighter's balloons.
It's a fun way to spend some time but it is definitely an old game. It hasn't aged well either. As arcade type games go, it is pretty good. If you don't feel the need to play this game, the only other game I can think of that is like this game is Joust. Both are great games.
It's a fun way to spend some time but it is definitely an old game. It hasn't aged well either. As arcade type games go, it is pretty good. If you don't feel the need to play this game, the only other game I can think of that is like this game is Joust. Both are great games.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP)
Kingdom Hearts has always been a guilty pleasure of mine but it has felt that every game since the original have been steadily going down in quality. This game was a pleasant surprise and helped me get back into the series. Sure this game has some frustrating points (namely the last bosses) but it was a fun ride.
Let's get down to business, I've always been a fan of action-RPGs where you have the control of what attacks you are using and who to attack. This game gives me that freedom. Sure, just like the original, you just wail on enemies but it seems varied this time since you rarely have a friend to help you out. In fact, being solo is what makes this game challenging. In the first game, Donald would save you. All you had to do was survive long enough. This game, there is no safety net.
The various different battle styles were interesting but often would appear at worthless time. I often would get the fire style with Terra when I was fighting enemies immune or absorbent to fire. This was not as rare as I would have hoped. Fighting the last bosses were frustrating as well because it often felt like I had to constantly be on guard. I also felt I had to be flawless just to win.
This was a great game and I wish they would have expanded on it better. By that I mean not have such repetitive worlds or scenarios. Here's hoping the next games in the series have even more fun in them!
Let's get down to business, I've always been a fan of action-RPGs where you have the control of what attacks you are using and who to attack. This game gives me that freedom. Sure, just like the original, you just wail on enemies but it seems varied this time since you rarely have a friend to help you out. In fact, being solo is what makes this game challenging. In the first game, Donald would save you. All you had to do was survive long enough. This game, there is no safety net.
The various different battle styles were interesting but often would appear at worthless time. I often would get the fire style with Terra when I was fighting enemies immune or absorbent to fire. This was not as rare as I would have hoped. Fighting the last bosses were frustrating as well because it often felt like I had to constantly be on guard. I also felt I had to be flawless just to win.
This was a great game and I wish they would have expanded on it better. By that I mean not have such repetitive worlds or scenarios. Here's hoping the next games in the series have even more fun in them!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hydlide (NES)
This is another one of those games that I haven't finished but I never plan on it. This is a game I picked up ages ago for around $2. I feel really bad for trying this game.
This is the perfect example of a mess. Nothing about this game is redeemable. You are dropped into a world with no explanation as to how to play or even what to do. I'll make this short, you don't want to know what to do. Save yourself the trouble and don't even bother looking into this game. I feel like I paid too much for this game.
Of course, people will tell you that this is just a difficult game and you will be surprised if you give it a chance. I don't want to give this game a chance. I hope this gets my point across. Don't play this game, don't even look at it.
This is the perfect example of a mess. Nothing about this game is redeemable. You are dropped into a world with no explanation as to how to play or even what to do. I'll make this short, you don't want to know what to do. Save yourself the trouble and don't even bother looking into this game. I feel like I paid too much for this game.
Of course, people will tell you that this is just a difficult game and you will be surprised if you give it a chance. I don't want to give this game a chance. I hope this gets my point across. Don't play this game, don't even look at it.
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