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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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.

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.

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.

When is Owning a System Worth it?

While deciding on what Tuesday's classic game should be about, a thought popped in my head. When is it worth owning a specific system, or to phrase it more concisely, how do I know I got my worth out of a videogame system? This is a question that I think people really should contemplate. Why? Because systems are not cheap. Even a new PS3 or Xbox360 will cost you  $199.99-$299.99. We also need to keep in mind that many games are released on multiple systems as well. That can easily diminish the value of owning two separate systems. Well, I am going to do my best to argue when a system is worth the value you paid for it.

1. You Completed at Least a Few Games
One way you know you got your value from the system is if you played and completed at least four games. I know, that isn't a lot of game to complete for an expensive piece of hardware. Let's be honest though, who has time to complete a full library of games? Think about it, many of us have work, school, and an active social life. It's not easy to balance those aspects of life while still indulging in your favorite hobby. A lot of the time, you only get around an hour or so to actually play. It's just not easy to do because games can be difficult and time consuming. Basically, I found that I got my worth out of my systems when I could at least finish four good games.

2. When System Exclusives are Great Games
All systems have their own exclusive games. Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo all have their own franchises that define their success and pleasurable returns. Xbox has Halo and Fable; Playstation has Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank; and Nintendo has the Legend of Zelda and Mario. As I am naming these franchises, I hope you are understanding the point I am making. The purchase of a console is worth it when the exclusive franchises are always great to play.

3. Ability to Play with Friends
What's the fun of videogames when you can't share an experiences with your amigos? Not a very fun one. I won't lie, I am a fan of single player games but I still enjoy indulging in a good game of Madden or Borderlands. Now, I understand there are online communities to find people and play co-op or versus, but it just doesn't feel the same when you are turning your friend's quarterback into mush. If I find that it is accessible and even easy to play online or on the same console as a buddy, that system is worth owning.

4. Accessibility and Ease to Play
Having the accessibility and ease to play a system is very important. When you need to type in numerous passwords and wait for numerous updates, you must begin to question was this system worth your time and money. I am not one to sit around for two hours and wait for a game or system to update. If updates are a reoccurring event that takes some time, then it might be a system you want to avoid. It's the same with passwords. I honestly--and I am sure many people feel the same--don't want to sit around and type in passwords to play a game. It's redundant and it's pointless. If any system makes you do that, take a pass on it. Luckily, most of the system updates for these consoles are quick and painless.

5. Cost
You knew this topic would come up. When it comes to buying anything, the cost matters. Why pay $500.00 for a new system when you could wait a year and possibly pay less? This question is relevant with all the new systems that came out and are coming out. Is it worth paying $300.00 for a Wii U when there are little titles to compensate the price tag? Is it worth dishing out for a PS4 when Sony is known to support their systems up to ten years? It's not an easy decision and it sometimes falls down to costs. Can you budget a new system or do you need to save up for it? Would it be okay to own an older system and wait for a price drop on the newer system, essentially spending more in the end but having the ability to save up for it? Do you just forget about it because it's too expensive for you? I can't answer this one for you, but it is something you need to think about.

Ranking the System by this Criteria 
*For the purpose of this blog, I am ranking current systems that are in the market. I don't know much about the new systems like most, so that will be for a later date.
**This is also my opinion so don't go crazy because I found one system to be better. 
***I can only speak English and so Japanese only games are not included.  

 Nintendo 3DS/DS - 21/25
I am lumping both these systems together since the 3DS can play exactly like a DS. I am also not basing this on performance or graphics because that's not a deal breaker to me. There is a reason why these handheld devises sell so well. It's because they give you the best bang for your buck. That's why I am giving the 3DS/DS 4 points in cost. It is an affordable system with cheap games. The price of a 3DS XL is still a bit high, so it loses a point there. I have beaten plenty of quality titles on this system to proudly give it 5 points. I mean, they have Fire Emblem, Mario, and Legend of Zelda. It would be unfair to give this system less than 5 points in exclusive games based off of that statement. Playing with friends can be a hassle, so I am giving this one 3 points. First you have to find friends to play and then you have to deal with really poor internet connectivity. A lot of the older games needed a certain security protocol that no one really uses anymore. That means you had to manually change to it--I think it was WPA--and that's a big hassle if you don't know anything about computers. The same goes for the 3DS. If you want to play DS games online, you need to change what internet security you are using. Yuck! Luckily, newer games don't have this issue but that doesn't change the score. Lastly, the accessibility and ease get an obvious 3. It would have been perfect if not for the touch screen making some games difficult. I mean Kid Icarus: Uprising comes to mind with that. I rarely need to update my 3DS/DS and I never need to use a password. It does take some time to download updates though, so that hurts its cause. The 3DS/DS is a system worth owning if you enjoy playing videogames. It has a huge library and the system looks pretty nice too.

Xbox360 - 19/25 
I know, an American ranking the Xbox360 high on the list. In all fairness though, this system was great. Game completion on this system received a 5. I probably have beaten over ten quality titles on this system alone. What really helped the Xbox in my ranking is that the exclusives were much better, and therefore, received a 4. With the front runners of the system being Halo and Fable, you can't really go wrong. It would have probably scored a perfect if Fable III and some Halo installments didn't suck. Playing Xbox with friends can be a hassle and received a 3. My biggest problem was the fee to play online. That doesn't make it easy to play with friends who don't live around the corner. Money is tight and that can be the difference between a new game or a year of multiplayer. Personally, it was not worth the price for me since I rarely played online unless it was Madden, Halo, or Borderlands. I don't play a single system everyday and I play multiplayer on a single system even less than that. You get my point. The accessibility/ease for this console received 4 points from me. I honestly never wait for this system to update and even having to do that is rare. I did take a point off for passwords. If you lose your password, you are in trouble. Lastly, the cost only received 2 points. Even for how old this system is, it's still expensive. A 250 GB Xbox360 will run you $299.99 compared to the Playstation 3's 500GB HDD for the same price. A 4GB is $199.99 and that's still expensive. The Xbox hurts itself in costs, but is overall a great system to own.
 
Playstation 3- 18/25
I am giving the PS3 only 18 points. I was able to finish more than four amazing games for this system, earning 5 points in that category. The system exclusives only received 3 points since none of them really stood out to me. Infamous is boring as all fuck and Uncharted is an okay game...not great. What saves this system are titles like Valkyria Chronicles and Demon Souls, since both are great system exclusives. Actually, two more categories received 3 points. Those would be accessibility/ease and the cost. The PS3 updates constantly, and some of the updates can be time consuming. That's annoying. What saves it is the fact you don't need to type in a password a bunch of times. At $299.99 for white bundle, the cost of the system is still high for its age. That's enough to buy a new Wii U. The bundle is good and the HDD is huge, so it's a saving grace for the system. The last category is the ability to play with friends, which got 4 points. Despite the lag you get sometimes, online is free to play. That is a big money saver and makes it easier to face your friends...if they own the system. The PS3 might have scored average from me, but it's still a good investment due to the longevity of Sony's systems.  


Playstation Vita - 15/25
I want to start out by saying that I really enjoy my Vita. That being said, it is not the best system out right now, all though it's beginning to gain traction. For completion of games, I give it only 2 points. I have only finished one game on this system. I still have yet to finish Gravity Rush or even pick up Uncharted. The exclusives on this system are not really there besides Gravity Rush and AC: Liberation. You can't include Persona 4 Golden since that was a port of a Playstation 2 game. I know there are exclusives for this system but they are all in Japanese or not out yet, so I am only giving it 2 points in that category. The ability to play with friends is actually easy with this system. You can either go ad hoc or internet connection. I give it 4 points only because not many people own a Vita yet. Accessibility/ease get an easy 4 points. I never have to wait for my game to update or type in multiple passwords to access my stuff. I am able to transfer files between my PS3 and Vita with ease, all though that can take a bit when they are full games. Lastly, the cost gets a 3. What really kills the cost of this device is the price of memory cards. They are insanely expensive. It can cost you between $80.00-$99.99 for a 32 GB memory card. Yeah, that's insane. The cost of games are cheap though since they vary from $4.99-$39.99. The system is expensive though, costing $249.99 for just the wifi device. If you don't go for a bundle, the cost will bite you in the rear. I give it a 3 because the bundles and games are its saving grace.

Nintendo Wii U - ??/25
If you already have the Wii, you are better off waiting for more updates and games. This system only has a few titles, and most are already on other consoles like Batman. The game pad is attractive, but not enough to lure me in for a basic package at $299.99. I know little of the online but I have caught wind that there have been issues with it so far. It seems that there are a lack of online multiplayer games due to the shortage of actual games. Since this system has only been out for a little while, it might be best to wait a few months to see if Nintendo will get the ball rolling on this system or if it will fail.

As you can see I have listed in order what systems are worth getting. I hope this helps you in deciding if you want to pick up a console now or wait and see its overall future. Well, minus the PS3 and Xbox360 since they have been out awhile.

Wait What?

As I try and gather an idea to blog about today, I came across a peculiar sequel to a game. One is actually being made for a game called, Conception: Please have my Baby. I had to stop for a second and read the title again. I was not mistaken. Why do games like this exist? What makes it worse is that Conception's sequel will also be released on the Nintendo 3DS. Yes, that's right. A handheld owned by a company that generally releases family friendly games.

This game is a dungeon crawler in which you conceive children with 12 different maidens. You are supposed to save a world by having magical newborns with these maidens. Oh yes, you are a high school student and from what I read, you have already knocked up your cousin who is also Virgo. I feel like a pervert after reading and searching for pictures and videos of this game to show. Besides wiki, it is tough to find information about this game since it was never released outside of Japan.

This was the only video I could find after typing in the title for the game. I saw more real births then I needed today. I couldn't stomach anymore so this is all you are getting. 

 

Nintendo News: Monster Hunter 4 and More.

When I write these blog post, it seems that I always favor Sony. Today I have decided that I will focus on Nintendo.

After a big release month for Nintendo, it seems that releases will be quiet until the summer. It's not an entirely bad thing either. After a few months of dozens of title releases, it will give us time to actually beat these games before starting a new one. I am pleased to tell you Monster Hunter fans that the fourth installment will be out in Japan for the 3DS this summer. That's right, a new installment to slay beast and all that jazz. Here's a video I found on the net for you:

I am not going to lie, it actually looks pretty cool and this is coming from someone that doesn't care for these games all that much. If it is localized, I might actually pick a copy of it up as long as it has online.

Mirrors?

In the realm of the new Pokemon games, more news about the game will be released on April 6th. Knowing how Pokemon news generally goes, it will probably be about one or two new monsters and how the world will work. Even I am a bit curious because Pokemon has always been in 2D and a top view. Now with 3D and third-person, I wonder how it will work out.


This year will be an excellent year for the Nintendo 3DS. With all these awesome title releases and what not, how can it not be?