Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: EU October 1st 2009
Available for: Nintendo Wii Time Played: Finished
Verdict: 4/5 Thumbs Up
A competent rail shooter, that thanks to Visceral Games’ strong IP, is arguably the best light-gun experience on the Wii. Although there are some issues and poor acting issues aside, the game is highly enjoyable. Unlike other rail shooters however, I must stress it isn’t all instant action…
I’m a hypocrite. I’ll freely admit it, and Gregg will merrily testify to it. However, I like to think of it as willing to change ones mind, as and when new evidence comes to light, so to speak. Still, contrary to my hatred for the Wii and its gimmick-gameplay(tm) I’ve actually started to like the little bugger.
Now don’t get all giggly at the thought of me in a darkened room waving my magic wand about at Princess Peach, hooting with pleasure. Or the sight of me on a Wii-Fit Board attempting to replicate Louise Redknapps fine form, because it won’t happen. The missus wouldn’t allow it. However, what has been happening is me categorically purchasing and playing the finest video games the Wii has to offer.
Facebook is evil. Google is evil. The internet is evil. And here is why.
I have a rule I go by that if something comes in threes in a short period of time it must mean something. I’ve suddenly come smack up against the writings of Jaron Lanier, an iconoclastic thinker whose subject is this. The internet. Blogs. And doing stuff for free because it’s supposed to be cool but isn’t really.
Got this from GamePolitics: in the ongoing battle between those who favor DRM and copy protection and those who don’t, we’ve received another truly excellent comment from Starforce executive Dmitry Guseff:
…basically AAA titles hold around a month, less important titles much longer. I have to add that if we hadn’t implemented some consumer friendly features those titles would have been held much longer.
By “holding,” señor Guseff means how long a game protected by Starforce stays that way until cracked. And admittedly Starforce is one of the strongest copy protection tools available. The truly excellent part comes from his remark about “consumer friendly” features they’ve added… meaning Starforce no longer contains a rootkit, no longer breaks your Windows installation or DVD-ROM drive, and no longer pummels you with spyware. At least, as far as we know. Starforce isn’t exactly famous for honesty.
Meet our new mascot. This Snork is now officially owned and branded by Tap-Repeatedly, and will represent us at several major functions in the coming months. It was a rigorous interview process, but ultimately this Snork – Edgar – won out over Zombie #14 from Deadly Shadows’ Shalebridge Cradle mission.
None of the above is true.
Actually, this Snork graces our front page because today is a day of days, my friends: it is STALKER: Call of Pripyat Day in North America and western Europe. And if the first English-language review is accurate, they finally got it right.
Unfortunately, Call of Pripyat is being handled by such a rinky-dink publisher over here that actually finding it at retail may be a challenge. And so far I haven’t seen it on Steam or Impulse pre-order pages. What to do?
Hear ye! Hear ye! Spencer Halpin’s 2007 documentary Moral Kombat is currently viewable for free over at Babelgum for a limited period. It highlights the issues surrounding videogame violence from the first amendment and the industry’s freedom of expression through to the implications that it may have on the next generation.
I spotted this over at GamePolitics.com and although it covers a lot of familiar ground it’s definitely worth a look if you’ve not seen it before and have an hour and a half to spare. I do have a few bones with it however.
So I feel badly about implying this, and am fully cognizant of (and in agreement with) our Meho’s postulations regarding this sequel. In fact, years ago a friend of mine ruined the original Mass Effect for me – I’d been absolutely loving it until he deconstructed the entire game before my eyes, embarking on a litany of completely valid complaints ranging from the miniscule to the monumental. I still blame him for shattering my illusions.
So how do I feel about the sequel? Clicky the clicky to find out. No spoilers, I promise.
Having played through the opening five hours of Mass Effect 2 and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, two hot off the presses sequels to relatively popular franchise starters I was alternately in tears and in fits of laughter. Something is wrong here. Something is wrong with the media of games and I am not sure it will be fixed unless we take a critical view followed by a stand. Do we still want to play games? Or watch them, read them listen to them and, possibly masturbate looking at their digital actors? Ironically, the solitary, compulsory nature of playing games has in past earned the medium many comparisons with masturbation. But here and now, in 2010 is where the things are starting to go seriously wrong.
Developer Frictional Games
Publisher Frictional Games
Released March, 2007
Available for Windows
Verdict: 5/5 Gold Star.
“If you enjoy adventure games and have a penchant for horror, especially from a first person perspective, I urge you to play this. Overture is a testament to Frictional Games’ understanding of horror and while it has a few flaws, it’s a spine-tingling experience unlike any other. Just make sure you play it alone with the volume up and the lights down. Brrr.”
This is not a First Impressions post; I or someone else will get to that sooner or later. This is a…
…this is not the post I was expecting to write about Mass Effect 2.
NOTE:this contains some story spoilers for Mass Effect.
UPDATE:it transpires that Mass Effect 2 made certain assumptions at the outset I didn’t realize it had made. Thus the accusation contained herein is false – apologies to Bioware and EA. At the same time, perhaps this could be a lesson to publishers: a not-very-paranoid fellow assumed the worst, not because it seemed likeliest, but because publishers, in their obsession with doomed anti-piracy techniques, have forced legitimate consumers to believe that they might do things like this.
It’s easiest to let the clip do the talking; besides, Mass Effect 2 just decrypted on Steam (speaking of Steam – Psychonauts! $2!)
I am a great fan of the Video Games Live concert. I’ve seen it three times and would cheerfully see it another ten, and I’m always recommending that people go and check it out. While I think the cosplay contest is probably ill-advised given that we’re trying to attract a non-Otaku audience as well, the rest is worth anyone’s time. But it’ll most affect those who remember the tunes from the days of their youth. Some of them bring a tear to my eye.
This isn’t Video Games Live, but it’s a nice stand-in while we wait for the PBS special. Enjoy!
I think this could be one of the most important games I’ve ever played and took me completely by surprise. Developed by Paolo Pedercini in six days for the Experimental Gameplay Project, Every Day the Same Dream demonstrates beautifully how interactivity can communicate certain concepts every bit as effectively as linear media, perhaps even more so. I noticed it a few weeks ago but haven’t really had a chance to post about it. So before reading any further go andplay it now. It shouldn’t take too long. Quick! Before your boss comes back.
Has it ever occurred to you that you can use you hands for an infinite number of activities? I mean, really think about it, anything you can imagine using your hands for, you most likely can. I know that may sound pretty silly but consider that a moment. For years we have been playing computer games with “a hand” that can only do one thing. Think I’m crazy? Well think about it. If you want to fire a weapon, there is usually only one way to do it…it may be the thumbstick, it may be a button, but that is all you can do with that tool. Every time you use it, you fire a weapon.
Review by Lewis B
4/5 Thumbs Up
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