My First Impression of Killzone: Mercenary

Killzone: Mercenary is a First-Person Shooter for the Playstation Vita that just came out yesterday in the U.S. There is a campaign mode with 9 unique missions that you must complete to finish the game. There is also the multiplayer which allows up to 8-players to face each other or work in teams. The modes in the game are Mercenary Warfare mode, Guerrilla Warfare, and Warzone--you can tell how much effort they put into naming these different online modes. The first one is a free-for-all style mode. You basically are tasked with killing everyone. The second mode is team a death match mode. The last one is an objective based game with 5 phases. Both single and multiplayer share a common element, the weapon shop. Here, you can purchase new guns, armors, grenades, and special items. With these purchased items, you can customize your loadouts. You gain more loadouts by gaining new levels during your playthrough. This game shares the same basic elements of most FPS games.

My first impression of this game has been positive. If there was one thing that truly stuck out at me, it's the detail and overall graphics in this game. No lie, they are really good. This game demonstrates the capabilities of the Playstation Vita amazingly. There's not one game that I can think of that looks this good right now--I do think it looks better than Rayman and the Ateleir games. Once you see the game yourself, you will understand why I say this is what sticks out in the game. Not the great gameplay, but the graphics.

The selection of weapons is pretty grand for a portable game too. I wasn't expecting so many customizable weapons, armor, grenades, or vault items. It's too bad that you only get a few loadouts, because the amount of customization begs for more. The guns in this game are really fun to use. Right now, I am experimenting the preorder weapon, and man, do I love raining hell on opponents with it. Also, The sniper--which uses the back controller to zoom in and out--is tough to use. The machine guns are as expected and so is everything else.

So far, the multiplayer has been running amazing. It might be due to the limited amount of players allowed in a game, but it's noticeable the difference in quality. I have not once seen slow down in the game. The connection is running well for me too. I haven't been booted from a game yet! And lastly, getting into a game doesn't take a year. It's a few seconds and you are in.

This game is easy to control. One thing I worried about in this game was the controls and how they would respond. I am not disappointed. Once I adjusted my x-axis, I had no problems playing the game. Killzone also makes use of the touchscreen and the back controller pad. I typically select my secondary weapon and grenades with the screen. The back controller pad is used for zooming with the rifles as far as I know. really, the controls in this game are fantastic and easy to use. 

Basically, I have a favorable first impression of this game. If you have a Playstation Vita, I would recommend picking this game up as soon as you can.

Tales of Xillia: My Thoughts

Well I finally beat Tales of Xillia for the Playstation 3. It took me over 40 hours and some mindless grinding, but I did it. The worst part is, I missed some quest and did not defeat the weapon monsters during my adventure. I definitely will have to do that on my second playthrough in the future. I also need to finish collecting all the skits and defeating all the monsters too. There really was and still is a lot to do in this game.

I really enjoyed the combat in this game. I can't say the battle system is as complex as former Tales of games, but it was still a lot of fun. I have always enjoyed the real-time fighting in these games, and this installment did not disappoint me at all. You still have the ability to run around and pummel your enemies with the added benefit of linking with other characters to add new strategies like linked artes. That's one thing I did really enjoy, the linked artes. Basically, when you link up with another character and fill up a bar in the overlimit meter, you can both perform a single arte together. It's pretty cool and effective, especially when you exploit an enemies weakness with it. If I had one qualm with the overall battles, it was the enemies weaknesses. The majority of them seemed to be weak to wind. If I wanted a quick victory, all I really had to do was link Jude and Millia and use linked wind artes. Besides that one thing, I thought the battles were fun...even if most of them weren't challenging like past Tales of games.

I am going to make this short on the graphics. I know it's one big flaw this games has, but I did not find them to be terrible. It's apparent the game has aged--it came out in 2011 in Japan--, but the harping on something that's not so bad is stupid. I honestly thought the overall graphics were fine. It didn't hurt the gameplay one bit and that's what really matters. For a game that came out two years, they still work fine. Not the best pictures, but again, doesn't hurt the overall game.


For the most part, I enjoyed the story despite feeling like it was dumbed down like Graces f. It was your typical save the world with the added twist of it not being against evil. That's right, for once, it was not fighting against evil but against beliefs. I felt like the morale of the story is that one person's justice isn't the same as another, but that does not mean you should stop fighting for what you believe is the lesser of evils. The end kind of ticked me off though. I felt like it was rushed. That really killed the game for me. Still, a good stereotypical rpg story.

The music in Tales of game is always stellar and this was no different. I enjoyed all of it. The voice acting for the English translation wasn't terrible either. I actually enjoyed it. I thought Rowen's voice was perfect for him. I think people expect too much out of voice acting or are too stiff on excepting that English voice acting can be done just as fantastic as the Japanese audio.


I think the overall score for this game would be an 8/10. It wasn't my favorite Tales of game, but it still was fun and I still enjoyed it. There were a lot of things that needed to be worked on, but it was still worth the money and a good game to pick up and play.


Score: 8/10

Monday Update

So my lack of post this summer has been terrible, but I have had a lot going on so I apologize. It's not easy to balance blogging, actually playing video games, working, looking for good jobs, and having a summer of death. I will try to make more of an effort though, I promise.

Anyway, the games I have been playing are Tales of Xillia and Dragon's Crown. I would be lying if I said both games were not amazing. They may not be 10/10, but they are worth the money and a lot of fun to play. If you asked me which of the two I preferred, I would have to say Tales just because it offers more in terms of everything.

September looks to be a stellar month for Playstation. The new releases consist of Killzone: Mercenary, Valhalla Knights 3, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 ReMIX, and so on. Yeah, that's an incredible amount of games to come out in a month. I am sure a lot more indie games will be coming out on multiple systems too.

There's more going on in the gaming world, but I don't have enough research to really say anything on it.

Anyway, till later.

Impression of Tales of Xillia's First Half

I can't believe how much of this game I already have completed. Sure, I missed a few event quest because I either missed them or forgot, but I have done a lot overall. I am enjoying this game a lot, despite the very linear gameplay for an RPG. There are some stuff I am not a fan of as well. I figured I would post a list of what I like and don't like.

Things I am liking:

+ The fighting system. It's no Graces f, but it's still awesome. I really enjoy Jude's fighting style and artes.

+ The different areas. I feel that every town and city you explore is unique in their own respect. So far, my favorite city has been Sharilton.

+ The skits. They seem to be more mature but still light hearted enough to enjoy.

+ The music. Tales of music is usually stellar so this is no surprise.

Things I am not liking so much:

- The difficulty. I have this game on hard and I am breeding through it.

- Rowen is a little weak in this game. For a former head of the military and one they call, "The Conductor", he kind of stinks in battle.

- The events. It's nice they put them in there, but many of them can be easily missed. There also isn't a whole lot of variety. I feel like I'm doing the same quest in different settings.

That's all I have so far. I am still enjoying the game and will hopefully complete it this week.

Political Correctness and Video Games

Video games have been around for a decent amount of time as a form of entertainment. They have their share of success, failures and of course, controversies. Yet, as of late, I feel like those simple controversies are starting to permeate into other outlets for people to plug in and complain. What do I mean by all of this? Well for starters, all I hear about is a segment of the gaming population "discussing" women and video games. Most arguments have come down to cliche personalities and objectification. I can understand that feminist and some other female gamers would not be okay with that, it makes sense. Who wants to be objectified in any entertainment medium like movies, internet videos, or rap videos? What I don't understand is how a game gets such a low review because of it, like Dragon's Crown. I can see taking a few points off for the obvious over objectification and how overboard it can be, but if that game is great, why devalue the whole game because of what the developers saw as the perfect art for it?

This whole political correctness is becoming ridiculous in the video game world. I know that right now, this entertainment juggernaut is at the top of its game and that millions of children and adults are partaking in this, but come on. It's getting annoying. When I read a review or search for new games, I don't want to hear this bullshit. I want to hear about the actual game and if it will be worth my time. I want to know if I am going to be engaged with the protagonist or if I am going to be regretting my purchase. I don't want to hear someone make a page rant because a character's breast are hanging out. You can sum that up in a paragraph, so do it. Stop trying to push your agenda. This brings me to my next point on this stuff.

Video games should not be used as grounds for political battles amongst special interest groups. They should be the medium that brings us together and instead, these people are tearing us apart. The biggest arguments as far as I can recall have always been about brand loyalty and intense violence. Now, feminist are coming along since female gamers are becoming more vocal about their hobby--which I think is fantastic and about time--and now are using it to empower themselves. Shut up. Just, shut up. It's one thing to not be pleased with the art, it's another thing to use it to ruin the whole experience for everyone. You people are ruining my hobby as a whole. Get over yourselves. If anything, your pissing people off by your constant moaning. You see a few characters and assume that majority are like that.

Actually, if you are anything of a video gamer, you know many characters are not objectified. The problem is, you only play a select few titles and bam, assume it works for all of them. I could name a hell of a list of female characters that are not sexualized in video games, but no one would care.

I am done for today. Try and enjoy gaming for once, and stop looking for reasons to empower you politically. 

P.S. If anyone should be complaining, it's minorities. I rarely see them as the main protagonist, and sometimes I don't see them in a game at all.

P.S.S. I am not actually a fan of over sexual looking characters in games, but I also understand how the body is a work of art and should not be shamed by these asshats.

Tales of Xillia: I Finally got my Copy

Hey fellow gamers, it's been awhile but I am back. I thought I would tell you how ecstatic I am to finally have the opportunity to play Tales Of Xillia for the PS3. This game was one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2013 and I finally got my hands on it. As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of the Tales of series. They are colorful, quirky, and overall fantastical games. Even better is the battle system and it's constant evolution through the series. I expect nothing different from this game.

Anyway, I will write a review for this game when I complete it. I will try to update this blog and let you know my progress. 

Update

This month has been incredibly inconsistent with my post and I apologize. It's been a very busy July and I have not had access to the internet this whole time. That being said, I do my best to get a few more post in this week.

Tales of Xillia with be hitting the U.S. shelves in two weeks and I could not be more excited. I have been waiting to play this game since I first read about it two years ago. Speaking of the Tales series, it seems that we are seeing more and more being localized and the popularity growing. This is outstanding if you asked me. This means we will possibly see more and more games being localized for all platforms. Really, the Tales games have a great chance of becoming the Final Fantasy's of the West since Square-Enix has essentially fallen from grace with their recent games and public plunders.

There are still a few games I need to play that recently came out. It's tough when games cost so much and you make little money. Anyway, I will try to post more before the end of the month!

Persona 5: What I Want

According to every website on the internet, Atlus has registered the domain, Persona5.com. That's awesome. I have been waiting for another installment in this game series. It really isn't surprising that a new one is coming considering how popular these games are, even in a niche market. With this news in mind, there are a few things I do hope for this new game.

1. A New Setting
Let's be honest, most of us are not in high school and probably close to or already graduated college that play these games. Heck, the average gamer is apparently in their 30's at this point. It's time for Atlus to up the ante and give us something we all can relate to better, like college or adulthood. I understand the appeal with JRPG's and high school, but many of us are long past that. I can't really relate to a coming of age story when I already came to age. I am 24, how can I relate to a 16 year old? I can't and I am sure many of us--unless you have Peter Pan syndrome-- can't either. So Atlus, how about giving us a new setting instead of kids in high school. I don't mind the overall scenario of Japanese urban life in these games, just the high school setting.

P.S. Am I the only one that feels like these characters always look more in their late teens, early 20's in these games?

2. New Persona Summons
This one is fairly obvious. Nothing makes a consumer want to buy a new installment like new content. That being said, I want new to be able to summon new persona's. I have always been a fan of using Jack Frost in these games, but come on, I need a new favorite. I think everyone is expecting new summons in this game. I don't even know why I bothered writing anything for this section.

3. A New and Old Story
Who doesn't like a new story in a new installment of a game? Want to know what I like better than even that? A new story that ties the old games together. If you have never played a Persona game, I can understand why this topic may not make sense. Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 4: Arena stories all connect to each other. It all has to do with shadows and midnight. I can't really go into why they connect without spoiling everything. If any of these games were 10 years old, I would because you should have played them by now. Anyway, I want to see these stories connected in Persona 5. I want more answers and I want more closure. BLAH.

4. Have it for both Handheld and Console
Want to know what I really like to do? I like to be able to take a game I am playing and play it anywhere. With the way technology is today, this is possible and is already being done. If Atlus was smart, they would make this game cross-play. This would allow all of us to pick up from where we left off on whatever system. It helps when I am not always home to play on my consoles. If they could make Persona 4: Golden that awesome, they could do it with Persona 5. The end.

With all that in mind, I am really excited for this game and cannot wait to play it.

A Quick Recap from Absence

Hey guys, it's been awhile since I have posted a blog post. I have been busy with interviews, a holiday, and a death in my family but I am back! It has been a crazy six days in the realm of video games. Today, I am going to break down some of the stuff going on!

Nintendo
My twitter feed was blowing up yesterday with Nintendo and EVO. If you unsure yourself with what happened, here is a quick summary from me. Nintendo apparently blocked streaming access of Super Smash Brothers Melee matches during the EVO. Well that changed quickly and Nintendo will now allow streaming of the tournament. From what I gather, one of the biggest outcry from fans was due to the fact they raised money for breast cancer to allow Melee to be played. I think that's a good enough reason to be mad at Nintendo.

Muramasa Rebirth
If I have gathered any news on this Playstation Vita game, it's that people are liking it. This game came out a few weeks ago and has been doing pretty well. Honestly, the lowest score I have seen so far has been a 3.5/5. So that tells me that this upgrade might be worth the purchase. However, good luck finding a physical copy of the game.


Microsoft 
In a bold, but sane move, Microsoft has changed their mind on DRM and the constant need to always be online. That's right, used games will now be playable. Honestly, this should have been okay from the start. If companies want to sell games, they need to make them good enough to keep playing. They could also make them affordable for consumers who are not exactly loaded. I mean geez, some of the best games didn't cost a fraction as some of these new AAA games.


Tales of Xillia 2
The best news that I have to give to everyone is that ToX2 will be localized. I am incredibly ecstatic about these turn of events. 

That's all for today guys. I will start blogging again since everything has resumed to normal.

Rune Factory 4

Have you ever enjoyed simulator games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, but wish you could play it like a dungeon crawler too? Look no further and pick up a copy of Rune Factory 4 when it comes to North America in August for the Nintendo 3DS. Rune Factory is a Harvest Moon spin-off with all of your favorite role-playing elements like battling monsters and collecting new weapons. I can't say I have ever played one, but it does look interesting enough to warrant a pick up. I mean, who doesn't want to play a game with the added bonus of 3-D? 

As I watched the trailer below, I couldn't help but think this game plays like a Legend of Zelda game when you dungeon crawl. I am not complaining though, I do enjoy that type of gameplay. Rune Factory 4 allows you to use different types of weapons such as a sword or spear. I think that's pretty cool. I have always been a man of pole-arms in games--and when I did martial arts--and I think they are always a welcomed addition to any game.

There is one reservation that I have with this game. I am never comfortable with the dating aspect of games, especially when the characters look too lolita for it. If you are unsure what that means, look at these characters. They don't look more than 14 years old. That's weird. Well, that's weird because I am a 24 year old man and not a coming of age teen. At least with Fire Emblem, you knew most them were adults and I could at least relate to that, sort of. I digress from the overall game though. It looks like it will be a fun game to play for a few hours here and there. I know, minus my reservation from what I mentioned, I will give this game a try.

Quick Review: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

This past weekend began phase 3 of  beta testing for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. If you are wondering if a Realm Reborn is an expansion of the original FFXIV, it's not. It's an upgraded version of the original game. Apparently, the original FFXIV was terrible. Square decided to fix this by bringing a new team in and recreating this online MMORPG. They worked tirelessly to give us faith again in this company and their ability to make a good game. Anyway, that's enough for the history lesson.

When I first started this game, I was created with an epic cinematic experience. This entailed an amazing opening movie and an explanation of this new world. It was pretty cool to watch. The story really sets up for an epic fantasy, or at least a fantasy world for me to explore. After all that, I was brought to the character creation menu.

I have to say, not a lot of customization. If you do not count the color palates and the races, there isn't much in terms of aesthetic options. I do understand that it's a beta version, so I am not worried that there will be a lack of customizations for you persona. I do like the variety of races, sub-races. and classes you can choose. I obviously choose the manliest of the bunch with Highlander because anything with a beard says, "yes." I should have went with the Axe, but I choose lancer instead.

The game world is stunning. It was amazing how much detail went into this world. I felt like I was actually walking through an fantasy town located near the woods. Every color that needed to be bright, was bright and every leaf that needed to appear, appeared. The amount of detail in this world was pretty intense. You can tell that these developers really spent the time creating an awesome world. I honestly cannot wait to go adventure more next weekend so I can see more of the world they created. There are few games with this beautiful of a world.

Now for what some of you might be wondering. The game played out like any other MMORPG. Where Final Fantasy can innovate, it also reuses and tried and tested method of battle, the point and click. If you never played an mmorpg, it's all about grinding and looting. I can tell you right now, there will be a lot of it in this game. 

All in all, I enjoyed the game. There is still improvement needed like how other people move on your screen and more customization of your avatar, but I enjoyed the game overall. Until Tomorrow.

Five Game Characters that Kick Ass

I came across an article today listing the ten best game characters and I must say, I don't agree with every choice the author made. I agreed with his selections of Mario, Sonic, and a few others, but some of them were garbage. I decided to make my own list. A numbered list of characters that actually had an influence in the gaming world and kicked ass. Well, only five characters today.

5. Master Chief 
If there was ever a war in the future against awesome looking aliens, I would expect Master Chief to be up front and tea-bagging those newbs. John--which is his real name--is one of the most badass main characters that has ever graced the gaming world. He was a man that did not say much and just got the job done. Aliens invading your world? No problem. Master Chief would take a pistol and pop those grunts back from a mile away. Really, his character is iconic in the gaming world. Not only does he embody stereotypical badassary, but he has a AAA game to back him up. Everyone knows Master Chief. You know he is kind of a big deal when he has his own special Spartan uniform.  
                 

4. Cloud
If I was a chode, I would have just put Cloud's sword. That weapon is widely known in the gaming world because it's a huge freakin' sword. Look at it for a minute and tell me that's not excessive. Well, besides being known for his sword, Cloud is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy 7. He was the embodiment of the franchise for the Playstation. There may have been better games in the franchise on the first Playstation, but Cloud is the one character that everyone knows. He almost always lands in the top 5 in polls for popular characters and rightfully so. Cloud is one kick ass character that knows how to get the job done when it matters. It also helps that he appears in more than one game like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics. If you are popular enough to be in more than one game, you are pretty kick ass.

3. Mega Man
I would be a terrible person if I did not put Mega Man on this list. The blue bomber is known for his multiple platform titles and his various spin-off series like Mega Man X and Legends. He's a dude that goes around beating baddies and taking their powers through multiple stage levels. If you have never played a Mega Man game, you are really missing out. He and his spin-off clones are some of the coolest characters to have ever graced the Nintendo and future consoles. Look at him. He's just awesome. It really is a welcome surprise that he will finally be in Super Smash Brothers. I know who I will be using all the time!

2. Samus
Samus is one of the best female protagonist to date. She does rolls, shots lasers like Mega Man, and runs around in a pretty awesome armor suit. It's not often we see female characters as cool as her, but damn can she kick alien ass. It was pretty shocking when gamers found out she was a female upon completion of the original Metroid game. Really, without getting into real specifics, she is the female Mega Man, which makes her just that more awesome.

1. Link
Link. What can I say about this former lefty? Well, for one, he is definitely one of the most popular videogame characters to date. He's probably more famous than anyone on this list and future list I make. With that said, our silent protagonist is always the hero of something who fights Ganondolf or some other evil being to save something. He always carries the triforce of courage with him in his games. Even more amazing, not all the Links are the same. Actually, most are different heroes in their own time, fighting for their own reasons, and usually saving a maiden at the end of the day. Even in this day and age, Link is still as relevant to the gaming world as anyone new or old. It doesn't matter that the series is over 20 years old, what matters is that Link still goes on ridiculous adventures. He still gets it done at the end of the day and that's what matters.

Animal Crossing: A Quick Review

As I enter the little town known as Aberdeen, I find myself greeting furry residents as their new mayor. There's Astrid, some rainbow colored kangaroo, who always has fleas jumping around on her fur. I have Sally, a very masochistic squirrel who seems to do nothing but punish himself for little known reasons. And of course, I have Sully--there must be something with names that start with A and S in this game--who asks me if I even lift when I approach this boastful cat creature. I would be lying if I said that the towns people were far from unique...and weird. I make sure that everyday I gather resources to sell, outfit my museum with new things, and make sure that public works are funded properly. It's all in a days work as a mayor. For those that have not played the game yet, here is a quick review of the important things of the games.

Celebrating a new bench because why not?

Gameplay

Animal Crossing plays similarly to its predecessors. You go around the town and build it up. You make money by doing various activities like fishing and netting bugs. There are day specific events for you to attend.The new feature of swimming seams like a gimmick that really wasn't needed. This type of game play is fun and addicting though. It may seem like tedious task you do everyday like shoveling up fossils, but I can't find myself stopping it for one day. They really know how to get you into a routine that's fun to do everyday.

Music

The music in this game is fun and catchy. I mean, what makes a perfect song is how catchy it is to people. I find myself enjoying all the tunes that come through my headphones and sometimes coming up with my own themes at the office. These tracks are not hard, but are perfectly quirky. I have not had a chance to hear K.K. Rider yet, so I can't review that, sorry guys.

Graphics 

I would be lying if I said the look of the game didn't matter compared to the gameplay. Honestly, this is one of the best looking 3DS games out in the market. The only game I can think of that looks just as good was the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The 3D in this game was perfectly done...well as perfect as it could be done. It just looks fantastic. It helps to that all the colors are bright palates, but still, looks great. 

Value for your Money

If there is one thing that I will argue, this game is a steal for your money. The game itself is only $34.99 compared to many 3DS games that are priced at $39.99. The price does not only justify the cost, but the actual game does that for you. I honestly pick the game up for an hour a day, and I still feel fresh when playing it. I have yet to get bored of it, which is a big deal. There are also different seasons for you to play in and various events that go on. It really is worth the price tag and it probably is worth more than that.

Conclusion

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a welcome addition to the franchise as well as to the Nintendo 3DS. It's not often that good simulation games are made, but I think Nintendo really hit it with this one. Not only is it perfect for both casual and hardcore gamers, it's a great game for people of all ages. If you have not had a chance to pick this game up, I would suggest doing it soon.

The Wii U : What it Needs to Survive

Let's be honest, the Wii U is not doing well in the markets in its first year. That's disappointing considering it's part of a historied company that has pushed the bounds of our imagination. Nintendo is like the Disney of Japan, they bring the magical and the fantastical to life with modern technology. The future for Nintendo is bleak with the competition it is up against in the coming year with the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. If Nintendo wants to survive this generation, they will have to change a few things. 

The Price

The Wii U is expensive like most new things on the market. It's not unheard of for a console to be around $299.99 or more. Actually, systems have been priced close to that as far back as I can remember. The problem is, it's not working for Nintendo. The only way Nintendo can justify the price is by producing systems with more than 8gb and 32gb hard drives. I am well aware that you can buy external hard drives, but that just adds to the total bill. Sony and Microsoft are offering 500gb internal hard drives for their systems for $99.99 - $199.99 with the possibility of better overall technology than the Wii U*. That's a better deal than what Nintendo is offering. If Nintendo wants to survive, they need to readjust the price of their console.

New Games

I know this is an obvious one to put, but Nintendo is lacking games on its console. Virtual Console games are not going to cut it as "new" games. Many gamers--including myself--own past generation consoles and games that still work. Why would we want to buy those games again? That's a waste of money and a waste of time. What Nintendo needs to do is start cranking out their more famous titles as they have been doing as of late. We need more Mario and more Zelda. I don't care if "critics" say they are stale, they still sell and I still enjoy them.

Nintendo could also benefit buy bringing a new flagship title to the Wii U. They need more than Zelda and Mario to carry them over to this generation. Many kids that enjoyed platforming with Mario or going on an adventure with Link in the late 1980's-1990's are adults now. They aren't spending as much time playing these games and might not be playing anymore. It's time to appeal to a younger, newer generation of gamers with a new mascot. I would argue any genre is fine, as long as the younger crowd can identify. 

Oh, and start making Fire Emblem games for the Wii U since Awakening did so well. Actually tactical role-playing games and other types of role-playing games could make use of that Pad that comes with the system. Nintendo could use more RPG's as well! Are there really any out there on the Wii U? I feel that Nintendo concentrates this genre on their 3DS and it's hurting them. They need to start making more games in this genre ASAP.  

Identity

Now that I mention games and appealing to a younger generation as well, what is the Wii U's identity? The console with the enormous tablet? The console that has an abundant of Mario and old people games? That console that I use as a bookshelf? Honestly, I have no idea what the Wii U's identity is today. When I see other consoles, I see that it conveys a message to me. The Playstation 4 says, "Hey, I am going to be a portable PC that will have a great library." When I see the Xbox One, I see a system that will appeal to entertainment, the movie/game experience at the comfort of your home. The Wii U needs an identity that will make people want to buy it. I have no desire besides it being a Nintendo console with a giant tablet. 

Conclusion 

Nintendo can change a few things to survive this generation. I only named a few things, but even these three changes could save the console. Nintendo needs to stop being stubborn and take a hit for a little bit in the wallet. It will work in their future and ours later on in the Wii U's life.

*I say possibility of better technology since the systems are not out yet. I also say this since I take into account more than the actual hardware.

New Age Video Games: My Rant

Lately, I find myself playing a lot of older video games and action role-playing games. This ranges from games like Shinning Force I  to Phantasy Star Online to Persona 3. These are games that I have beaten multiple times over the last two decades and yet, I am still playing and finishing them with much enthusiasm. I don't really find myself finishing many new games. I honestly think the last game I beat that's new was Fire Emblem: Awakening. That's a problem when most major games will cost you $59.99 for a new copy of what might sit and collect dust on your shelf. 

I know why newer games don't hold my interests and I bet this rings true to many gamers. Video games are becoming interactive movies. When I turn on a game and start playing, I don't ask to sit through 30-minutes of cutscenes and asked to press buttons the whole time. That's no fun to me. I want to move my character(s) around the map, battling foes, and winning the hearts of virtual princesses. I don't want to sit there while some stereotypical angry white guy is beating up some baddies for me while I press a button on screen. What am I, 3 years old and learning shapes? It's insulting as a video game enthusiasts to be treated as a child in a digital world.

A great example of this is the beginning of Uncharted 3. When you first start the game, you are lead into a bar scene that goes on for an eternity. Once the actual game play starts, I am moving around and coordinating button presses against the gang. The game even tells me what buttons to press and mash. That's not fun at all. Well, depending on the game, it can be a little fun, but if I wanted to play Dance Dance Revolution, I would of laid down a mat and started jumping up and down like an idiot.

There really is a difference between compelling story telling in a movie and in a video game. Take an example from one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy IX. Not only is there a great story with great scenes, there was an actual game to play. You had to spend time building up your characters equipment, magic, and levels. I didn't just press a bunch of buttons for 40 hours to feel like I sat through an expensive movie. I was part of that game and story. If I wanted to see a scene, it wasn't just given to me, I had to find it or progress through the story to see it. Now, I have to progress through movie scenes to find the actual game. That's the difference. When a game company made a compelling story, the game play was still valued more. What these newer game developers are doing is forgetting that one value. They are valuing the cinematic over the game play. That sucks.

I understand that these games aim for sales to make money. I know these games need to appeal to a large demographic to make sales meet. Why does it have to be at the expense of actual game play? There is a reason why Retro/Indie games are becoming popular now. These developers keep the game part of video games in their products. They are not looking for a blockbuster interactive movie, but know they will make their money delivering an awesome product for me to play.

What happened to the gaming industry? Has it become such a huge machine that it forgot why it exists in the first place? Hopefully, with this new generation of gaming, we can get back to playing actual games.

Why I am Going with the PS4 First

With the advent of a new generation of consoles coming out, it's time to start throwing our lot with one company in the future. It is not a hidden fact that many of us can't afford to own all three consoles and so we are forced to make a choice. Considering the dominant side genres in my taste range are rpg's and adventure games, I will be casting my dice with Sony first. PlayStation has always been the system to go to if you wanted to play the best of these genres. I can't see this generation being any different in that regard. The Xbox has never really offered exclusives in those genres that would make it worth purchasing in the future. PlayStation is also cheaper than Xbox. That's a big deal when money is tight. I don't know about anyone else, but that is an extra game in my pocket. The Wii U is better priced, but it's not nearly as powerful. I think the biggest deterrent to the new Xbox right now for me the 24 hour check in. People, if you did not know, that takes up bandwidth. You might be paying almost an extra $100.00 a year for that. Yeah, I am poor, so no thank you. It also makes sense for me since I own a PS Vita.  Now that Sony is asking the developers to make the games cross play compatible, I will finally get the full use of the Vita that was promised to us by Sony.

So yeah, I am going PS4 first.

Uncharted 3: My Rant

It's rare that I ever get really aggravated at a video game. There are moments where I might be frustrated by a single to a few scenes or may be some Dance Revolution button scheme, but I was blown away today by controls. That being said, Uncharted 3 has to have some of the worst controls I have ever had the misfortune of using. How can anyone play this game and say it's great when the controls are terrible? I will say that the story of the game is captivating, but the experience was ruined by loose controls. First of all, moving is a clumsy obstacle. Moving left or right is uncomfortable and riddled with pauses. Jumping is terrible and that makes jumping onto walls aggravating. I can't even go on. Thank god the story and the cinematic experience of the game were amazing or I would have told everyone to avoid the game.

DLC a Possibility for Zelda?

Nintendo Life's exclusive interview with Eiji Aonuma definitely raised some eyebrows. A brief synopsis of the article is that the team is considering future DLC content for their Zelda installments. I could not believe what I had just read. DLC is a possibility for future Zelda games? Does this also mean that other franchises like Mario have the possibility of having DLC? This is just a bad idea for Nintendo right now, especially since they are competing with Sony and Microsoft right now with their not so-doing-so-great-in-sales system.

I guess in this day and age, it makes sense for companies trying to profit off their games. Who doesn't like making extra money? I know I do. Many games it works well for like the Elder Scrolls. The DLC adds much to an already expansive game, almost making them their own game. What could you possibly add to games like Zelda? A new dungeon with an item you probably don't need anyway? Do you add color palates to Link's tasteful attire? Honestly, what do you add that would make it worth the money?

Nintendo would be moving in the wrong direction if they added this to one of their most beloved franchises. I can't fathom what value DLC would bring to this game besides stupid stuff like extra weapons and unnecessary dungeons. I would actually be bothered if they did something like this. What would stop them from making DLC characters for Super Smash Brothers or future Mario Bros.? It wouldn't and it would hurt the company. Right now, Nintendo isn't doing so well and going in the direction of an unpopular service can only hurt them. What they should be concentrating on is differentiating themselves from Sony and Microsoft by making their add-on content free. Instead of taking advantage of a system that's flawed, Nintendo needs to say, "No". If DLC does come into fruition, I hope it's done with taste and with the consumers in mind. It can only them if they do that.

So to summarize, I am bothered with the idea of DLC for Zelda and most Nintendo games. Just give us the whole game!

Best Video Game Moments Part II

With such a giant library of games out there, it's almost impossible to get through them all or even know all the games out there, especially the most obscure ones. That's a bummer since so many amazing games have come out in the last 20 years and many of you will never have a chance to play these games. Well, almost a bummer since many games tend to not be that great anyway. Don't worry though, I will help you in this installment of Best Video Game Moments. Hopefully, if you have not tried the game out yet, you will give it a go through whatever means necessary...which you should if I am posting about it.

Nothing gets you pumped up like an action scene. Especially where physics need not apply. From sword fighting to blowing people up, game developers know how to get us wild up and ready. It's too bad that many of these scenes are repetitive and always the same. It's truly a rarity when one really sticks out at you for being something new and unique. That's why I give this honor to Devil May Cry 3's first cut scene. You know, the one where Dante beats everyone up.

Now, Devil May Cry has been one of my favorite game series since the first one came out a long time ago. It is one of the best action games I have ever had the opportunity to play. I bet many of you didn't know that DMC was supposed to be a new Resident Evil. Well now you know.

In this scene, Dante beats up a lot of bad guys. He does some crazy badass moves, and beats these demons down. What makes this scene one of the best moments is that Dante is awesome. He gets ambushed and stabbed multiple times, only to start kicking ass. Really, how many games does this happen? Not only that, he turns a jukebox to jam out while slicing opponents down.  You really can't get anything more ridiculous out of a character who basically doesn't care. Just watch the scene play out. Instant badassary.

Yesterday's E3 Showing: Sony vs. Microsoft

I have got to say, Sony smoked Microsoft. I didn't think it were possible, but I was wrong. Not only did Sony show that it was a more consumer friendly product, it made Microsoft look like the Sega of the past. For the younger viewers of my blog, Sega came out with consoles in the best and the last two did not do well at all. Here's what I thought of the Sony v. Microsoft viewing and why Sony smoked them.

Games
If you did not watch last night, Sony had a better variety of games for their new consoles. Microsoft did, but they looked stupid and were made by companies that generally make bad games. D4 was the only promising game for the new Xbox One and even then, it looked stupid. If it's anything like Deadly Premonition, it's going to suck. Sony came out swinging with a new Killzone, Destiny--a game by the awesome Bungie--, Elder Scrolls Online, and some more. Really, those three were good enough as it stands. Microsoft came swinging with a wiffle ball bat and got smoked.

Hardware
I won't lie, both systems had pretty impressive hardware. Honestly, they are close to modified personal computers for the poor man in terms of raw power. I think Sony might have a bit of an edge, but only time will tell when the systems come out. Also, the PS4 looks so much better than the Xbox One.

DRM
If you are not sure what that is, it's used for used games. Let's be honest, when you have an entire crowd going nuts because you said no to it, you won. Microsoft looked like an Oil Baron in front of Sony and this is one of the biggest reasons. No one likes when you try to screw the consumer. When I can't buy something from a competitor for cheaper, that's price fixing. In the states, that's supposed to be illegal. I say supposed to since the video game industry does it. Have you not noticed that all new games are $59.99 and new systems are about the same price? Anyway, this gives us more choices on how to spend our money and Microsoft dropped the ball.

Cost
Again, Sony knows we aren't made of money. The system will cost $100.00 less than the Xbox One and we can use used games. The games will all probably be the same flat cost on every system, so the only real win is the console cost.

In the end, Sony won the day. They just put a great showing out and that does make me happy. As someone who owns both companies products, I feel like this new generation will have me leaning towards the PS4. I don't think--after this showing--Microsoft will survive in the game department if they don't change their strategy. They will be like the Sega of the past if they don't get it together.

P.S. LET HALO DIE ALREADY. YOU GUYS ARE RUINING A GREAT FRANCHISE WITH ALL THESE INSTALLMENTS. JUST STOP!
-- From a Halo fan

A Quick Monday Update

Today E3 happened. We learned about new titles being released for the new systems. It also looks like a bunch of remakes are coming for the Vita, but at least it's something. The Xbox One disappointed me a lot. All the games were from sub-par companies and the games themselves were not appealing. I am not afraid to say that I might avoid that system for awhile. That's all I will say for today on the topic of E3. Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been released in the United States and let me tell you, quite a casual game. It's the first game that I could argue was targeted to all gamers. Fun game if you get a chance to play it. Well, that's all for tonight. I should write an epic post for tomorrow. Peace guys.

Why Games are Important to Me

At the time of writing this, I finally hit 1,000 page views. Thank you to everyone that reads my blog! I never thought I would reach that number in less than 6 months, but I did. So again my viewers, thank you. For this occasion, I want to share with everyone why video games are so important to me. I can always blog about games, but it never really makes sense unless you know why that is.

Video games make me feel involved. Have you ever went to a movie or looked at a painting and thought, "Hey this is really nice, but something is missing". That's because you can't be involved in the person's story telling, you can only view and be in awe or disgust with the product. When I watch a Batman movie, I find it entertaining to watch as he purges crime from Gotham City, but I am not involved in this said purging. The minute I begin playing a game like Demon Souls though, I feel like I am involved in my created character's struggle to survive. I understand the pains and tribulations that he must go through in order to complete his objective just as I can only watch Batman struggle without really understanding those two subjects.Video games make me feel involved and that's important to me.

Many video games allow me to craft my own character and determine his or her development. What's entertainment if you are not fully involved with your own created persona? I can't bring to life other people's creations.  When I create a character, I am creating a person that will develop in the developer's own world. An example would be in Fable.You choose the path to be a good guy or bad. When I look at a picture, that variable is already set for me. Either the guy in the picture is good or the guy in the picture is bad and I have to deal with it. Well that sucks. When I have the ability to craft my own persona in a game, that is important to me.

Lastly, games are just fun. While I can only spend an hour watching some crappy movie, I can play a great game for more. I do find it entertaining to explore new worlds that could never exist. I don't care if some bank is being robbed in Batman, I care more that a giant dragon is about to rain hell on some poorly crafted cottages in some random meadow. I'll let the police do their job and the paper work while I tame the mega-beast. I get bored watching people do stuff. Why not throw me a flippin' controller and let me take passenger seat in a Warhog. Why not let me craft my own fun? Don't set the standard of fun because you

Basically, video games are important because I am involved more with them. I am the hero, not the spectator. I could go on-and-on, but it's Saturday and most of us want to go have fun! Until tomorrow or Monday. 

The Best Setting for RPG's

As I continued on my journey in Ni no Kuni, I began to wonder what engrossed my attention to this particular game. It's not like the story was all that unique to the genre. It has your basic rpg hero plot. You go around the world with your posse to make the world a better place by defeating whatever evil entity is making it terrible. When it comes to combat, the magic and familiar system is nothing unique as a concept since I have seen it in the Tales games and yet, I knew there was something that drew me to this game. It was something that I had not seen in many video games as of late. What was it that drew me to this game and other role-playing games?

Real Pastoral Setting

It's always the setting of the game. Look at the best role-playing games to date. They are set in a pastoral world that you would see with stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. It makes perfect sense. For some reason, that type of fantasy setting always gives you a mystical feel. That's why they are perfect settings for writing some of the greatest stories in both literature and video games. When I play a game like Valkyria Chronicles, my eyes light up and my imagination runs wild. When I play something too industrial, too city-like,  I feel that my taste need to be more matured and perfectly logical to enjoy. It makes sense if you compare it to a Shakespeare play. Just like in Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, one of the themes that the author is trying to illustrate is that the outside of the city is the place where magic can happen while the city is where logic and reason can only occur.
 
Weather it be a Legend of Zelda, Shining Force I/II, or even a Final Fantasy game, I am always traveling in a pastoral setting. Maybe it's the bright green grass and the clear blue skies that make me feel adventures and the fauna that the surroundings produce. Maybe it's knowing that I will be traveling long distances not knowing exactly where I am going. Heck, maybe it's knowing that magic exists and there is logic to it in these unique worlds. Whatever it is, the best setting for the role-playing experience is the pastoral setting. You can never go wrong with it. 

Quick Wednesday Update

Not much news has circulated today besides that God Eater Burst will be free for PS+ members this month, replacing Orc Attack. I am also still getting my canned kicked in Blazblue. I am improving though and I should pick up a copy for PS3. Well, that's all for today.

Monday's Gaming Post: BlazBlue and How DLC Sucks

Geez, I honestly don't have much to post today. My day consisted of applying to jobs I will never hear back from and playing BlazBlue on the Playstation Vita. That reminds me, you can download BlazBlue for free if you are a Playstation Plus member still. It's an amazing fighting game that I keep getting my ass kicked in. I am doing better, but it's going to be an uphill battle. The variety of characters and their unique styles of fighting really shows that Arc Systems put a great deal of time into making an excellent game. There are so many options to choose from. I find myself always selecting network and ranked match, only to be disappointed by my abilities in this game.

In other news, apparently data is showing that Halo 4's DLC is not keeping players engaged in playing. If you look at these charts, you can see a drastic dip of hours logged into this game. I am not really surprised by this. What keeps players engaged is a great game. Look at Halo 3 for instance. It may have had DLC, but what kept players coming back was an incredible and basic multiplayer. There were no superpower ups that you attach before battle like Bro of Duty, you just went out there and kicked some newbs ass while Teabagging them and telling them how much sex you had with their mother. DLC is only good if it adds to the game tremendously like Blood Dragon did for Far Cry 3 or Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen expansion did. Making DLC for stupid stuff will not keep gamers engaged in your product. I mean, the spartan missions were the same thing every time, so the lack variety did kill it a little bit. The point is, if you are going to make DLC engaging, it has to be ridiculously awesome to the 10th power.

That's it for today, happy gaming.

Tales of Symphonia Unisonant Pack Confirmed for the PS3

That's right, for all the Tales loving fans out there, one of the best games in the series is being remade for the Playstation 3. It was both confirmed at the Tales Festival and to be localized in the West! That means we will have an opportunity to play this great game again in HD with the added bonus of Dawn of the New World. This is great news for new fans to the series and to those that never had the chance play this spectacular game. I can't tell you how excited I am, even if it's a remake of two classic games.

The release of this remastered game tells me two things. First, it tells me that Namco Bandai actually cares about their fans in the West and listens to us in generally. They realize that people over here actually enjoy playing there fantastic games and that makes them willing to localize it for us. Two, it tells me that the fan base for the Tales games are continuously growing in the western world. It really should be no surprise since the popularity of videogames has exploded--it still begs the question why it still is a stigma to many--and more and more people are playing them. Despite how niche the rpg genre is in generally, it still has a huge following of loyal fans willing and ready to play and even Namco Bandai knows that they should capitalize on the situation.

I really am excited for this game though. It's been too long since I have had the chance to play Tales of Symphonia and I will finally get the chance to try Dawn of the New World. For newcomers to the Tales series, not many make it out here, so it's kind of a big deal. After the break, you can find the trailer for this game.

Guest Writer: My Problem with the Industry

My name is Tom Butto, and this is my first post on this blog. Matt has been kind enough to let me contribute, and I thank him for how wonderful of a person he is on a daily basis. Matt and I have been friends since high school, and we have many things in common. We both like sports, trolling, drinking beer, and of course, video games. You put the both of us in front of a video game we both like, and we will play that game for hours upon hours without stopping. That’s how we are; we are bingers, especially when it comes to video games. We love video games, we love to play video games, we love to beat each other in Madden or The Show, we have been playing the same Madden franchise in Madden 2011, and during the Halo 3 days, we loved to jump in a Hog and trash talk people while mowing them down with machine gun bullets and some sweet driving. I have never had a problem with video games, or the video game industry, until now.

I have a problem because the video game industry is killing itself. Facebook, mobile phone games, free-to-play are threatening the industry because they are as popular as ever, and yet the video game industry and the companies who make the console, I’m looking at Microsoft, seem like they are trying to distance themselves from their consumers. They are becoming greedier as the years go on, and seemingly keep shooting themselves in the foot. With the announcement of the new Xbox One, this was the final straw for me. The system has to be connected to the Internet at all times? Game prices are going to go up? If you borrow a game from a friend, it will cost you five dollars? This is all ridiculous. They want people to only buy new games, and subscribe to Xbox Live, which costs people more money. Either these people who came up with all these ideas for the new Xbox are so disillusioned and detached from society because of how successful the Xbox 360 was, or they simply don’t care. Last time I checked, people are still struggling to make ends meet. People do not have money to have subscriptions to Xbox Live, and pay 70 or 80 dollars for a video game.

Add this to downloadable content getting more and more ridiculous, and I want the video game industry to fail. I want people to stop buying video games and consoles when the new generation of systems comes out. Or at the very least, people stop buying the Xbox One, because the PlayStation 4 seems fine from what I have heard. Maybe if people go on a little unofficial boycott, the suits at these companies will have to change some ideas and actually look like they care about their customers. Because at this rate, you will have to pay an entry fee to get into a video game store, and have to put a strand of your hair in your console so they know your DNA and where you are at all times. Maybe if the industry collapses on itself, real, innovative ideas will come to the forefront. Until then, I will be content playing my Xbox 360, working on the fifth or sixth season of our Madden franchise.

A Quick Wednesday Update

It's been another slow day in the videogame world. There hasn't been much reported and that's all due to the upcoming E3 event. I think by now that everyone is aware that Nintendo will be holding demo events in various BestBuys. The Vita will have a big showcase for us too. I am sure much more will be revealed about the new PlayStation and Xbox systems.

If you are wondering what I am currently playing, it's a charming game called No no Kuni. For anyone that hasn't had the opportunity to play it, it's a JRPG about whimsical adventures and saving stuff. It's like a cross of Narnia and Spirited Away with a blend of some worldly concepts.

That's all for today!

Quick Post

As I wait for this rain delay to be over for the Mets vs. Yankees game, I find myself surfing the web for new videogame news. Well, it's slow out there and probably due to the E3 show coming soon in June. 

It seems like this E3 will be a big show case for the PlayStation Vita. It's about time the system started picking up the pace. The lack of games that I haven't beaten is killing me. I am sure Dragon's Crown will have some play time. I also read Koei will be show casing two games that will get a Western release, nice!

Anyway, it's a slow blog day for me--yesterday too--and I don't have much more to share that you probably haven't already read. Back the Mets and Ni no Kuni.

Persona 4: Arena Review

Persona 4: Arena picks up where Persona 4 left off. I am not going to spoil the story so I will stop there. That being said, I had the opportunity to try this fighter out for an hour thanks to being a Playstation Plus member. I have always been a quiet fan of fighting games that weren't Tekken  and I figured it would be a good chance to try out the game. I have to say for the hour I was able to play, it was a lot of fun. It's not as complicated as say BlazBlue where I needed to study a textbook to understand all them mechanics of the game, but it also left me with the impression that I still needed to know what I was doing beyond button mashing.  It's an easy pick-up and the game doesn't seem to have a steep learning curve to be able play competitively. 

The time I spent playing this fighter was in the Arcade Mode. There, I chose the main protagonist--Yu Narukami--from the 13 playable characters, and battled my way up to the final boss. There were many wins and few loses, but I would be lying if I said many of the matches did not present me with a decent challenge. It was fast, flashy fighting with fantastic artwork that made me sweat when my health was pretty low. It actually felt good to beat this game with one of the characters. Plus, there's even a decent story involved in this game to continue the story from both Persona 4 and Persona 3. I won't delve further into that in case some of you never played either one.

For how cheap this game is, it's a definite pick up for your collection. It's fun, fast, and can bring you hours of play. It may not be as complex and competitive as BlazBlue or Tekken, but it's still fun and worth your time.

Best Videogame Moments Part 1: Link's Awakening DX

After reading a great article on ZeldaDungeon.net, I began to think what are some of my favorite videogame moments. I have to agree with the writer that one of the best moments is the whole beginning of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but there are obviously more great moments in videogame history. I had to sit and think for awhile what were my favorite moments in any particular game. There are just so many that I didn't even know where to begin. I figured the best course of action is to break these moments into parts periodically as I blog. In order to keep with the spirit of the article, I chose the ending for Link's Awakening DX. If you are wondering why I chose the DX version, it's simply due to the fact that the game was remade into color. I need no reasoning behind it.

Link's Awakening's ending is one of the greatest endings to any Zelda game I have ever played. The whole time you were just in the Wind Fish's dreams and that none of the people you encountered were real but you. That's right, they were all made up to help you on your journey to defeat the evil inside the Wind Fish. That means Marin, the owl, and all the other things on Koholint were just illusions. Does that mean that every relationship Link encountered was not real? Is this story trying to tell us that everything disappears and is only a fleeting memory?

What really makes this ending one of the best videogame moments in history has Link looking onto the horizon knowing those bonds that were created were real, even if they were short lived. Just because everyone and everything vanished does not mean that the feelings weren't real. As Link continues on his journey, this will always be real for him.

What really killed me is the part after "the end" appears. After these words scroll onto the screen, a seagull appears. So what? Well, one of the biggest things in this game was Marin wishing that she could travel like a seagull or be a seagull--it's been almost 20 years since I completed the game--and it seems her wish came true.

Anyway, after the break, the ending will be in a video so you can either relive or see for the first time this magnificent ending.

5 Kick Ass Songs in Videogames

It's Monday and I am back from Ocean City, Maryland. It's been over a week since I have had a chance to blog about one of my favorite things, videogames. I thought, what better way to kick back into this blog then to write about some kick ass songs in videogames? Let's be honest, videogames have some of the best music out there. Heck, some songs top charts all the time. For this piece, I am only going with music that plays during the actual game. So here are 5 of the many that I personally enjoy and I hope you enjoy as well!



5. Tales of Symphonia - Fighting of the Spirit

When this Tales game came out on the GameCube in the early 2000's, it was ambitious and awesome. How do you compliment ambitious and awesome? You do so by adding a soundtrack to compliment such greatness. If any Tales song stands the test of time or more beloved, it's this one. Just go look up all the remixes and covers of this song if you don't believe me. This theme originally appeared in Tales of Phantasia and since its debut, has been arranged for other games in the series. It really captures the essence of what an RPG's sound track should include. I posted the best version of this song below, enjoy.

4.  Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow - Battle Theme

Everyone who had a childhood can hum this tune on a whim. This theme would play anytime you encountered a trainer ready to be clobbered by your insanely powerful Farfetch'd or Mewtwo. These trainers had no idea what you were about to throw at them, but by god, you would sweep them with water gun.  

3. Final Fantasy VII - Battle Theme

If there was any game that people cream over like bacon, it's Final Fantasy VII. I do admit that this is my favorite battle theme in any of the Final Fantasy games. It really works on building up a climax and really pumping the adrenaline while killing cacti people and other weird monsters. I decided to post a video below that really demonstrates what a few guitars with videogame music can do, especially with a theme as awesome as this.

2. Halo Theme

Nothing gets you driving more reckless then blasting the Halo theme down the highway. You know it's time to man your make believe gunner's turret when this song starts playing and your friend is swerving out of the way of a newb pistol shot. This song really should have been looped during any match that had any multi-man vehicles in it and an open world to boot, like Valhalla.
  

1. Guilty Gear X2 - Holy Orders

Yes, this is my number one kick ass song for this post. You don't even know the magnitude of this on a Richter scale. That's all I need to say about this epic tune.

That's it for today guys, enjoy.

Quick Update

It's Tuesday night and I am beat. I think I am going to try and fully beat Tales of Graces f tonight. I honestly cannot wait for Xillia to be released in August. Why are these games so addicting? I hope they release a few for the Vita here in the West for us.
Anyway, I think I am going to finish this game so later guys.

May 10-17

Hey guys, I wanted to let everyone know I won't be on the webz for a week. I am going to be in OCMD shredding my liver so I won't be posting.

EA Acquired Rights to Make a New Star Wars Game: My Reaction

Apparently Electronic Arts has purchased the rights from Disney to make a new Star Wars game. That's terrible. Honestly, no good can come from this. People are going to end up paying $5.00 to purchase a lightsaber palate swap because EA are money grubbing corporate whores. I know I don't get very opinionated on this blog, but this is terrible. EA is one of the worst gaming companies in recent memory. You can argue differently since they generate revenue, but that still doesn't exclude the fact they suck. EA making a Star Wars game is equivalent to nothing else because it's going to be terrible. I can't wait until their exclusive rights to Madden are up so I can actually enjoy playing the game without crappy servers and crappy players. The only good that can come from this is that people will not buy this product because it's EA and some other company that actually cares about the consumers will pick it up and deliver a worthy game. FUDGE BROWNIES

Date Set for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5

According to the Playstation Blog, you will finally be able to own this updated masterpiece September 10, 2013. For anyone that cares enough, if you pre-order this game soon, you will get a limited edition art book. A really cool item to keep on your coffee table to impress your friends with...or have them question your maturity in my case. This is a must have for both collectors and fans. It was a great game for its time and a unique one at that. For anyone who has not played this game in the past, this is the perfect opportunity to see what all the hype of these games are about.

Personally, I think it's great that an updated version of this classic is coming out. Many of the younger generations or people who were not really into gaming in the early 2000's really missed out on a gem. Now, they will have a chance to play and live through Sora's tale as he tackles adventures in Disney worlds with his companions, Donald and Goofy, while looking for King Mickey. You encounter various characters from Disney and Final Fantasy during the course of the game. You even team up with some of them while in their worlds! I am not going to spoil the game so I am stopping there. Will I purchase this item? I think I will. I wish they packaged both 1 and 2 together but I will take what they give.

Ys: Memories of Celceta and Why I am Excited

Ys: Memories of Celceta is a re-imaging of the two Ys: IV games, Dawn of Ys and Mask of the Sun set to be released in September. If you are unfamiliar with either of these games, don't worry since both versions never made it out West and both versions came out in the early 1990's. Thanks to XSEED, we will now have the opportunity to play Falcom's retelling of these tales. The basic premise of the story follows Adol Christin and his exploration of the Celceta forest.

I can't lie, I am really excited that this game will be localized. The Playstation Vita is lacking in localized rpg games and I feel it's suffering because of it. So far, the Vita only has PSP rpgs and Persona 4: Golden. That isn't enough to quench my thirst for epic tales and experience grinding. I am aware that the PSP has some awesome rpgs to play, but I want to see the Vita's full potential being used on new games here. If this game does well in the West, I think it will open up a door to more game releases here. It might make these game companies give up on holding their reservations about releasing games here.

I will leave this post with some images of the game for you guys to look at.

Summer 2013 of Gaming

It's a beautiful, allergenic May with summer being around the corner. This summer will mark the last push of this era's consoles before the new ones kick into full steam. We will most likely see the end of the Nintendo Wii and  DS's game lineup as Nintendo moves forward with the Wii U and 3DS. We will see Sony and Xbox push an avalanche of big titles before their new systems come out for the holiday season. It's going to be a hectic and awesome summer of gaming. My intention over the next few blog post is to blog about my expectations of Summer 2013 in gaming.

Time and Eternity: The Creepiest Game Trailer Ever

I don't think I have ever felt so uncomfortable listening to a narrator then watching this game trailer for Time and Eternity which is set to be released in North America in July for the PS3.  Honestly, take five minutes of your time and listen to him. It's a turn off to this game and that upsets me. The trailer explains the premise of a game while finding a way to make you feel like a pervert for wanting to play this unique take on the RPG genre.

 

I hope you watched this video. Doesn't it make you lose hope in humanity? No wonder why RPG's that aren't Skyrim get such a bad reputation in the West. You have game trailers like that--not to say this game would appeal to most gamers--and it takes away from what can be a potentially awesome experience.

Anyway, this game is set to come out July 7th according to GameStop.com. It seems like a game that might be worth while to play.

Videogames and Politics

When I finally completes Tales of the Abyss 3DS last week, I felt like a better person. After a week passed, I realized why I felt this way. I actually played a game with a great story that was once and can still be relevant to our society today. Now, it might not speak to gamers who had the luxury of being conscience in the early 2000's, but the story does speak to the rest of us who knew of the political issues of the time. Tales of the Abyss tackles issues like human cloning and international diplomacy from a threat of environmental destruction and the attack from another nation. Minus the issue of the threat of war, environment and human cloning topics were big in the early 2000's. Actually, both were a wedge issues in both the 2000 and 2004 elections in the United States. This game really does give us a view point on how difficult these topics are. Take the cloning issue in this Tales game. Do the clones have the right to exist, are clones nothing more than bodies to use in war, or can clones really be their own person? Topics like this really drove the game to be one of the better RPG's in terms of story. Not that the battle system wasn't awesome in it either.

My main point is that Mixing videogames and politics topics do make for great stories. It allows the current generation of gamers to see a different perspective of how these issues might affect a character and his overall development while being able to relate to the issue themselves as real people. It also allows new gamers and people who were not conscience during that time to understand what shaped our current society. Kids who were born in the mid-90's and later would not properly understand how big of an issue human cloning was in the early 2000's. Heck, being a teenager did not mean I fully understand the implications of all these topics. Really, games are a great way to show people current and former political situations. Plus, who doesn't feel involved in a games story when it uses topics that we are familiar with? Anyway, mixing politics and videogames does create a great story. As long as they don't get too carried away with it.

Soul Sacrifice Demo: My Impressions

I was left with a choice in this game. Do I sacrifice or save this tainted wizards life? I had made my choice and sacrificed him to gain new destructive powers. I was ready to continue to the next mission, no matter how brutal the next encounter will be on my character. I was armed with mostly ice spells and healing spells to tear my opponents up. I knew the next battle would be brutal.

It actually was pretty hard. It took me a solid 17 minutes to take down the Giant Harpy. Oh yeah, this giant harpy had a fat woman's face. No, this was not part of the main stories harpy either but a trials boss. I had used up a lot of my spells before this beast went down. I was basically clinging on to life thanks to my A.I. allies. Things definitely got harder after that because I had to take down a Cerberus and it's tough. I had to use up all my magic, burn my skin for a really powerful spell. and sacrifice an ally just to beat this monster. If the rest of the game pans out like this, I am going to be in for a fun nightmare.

My overall impression of the game has been positive. I am enjoying the Monster Hunter-esqe feel to the game without it actually being Monster Hunter. I am loving the fast pace, magic slaughter-fest this game brings to the Vita. I like that I can choose to go all ice or fire based magic but still use the similar basic magic as other elemental wizards. The magic is pretty unique and if timed perfectly, can be pretty devastating to the monsters. I also like the aesthetics in this game. The colors--even though a darker tone--are very vivid and the costumes are fashionable for a videogame. I can even tell the difference between my character and another person's character during battle. The worlds are beautifully crafted and the enemies are fearsome looking. I find the detail in this game to be A+ material for a handheld. Finally, the controls respond well. I honestly had no problems attacking or moving my character around. I just wish they would add a jump button to this game. Here is hoping for one in a future update

This game has so far reeled me in. I am enjoying this more than most games I have played in recent memory. I find it to be a great alternative to Monster Hunter if you are into faster moving battles. The full game comes out April 30th so be prepared to be sacrificed!

My Second Game: Tales of Graces f

I finally managed to get to the second game I need to finish. I decided to tackle the Tales games first so I am working on Tales of Graces f. It make sense to beat games I already started anyway.
I do have to say that this franchise is still as good and corny as I remember. The Tales series still has some of the best fighting to date. You get to do crazy magic stuff while free roaming around a battle area. The music scores are still great. It pumps you up during battle or reflect while traveling through a snowy city. The characters are still corny but unique. They are fantastical and yet, bring something that is relatable to you.
Okay, time for me to continue to grind!

Some Great News for the Nintendo 3DS

A new Legend of Zelda game has been announced for the Nintendo 3DS. It's about time that an original Zelda game was made for this system. It's not like I don't enjoy the ports, but I wanted an original title to the series. All anyone knows so far is that this is a sequel--or assumed sequel--to A Link to the Past and that it's a top-down view. I am excited and cannot wait for this game to come out. While we are all waiting, the Oracle and Ages came will be in the eShop in May...or so I have read. Here is a video of the new game below.

P.S. A Mario Party game has been announced as well for the 3DS.