Official Site: http://www.atlus.com/knights/
Source: Youtube Channel AtlusUSA
I had finally finished playing Knights in the Nightmare sometime last year. I played it off and on for three years and finally completed it. Sting Entertainment is known for making very unique games with all the mechanics and gameplay a bit more different from its usual genre and familiarity. Before Knights in the Nightmare, I have tried Riviera: The Promised Land and Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone. One resembles a turn-based RPG while the other was like a Tactics-RPG. Knights in the Nightmare, on the other hand, is a little harder to describe. It looks like a Tactics game, with Action-RPG elements, and some bullet-hell. The player takes the role of a wisp which can command soldiers throughout each map. The game is seemingly complicated where the tutorial takes up to 2-3 hours to complete; however, the actual game isn't too bad at all. The player commands each soldier in real-time to attack enemies throughout each map while collecting items, dodging enemy bullets, and switching between LAW/CHAOS phases. Overall, the graphics were beautiful and highly detailed, the music was pretty good, and the gameplay was between fun/satisfying and a little repetitive/boring. The story is just as convoluted as the game's mechanics. I commend Sting Entertainment for always innovating gaming genres and having a lot of content in their games, but it often times scare off most gamers with its overwhelming presence. With such ambitious design choices for Knights in the Nightmare, I've always wondered what Sting Entertainment was going to do next. They have made 3 new PSP games since then (not counting ports of their previous games) and so I guess they've been keeping busy. If you want complex and innovative RPGs, look for games developed by Sting Entertainment. I heard Baroque is an innovative Action-RPG, Rogue-like that some people liked. Many others didn't like it because of how unforgiving or confusing the game was. Guess I should check out more of their games too.
Showing posts with label Nintendo DS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nintendo DS. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Retroview - Phantasy Star Zero
Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/phantasy-star-zero/
Source: Youtube Channel SegaAmerica
I remember waiting for Phantasy Star Zero to come out. My wish for a Phantasy Star game on the Nintendo DS had come true and was so close. It was one of the very few games I pre-ordered and picked up on the first day. That was over 3 years ago when it was released back in November 10, 2009. I didn't play over 100 hours on it like I thought I would, but I did manage to complete the main part of the game at least once. Phantasy Star Online held a lot of great memories for gamers and so many were excited for Phantasy Star Universe. Unfortunately, it wasn't met with the same type of love and appreciation for the game.
Many other gamers didn't like Phantasy Star Online to begin with because of the lack of story considering it's an RPG (there was absolutely a story to the game, but you had to pay attention to the conversations and message nodes to understand what was happening). With Phantasy Star Universe, fans complained it was TOO much story and not enough gameplay among other changes to classes, combat mechanics and such. Sega responded by making Phantasy Star Zero meet up between the two for an enjoyable experience for a portable system like the Nintendo DS. They balanced the amount of story with gameplay while returning the combat mechanics back to the original Phantasy Star Online while adding some new ones such as charging attacks and abilities.
The game takes advantage of the touch screen which has access to maps, AI commands, and text messages. Then, there's also free online cooperative gameplay with players around the world. I tried it and it really worked! Online gameplay on the Nintendo DS was definitely better than the Nintendo Wii at the time. Everything that made the Phantasy Star series past PSO fun returned with lots of different weapons, feeding mags, strategic 3 part combo attacks, and cooperative play.
With a game like Phantasy Star Zero, I was hoping more developers would be able to create games with as much content, online accessibility, and replay value in the future for handheld systems. I was hoping Heroes of Ruin would be one of those games for the Nintendo 3DS but ended up having no end-game content. I guess I can count on Sonic Team to continue to make games I wouldn't mind playing for hours on end when it comes to the Phantasy Star series. Especially with Phantasy Star Online 2 coming out.
Although I didn't play it as much as I thought I would, it's a game I still come back to once in a while. The game is still pretty pricey at most retail stores, but it's worth playing if you enjoy Action-RPGs and own a Nintendo DS or 3DS.
Source: Youtube Channel SegaAmerica
I remember waiting for Phantasy Star Zero to come out. My wish for a Phantasy Star game on the Nintendo DS had come true and was so close. It was one of the very few games I pre-ordered and picked up on the first day. That was over 3 years ago when it was released back in November 10, 2009. I didn't play over 100 hours on it like I thought I would, but I did manage to complete the main part of the game at least once. Phantasy Star Online held a lot of great memories for gamers and so many were excited for Phantasy Star Universe. Unfortunately, it wasn't met with the same type of love and appreciation for the game.
Many other gamers didn't like Phantasy Star Online to begin with because of the lack of story considering it's an RPG (there was absolutely a story to the game, but you had to pay attention to the conversations and message nodes to understand what was happening). With Phantasy Star Universe, fans complained it was TOO much story and not enough gameplay among other changes to classes, combat mechanics and such. Sega responded by making Phantasy Star Zero meet up between the two for an enjoyable experience for a portable system like the Nintendo DS. They balanced the amount of story with gameplay while returning the combat mechanics back to the original Phantasy Star Online while adding some new ones such as charging attacks and abilities.
The game takes advantage of the touch screen which has access to maps, AI commands, and text messages. Then, there's also free online cooperative gameplay with players around the world. I tried it and it really worked! Online gameplay on the Nintendo DS was definitely better than the Nintendo Wii at the time. Everything that made the Phantasy Star series past PSO fun returned with lots of different weapons, feeding mags, strategic 3 part combo attacks, and cooperative play.
With a game like Phantasy Star Zero, I was hoping more developers would be able to create games with as much content, online accessibility, and replay value in the future for handheld systems. I was hoping Heroes of Ruin would be one of those games for the Nintendo 3DS but ended up having no end-game content. I guess I can count on Sonic Team to continue to make games I wouldn't mind playing for hours on end when it comes to the Phantasy Star series. Especially with Phantasy Star Online 2 coming out.
Although I didn't play it as much as I thought I would, it's a game I still come back to once in a while. The game is still pretty pricey at most retail stores, but it's worth playing if you enjoy Action-RPGs and own a Nintendo DS or 3DS.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Retroview - From the Abyss
Aksys Site: http://www.aksysgames.com/games/fta/
Source: Youtube Channel TeamDSNEWS
From the Abyss for the Nintendo DS was on my list of games to check out long ago and I eventually played through it earlier this year. The game was like a very watered down "Secret of Mana" with its own little mechanics and gimmicks that sets it apart. From the Abyss is an Action-RPG that's dungeon based rather than an open-world. The player will go through different parts of the Abyss gate and travel through 4 areas before fighting the boss. The game is extremely difficult in the beginning as enemies take quite a few hits before dying and the player won't be able to withstand that many attacks before dying. Once I got through the first 2 areas for the first stage, I was strong enough to get through the rest of the game fairly easily with no problems at all.
The player will end up leveling up very quickly as long as they're killing enemies along the way. There's one problem already: not having a balanced leveling system that keeps the game challenging or fresh. I one-shotted most enemies if not within 3 hits and I had so much money that I could buy the strongest items several times over and still have some left over. The levels themselves go from one block to another much like the original Legend of Zelda games were like. Everything in that particular stage that you're on will look the same. Exploring everything didn't reward the player much as it "sometimes" gave a better equipment if not a regular potion to use, and so near the end I decided to rush the game and ignore going to dead ends if possible. There's the other problem: exploration wasn't fun. There wasn't much of an incentive to check the other paths because there was usually very little there or nothing at all. There there's the most important aspect of the game: the combat system.
The game is a lot like the Mana series where the player can switch between weapons to slash enemies, shoot them from afar, or cast spells. For melee weapons, the combo system was extremely stiff which left the player extremely vulnerable when attacking and fast enemies were annoying to chase after. For the ranged weapon, there was only the bow. The bow attacks really slow, it arcs in a short distance, and it had a very long animation which left the player more vulnerable than any other weapon. The gimmick the game possessed was the ability to steal enemy skills. Sometimes, it's a skill that the enemy doesn't even use but will be acquired anyways. These skills can range from extending a weapon combo, to a special weapon skill, or allow the player to cast magical spells. Magical spells took long to channel before casting and are generally weak if not useless. The most useful ones were heals and speed up. So how was I able to bear through the rest of the game?
The regular attacks from the weapons were ridiculous and useless, but some of the special skills acquired from enemies made them god-like. The one I used most was an extremely strong and fast arrow shot used on the bow which cuts across the screen and did an insane amount of damage. It made the game extremely easy and I ended up using it to mow through the rest of the game. It was semi-entertaining to kill through everything so quickly, but everything about the game just felt dumbed down. The story was very plain, characters were forgettable, levels were a chore to get through when running into a dead end 10 blocks later, the music was average, and the experience was very mediocre. There were a few times where some enemies and bosses gave me trouble as there isn't a grace period between each hit which meant an enemy attack can land multiple times as long as the player's within it (a tornado or enemy flying dive can hit the player 8 times in a row with a stun lock with the initial hit). But knowing to avoid those attacks and using the bow's fast attack skill made it really easy.
All in all, the game wasn't bad, it was just very average and perhaps a little boring. It's a forgettable game, but one that could provide some entertainment value. There are some downloadable sequels (sub-titled "Anonymous Notes") available on the eShop. If anything, they're good for passing the time.
Source: Youtube Channel TeamDSNEWS
From the Abyss for the Nintendo DS was on my list of games to check out long ago and I eventually played through it earlier this year. The game was like a very watered down "Secret of Mana" with its own little mechanics and gimmicks that sets it apart. From the Abyss is an Action-RPG that's dungeon based rather than an open-world. The player will go through different parts of the Abyss gate and travel through 4 areas before fighting the boss. The game is extremely difficult in the beginning as enemies take quite a few hits before dying and the player won't be able to withstand that many attacks before dying. Once I got through the first 2 areas for the first stage, I was strong enough to get through the rest of the game fairly easily with no problems at all.
The player will end up leveling up very quickly as long as they're killing enemies along the way. There's one problem already: not having a balanced leveling system that keeps the game challenging or fresh. I one-shotted most enemies if not within 3 hits and I had so much money that I could buy the strongest items several times over and still have some left over. The levels themselves go from one block to another much like the original Legend of Zelda games were like. Everything in that particular stage that you're on will look the same. Exploring everything didn't reward the player much as it "sometimes" gave a better equipment if not a regular potion to use, and so near the end I decided to rush the game and ignore going to dead ends if possible. There's the other problem: exploration wasn't fun. There wasn't much of an incentive to check the other paths because there was usually very little there or nothing at all. There there's the most important aspect of the game: the combat system.
The game is a lot like the Mana series where the player can switch between weapons to slash enemies, shoot them from afar, or cast spells. For melee weapons, the combo system was extremely stiff which left the player extremely vulnerable when attacking and fast enemies were annoying to chase after. For the ranged weapon, there was only the bow. The bow attacks really slow, it arcs in a short distance, and it had a very long animation which left the player more vulnerable than any other weapon. The gimmick the game possessed was the ability to steal enemy skills. Sometimes, it's a skill that the enemy doesn't even use but will be acquired anyways. These skills can range from extending a weapon combo, to a special weapon skill, or allow the player to cast magical spells. Magical spells took long to channel before casting and are generally weak if not useless. The most useful ones were heals and speed up. So how was I able to bear through the rest of the game?
The regular attacks from the weapons were ridiculous and useless, but some of the special skills acquired from enemies made them god-like. The one I used most was an extremely strong and fast arrow shot used on the bow which cuts across the screen and did an insane amount of damage. It made the game extremely easy and I ended up using it to mow through the rest of the game. It was semi-entertaining to kill through everything so quickly, but everything about the game just felt dumbed down. The story was very plain, characters were forgettable, levels were a chore to get through when running into a dead end 10 blocks later, the music was average, and the experience was very mediocre. There were a few times where some enemies and bosses gave me trouble as there isn't a grace period between each hit which meant an enemy attack can land multiple times as long as the player's within it (a tornado or enemy flying dive can hit the player 8 times in a row with a stun lock with the initial hit). But knowing to avoid those attacks and using the bow's fast attack skill made it really easy.
All in all, the game wasn't bad, it was just very average and perhaps a little boring. It's a forgettable game, but one that could provide some entertainment value. There are some downloadable sequels (sub-titled "Anonymous Notes") available on the eShop. If anything, they're good for passing the time.
Friday, January 20, 2012
GameLight - Pokémon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition
Official JP Site: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/ranse/
Wikia Page: http://koei.wikia.com/wiki/Pokémon_Plus_Nobunaga_no_Yabou
Source: Youtube Channel ThePokemonCompanyCH
A new Pokémon game is coming out (at least in Japan)! But it's not what most are expecting. Nintendo has teamed up with historical war game developer Koei in creating Pokémon plus Nobunaga's Ambition, a Tactical Strategy RPG for the Nintendo DS. When I saw the video on Kotaku, I was excited. "Whoa, Sengoku era warlords fighting with Pokémon? Awesome!" The article shared on Kotaku was written by Brian Ashcraft (I go to Kotaku specifically to read stuff he writes) and he explained his reaction of watching the trailer with his 8-year old child. They were both perplexed and confused with why they would do such a cross over. This is not surprising as it's a strange mash-up. I told my father, once an avid player of Nobunaga's Ambition back in the NES days, about the cross over and he thought it was absolutely absurd. "It's just too strange."
Just some background on what Nobunaga's Ambition is about: It's part of a long series of historical strategy games developed by Koei based on Japan's Sengoku Period (1467–1573) where many feudal warlords seeked to conquer and unify Japan. Among those leaders was a man named Nobunaga Oda who held one of the largest armies and was a forced to be reckoned with. Games based off that time period are numerous and should be familiar in one name or another. Some of these games, aside from Nobunaga's Ambition, that is based off the history or references historical figures are: Sengoku Basara (known as Devil Kings in the Western market) (Capcom), Onimusha (Capcom), Samurai Warriors (Koei), Kessen 3 (Koei), Shogun: Total War (Electronic Arts, Sega), Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (Microsoft Game Studios), etc.
I'm guessing that the team behind the Pokémon franchise wants to try something new and grab a new audience, specifically those who are interested in historical Japan/the matured audience exposed to the history. In all honesty, I'm really sick of the same Pokémon games that have been spewing out over and over. So whenever Nintendo decides to develop or have another company develop a new type of game like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Pinball, or Pokémon Rumble, I get excited and am willing to try it out. With a crazy mix between Pokémon and Samurai fighting, I say "why not?" I'm hoping that it gets brought over to the Western market, though I'm not sure how well it would sell.
Source:
-Kotaku: Watching the New Pokémon Trailer with an 8-Year-Old
Wikia Page: http://koei.wikia.com/wiki/Pokémon_Plus_Nobunaga_no_Yabou
Source: Youtube Channel ThePokemonCompanyCH
A new Pokémon game is coming out (at least in Japan)! But it's not what most are expecting. Nintendo has teamed up with historical war game developer Koei in creating Pokémon plus Nobunaga's Ambition, a Tactical Strategy RPG for the Nintendo DS. When I saw the video on Kotaku, I was excited. "Whoa, Sengoku era warlords fighting with Pokémon? Awesome!" The article shared on Kotaku was written by Brian Ashcraft (I go to Kotaku specifically to read stuff he writes) and he explained his reaction of watching the trailer with his 8-year old child. They were both perplexed and confused with why they would do such a cross over. This is not surprising as it's a strange mash-up. I told my father, once an avid player of Nobunaga's Ambition back in the NES days, about the cross over and he thought it was absolutely absurd. "It's just too strange."
Just some background on what Nobunaga's Ambition is about: It's part of a long series of historical strategy games developed by Koei based on Japan's Sengoku Period (1467–1573) where many feudal warlords seeked to conquer and unify Japan. Among those leaders was a man named Nobunaga Oda who held one of the largest armies and was a forced to be reckoned with. Games based off that time period are numerous and should be familiar in one name or another. Some of these games, aside from Nobunaga's Ambition, that is based off the history or references historical figures are: Sengoku Basara (known as Devil Kings in the Western market) (Capcom), Onimusha (Capcom), Samurai Warriors (Koei), Kessen 3 (Koei), Shogun: Total War (Electronic Arts, Sega), Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (Microsoft Game Studios), etc.
I'm guessing that the team behind the Pokémon franchise wants to try something new and grab a new audience, specifically those who are interested in historical Japan/the matured audience exposed to the history. In all honesty, I'm really sick of the same Pokémon games that have been spewing out over and over. So whenever Nintendo decides to develop or have another company develop a new type of game like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Pinball, or Pokémon Rumble, I get excited and am willing to try it out. With a crazy mix between Pokémon and Samurai fighting, I say "why not?" I'm hoping that it gets brought over to the Western market, though I'm not sure how well it would sell.
Source:
-Kotaku: Watching the New Pokémon Trailer with an 8-Year-Old
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
VGCulture - Ace Attorney Live Action Movie
 |
| Source: Joystiq (Check Bottom) |
For those unfamiliar with the Ace Attorney series or known in Japan as Gyakuten Saiban (逆転裁判), it's a comedic adventure game with elements of mystery adventure and visual novels. You play the role of Phoenix Wright in investigating murder cases and taking it to the courtroom where you must find the truth behind each incident. The game has incredibly well written stories and the team that translated the game did a splendid job on interpreting the jokes and references to match the audience of Western culture. The music is amazing and very memorable. The game itself is engaging and very hard to put down. The series has spanned to five games and have more coming soon with Gyakuten Kenji 2 (Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Miles Edgeworth) and Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney.
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment
Honestly, I'm more excited with the release of those two games than a Live Action adaptation movie.
Sources:
-Kotaku - Is One of Japan’s Bloodiest Directors Working on an Ace Attorney Movie?
-Joystiq - Rumor: Ace Attorney film set photographed
Thursday, November 18, 2010
GameLight Review - Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Before I get into a review, I read some more news about a supposed Megaman Online game coming out. Joystiq reported on their site some new gameplay footages and it looks pretty good so far.
Source: Youtube Channel xayaxxo
I am a bit concerned about the game slowing down a little as an online game since enemies in Megaman games generally blow up fairly quickly. I would not like playing a Megaman game that felt like Maple Story, but so far it looks good. Here's one of the trailers for the game:
Source: Youtube Channel Pmang
I think all these collaborations (such as Capcom teaming up with Korean company Pmang to make Megaman Online) is really great towards the game industry. We've been presented with more and more collaborations between companies before, but I think the industry will benefit even more with companies of different regions of the world working together. Sure, not all the game will be great. But at the very least, we have different ideas and talents working together to make something new. It was sad to hear Keiji Inafune leave Capcom, but like him I hope that Japan find ways to re-innovate games in the industry in general, not just within Japan itself. In any case, I hope Megaman Online gets an international release so everyone else can enjoy it too.
[Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth - Capcom - Nintendo DS]
Source: Youtube Channel Games
The Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban in Japan) Series from Capcom is hands-down, one of the best game series I've played in the longest time. If you have never played, tried, or even heard of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, you are missing out my friend. If you are under the impression that it's all about lawyers and the judicial system, then let me reassure you that it's much more than that. The incredible writing within each of the installments of the series has the player constantly thinking "whodunit?" and "what happens next?" The Ace Attorney series is in a form of a Visual Novel with a lot of detective skills involved. Generally, the series has two part: information gathering and the court scene. In the new "Investigations" installment, the court is ruled out and the testimonies and rebuttal are done on the spot. Rather than a first-person view, the player takes control of Miles Edgeworth in a 3rd-Person perspective in order to explore the entire area around the character. Despite being significantly easier than the original 3-4 installments, the game was entertaining in every way the originals were.
Graphics:
This time around, moving 3D videos weren't added into the story telling that Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney had. What drastically changed was that characters had a full body sprite versions of themselves walking around in the environment. Before this installment, the characters were always presented in first-person or in a picture format. The animated sprites and ability to freely move around was new and a welcome aspect to the game. There are times where it feels like there should be more graphics drawn for characters that want to depict a certain expression or mood, but there is still a plentiful amount of sprite animating the characters within the game. Crazy reactions and eccentric characters still exist, which stays consistent with the theme of the series. The 3D view of certain items in the evidence section is brought back. Many animations used for past characters such as Edgeworth is brought back as well. I felt as if more could be added into the animations and story, but it wasn't very necessary thus it was sufficient for the game. Graphics: 8/10
Audio:
The sound effects are pretty much the same from the last 4 games, so no discussion on that. The music, in my opinion, didn't seem as memorable or distinguished as the first 4 releases; however, it still stays true to its style. It was definitely not bad, because the music was still appropriate and enjoyable to listen to. There isn't much to say since one of the greatest aspects of the Ace Attorney series is its music, and this one was no exception. Audio: 8/10
Gameplay:
Like I said before, this one was much easier than the first. Thankfully, it was still fun pointing out all the contradictions and investigating all the scenes. The change in the way the player gathered information was much more linear and got to the point much faster than previous installments where walking back and forth from area to area was a given. In "investigations", the player is secluded to a room to find all the evidence that they needed rather than moving from one room to another. The story moved much more smoothly. In terms of Replay Value, I would have to give it a N/A since it really depends on the player. All the plot twists and surprises are known already, so the only reason to play it again would be to revisit the story. Gameplay: 8/10
Overall:
Although it felt like something was missing from this game that the previous ones had, it's still considered a "must play" in my book. I was very serious when I said the Ace Attorney series is the best game series I've played in the longest time, it's really fulfilling to get through it and experience the gameplay (especially the parts where you get to shout "OBJECTION!"). A sequel to the investigations spin-off is already in the making and another spin-off that has Level-5's Professor Layton and Capcom's Phoenix Wright solving a case of a accused witch. The popularity and involvement of the community has built an interesting culture within the Ace Attorney world with music remixes, parody videos, comics, and fan-fictions. Overall: 8/10
This is one of my favorite parody videos:
Source: Youtube Video CMSPyrowolf
Source: Youtube Channel xayaxxo
I am a bit concerned about the game slowing down a little as an online game since enemies in Megaman games generally blow up fairly quickly. I would not like playing a Megaman game that felt like Maple Story, but so far it looks good. Here's one of the trailers for the game:
Source: Youtube Channel Pmang
I think all these collaborations (such as Capcom teaming up with Korean company Pmang to make Megaman Online) is really great towards the game industry. We've been presented with more and more collaborations between companies before, but I think the industry will benefit even more with companies of different regions of the world working together. Sure, not all the game will be great. But at the very least, we have different ideas and talents working together to make something new. It was sad to hear Keiji Inafune leave Capcom, but like him I hope that Japan find ways to re-innovate games in the industry in general, not just within Japan itself. In any case, I hope Megaman Online gets an international release so everyone else can enjoy it too.
[Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth - Capcom - Nintendo DS]
Source: Youtube Channel Games
The Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban in Japan) Series from Capcom is hands-down, one of the best game series I've played in the longest time. If you have never played, tried, or even heard of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, you are missing out my friend. If you are under the impression that it's all about lawyers and the judicial system, then let me reassure you that it's much more than that. The incredible writing within each of the installments of the series has the player constantly thinking "whodunit?" and "what happens next?" The Ace Attorney series is in a form of a Visual Novel with a lot of detective skills involved. Generally, the series has two part: information gathering and the court scene. In the new "Investigations" installment, the court is ruled out and the testimonies and rebuttal are done on the spot. Rather than a first-person view, the player takes control of Miles Edgeworth in a 3rd-Person perspective in order to explore the entire area around the character. Despite being significantly easier than the original 3-4 installments, the game was entertaining in every way the originals were.
Graphics:
This time around, moving 3D videos weren't added into the story telling that Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney had. What drastically changed was that characters had a full body sprite versions of themselves walking around in the environment. Before this installment, the characters were always presented in first-person or in a picture format. The animated sprites and ability to freely move around was new and a welcome aspect to the game. There are times where it feels like there should be more graphics drawn for characters that want to depict a certain expression or mood, but there is still a plentiful amount of sprite animating the characters within the game. Crazy reactions and eccentric characters still exist, which stays consistent with the theme of the series. The 3D view of certain items in the evidence section is brought back. Many animations used for past characters such as Edgeworth is brought back as well. I felt as if more could be added into the animations and story, but it wasn't very necessary thus it was sufficient for the game. Graphics: 8/10
Audio:
The sound effects are pretty much the same from the last 4 games, so no discussion on that. The music, in my opinion, didn't seem as memorable or distinguished as the first 4 releases; however, it still stays true to its style. It was definitely not bad, because the music was still appropriate and enjoyable to listen to. There isn't much to say since one of the greatest aspects of the Ace Attorney series is its music, and this one was no exception. Audio: 8/10
Gameplay:
Like I said before, this one was much easier than the first. Thankfully, it was still fun pointing out all the contradictions and investigating all the scenes. The change in the way the player gathered information was much more linear and got to the point much faster than previous installments where walking back and forth from area to area was a given. In "investigations", the player is secluded to a room to find all the evidence that they needed rather than moving from one room to another. The story moved much more smoothly. In terms of Replay Value, I would have to give it a N/A since it really depends on the player. All the plot twists and surprises are known already, so the only reason to play it again would be to revisit the story. Gameplay: 8/10
Overall:
Although it felt like something was missing from this game that the previous ones had, it's still considered a "must play" in my book. I was very serious when I said the Ace Attorney series is the best game series I've played in the longest time, it's really fulfilling to get through it and experience the gameplay (especially the parts where you get to shout "OBJECTION!"). A sequel to the investigations spin-off is already in the making and another spin-off that has Level-5's Professor Layton and Capcom's Phoenix Wright solving a case of a accused witch. The popularity and involvement of the community has built an interesting culture within the Ace Attorney world with music remixes, parody videos, comics, and fan-fictions. Overall: 8/10
This is one of my favorite parody videos:
Source: Youtube Video CMSPyrowolf
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
GameOn - FPS week day 2 with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops releases today, and many have already gone through the game at last nights mid-night launch at Gamestops all over the world.
Source: Youtube Channel CALLOFDUTY
So far, it has received good reviews from critics all over the world with a few concerns in the same structure of gameplay that Activision has kept despite the switch off between Infinity Ward and Treyarch. User reviews are filled with typical fanboy debates between how it's the best/worst game comparing to so-and-so game using vague comments, if any, to downgrade or praise it. Some, I suspect, did not even buy the game and decided to give it a zero score review seeing how every other review is a 8 or above. I do not like how Activision had taken control of the series out of Infinity Ward's original team; however, Treyarch has been working on the series along with Infinity Ward long enough that they have learned what they needed in order to create a enjoyable shooter. I do not plan on buying CoD: Black Ops immediately, but I do in the future. The difficult decision will be choosing between the PS3 version and the PC version. I'll be expecting news of how it out sells Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 soon.
[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Activision/Infinity Ward - PS3/Xbox 360/PC/NDS]
Players can complain how unbalanced the muliplayer can be. They can whine about how it requires very little skill when camping out behind a barrier while picking players off as they pass by. But in the end they still play it because it's fun.
Source: Youtube Channel Robert61494
I did not get to try out the Nintendo DS version of the game, but the other three consoles are the same game. I had the opportunity to play MW 2 on all three consoles through friends and free weekend events on Steam. I did not buy the game until just a little while ago (the weekend before Medal of Honor's release) on Steam during a 33% off deal with the map packs 50% off each. I am happy with my purchase, for the most part. The game provides plenty of replay value as the dynamics of multiplayer can change drastically depending on the play style of each player, the type of loadout they decided to choose, and the mode chosen. Unlike the various first-person shooters I've played in the past, you die quite quickly in MW2. It can be a satisfying experience if you happen to be in a cohesive team that moves and works together; however, more than likely you will be running around and shooting/knifing whoever you happen to find if not camping out in the shadows.
Pros:
-Though not as strong as Modern Warfare 1, the game boasts its campaign in an action driven storyline with multiple perspectives from the characters involved with memorable events and exciting gun fights.
-Extensive multiplayer customization and gameplay allows an array of choices for the player to combine that suits their play style.
-Quick controls adds to the speed of gameplay and skill required to play in all sorts of situations.
-Creative map designs allows players various approaches to acquiring their goals.
-Match making allows players to jump into multiplayer quickly and efficiently without the hassle of waiting for player, setting options, and looking for a game.
-Despite rewarding those who are winning, or having situations of spawn kills, camping, and sniping, the game strangely balances itself out. It is a videogame after all. Chaotic warfare is very possible in videogames.
Cons:
-It does not always works, but camping is an effective tactic that scores the player a lot of points. (You can't tell someone how to play if it's within the rules of the game). This can lead to all players in a standstill or a one sided fight.
-In team fights, there isn't a determinable spawn point for both sides and is set randomly. Thus, it is possible to spawn right in front of line of fire, an enemy, or an explosive of sorts. It's possible to have a string of deaths from spawning in the wrong place at the wrong time.
-Those who continue to do well in a match will constantly have an advantage over the other players.
-Players with higher prestige and play time will inevitably have better equipment than those in lower levels.
I personally don't mind the setbacks in the game too much. I do find it frustrating to die consistently in a match 32 times before getting the chance to even see someone, but I notice it happens to others as well. It goes with the saying "you win some, you lose some." I find the custom class aspect of the game to be the best part of the multiplayer experience as it feels like an RPG where you create your own character and watch them grow. My favorite custom class is the "Ninja Assassin" class I made. It consists of infinite running, fast run speed, extended knife distance, a silenced sub-machine gun, a throwing knife, and some stun grenades. I rarely use my pistol as I find myself running around knifing players most of the time. I know...I'm one of those players...I find it easier to get kills from knifing rather than shooting since players still have the chance to run away and kill me. I also find camping to be very boring and would rather run around (which is probably why I end up with the most deaths each time). But even so, I find the game to be very entertaining. I'm up to 31 hours so far on Steam, let's see how long it lasts.
Source: Youtube Channel CALLOFDUTY
So far, it has received good reviews from critics all over the world with a few concerns in the same structure of gameplay that Activision has kept despite the switch off between Infinity Ward and Treyarch. User reviews are filled with typical fanboy debates between how it's the best/worst game comparing to so-and-so game using vague comments, if any, to downgrade or praise it. Some, I suspect, did not even buy the game and decided to give it a zero score review seeing how every other review is a 8 or above. I do not like how Activision had taken control of the series out of Infinity Ward's original team; however, Treyarch has been working on the series along with Infinity Ward long enough that they have learned what they needed in order to create a enjoyable shooter. I do not plan on buying CoD: Black Ops immediately, but I do in the future. The difficult decision will be choosing between the PS3 version and the PC version. I'll be expecting news of how it out sells Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 soon.
[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Activision/Infinity Ward - PS3/Xbox 360/PC/NDS]
Players can complain how unbalanced the muliplayer can be. They can whine about how it requires very little skill when camping out behind a barrier while picking players off as they pass by. But in the end they still play it because it's fun.
Source: Youtube Channel Robert61494
I did not get to try out the Nintendo DS version of the game, but the other three consoles are the same game. I had the opportunity to play MW 2 on all three consoles through friends and free weekend events on Steam. I did not buy the game until just a little while ago (the weekend before Medal of Honor's release) on Steam during a 33% off deal with the map packs 50% off each. I am happy with my purchase, for the most part. The game provides plenty of replay value as the dynamics of multiplayer can change drastically depending on the play style of each player, the type of loadout they decided to choose, and the mode chosen. Unlike the various first-person shooters I've played in the past, you die quite quickly in MW2. It can be a satisfying experience if you happen to be in a cohesive team that moves and works together; however, more than likely you will be running around and shooting/knifing whoever you happen to find if not camping out in the shadows.
Pros:
-Though not as strong as Modern Warfare 1, the game boasts its campaign in an action driven storyline with multiple perspectives from the characters involved with memorable events and exciting gun fights.
-Extensive multiplayer customization and gameplay allows an array of choices for the player to combine that suits their play style.
-Quick controls adds to the speed of gameplay and skill required to play in all sorts of situations.
-Creative map designs allows players various approaches to acquiring their goals.
-Match making allows players to jump into multiplayer quickly and efficiently without the hassle of waiting for player, setting options, and looking for a game.
-Despite rewarding those who are winning, or having situations of spawn kills, camping, and sniping, the game strangely balances itself out. It is a videogame after all. Chaotic warfare is very possible in videogames.
Cons:
-It does not always works, but camping is an effective tactic that scores the player a lot of points. (You can't tell someone how to play if it's within the rules of the game). This can lead to all players in a standstill or a one sided fight.
-In team fights, there isn't a determinable spawn point for both sides and is set randomly. Thus, it is possible to spawn right in front of line of fire, an enemy, or an explosive of sorts. It's possible to have a string of deaths from spawning in the wrong place at the wrong time.
-Those who continue to do well in a match will constantly have an advantage over the other players.
-Players with higher prestige and play time will inevitably have better equipment than those in lower levels.
I personally don't mind the setbacks in the game too much. I do find it frustrating to die consistently in a match 32 times before getting the chance to even see someone, but I notice it happens to others as well. It goes with the saying "you win some, you lose some." I find the custom class aspect of the game to be the best part of the multiplayer experience as it feels like an RPG where you create your own character and watch them grow. My favorite custom class is the "Ninja Assassin" class I made. It consists of infinite running, fast run speed, extended knife distance, a silenced sub-machine gun, a throwing knife, and some stun grenades. I rarely use my pistol as I find myself running around knifing players most of the time. I know...I'm one of those players...I find it easier to get kills from knifing rather than shooting since players still have the chance to run away and kill me. I also find camping to be very boring and would rather run around (which is probably why I end up with the most deaths each time). But even so, I find the game to be very entertaining. I'm up to 31 hours so far on Steam, let's see how long it lasts.
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