Friday, January 24, 2014

From past to present- how to classify games and how they've changed

Sometimes, I think that there is a bit of confusion over how to classify games by their age. New players might call as much as a Gamecube as old, while dedicated fans wouldn't admit that their 8 bit games are retro. So I'm here to try and clarify by how I think of it. The list goes from newest term to oldest term.
New
-3DS to the Wii U
Recent
-DS to Wii
Retro
Game Cube to Gameboy
Vintage
-64/ Super 64 to Virtual Boy
Classic
-NES
Ancient (no offense)
- 8 Bit games and the TV game series and Game and watch.

This is how  classify it.. If you think of it differently, then great. You're a human and have your own opinion. But, if you're ever in doubt of what to call a certain game, then here you go. Also, below I have a little statement about what I think about older video games vs. new ones.

Personally, I have to say I like the games in the retro to vintage games. But don't get me wrong- of course the recent and new are my current favs. But the way I'm thinking about it is how well they were for there time. I love the classic/vintage range because of how "deep" they are and their controls. I like how the story feels deep, as I call it. The first games have lots of back stories and explanations, while more current games just have basic plots and don't give much of an explanation on just why you're playing. Older games will have stories going along with them and fun and zany worlds and puzzles, while in games we just see Bowser step in, snatch up peach, and run off, and all of a sudden you're fighting through tiresome worlds that are more busy work than mind-racking puzzles which older games are known for. Plus, in many of the new games, some of them don't even have any form of puzzle solving, zany fun, or even a decent plot. It's just KILL KILL KILL, and that's about it. I also like the controls as well. Older game controllers feel really comfortable and easy to grip in your hands, while new controllers like Wii remotes are frustrating and hard to play with. Technically, a few games are compatible with the new Classic Controller Pro, but these things cost up to $50 dollars PER CONTROLLER, whereas the GameCube controllers cost about $15 dollars. So, yes, you can almost by controllers for four players at the price of one of the new Pro controllers.  Not to mention that most GameCube games cost as little as, like, $5, where as the new Wii U games cost $50-$60. You can now get nearly decent GameCube games than your average Wii U title, which makes retro gaming a lot cheaper than being a strict 21st century gamer, if you know what I mean. But I hate the old gameboy, NES, and 8 bit stuff because of how frustrating, dull, and limiting they are, to say it harshly.

All in all, as epic as the new games are, never doubt the games of the past.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Hyrule warriors

Legend of Zelda's newest game Hyrule Warriors, is set to soon be coming to the Wii U. Although there is only one trailer out as of right now, my good friends over at GameExplain has sucked every bit of revealed footage into over half an hour of footage. (Okay, so they don't really know who I am. But I know who they are!) You can see them below, along with the official trailer.

There is lots of debate about the quality of this game. Many think it will ruin the Legend of Zelda series by making it just a flat out fighting game, while others are excited and say it's going to be awesome. I have to agree with the second group, personally. I think that the graphics and gameplay will be as top notch as usual, and that I think that, knowing Nintnedo, that they can make it a great mix of fighting and puzzle solving, and that it would perfect the series as opposed to destroying it. Besides, who cant be excited for a new Zelda game finally coming to the Wii U? I will try to release my own in depth Post/Video about Hyrule warriors, but in the meantime enjoy these other videos on the new game and I will try to get more news to you as it is released.

Charizard News!

What up yo gamers?! We all know that Charizard was the most loved mega evolution in Pokemon X and Y. But, when Nintendo announced that Mega Charizard would not be in the base X and Y set, fans were quite disappointed. While I don't have the actual Mega Charizard scan yet, we do have a few updates being released!

Corocoro, Japanese Pokemon magazine, has announced it will include a free Charizard Ex with the March 15 magazine. While this may not be his actual mega evolution, this is what he will mega evolve from. I think its really cool, and I think they should do more of these. I'll be trying to get my hands one one of those!
Below you can see the card and translation, courtesy of DorainBlack.

M Charizard-EX in CoroCoro MagazineCharizard-EX - Fire - HP180
Basic Pokemon
[R][C] Mega Awakening: Search your deck for M Charizard-EX, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterwards.
[R][C][C][C] Brave Fire: 120 damage. This Pokemon does (30? 40?) damage to itself.
When Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

I will be trying to get more news on Mega Charizard as it comes out!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Watch my on twitch

Here you can see me every time I go live!
http://www.twitch.tv/fencer6

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Super mario 3D World review

What up gamers?! Today in my post I will be talking about one of the Wii U's newest (and funest) games ever! Its the newest in the Mario and Mario 3D World series: Mario 3D World!!! Let me just by outright and say this before I go into depth about it:


I give this game four controllers, which besides my 3DS review, is the highest I have though of a game on a review to this point. 

Plot
The main plot overall bothered me a bit. That's the main overall plot. The idea is that there are eight different princess you have to rescue (non of which are peach), which kind of takes away the feeling that it's a long journey towards one final goal. It kind of makes it feel like it has a bunch of little tasks you do, and doesn't really make you feel like it's all towards one final accomplishment, which I always have liked about the franchise. Secondly, not having princess peach as the person you have to say kind of messes with the plot that I've always liked, so it was a little strange, but I do like a break from the same old thing once and a while, so I can't say I didn't like it. I just wish we could have seen a little background on the characters before we see browser grab a bunch of fairies and take off. BUT, I do kind of like how they turned princess peach into one of the players you can choose from, instead of just shoving her off to the side. It's nice to she the treat her like someone who can defend herself and not always be a "damsel in distress" idea that must be rescued by the male characters, which Nintendo has a bad rep for. Plus, if my little sister couldn't play as a girl, I'm not so sure how much she'd like it as much. The last thing that bothered me was the bosses. Each area had its own theme enemy that you would battle against, and then have a boss themed after them, instead of the browser like ones in the New super mario bro's game that I really like.
Overall, aside from really messing with the plot that Mario fans have come to know and love a little too much, and from making the whole game seem like a bunch of small tasks instead of one final goal, I'd give the plot a 3.5 star count.


   
Graphics
Amazing. To summarize in one word, that's the one. It has amazing HD, which I have never even come close to seeing in any home gaming system ever. There is no way this could improved-period. They designed it just perfectly, and I hope they never change them. But, aside from just the pretty-ness of it, I think they did a great job with the look of the world to, and how the portrayed the 3D. The did a great job of making the 2D platformer come alive with the 3-Dimensional aspects like being able to run back and forth and items looking nearer or farther, and being able to adjust the camera so you can see however you like and spin around. You know what, I can't really put this into words well, so how about I just show you:



This games graphics for sure get a whooping 5 stars! 


Funness

This game is TONS of fun. It has lots of puzzles to solve, challenging bosses to defeat, and very diverse and crazily creative worlds. And it can be enjoyed by the whole family too! Co-op has been greatly improved by allowing the player who is behind teleport to the player ahead. This was before implemented, but never worked nearly as well. Before there was a long delay before the behind player actually was put into a bubble, so if a player got too far ahead the one behind would typically die and frustrate everyone. But with SM3DW, it makes playing with your friends fun- and even be an advantage. But the overall funness, with or without friends, is beyond words. Five stars for sure!




Age
Everyone Rating SymbolAs for the content, ESRB rates it as Everyone, which I agree with. The definition of "Everyone", according to ESRB is 6+. While I do not believe there is much of any violence or anything inappropriate for a younger child, like 5 or so, but the difficulty level makes it to where I would recommend it to ages 6+ because of the the simple puzzle work, problem solving, and a tad of "fighting skills" required. I never think that a hard video game is very fun for kids, and can even discourage them. But, I do think Nintendo has done a great job of making this a fun game for all ages by incorporating a few things. The first and most notable would by the white raccoon power up. If you fail a course several times, then a shiny golden box will appear where you first spawn. The power up inside not only gives you a raccoon power up, but you're invincible!

You can charge right through enemies and eliminate them! The only way you can die is if you fall off the map or into a harmful liquid such as purple slime or lava. This gives younger gamers a fun challenge, without the frustration. And for advanced gamers and old time Mario fans it is packed with great stuff for you as well. In every level there is a cool, hidden, hard-to-get, collectible stamp somewhere on the map. And there are lots of Green Stars in each level, three to be exact, which, while they are out in the open, are typically hard to get, but lots of fun to collect too, which can add some challenge to the game for players who find the main game to be a bit dull. I defiantly think they scored a 5 star on the age!

Click here for full ESRB official ratings on the game.

Conclusion
Overall, I believe this is a great game that any Wii U owner should buy and play for some  Mario fun!