Written by‚ Brian Szabelski

SEATTLE — The general consensus on‚ Wii Music, at least based off their disastrous E3 press conference showing, is that the game is utter garbage, a waggle-fest geared towards the preschool and the extremely elderly. However, after getting hands-on time at PAX with‚ Wii Music, I can tell you those perceptions are incorrect.‚ Wii Music‚ is not nearly as bad as the E3 crowd might have made it out to be. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s not utter garbage.

First off, if you are a “hardcore” gamer, this game is not designed with you in mind. Some people may take an interest in certain aspects of the game, which I will give detail on in a bit, but the simplicity of‚ Wii Music‚ is clearly geared towards those new to the gaming scene.

At PAX, the free play and drum set modes were available for play. The free play mode is the one you are most familiar with. Free play has a “no-fail” setting by default, meaning you can’t lose no matter what you play. And yes, there are note charts for each of the songs, but you don’t have to play along exactly on the right beat. This turns free play into more of an experiment than anything else, but there will be close to 60 instruments in the final version of the game, ranging from the now-infamous dog suit to drums, guitars, and saxophones. Each of these instruments has different motions that are used to play it, and pressing different buttons on the Wii remote or nunchuk will produce different notes. At any time, up to four players can participate in a song, with six total musicians on stage: a minimum of two musicians are always computer-controlled, but you can select which parts you want to play.

The PAX line-up featured only 5 songs, including the themes from‚ Super Mario Bros.and‚ The Legend of Zelda; when the game is released, a full roster of 50 songs will be available, mixing more modern songs along with classical tunes and Nintendo themes. In this sense, it’ll probably be similar to Nintendo’s previous music game offering,Donkey Konga. Each of the songs can be played at a number of different tempos and in a variety of different styles, including Japanese, reggae, rock and country among others. It’s a nice way to change the game up a little bit, but it’s not the only way.

While being able to record your performances and send them to your friends doesn’t sound like a whole lot,‚ Wii Music‚ offers a few options that add to the replay value. You can rate your performances on how well you thought you did, but your friends can adjust those scores if they think you did better or worse. While that all still sounds like nothing, there is one more thing your friends can do with your performances: remix them.‚ Wii Music‚ will allow you to change the tempo, style, and instrumentation of performances your friends send to you, offering up a chance to change things around a little bit and experiment. I personally think that feature will be one of the hidden gems in‚ Wii Music, much like how the music maker was in‚ Mario Paint.

Also on display at PAX was a drum set mini-game. By pressing different buttons on the Wii remote and nunchuk, you will be able to hit different drums and cymbals on the set. The Wii balance board is used to control the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal pedals. It takes a bit of getting used to this setup, but after a while, it feels natural. Most of the people I saw playing this at PAX seemed to enjoy it, though they weren’t going as nuts as Ravi Drums was at E3. Other games that will be included are the conducting mini-game from E3 a few years back as well as other drum-like solo games and lessons on how to play.

Like other‚ Wii‚ series titles, graphics are kept rather simple on purpose, both in design and in its bright color scheme. There are different backgrounds in free play mode to pick from, but overall, everything about this game screams simple. For‚ Wii Music, it works fine, because the game doesn’t need to be graphics intensive like‚ Fallout 3‚ orGears of War 2.

Wii Music‚ is not intended to be‚ Guitar Hero‚ or‚ Rock Band. It’s more likeElectroplankton, an experiment in games for the newer gamer. At the end of the day,Wii Music‚ is going to sell well, perhaps not as well as‚ Wii Play‚ or‚ Wii Fit, but it is not the end of Nintendo, like some will have you believe. With so much of‚ Wii Musicshrouded in mystery, though, keep an eye out for some future announcements from Nintendo on more content for the game.

The Penny Arcade Expo ran August 29-31.‚ The 5-year-old exposition is regarded at one of the seminal in the video game industry, adding music and pop culture elements. The Miniboses performed this year.

Written by Tall Writer

This medieval fantasy adventure features fun chaos and disorder gameplay, allowing players to be bad or really bad by indirectly controlling other characters. This full price adventure, an extension of last summer’s Xbox 360/PC game, lets players conquer with an iron fist or a somewhat cooperative hand. It’s all up to players how bad they want to be in order to succeed … evil or really evil!

A dark sense of humor, maiden capturing and a wide scope create a nice format. Reading the manual definitely helps players through missions, especially understanding status icons that appear above characters. Knowing about battle engagements and movement limitations also help players avoid mission failures and turning fun game time into a stale mate. The map helps strategize key maneuvers and conquest tactics through five single player maps.

Violent graphics and solid sound boost the bloodless excitement. As overlord, you rule and base operations in the Dark Tower. In the field, the overlord gets full control of minion creatures, sending them into action using the R2 button (circle button calls them back). These ravenous and helpful guys possess unique skills to fetch, fight and die for their Overlord. Minion types vary from blue (very valuable resurrecting healers), to red (fireball archers), to green (stealthy assassins) to the most common brown (basic melee fighters). The only annoying thing about these minions is that they are constantly talking over each other. The dialogue and voice work is pretty entertaining and satisfying…in an ego boosting sort of way.

Overlords can also get in the action by locking on targets for various purposes using the L2 button. Players have plenty of save spots and items to create (a.k.a. forge) new ones at their disposal. The game becomes as complex as players make it. Multitasking and simulation managements skills play a big role here as the “God-like” players amass their empire. Game statistics measure your might, horde power/size, treasury and minion status.

Be sure to master that control/power scheme before joining head-to-head network games where you get a few special minions (even if they’re not unlocked in your current single player game) and strategy becomes an important requirement for success. Specially colored circle icons help players strategize their pillaging and attack (e.g. green raises corruption and red shows your forces are being attacked). Co-operative domination quests and split screen mode help create a well rounded title.

This game touches so many genres – developers should be commended for creating a good balance. More content and variation is still needed though. The overlord character has most of the control, but the loyal minions constantly steal the show. Players don’t have to micromanage very much or make the minions happy – a nice relief.

Written by Mark Kalriess

Deca Sports is yet another mini-game collection for the Wii. This one features ten playable sports with no obvious theme. Summer sports, winter sports, and racing events are included. I am sure that they are not the sports in a decathlon.

There are not that many game modes. In multiplayer, you only have the option to play one event once. Then you have to restart the event or pick a new one. In single player, you have the options of Deca League, Tournament Mode, Deca Challenge and Open Match. Open Match is the single event mode again. Deca League is the majority of the game. You choose a team and then control it through all ten events. Points are awarded after each event and you hope to have the most points at the end of the ten events. In Tournament Mode, you play through a tournament bracket of a single event. Each ladder of the tournament is a different difficulty; you are eliminated if you do not win your match-up. Deca Challenge could be considered as mini-games based on the events, but the events are mini-games themselves. So, you could call the Deca Challenges micro-games.

The greater part of the game’s controls use only the Wii remote. Most are remote flicks and other waggle motions. Button presses are used at a minimum. All of the racing events use remote tilting to steer. The nunchuck attachment is used in a few events for player movement.

Sadly, the controls vary from good to horrendous. Figure skating, archery and curling work well. The control schemes use some neat ideas to draw you into the game. Volleyball, soccer, basketball, and badminton are unresponsive. You will find yourself resorting to flailing your arms wildly regardless of strategy. Worse still, these events also have problems with player movement. Volleyball and badminton give you no control over it all; basketball and soccer make it very hard. These four events feel more like fighting the control scheme than playing the games. In the racing events, the tilt control does not work that well. Your vehicle does not turn as tight as it should and you end up over-steering. Events involving jumps also feel too floaty.

The game has a simple look with bright colors. The game is trying to imitate the Wii Sports look. The character and backgrounds are very low detailed; they almost look two generations old. To add insult to injury the graphics are also blocky and jaggy. The songs used for the game soundtrack start off fine, they are even a little catchy. That only lasts about five seconds. They loop endlessly and quickly grow tiresome. Environmental sound effects cannot be heard at all. You do not hear your character contact the ball or the roar of engines.

Multi-player is a little more bearable. Playing the sports that control decently can give you and a friend some okay competition. However, there are so many better games out there; this game will not hold your attention long.

This game does it all. It is shallow; it looks bad, sounds bad, and controls bad. There is no reason to play this game if you have a Wii. It came with Wii Sports, which is about 100 times more fun.

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars

Written by Tall Writer

Set in Ancient China during the third century, this action-filled title delivers free-roaming fun amid epic battlegrounds, with expanded actions like climbing and swimming so players can fully experience the boosted graphics. This series continues to build on its appeal (great individual first-person fighting without lots of micromanagement in the overall stages), but must incorporate more random elements and innovations to win more new fans.

The increasing challenge of defeating wave upon wave of enemies (complete with improved AI, so they don’t just stand there and take your best hits) doesn’t stop after the battle. Canines and dogs can track you down long after the battle is over, even after you’ve defeated all enemy officers. Even individual solider purpose and functions are expanded like the unarmed bannerman who raise overall morale.

The new "Renbu" battle format combines speed and consecutive moves (a.k.a. chains) as players advance their skills and powers. Once you get right in the thick of things, it’s easy to rack up 200+ chains. Once you take heavy damage or haven’t hit anyone in a while, the chain is broken. Players must also strategize when breaking down gates to advance their respective army.

The movements are pretty fluid as players must exclusively use the left stick (the down directional button) calls your horse. Move the camera with the right stick for some great camera shots, especially using the usually earth-shattering musou attacks. As in previous installments, your power attacks, holding the triangle button, become more powerful, and more entertaining, when you run at a group of enemies and release. These running attacks are very entertaining and break up enemy groups extremely well. If you’ve got enough back up, you can quickly advance by breaking up enemies with these special running attacks then advancing into waves ahead so they engage your troops.

Veteran players can expect the familiar individual battle lock ups, involving even more button mashing, and stuns. Clipping remains a small issue at times, plus activities like constructing watch towers or battering rams often land right on top of you. Luckily your health doesn’t take a hit and the interruption is usually minor. The new and expanded fighting moves are amazing. Great credit to the motion-capture team who got the best moves from Asia’s leading stuntmen and women, including some nifty somersaults (press L1 while in the air).

Game modes include a two-player co-operative in the musou and free modes. You even get double musou when you’re close to each other. Players can’t have the same officers (hmm…two Lu Bus laying waste to their enemies would be awesome!) Players can continue in the two-player mode even when the other player leaves or takes a break, so the action keeps coming. Single players can achieve great upgrades in free mode, then reap the benefits in the musou campaign mode. Challenge modes, complete with online rankings, include sudden death (one blow ends you), speed runs, havoc (destroying environmental items), and the gauntlet where you can test your movement skills. The havoc challenge didn’t really live up to its name because you can only destroy certain elements – all neatly lined up in groups for you.

When you need a break, go to base camp where you can survey the progress you’ve made across all of your unlocked characters, weapons, and horses. Learn about the three kingdoms and related history in the encyclopedia section. Players can also save up to 20 different games. If you’ve never experienced Dynasty Warriors (or even Samurai Warriors), you should definitely give this title a try. An essential Playstation 3 title for action fans.

Quick hits:

Publisher: KOEI
Developer: Omega Force
Platform: PlayStation 3 (reviewed), Xbox 360
Genre: Fighter
Players: 1-2
Launch Date: February 18, 2008

Playability: 4 out of 5 stars

Written by Matt Paprocki

Jumper is a licensed title with one decent idea behind it, and it still manages to screw it up. As with the film, the characters have the ability to warp anywhere at any time. This fits right in with the fast paced, beat-em-up mechanics, but the execution is completely off.

Following a smaller side character from the movie (hence the subtitle Griffin’s Story), players traverse a number of locations around the world beating down faceless enemies in a quest to survive. The comic book cinematics feel cheap; yet offer decent artwork to advance the plot.

Insanely repetitive, Jumper is one conflict after another. The player fights, walks, and then fights some more. Discovering various collectibles is the only break from the monotony of combat, and the uncontrollable camera doesn’t make finding them any easier.

The camera also breaks down the somewhat unique fighting engine. Since jumpers have the power to warp, attacks can be delivered from the front, back, or sides. Each attack corresponds with one of the buttons. When the circle beneath the enemy is green, say on his left, then that’s the side to attack from. If it’s red on the right, attacking there will result in a counter attack.

This is a fun idea. Hitting someone from the left and instantly moving to the back to continue a combo string carries a great feel. The player is definitely given the impact of the blows thanks to the animation.

Sadly, trying to figure out what’s the front or back when the camera is swinging around is far too confusing. When you’re face to face behind your character, it all makes sense. If the camera is at your side, the controls are completely different. It’s almost impossible to keep track in your mind what’s left or right, and the result is a countless number of incorrect, unintentional counter attacks.

The fun of warp fatalities are a neat concept in which the player grabs an enemy, warps to a random location, and leave them there. These are done via video, and do offer a fun break from the action (the car crush is a new gaming classic). However, they’re entirely random. There’s no secret button combination to execute them, and with the randomness, you could see the same one three times in a row. After that, it could be two levels before another one pops up.

The idea is in place, yet the execution isn’t. If you’re looking for some quick achievement points, Jumper is one to rent. You’ll grow tired of the sub-par graphics and irritating combat, but at least you can score 500 points in about an hour.

Quick hits:

Publisher: Brash Entertainment
Developer: Brash Entertainment
Platform: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PlayStation 2, Wii
Genre: Action
Release date: February 12, 2008
Players: 1

This largely linear fantasy adventure, based on the book series of the same name, follows the adventures of the Grace family as they stumble into a unique situation when they move into a new house. Freddie Highmore does great double duty as twin brothers Jared and Simon while sister Mallory is voiced by Sarah Bolger. All three children do a fantastic job with their American accents and believable performances.

Jared seems detached while Simon avoids conflict at all costs. Sarah’s fencing skills are predictably handy when mysterious events begins happening around the house. The adventure begins as one of the siblings uncovers some amazing history about their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick, voiced by David Strathairn.

You can play as Jared, Simon, Mallory Grace and even small Thimbletack the Brownie throughout the chapter quests. Optional side quests are also available. As with other fantasy games like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. etc., you must use certain characters to complete certain level areas. Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You offers available help at any time (+ button) and background into finding hidden creatures like faeries and goblins. The guide also gives hints for your next task while providing background, interesting trivia and options/abilities.

The game has a good mix of puzzles and collection activities as well. Collect from ten types of faeries/sprites then keep up to three at a time. Get your creative juices flowing a bit by painting each sprite when you nab each one to record them in the guide. You can go back to capture free sprites, found in the same spot. Catching several of the same kind boosts their power. Observant players (plus players who have read the book) can take quicker advantage of the items while keeping others in mind for future use, though you can get stuck at times (e.g. finding the broomstick in the beginning turned into a bit of a chore for this reviewer).

Enemies include goblins (collect their teeth for bonuses), changelings, trolls and ogres. Attack movements and range weapons (e.g. tomato sauce gun) help you dispatch them fairly quickly, though the sprite power come in very handy for key battles, even the puzzles. The attack movements, which make good use of the Wii remote, include charge attacks (holding A then releasing) and regular charge by pointing the remote up.

Flipping the Nunchuk up to enact a sliding jump move, which has advantages in battle, but be sure to plan your direction on the Nunchuk before you do it. Options and button combinations allow you to set the camera to your liking, otherwise the way you move is pretty basic. Players can get to a center point in the environment then pan around or just run through every nook and cranny waiting for the interaction icons to appear.

The plotline (closely follows the film) predictably has a linear base, so you can’t always use exits when you want to. Moving through the dark environments (you can adjust the lighting) can be challenging as well. Most dead ends have a large solid black background.
The colorful icons help show the exits and key interaction points. Four save points help manage the progress/checkpoints, especially for younger players.

This game provides a nice bonus by allowing unlimited character switching once you complete the game. Other bonuses, including a competitive multiplayer mode, and unlockables reward you along the way too. Well schooled players can conquer the game quickly, but even without extensive knowledge (though cut scenes, with film’s stars, provide some background), most players can finish the game without hitting double digit hours, so the unlockables and multiplayer mode helps boost the replay value. Options for possible future installments could include designing your own sprite then sharing online plus participating in International Sprite League tournaments.

Quick hits:

Publisher: Sierra
Developer: Sierra
Platform: Wii (reviewed), Playstation 2, Xbox 360, DS, PC
Genre: Adventure
Players: 1

Playability: 3 out of 5 stars

By Tall Writer

The quality real time strategy military game improves on the first installment with the addition of naval forces, the new Anglo nation, and online multiplayer modes. A definite improvement of the previous GameCube title, which was a sleeper hit — with a solid base like the Advance Wars series, how can you go wrong?

Naval units include battleships, frigates, transports and submarines. These units’ impact on the game is strengthened by outstanding water graphics — some of the best on the Wii so far. The six nations and their respective storylines mix well into all the game modes. The antagonist Iron Legion and heroic Solar Empire provides the initial base for several event and characters. I don’t know about you, but it’s nice to play a game where you know the names and places mean something… or at least resemble something. For example, Kaiser Vlad meaning Vlad Tepes perhaps? Maybe Old Xylvania gave that one away.

The single player campaign missions complete very quickly, so make sure you have an online connection for the expanded multiplayer modes (three total) if you don’t strive for the high S rank in each of the 20 missions. The objective based assault mode involves capturing then defending HQ while the skirmish mode requires more strategy with points being awarded for specific targets. Co-op mode pits two players against one enemy.

Not many lag problems here as various statistics are there to spur you on to win. The win-loss ratio stat can seem daunting at first (memories of turning off my GameBoy Advance on Advance Wars 2 instead of yielding come flooding back), but you’re not likely to have a perfect season, so you might as well get down and dirty with your troops.

Yes, you can actually break command and take control of individual soldiers, reeking havoc as a cartoonish version of Rambo. Roll and dodge options help as you target, destroy and issue orders to supporting troops. You can also take control of field vehicles. A great addition to the overall content would be a special advantage bonus system where players could boost up a special individual solider (or vehicle) that’s easily accessed where you could go Rambo on everyone else. When you lose a lot of field support, it’s good to have facilities with high respawn rates, which you can achieve through high ratings (S, A, B, C)

The two major issues in this game can be solved with common sense and practice. The text commands at the beginning are helpful, but the voiceovers repeat the command in very short succession. Turn down the voice volume in the options to avoid frustration while you’re trying to learn the game. The camera/individual troop movement can also be an issue — just remember to coordinate the Wii remote and Nunchuk movements together, which can be challenging because players get used to total control with analog sticks. Otherwise, the smooth movement and controls make good use of the innovative Wii controls.

Battalion Wars 2 has a good story with various options at your disposal. Veterans of the previous installment and the Advance Wars game series have a definite advantage here, but most players should be able to pick up the mechanics and controls pretty easily. It’s a misperception to claim this title as a "warm up" for younger players in the military game genre. This sequel has high replay plus several God/tycoon elements that give players a lot of control and fighting fun.

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Platform: Wii
Genre: Real-time strategy
Players: 1
Launch Date: October 29, 2007

By Mel Odom

Electronic Arts is the powerhouse of sports video games, and they continue that trend with their release of Rugby 08. Even though rugby may never be as popular here in the US as it is in other countries of the world, EA has definitely built a game that captures the excitement of the game for the seasoned pro and made the interface easy enough for newbies.

I have to admit that I didn’t know much about the sport at the time I picked the game up. Since my teen and pre-teen beat me regularly at baseball, football, and basketball — and don’t even get me started about the Tony Hawk games — I figured if we played a game that all of us were unfamiliar with, it might level the playing field, so to speak.

I had limited success. My teen and I started out pretty even, but his natural ability with the gaming interfaces knocked me out of the running within a few hours. I could win one every now and again, but the percentages were against me. I can still play at a pretty competent level against my ten-year-old.

In addition to the two-player mode, players choose to sharpen their game with the single-player versus the computer in single games, or venture to season-level play. This seems to help a bit, but the heckling of my teen has limited my gameplay time to whenever he’s not around. I’ve decided you have to have a certain amount of dedication to this game to get a return on your investment.

Rugby 08 features opportunities to play as one of the international teams. You can play a six-week campaign in the World Cup that is complete with player rotation and injury management, which is really overkill for me or anyone with a passing interest in a pick-up game to play against the kids or with a buddy. Some people really get off on managing all those aspects, but I just want to play ball and heckle whoever I’m playing.

A challenge mode allows a player to pick through several different scenarios and play them. In addition to short bouts of fun, a player can pick up necessary skills and tactics to further understand the game.

One of the best aspects of the game is the ability to control the camera, slow the action, and replay game action. My teen took great delight in this, showing me again and again how he blew the socks off my guys. Embarrassingly, it took me a little while to figure out how to do the same to him, and by that time, my great plays came few and far between.

I was really let down to see that there was no online capability. That’s where fathers get their true revenge: watching junior go head-to-head with other online players that can kick his butt. I live for that in Counterstrike and the Halo games because I hardly have time to draw a breath in those before he kills me. After getting seriously trashed again and again, I would have loved to heckle from the sidelines while someone else handed him the comeuppance he so richly deserved after all the flack I’d taken.

Although the game comes with a soundtrack and commentary, I got tired of both in short order. The music was good and the commentary was fun at the beginning, but after playing it for awhile, we both got sick of it, turned the sound off, and cranked up the MP3 player in the game room to provide our own soundtrack. And my son continued to deliver the cutting commentary as I went down in flames again and again.

All in all, Rugby 08 is a game that can be enjoyed by the whole family. I’ve even seen my wife eyeing the game. However, she’s a serious football fan — NFL and AFL as well as video games — and I’m really never going to be in the mood for that kind of pain.

Rugby 08 is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. This game can also be found on: PC, PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360.

By Jason “Njiska” Westhaver

When EA announced they were making The Simpsons Game the first thought that ran through my head was, "Oh Christ not another hacked-kneed, sloppy, piss poor attempt by EA to suckle on the teat of a popular franchise". Fortunately EA managed to proved my initial suspicions wrong and I couldn’t be happier because The Simpsons Game is without a doubt the most amusing, well-written and just plain enjoyable game I’ve played this year. Sure it controls about as well as a rodeo bull and the camera is at best useless and at worst suicide inducing, but that’s forgivable because everything else is just so damn fantastic that it’s almost impossible to not have a good time with it.

For starters, The Simpsons Game knows it’s a game and it plays to that fact, by setting the story inside a videogame then filling it with in-jokes and references for hardcore gamers to enjoy. Here’s a short list of what you can expect to find:

• Mario and Sonic slaving away in a game factory to produce sequels
• A parody of Missile Command where Lisa must use her Buddhist Power to drop explosive barrels
• Being attacked by a knock off of Ryu from Street fighter II
• 8-bit Simpsons characters confused that the game doesn’t have Points or Lives
• A parody of Gauntlet complete with keys, gold barriers and enemy spawners
• "All your Simpsons are belong to us"
• Will Wright’s greatest failure, Sim Sandwich

Despite the focus placed on embracing EA’s largest audience, gamers, The Simpsons Game hasn’t forgotten it’s non-gaming fans that are out there and also references past Simpsons moments, such as "The Land of Chocolate" and even includes creator Matt Groening as a character in the game.

Between levels you’re treated to absolutely brilliant animated cut-scenes that appear to be done by the same team that animated the movie. The entire original cast has reprised their roles for the game so Homer sounds like Homer and comic book guy sounds like a man who’s wasted his life. Even the guest character Will Wright is voiced by his original voice actor, EA Employee #17655.

Game play is split into several worlds each with its own unique theme connected by the overall hub world of Springfield. The first few episodes are based within in the series reality, but as the game progresses things get a bit… existential. You’ll ascend from the world of Springfield to the Game Engine where all Simpsons’ games are manufactured and eventually destroyed, and then you go to the home of your creator.

Controls are a little on the loose side, especially when using Bartman’s Glide ability, but they’re not loose enough to cause frustration and are pretty much what you’d expect from a Simpsons game. The only notable issue I experienced was with the games’ DDR battle. It’s a royal bitch to hit the exact directions with the 360′s D-pad. It’s so bad in fact that I had to dig out my DOA4 Hori Stick in order to beat it. Though in all honesty since the 360 D-pad is notoriously inaccurate anyways it’s hard to fault EA for this error. Besides no matter how frustrating the D-pad is it pales in comparison to the game’s camera that was almost certainly forged in the deepest depths of the seventh circle of hell.

To say the camera is bad is to say the Holocaust was a footnote to World War II. It’s just plain terrible. Apparently one coder, most likely a bitter little man with a dried up rotten heart of coal, decided that the camera should be a physical object that can interact with the game world. This means when trying to move around in a tight corner you’ll be blinded because your camera has hit a wall and will not move through it or zoom in to go around it. It just sits there, hung up, eagerly watching as you get gang-raped by a horde of green aliens. It’s like the camera was designed for the director from Manhunt. It’s not fun and on more than one occasion it forced me to throw down my controller in disgust. Still despite the sore feeling I was left with after dealing with the camera, it’s still not bad enough to keep me from going back for more.

Time trials and challenges offer some level of replayability, but aside from the achievements there’s little motivation to play them. Collectables offer some motivation to explorer the world, but honestly the only collectibles truly worth hunting for are the game’s clich© moments such as "Exploding barrels", "Double jump" or "AI running into walls". Every time they’re pointed out you just sort of laugh and think, "Ha, so true."

Designers did include a split-screen mode that allows you and a friend to take control of two different family members, but, disappointingly, it’s offline only.

It’s not perfect and the game play is average, but the story and presentation are better than any Simpsons episode since season 10 and I’ll even go as far as to say it rivals the fun of The Simpsons Movie. This really is a must play game and I strongly encourage any true gamer or Simpsons fan to check it out.

This article originally appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, November 13, 2007.

Written by Brian Szabelski

The Worms series of games has long been loved for its multiplayer chaos and cartoonish violence, but when it moved to the Nintendo DS, it seemed to lose a step. The first portable version of Worms was met with poor reviews due to a number of problems. This time around, things are a lot better and a lot closer to the old PC titles, which is a very good thing.

This newest installment in the classic Worms franchise brings a Quick Game mode that jumps you into a randomized map; a Custom Game mode that lets you set up your own battles and edit your own battlefields; a Multiplayer mode; and a Single Game mode, which is comprised of Puzzle, Campaign, Laboratory, and Training modes. Laboratory mode is perhaps the most interesting and integrated with the DS, as it uses the mic and stylus to complete challenges, such as drawing land in the right spot to reach a goal at the end of the level.

Open Warfare 2 is classic Worms game play. Your goal is to defeat the enemy worms by any means possible, and in this game, that means with bazookas, guns, rockets, grenades, boomerangs, exploding bananas, sheep, and a whole lot more. In order to do this, you aim your weapon, select the power level, release, and watch the chaos unfold. In other forms, like puzzle mode, you’ll have to figure out solutions to both complete the level, such as having to set off a chain of explosive drums or maneuver a jet pack up the side of a mountain to pick off an enemy. Not everything from the old Worms games is here, but plenty of old favorites are still around.

The big question with this and all DS games, though, is how it makes use of the dual-screen and stylus. Open Warfare 2 uses it well, allowing for navigation through menus and the ability to move the cursor and scan the battlefield, but it doesn’t let you adjust the angle of your shot, which is a bit sad, but considering that the game still plays smoothly, it’s a brief squabble.

From the opening video to the game’s 2 1/2-D style, Open Warfare 2 looks just like its PC counterparts. The graphics are crisp and clean, and the backgrounds never seem to be static and dull. For example, on the war-themed level, a biplane flies back and forth in the background, sometimes dropping crates of items. Similarly, sound is much improved and is as crystal clear as it ever was on the PC.

Open Warfare 2 brings online multiplayer into the fold and does so remarkably well. Friend Codes are back, yes, but if you can stomach that minor inconvenience, you get a great online experience. Along with Quick and Custom Game features and offline multiplayer capabilities, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is a throwback to the old Worms games of yesteryear, and at the same time, a huge improvement over Worms: Open Warfare. If you love this series or just want a great game you can play to kill a few minutes of time, then pick this title up. This should be a title in every Nintendo DS owner’s library.

Pros: Great traditional Worms action. Major improvements in all areas over Worms: Open Warfare. Easy-to-use interface, combined with a wide variety of weapons and great graphics and sound, make this a must-have. Online multiplayer is a great bonus.

Cons: DS screens are a bit small for Worms action, but other than that, not much.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB for Mild Cartoon Violence.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Written by Matt Paprocki

Needing everything the development team had to make the franchise relevant again, NBA Live 08 is a remarkable turn around from 07. It’s still far from perfect, but the basics are now in place to refine this series into a worthwhile basketball title when compared with mounting competition.

Improvements start with a smoother feel, steady frame rate, and improved animation routines. The pacing of the sport is better represented, and basic defense can typically prevent the over use of long passes down the floor for easy shots under the net. You’ll finally need to extend the quarter length to land some realistic scores.

The post game is better represented. Centers have the ability to spin and juke with ease to find their shot, and key players will perform as they do in real life. Shaq will look to power in for the dunk; Duncan will fade back or take the hook.

For the shooter, Hot Spots are laid out on the court to represent favorite areas for the player. Bruce Bowen is deadly from the corners, though doesn’t have the accuracy to land 3′s as consistently from the elbows. Learning the strengths of each player on your squad is critical for higher shooting percentages.

Minor changes off the court include simulation situations which pop up during simmed dynasty games. Injuries may need to be fixed, or you could have the opportunity to play the final minute if the game is close at hand. A FIBA license is included for World Championship play. Leagues are finally available for online fans, while the other multi-player options remain the same.

Not all of these updates address a number of fundamental flaws that have been with this series for years. Defense is blatantly stupid at times, like failing to adjust off a screen. If you work yourself around a screen, the AI teammates still make the defensive switch even if it’s not needed, leaving an opposing player wide open.

Steals are frequent, easy, and constant. Fast breaks are still the meat of the game, though the changes to the pacing have lessened this somewhat. Close to the rim, when using the lay up/dunk button, players rarely just make the easy play and find themselves flopping or spinning unnecessarily resulting in a miss. It makes the entire game feel sloppy.

There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but the leap in quality in only one year is staggering. The smoother, natural flow of play is a huge boost to Live, and finally sports gamers can look forward to some competition in the realm of basketball games. Stick with NBA 2K8 for this year, though keep an eye on Live in ’09.

NBA Live 08 is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. This game can also be found on: PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Mobile Phone.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Written by Matt Paprocki

Everything in BioShock hinges on a deeply woven narrative, brilliantly written and conceived by developer 2K Boston. It’s a centerpiece to a gripping and unbelievably involving title that doesn’t always break new game play ground, but contains an additive edge rarely found in the industry. The effort and style land BioShock with the easy to assign title of instant classic.

The world is Rapture, an underwater paradise created to avoid the problems with the world above the ocean line. Free of political influence and censorship, it should have been perfect. By the time the player arrives, it’s in disarray. Burning, leaking, and filled with psychotic inhabitants, the secrets of this once perfect civilization are breathtaking in their depth.

Presentation is key, as the player navigates varied areas, searching for objects and clues. There’s far more going on here than survival, and a number of tape players that can be found slowly piece together one of the truly great stories this industry has ever seen. Not only does it increase the immersion level, its twists make everything plausible even to video game fantasy logic.

Played from a first-person perspective, calling BioShock a first person shooter isn’t a proper moniker. It’s too broad for a game that offers a wide-ranging freedom of choice. Shooting is only one option when battling it out with foes. Plasmids are special powers linked to the unnamed player character, working in a broad array to extinguish (literally in some cases) any adversaries.

Even with the mass of available choices, BioShock plays more like a frantic search. Objects are scattered everywhere, encouraging exploration of its underwater corridors. This includes those in out of reach areas that challenge the player’s logic and gaming dexterity to uncover. There’s a staggering amount of content at work here.

Complex only scratches the surface of this adventure. Integrated with the shooting and searching, RPG-like elements allow nearly infinite ways to customize the experience at various shops around the enormous levels. It’s hard to imagine anyone playing with the exact same style. The sheer mass of available alterations is unparalleled for this genre.

Moral choices come into play, though those gunning for a well-rounded set of achievements won’t have such a difficult time making their decisions. Little Sisters, unfortunate products of this now dystopian society, take the form of little girls that hardly look a day past 8 years old. They can be harvested for their ADAM, which kills them, a critical segment of the game that allows the player to level up and grow. However, sparing them also leads to securing ADAM, though only half as much. Benefits could be secured later.

As ADAM is so valuable in Rapture, it’s also well guarded. The aptly named Big Daddies are hulking lugs in diving gear. Insanely powerful, their presence is always threatening. Their lumbering pounding footsteps and reverberating moans are always a sure sign of an impending battle for the increasingly precious ADAM.

Even classics have flaws though, and it’s impossible for BioShock to avoid surface criticism. Shooting mechanics are imperfect at best. While the sloppy aim could possibly be explained through the story (depending on how you view it), it’s unquestionably frustrating to find the wrench consistently effective as opposed to a powered-up shotgun.

Death is unique in BioShock, and a definite point of controversy. Simply put, the player cannot die. They are sent back to a "Vita Chamber" which regenerates them with only a small dent in their health. Any damage inflicted to enemies prior to death stays. The only penalty is being forced to return to the point where the battle had occurred and finish off the fight.

This has effects that reach both ends of the game. The design of the overall product, even with its deep complexities, is obviously holding the hand of the player. An arrow is nearly always on screen to guide you, the map is overly friendly, and the handling of death is part of this. It eventually makes sense in terms of the storyline (which is undeniably the clear focus), though that doesn’t become clear until the final hours of play.

The other side is that this eliminates the intensity of the combat. The first Big Daddy appearance is an unforgettable moment, one that sends terror deep into the player knowing they’re about to face this monster. Letting the player avoid death immediately removes that sense of fear, as does the number of encounters with these creatures. They become far too routine as the game moves on, though they always sap the player’s resources to the fullest. Less would have been more.

With the exception of the title’s death handling, these are minor nit picks in what is dangerously close to becoming a perfect piece of interactive entertainment. This new original IP (loose ties to System Shock not withstanding) has officially raised expectations for first person titles.

Written by Matt Paprocki

While it lacks a singular game with recognizable name value, Taito Legends 2 is a massive compilation of 39 games, ranging from a wide array of eras and styles. As usual, not every game is worthy of revisiting (or playing for the first time), but the true classics are worth the price of admission. Everything else is an extra. Included on the disc are the arcade versions of the following:

Alpine Ski
Arabian Magic
Balloon Bomber
Bonze Adventure
Cameltry
Chack ‘n Pop
Cleopatra’s Fortune
Crazy Balloon
Darius Gaiden
Don Doko Don
Dungeon Magic
Elevator Action Returns
Football Champ
Front Line
G Darius
Gekirndan
Grid Seeker
Growl
Gun & Frontier
Insector X
Kiki KaiKai
Kuri Hinton
Liquid Kids
Lunar Rescue
Metal Black
Nastar
Puchi Carat
Puzzle Bobble 2
Qix
Raimais
Ray Storm
Space Invaders ’95
Space Invaders DX
Super Space Invaders ’91
Syvalion
The Fairyland Story
The Legend of Kage
Violence Fight
Wild Western

While not the largest collection ever released, Taito Legends 2 contains more big budget, higher end arcade games than typical re-releases such as the Activision Party Pack. G Darius and Ray Storm were full priced shooters on the PlayStation, and are simply outstanding shooters. For SHMUP fans, these are worth the meager $15 asking price by themselves.

That’s not taking into account other great blasters like Darius Gaiden, wildly updated Space Invaders ’95, the punishing Metal Black, and lost classic Gekirindan. Other shooters like Insector X (radically different from the Genesis game of the same name) and Syvalion don’t fare as well.

For the non-shooter fanatic, they can take part in a few great beat-em-ups. Growl is absurdly violent with it’s anti-animal poachers hook. Dungeon Magic is the Diablo of its day, and fares nicely even with the constrained arcade time frame and simplicity. Violence Fight on the other hand should forever be forgotten to time.

If these still don’t do enough to lure you in, the seminal 1979 release Lunar Lander is a difficult yet enjoyable piece of true retro gaming. Puzzle fans will have their hands full with Cleopatra’s Fortune and Puzzle Bobble 2, though the latter is missing some music. Oddball entries such as Raimais were outdated even for their time, and are more filler than anything else. The same goes for the massively disappointing Rastan sequel, Nastar.

The only thing missing from this must have compilation is some extra content. There are no pictures, interviews, or text fact sheets to accompany the games. Options also feel limited before and after jumping into a chosen title. For instance, the screen aspect ratio is stuck to what the game selection menu says, and cannot be changed after loading. You need to back out of the title to make a switch.

The selection of classic and even a few somewhat modern arcade games is still enough to overcome some front-end issues. Even with only half of the best entries on the disc, this would still be held high amongst the retro community. Be prepared for and extended stay with this collection.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics magazine August 9, 2007

Written by Matt Paprocki

Bullet Witch is an acquired taste. Its mundane start, clunky targeting, and uninventive third person game play take some time to adjust to. Bullet Witch finally clicks later in the game when it becomes something truly special that patient and persistent gamers will relish.

In a stereotypical Earth post-war, humans are a dying breed. Overrun by an army of demons, the few left either flee or fight. Of course, you’re one of the ones fighting, controlling a witch named Alicia tasked with blasting the demons from one of the more unique guns you’ll ever find in a video game. Alicia is gifted with athleticism, sharp aim, and magic ability to wipe out the entire horde en masse or one at a time.

Early levels play out like a tired third person shooter. It’s straight run and gun, which has an archaic, out of date feel to it. The touchy targeting makes it hard to precisely fire at a target. Level design also relies on finding small corridors to pass through, and the game world is far too open ended to expect the player to find these spots.

Then, as if by some miracle, the game pulls itself together allowing you to completely forget about the meandering start. You’ll adjust to the targeting and allow the epic boss fights, stunning visuals, and awe-inspiring magic to work in tandem to immerse you in this unbelievable battle. You’ll begin to level up Alicia, further increasing her magic and firepower to ridiculous levels, and that’s when you can’t put this one down.

Simply put, the first time you unleash Alicia’s tornado spell inside a military base, you’ll never forget that moment. A flawless destruction model combined with solid physics make a combination that must been seen to be believed. It instantly makes up for the bland, flat cityscapes earlier. This is pure next-gen beauty.

Bullet Witch keeps upping the ante with enormous boss battles, including one on top of a falling plane against a full moon that crafts a gorgeous visual image. On top of that, the fight is intense and challenging. The final boss is likewise intense and ridiculously long, though it’s the proper ending in terms of the story and situation.

Thankfully, that story doesn’t simply settle for a good and evil battle. It gives it a purpose, and the fantastic twist it takes before the final level is a classic. Voice acting can be sketchy in spots, yet this emotional moment keeps its impact intact.

Upon beating the game, the player can trek through any level again to continue leveling up Alicia to unleash spells with far more power. Extra difficulties increase an already high (but fair) challenge. Dedicated players will spend some time here to find everything, including a robust set of achievements you can be proud of if you land all of them.

You’ll need to stick with Bullet Witch to grasp it. If a demo or video turned you off, come back. Even if the game play fails to grab you, there are enough sights and surprises to make the trip worthwhile by the time its all over.

Matt Paprocki is the reviews editor for Digital Press, a classic video game website which he called home after his fanzine (Gaming Source) published its final issue. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for research purposes. Really. He also writes freelance for the Toledo Free Press.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, July 29, 2007

Written by Josh Lasser

What is this weird obsession people have with the 1980s? Were they really that fantastic? The music? The jeans? The hair? Really? The Coreys? Really!?

Well, at least it’s not all back I guess, but the two Coreys are. Last night, their new show, shockingly entitled The Two Coreys, launched on A&E with back-to-back episodes. Why exactly they are back I can’t fathom, but apparently, at least fleetingly, they are.

Corey Feldman is allegedly able to make a living as an actor full-time, and certainly has a nice house. Corey Haim on the other hand is unemployed and, we’re told, clean and sober (his jitteriness calls that into question). Feldman is married, Haim isn’t. Wow, it’s like The Odd Couple; I guess that’s why The Odd Couple theme music plays at the opening of the show along with an Odd Couple-esque introduction.

If I mock, it’s not because I dislike it all, rather just because the whole thing is so terribly silly. These two guys were teen heartthrobs for about a minute and a half back in the mid- to late-’80s. Feldman is still friends with Haim, but seems to want to be able to have a career outside the Corey thing. Haim, on the other hand, sees this reunion as a chance for the two Coreys to have a new lease on a career and stardom. I can’t imagine it being a success.

Even Feldman’s appearance of wanting a career outside of the Corey thing has to be called into question though because, after all, he is doing this show. Hypothetically, he may just be helping out a friend, but I think he’s pretty invested in the Corey thing still. He may be working as an actor, but it’s not like he’s getting parts in big movies. My guess is that he is just acting nonchalant about the entire endeavor in case it doesn’t pan out. He doesn’t want to look like he was really into it and have another thing flop.

It doesn’t take long for their biggest hit, The Lost Boys, to be brought up. There’s a poster of the film prominently placed on Feldman’s wall which Haim happens to break when he smacks it (why he smacks it is another question entirely). And, by the second episode, they’re attending a 20th anniversary screening of the film and talking about a sequel. Well, Haim is talking about a sequel, Feldman is much more ambivalent about it. Haim actually wants to write the sequel with Feldman (and possibly that other brother from the film, too). They both seem to want to make sure the whole thing is “done right.” Certainly the two Coreys writing the sequel belies the notion of doing it “right,” but I digress.

At first, Feldman’s seeming ambivalence to the whole thing is weird. As it turns out, he’s acting strangely about it all because he already knows that a direct-to-video sequel is in the works and the two Coreys aren’t invited (Feldman was actually, he was offered a cameo but turned it down). This turn of events breaks Haim’s heart (and, presumably, his dreams).

As train-wreck television goes, if you were ever interested in the two Coreys, you will probably like the show. It seems highly edited and some of the goings-on appear as though they were set up ahead of time, but it is an interesting diversion for the voyeur in you.

The Two Coreys airs Sunday nights on A&E.

Josh Lasser is the Television Editor for Blogcritics Magazine.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, July 30, 2007

Written by Matt Paprocki

With three years to simmer, All-Pro Football brings the 2K style of the sport into a new generation and it feels a lot like… 2K Sports football. There are few notable changes aside from the licensing once on the field, and fans will clamor at the chance to play this updated edition even if it is more of the same.

It’s obvious when before you’re even presented with an option menu that this is definitely a series heading in a new direction. You’re thrust right into the team creation mode. Gone is the NFL license, now replaced by 240 classic non-active stars. In what had to be a legal nightmare, Jerry Rice can snag a pass tossed by John Elway, and Walter Payton can run over everyone as he did back in Tecmo Bowl.

Each memorable player has a star rating attached to them, and only two of the highest rated players can be chosen. The strategy involved in choosing a squad is immensely involving. Once the key players are selected, generic ones fill in the holes, and these can be universally custom crafted to fit your play style. Each of the players has special abilities, yet this is the only information available for them. There are no numbered stats or sliders, just a few specialties. For the lesser-known stars, this can make choices difficult.

That play style will likely resemble the one you used back in NFL 2K5. Purists will notice tweaks, especially when it comes to zone coverage and the aggressiveness of the cornerbacks. Both have been radically improved to eliminate money plays and stick to their man tightly. Throwing on the run also has a massive effect on the ball, and trying to hit a receiver while running backwards will rarely be successful.

Tackling has received a boost, now performed in conjunction with the right analog stick. This allows for precise hits. High and low tackles can be more effective depending on the defensive player in control. The same goes for left or right, which allows that extra lunge to snag a player slightly out of reach. Tackling animations are incredible, with almost no clipping.

Even with some heavy hits and improved physics, this is still the sports game many fans came to love. This is not Madden, and those purists will have a hard time adjusting. The animation style leads to stringent game play that doesn’t have the familiar loose flow of 2K’s competitor. This tighter feel allows the developer to control the flow of the game a little a more, while taking some of the openness away from the player.

The presentation has taken a hit with the loss of the ESPN license, and with little new commentary recorded, it’s aggravating to see such minor improvements. The wild stadiums, complete with over exaggerated statues and landmarks, are borderline ridiculous (to go along with pathetic grass textures), and post play cinematics feel as if they number in the single digits. It’s also disheartening to see a real sports ticker at the bottom of the screen scrolling NFL news when there’s no NFL license available.

Issues arise with the number of options, especially when the three-year wait and price are brought into question. There’s simply not much here to do beyond the single season mode. Yes, it’s intuitive and fun to create teams with the mass of color and design options, and the same goes for the players. Sadly, there’s not a lot to do with them once they’re completed. Online options are standard fare, with the widest reaching choices being leagues. Single season play with legendary players simply isn’t enough to keep longtime 2K followers happy. Even basing the game around classic players isn’t especially new, done well over a decade before in Legends of the Diamond on the NES.

The conclusion can only be drawn when looking at All-Pro as a whole. While the football itself has amazingly retained its value and realism even with a three-year gap (which says how truly great 2K5 was), surrounding it is an anemic feature set that is embarrassing for the time between releases. It’s easy to say, “wait until next year,” but with the state of football games in this industry, that may not be a choice.

Matt Paprocki is the reviews editor for Digital Press, a classic video game website which he called home after his fanzine (Gaming Source) published its final issue. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for research purposes. Really. He also writes freelance for the Toledo Free Press.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine July 19, 2007

Written by Matt Paprocki

From the "it should be obvious" department comes the second attempt at capturing the national pastime on the Wii. The Bigs is certainly suited for the hardware, and the controls make it loads of fun to play, though some significant tweaking is needed in places. Missing features also drop this version of 2K Sport’s new series down a notch.

Without a season mode, it’s the Rookie Challenge taking center stage. Here you’ll create a character and take him through various competitive challenges. The five inning standard gameplay makes for fun and non-tiring sessions, while the mini-games that build the created player’s stats work wonderfully with the controller.

While it’s arcade style baseball, there’s unquestionably more depth and skill required compared to Wii Sports. Expected motions to pitching and batting are logical. Response to the players’ movements are spot on, and adds the extra boost the Wii version needs to one up its competition on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.

Unfortunately, the control scheme is needlessly complicated in places, and going so far as to require a nun chuck attachment at all times. It would have lessened the depth, but there are some obvious control schemes that could have easily eliminated the need for the cord. You can’t fully swing the Remote like a bat when holding on to the nun chuck, and it’s definitely a hindrance to the overall experience.

The only purpose for the attachment is to aim your swing in terms of where in the field you want the hit to go. Why not simply move this to the d-pad for a general direction? This is an arcade style title anyway.

For pitching, you’ll need to aim the general pitch location. Did the development team forget motion controls allow for aiming with the Remote? Why not let the player point right at the screen before they begin the pitch motion? There’s a wonderful touch that requires the player to move their wrist to throw breaking balls, and convenient on-screen guide makes sure you’re always aware of what motions produce what.

Fielding also ends up as a sore spot. Again, the d-pad would be perfect for throwing to each base, yet an inconsistent and frustrating motion in time with the release of the A button is needed to complete the task at hand. You’ll miss far too easy outs at first.

The Wii edition also drops two features from other current generation versions. Online play will be the deal breaker for those looking for tighter competition once the occasionally aggravating AI takes over. The second deletion is the Home Run Pinball mode, a fun mini-game placing batters in Times Square to deal out damage on New York’s lights.

Even with the oddball control setup, it remains the advantage the Wii version carries with it over counterparts on the PS3 and 360. Hitting a button is no replacement for actually swinging the Remote or physically flinging a slider right past Alex Rodriguez. The other choices, or lack thereof, keep it on equal ground.

Matt Paprocki is the reviews editor for Digital Press, a classic video game website which he called home after his fanzine (Gaming Source) published its final issue. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for research purposes. Really. He also writes freelance for the Toledo Free Press.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine July 18, 2007

Written by Ken Edwards

With a much quieter show, the three major keynotes were also oddly restrained as well; few big announcements or “wow” moments. This, like the E3′s new show format, is in stark contrast — and feels quite alien — to years past.

Lets take a quick look back at last year’s E3:

Microsoft in 2006: Microsoft hit it out of the ballpark last year, if only the ballpark was filled with existing customers. A couple of the many high points were the GTA IV tat, Live Anywhere, Halo 3, Gears of War, and new hardware accessories rounded out a very solid keynote. Microsoft also had one thing the other two did not: hardware on store shelves and in homes.

Nintendo in 2006: Nintendo was smart to release the final name for their next-gen console before E3. However, most everyone was still in a daze trying to figure out if Wii was a joke. Did they really name it Wii? Nintendo had a very to the point keynote in 2006, showing games aplenty for the DS and Wii, including heavyweights Mario and Zelda. They had to prove the motion-sensing Remote would work, and their demos of the technology were quite impressive.

Sony in 2006: Sony, on the other hand, became the laughing stock of YouTube after its 2006 E3 keynote. Heck, even Tretton gave Kaz a “Riiiiiiiiige Racer” jab at this year’s event. With a very long winded Gran Torismo demo that went nowhere, the reveal of the “innovative” tilt-sensing controller, the sloppy Warhawk demo, and other crimes against gaming, the audience was left speechless – literally.

This year was quite different. Nintendo had nothing to prove about the Wii, Sony desperately needed to show software, and Microsoft really only needed to show Halo 3, again.

Microsoft in 2007: Gears of War for Windows was leaked, so there were no bombshell announcements. Scene-It looks interesting, some nice exclusives were shown, and Xbox Live Arcade is again, for the second year running now, a major part of the show (not a bad thing at all).

Jeff Bell all but killed the show, his delivery was just horrible. It would have been nice to see more first party in-game demos, such as Halo 3, rather than longer than need be third party, multi-platform releases. Microsoft has a solid holiday lineup of exclusive games, they really should have made better use of the moment.

Nintendo in 2007: It is clear to me now, more than ever before, that the Nintendo Wii is not a console for the hardcore crowd. The Wii Zapper, Mario Kart Wheel, and (to some extent) the Wii Balance Board are smoke and mirrors to grab the non-gaming audience. The desire to widen said audience is wonderful, and I am all for that, but Nintendo is not addressing long time gamers well with the Wii platform.

Is the system ever going to have a usable online gaming model? The Wii might be selling like hot cakes right now, but are people buying games? I know many gamers who own a Wii, but few own more than one or two games.

Non-game announcements aside, Super Mario Galaxy (is that an official name now?), Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda Phantom Hourglass and Metroid Prime 3 were all fine specimens of Nintendo heavyweights, but what about third party content. Oh yea, that’s right, this is the same old Nintendo after all.

Sony in 2007: Like Microsoft, Sony put an executive on stage that made things a little awkward. Jack Tretton is to Sony what Jeff Bell is to Microsoft. Though, Tretton gets credit for the Kaz joke.

Considering last year’s Sony keynote, I was not expecting much. As a PS3 owner, I was left very impressed with this year’s dog and pony show. Their subliminal use of Home throughout the keynote was unique, and worked well. Sony needed to show games, and they had games in spades. I am not at all hip to the “timed exclusives” and their backwards way of not calling a multi-platform title a multi-platform title (hint: Haze and Unreal Tournament 3 will be on the Xbox 360).

Sony paraded the Worldwide Studios around well, the first party, and third party exclusive lineup is looking fantastic. Just like Microsoft, actually exactly like Microsoft, Sony showed off a montage of third party software. Wake me when the clip is over, please.

The big announcement was a “redesigned” PSP that looks strikingly like the one out now. It went on a diet, losing weight and is now thinner too! And… that’s about it. It has some nice technical additions but nothing drastic. Better battery life, added system cache and full TV-out capabilities are nice to be sure, but people were expecting more from a PSP redesign. I tried telling people it would not have a second analog stick, and look, it doesn’t.

Other notable items include a partnership with NCSoft, which could very well bring big rewards down the road. Kojima also professed Metal Gear Solid 4 exclusivity for the PS3, almost as if he had to. But did anyone believe him? That is one of those “it’s not going to happen until it happens” announcements (see: Virtua Fighter 5 on Xbox 360; Virtua Fighter 5 Xbox Live play).

So who “won” the show this year? Gamers did, of course! (Okay, I know that was bad.)

Sony had the most to lose this year. Announcing the ludicrous price last year, coupled with hardly any reasons to own a PS3, you knew Sony would come out swinging this year.

Sony and Microsoft both have a lot to offer this holiday, but I am more impressed with Sony’s offerings mainly due to the fact that their console is starving for software right now.

Sony’s keynote impressed me the most; it was good to see them on point after last year’s “massive damage.” While Nintendo is reaching out to a new audience, it is quickly losing sight of their “other” audience. And that is the problem, the hardcore gamer has become the “other” demographic in Nintendo’s grand scheme. That is unsettling to many people, myself included.

Microsoft showed that they are chugging along nicely, alarming failure rates and all, but right now I am more intrigued by the software coming out for the PS3 and PSP.

Ken Edwards is the Gaming Editor at Blogcritics, and calls Breaking Windows home. Ken works part time for Student Publications at BGSU as the Webmaster and System Administrator. He is also a freelance web developer.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, July 13, 2007

Written by Tom Johnson

Two bands reunite for new releases this week while another throws a handful of bonus tracks onto a now-classic album that is mercifully old enough that we might not feel so fleeced into buying this “deluxe edition.”

Crowded House – Time On Earth: Neil Finn originally set out to create another solo album, but with Crowded House drummer Paul Hester’s unfortunate suicide, he wound up getting back together with fellow Crowdies Mark Hart and Nick Seymour and the material steered back towards the band rather than his own project. That’s fine, since Neil Finn’s solo works aren’t drastically different than Crowded House anyway. And from the sounds of things, Time On Earth straddles the very fuzzy line between the two – being slightly darker in tone than Crowded House, but a little less serious than Finn solo. This is okay – we’re all 10 years older and it would be kind of unfortunate for the band to not display some signs of maturing in that time. Not that Crowded House was ever “immature,” but I’m all for the band presenting listeners something that doesn’t cater to their every expectation, and from all reviews I have seen, that’s what they’ve given us. An album from Crowded House that takes a little time to develop a relationship with the listener is a good thing. Let’s hope we don’t have to “dream it’s over” after this album and tour.

Foo Fighters – The Colour And The Shape Deluxe Edition: Cool – one of the few times when a “deluxe” edition has come out sufficiently far enough in time from the original that I don’t feel like I’m being gouged buying it again. In addition to being remastered and new liner notes, this edition adds 6 non-album tracks:

“Requiem” (Killing Joke cover)
“Drive Me” Wild (single b-side)
“Down In The Street” (Gary Numan cover)
“Baker Street” (Gerry Rafferty cover)
“Dear Lover” (single b-side)
“The Colour And The Shape” (single b-side)

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist: “Smashing Pumpkins,” “Zwan,” “Billy Corgan,” whatever you want to call it – it’s all just him and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and a couple of stand-ins for when they play live. I’m feeling mixed about this one after seeing their very lackluster performance at Live Earth this past weekend (not to mention Corgan’s very distasteful plug for the new album,) but not many of the performances there were particularly good, so I don’t want to allow that to color my perception of the new album. But it’s hard not to be a little jaded about this one when we’re being asked to swallow a ridiculous bonus track situation after the whole Machina II fiasco years ago, where Corgan gave the album out to fans, for free, to spread among everyone far and wide after the label gave him a hard time. It’s just harder to believe that he’d stand by this kind of stupidity after doing that. Regardless, here we are on release day and there are multiple versions of the album. In addition to a “deluxe” edition that consists of a 70-some-odd page book with the CD (but no additional music or video content? Strange… ) there are multiple versions of the album:

Best Buy:
Adds “Death From Above” smack in the middle of the track listing, at #9.

Target:
Adds title-track “Zeitgeist” at the end of the album.

Itunes:
Adds “Stellar” at the end of the album.

There’s also a Ticketmaster tie-in where you get the album via Itunes plus 5 bonus tracks of other bands covering the Pumpkins.

Sigh. I’ll say it again, in case some industry big-wig checks in: we buyers HATE this. By doing things like this, you just encourage the piracy-by-download that you claim to be against.

I’ll buy it anyway – I have all the other Corgan-related albums, why not one more? Judging by the overwhelming negativity of people so far, just hours after it was available for sale, and probably before most of them have actually heard it, I’ll probably wind up liking it way more than anyone else. It worked that way with Zwan – I listen to Mary Star Of The Sea a lot more often than most Pumpkins albums, actually. I rarely fall for the hype – positive or negative.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, July 10, 2007

Written by Mel Odom

The Adventures of Darwin operates on a simple concept: evolve or die. Unfortunately, even with a cute title and a very easy interface that allows the player to get into the game, it hasn’t followed its own rule.

Ten years ago, this would have been a great game to have. The video gaming industry was still relatively in its infancy (early evolution, so to speak). The idea of going out to collect things to get points was the way to go then. In The Adventures of Darwin the player has to go gather food and building materials to enhance his village and to evolve.

Quite frankly, evolution in the game just takes too long. Another drawback is that it is only a one-player game. My nine year old and I both played the game, and it might have been more interesting if we have been able to team play in some fashion. As it was, we both spent inordinate amounts of time trying to find everything we needed.

Even the new areas that open up in the game after you progress aren’t as interesting or interactive as they should be to be successful at this stage in video gaming. You can go in and talk to people, but you don’t find out anything that you wouldn’t have already figured out on your own. Then you go once more at into the field to collect raw materials and food. As you evolve, your onscreen image changes, growing steadily more and more human in appearance. You also find and learn to use tools that allow you to do more.

The video graphics are really weak. When it’s nighttime in the game, I couldn’t see well enough to get around. So I simply sat and waited. I discovered there was no penalty for waiting till it was light enough to see. However, the drawback was that I had a lot of dead time in the game while I was waiting for the sun to rise again.

Thankfully, the soundtrack wasn’t as nerve-wracking as the one for Mario Brothers, but that was only because it didn’t really stand out. Like much of the game, it wasn’t really memorable.

Patient players who are goal-oriented and love to take days to finish a game would probably like this one. However, I suspect most game players these days are more driven for the quick rewards and action of shooters and fast-paced RPGs.

My wife — who loves Pikman, its sequel, and the fact that it takes a long time to finish the game while doing repetitive play — couldn’t really get interested in this one either. The idea is sound, the game playing and structure are sound, but the rewards don’t come quick enough. A patient player who’s determined to see the game through to the end might enjoy this one.

Mel Odom is the author of over 100 novels. Winner of the American Library Association’s Alex Award for 2002 and runner-up for the Christy in 2005, he’s written in several genres, including tie-in novels for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Without A Trace, and novelizations of Blade, XXX, and Tomb Raider. Thankfully, he’s learned to use his ADHD for good instead of evil.

This article appeared online in Blogcritics Magazine, July 4, 2007