Dragon Quest 8 - 9/10
I have yet to finish this game and yet I have reached the 50 hour mark. The meat of the game so far has been a team effort between myself and my roommate and I must say he has done most of the boss battles. On to the review....
You might have seen a number of commercials for this particular game and any hype you may have heard is true. It is a great game and I am glad it came to North America. The story is excellent and quite original, you will commonly think "this is the end" and the story continues. The characters are quite fun and the cut-scenes commonly comedic. The graphic style is familiar yet interestingly inventive.
The game has the air of a Final Fantasy that has been simplified and injected with child-like fun. Spells are great in the way that they are named after the sounds they make rather then real labels like ultima or fire.
The music and sounds of the game are light and enjoyful, but can be dark and forboding when needed.
The battle system is nice mainly because of the ability to psych-up a character to increase the damage they do, but you can also set other members of your party to do their own actions rather then over seeing every attack. Otherwise it is missing some features that you might be used to from some of the newer Final Fantasy games.
Aside from some problems with the progressing dificulty of the game it is truly great. This game deserves its 9/10 because of the new light it brings to an old genre.
Included with Dragon Quest 8 is the demo for the next in the Final Fantasy series. The demo shows much promise for the full game too follow, the focal point besides a presummably great story is its brand new battle system. The system combines the great parts of real-time battling and turn-based to create a fun and new hybrid.
Until Next.
Next Review: Something
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Conking Conker
Conker: Live and Reloaded - 5/10
To be clear this game is almost entirely a port of the old Conker's Bad Fur Day from the N64 to the Xbox. You may know this I did not.
On to the reviewing...firstly the game has great graphics, they are worthy of being called "Next-Gen" with what we have seen so far from X360. The music and sounds are well done and the story is simple but funny and easy to follow, (no matter how lacking in plot). But that is where my positives end. The story is quite fragile no matter how satirical it has so many holes and no bloody plot. But if you know me I am almost always about gameplay and graphics. The graphics are great, but if your character is so fucking inept that he can't jump from one platform to the next it doesn't fucking matter. Conker is funny, but his motor skills are somewhat lacking. The jumping ability is short and fall damage is HUGE! I mean HUGE, because if Conker were too fall off a fucking kitchen table he would die. I hate the gameplay so much....every fucking enemy needs a special thing and a special move to be killed. The basic fucking enemy takes at least 5 hits to die!! I found myself wanting to kill small animals in anger rather then jump for joy cause I finished a level. Every time something went my way I wasn't happy, I was relieved that I didn't feel like I was going to die of rage.
I do not reccomend this game, in fact if you see it in the store grab it and chuck it at the cashier then lite it on fire. Or do it in what ever order you like but do not buy this game, at most it is a rental.
Until Fucking Next.
Next Review: When I find some thing to review, maybe Age of empires 3
To be clear this game is almost entirely a port of the old Conker's Bad Fur Day from the N64 to the Xbox. You may know this I did not.
On to the reviewing...firstly the game has great graphics, they are worthy of being called "Next-Gen" with what we have seen so far from X360. The music and sounds are well done and the story is simple but funny and easy to follow, (no matter how lacking in plot). But that is where my positives end. The story is quite fragile no matter how satirical it has so many holes and no bloody plot. But if you know me I am almost always about gameplay and graphics. The graphics are great, but if your character is so fucking inept that he can't jump from one platform to the next it doesn't fucking matter. Conker is funny, but his motor skills are somewhat lacking. The jumping ability is short and fall damage is HUGE! I mean HUGE, because if Conker were too fall off a fucking kitchen table he would die. I hate the gameplay so much....every fucking enemy needs a special thing and a special move to be killed. The basic fucking enemy takes at least 5 hits to die!! I found myself wanting to kill small animals in anger rather then jump for joy cause I finished a level. Every time something went my way I wasn't happy, I was relieved that I didn't feel like I was going to die of rage.
I do not reccomend this game, in fact if you see it in the store grab it and chuck it at the cashier then lite it on fire. Or do it in what ever order you like but do not buy this game, at most it is a rental.
Until Fucking Next.
Next Review: When I find some thing to review, maybe Age of empires 3
Monday, January 02, 2006
Spartan: Total Warrior - Total Pwnage
Spartan: Total Warrior - 8/10
First thing I must say about this game is that the combat is wondeful and satisfying. The main focus of this game is on the combat and it does it well. Each level presents hordes of enemies like real army battles and it is not uncommon to see your total kill count at the end of a level exceed 200. The controls are simple to understand and present a quick learning curve. The weapons you use vary from two-swords to the Spear of Achilles, and their variety allows for you to find at least one favourite if not many. Each weapon has two Godly Powers that you can use and each weapon has the same two kinds, one for a single opponent and the other for clearing rooms. The powers themselves are quite useful, but you also have a two Rage Attacks that can be used when your rage is full, the two attacks per weapon follow in the same catagories as the godly powers. Among all these attacks that completely own your enemies, you have your basic attacks and when used in combination with special moves can form a very symbiotic relationship that will see you through a battle with 200 guys without a scratch. That is what I mean by Total Pwnage, aside from already having powerful attacks at the end of each level you get tokens that are used to improve your character.
Although you can wade through armies without to much fear initially, progression through the levels of the game will present tougher enemies and more dangerous environments; therefore you never feel like a win was handed to you on a silver platter. Every level is a battle, and every win is a war...when you fight the bosses you will know what I mean.
The games length is not very long as I finished today after starting yesterday. Though the game offers continued play in a number of arenas. In the arenas you fight wave after wave of small armies until you finally fall. Each wave is more difficult, but playing through the game allows you to unlock items which can be placed in the arena to help you win. Aside from this you can play an chapter individually once you have played through it already. This allows you to go back to those battles you loved and own the armies you hate.
The graphics in the game are relatively nice, the particles effects are great, and the character models are ok, but the gameplay more then makes up for it. The audio is also another great part of the game.
The story of the game is not bad, but you may find yourself looking to skip cut-scenes and and anything else that would actually tell you the story aside from your objectives in each level. The voice acting was well done, but the script was not great. It was clear that the goal was to make a very fun and epic RTS/RPG rather then anything really in-depth in terms of story.
Aside from the negatives I give this game a thumbs-up as I really enjoyed it and I will probably return now to play an arena battle.
Until Next.
Next Update: Conker: Live & Reloaded (kinda old I know)
First thing I must say about this game is that the combat is wondeful and satisfying. The main focus of this game is on the combat and it does it well. Each level presents hordes of enemies like real army battles and it is not uncommon to see your total kill count at the end of a level exceed 200. The controls are simple to understand and present a quick learning curve. The weapons you use vary from two-swords to the Spear of Achilles, and their variety allows for you to find at least one favourite if not many. Each weapon has two Godly Powers that you can use and each weapon has the same two kinds, one for a single opponent and the other for clearing rooms. The powers themselves are quite useful, but you also have a two Rage Attacks that can be used when your rage is full, the two attacks per weapon follow in the same catagories as the godly powers. Among all these attacks that completely own your enemies, you have your basic attacks and when used in combination with special moves can form a very symbiotic relationship that will see you through a battle with 200 guys without a scratch. That is what I mean by Total Pwnage, aside from already having powerful attacks at the end of each level you get tokens that are used to improve your character.
Although you can wade through armies without to much fear initially, progression through the levels of the game will present tougher enemies and more dangerous environments; therefore you never feel like a win was handed to you on a silver platter. Every level is a battle, and every win is a war...when you fight the bosses you will know what I mean.
The games length is not very long as I finished today after starting yesterday. Though the game offers continued play in a number of arenas. In the arenas you fight wave after wave of small armies until you finally fall. Each wave is more difficult, but playing through the game allows you to unlock items which can be placed in the arena to help you win. Aside from this you can play an chapter individually once you have played through it already. This allows you to go back to those battles you loved and own the armies you hate.
The graphics in the game are relatively nice, the particles effects are great, and the character models are ok, but the gameplay more then makes up for it. The audio is also another great part of the game.
The story of the game is not bad, but you may find yourself looking to skip cut-scenes and and anything else that would actually tell you the story aside from your objectives in each level. The voice acting was well done, but the script was not great. It was clear that the goal was to make a very fun and epic RTS/RPG rather then anything really in-depth in terms of story.
Aside from the negatives I give this game a thumbs-up as I really enjoyed it and I will probably return now to play an arena battle.
Until Next.
Next Update: Conker: Live & Reloaded (kinda old I know)
Friday, December 23, 2005
You love, I love, We love Katamari, and other things
We love Katamari - 9/10
I recently succumb to curiosity and sheer popularity craze and bought the now probably well known Katamari Damacy game. I was only able to procure the sequel as the original was discontinued. Though this may be a good thing as I hear the first was not as good. Anyways on to the review. We love Katamari is a delightful game that is quite unique. The amount of unique non-violent games currently on the market are few and in between and most do not execute their ideas as beautifully as this game. The art of the game and the feel are both similar to what one would see on a major drug trip, but it makes the game all that more fun. I will explaint he basic premise of the game as I have had the same question over and over, "what do you have to do?" Well as the prince you must roll a giant ball, gathering things onto it as it grows. The larger the ball the larger the items you can pick up with it. Some levels have restrictions of on them as to how big you can make the ball, having to do it in a certain amount of time, or having to pick up certain objects. Each level presents its own set of unique challenges, but the most enjoyable level is one in which you must make your katamari as big as possible in a large amountof time. It is really quite fun starting in one small neighborhood, rolling out to small to pick up much and returning large enough to pick up the entire town. The game is quite simple and pleasant and never had me throwing a fit because a "bug" threw off my game plan. Everyone should love this game because of its innovatives, but what is also great is the fact that their is 2-player head to head. In the mode you can pick up your opponent, quite fun. Finally, I recommend you pick up this game, but alas it is only for PS2, if you dont have a PS2 go and get one and buy this game.
I recently succumb to curiosity and sheer popularity craze and bought the now probably well known Katamari Damacy game. I was only able to procure the sequel as the original was discontinued. Though this may be a good thing as I hear the first was not as good. Anyways on to the review. We love Katamari is a delightful game that is quite unique. The amount of unique non-violent games currently on the market are few and in between and most do not execute their ideas as beautifully as this game. The art of the game and the feel are both similar to what one would see on a major drug trip, but it makes the game all that more fun. I will explaint he basic premise of the game as I have had the same question over and over, "what do you have to do?" Well as the prince you must roll a giant ball, gathering things onto it as it grows. The larger the ball the larger the items you can pick up with it. Some levels have restrictions of on them as to how big you can make the ball, having to do it in a certain amount of time, or having to pick up certain objects. Each level presents its own set of unique challenges, but the most enjoyable level is one in which you must make your katamari as big as possible in a large amountof time. It is really quite fun starting in one small neighborhood, rolling out to small to pick up much and returning large enough to pick up the entire town. The game is quite simple and pleasant and never had me throwing a fit because a "bug" threw off my game plan. Everyone should love this game because of its innovatives, but what is also great is the fact that their is 2-player head to head. In the mode you can pick up your opponent, quite fun. Finally, I recommend you pick up this game, but alas it is only for PS2, if you dont have a PS2 go and get one and buy this game.
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