More Holiday games

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
For Nintendo Wii

Twilight Princess has probably been the most anticipated game of the year. Seeing multiple delays, and an eventual shift in release platforms, Twilight Princess has finally arrived. The results of the delays for extra fine-tuning are nothing short of monumental. Offering a score of 10 out of 10, 1up.com describes this game as “a 60-hour adventure where every moment is memorable.” If you love classic Zelda style adventures and are interested in a greatly implemented wireless control scheme, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. I’d say this title is eligible for EU’s Game of the year.

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
For Nintendo Wii

If you are a hardcore fan of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, this game may or may not be for you. Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam took out all the “street skating” aspects, replacing them with solid downhill fun. Though the controls have been designed specifically for the Wii’s motion sensitive controller, they are never intimidating, and as a whole the experience is a lot of fun. While the experience is a little more flashy than real downhill skating might seem, all of the fun is there and as far as racing games are concerned, this is the best one so far on the Wii.

Resistance: Fall of Man
For Playstation 3

If you are looking for the Killer App for the Playstation 3, Resistance is here to fill those shoes. Offering a solid control scheme and well laid-out levels, resistance keeps up with the best of the genre. With great graphics and extremely huge multiplayer online functionalities, this game comes through with flying colors. While it isn’t quite up there with games like Halo 2 and Gears of War, Resistance: Fall of Man is nothing to scoff at. With a slew of lackluster launch titles on the PS3, This one truly stands out.

This is the Launch week of PS3 and Wii!

Review:

Tony Hawk's Project 8
For Xbox 360

Some companies have a habit of making yearly updates to their games with little to no changes to the formula. Usually this happens with sports franchises such as Madden Football, or NBA Live. So, with the newest installment of the Tony Hawk skateboarding game franchise arriving earlier this month, the question is raised: is this merely a roster update? Well, to that, the answer is a resounding "NO". With Tony Hawk's Project 8, we are given a fresh take on the franchise, and that is a good thing. While past versions were all filled with fun and addicting gameplay, they pretty much just offered incremental improvements from year to year that didn't really help differentiate one game from the next. Project 8 is an upgrade in all aspects, in a big way.
The controls in the game are as easy to pick up as ever, and the challenge levels are always catered to your ability. If you are familiar with skateboarding, the controls are easy to master, and you will 'get it' right away. If you aren't familiar with the series or skateboarding in general, it won't be long before you have a good understanding of how the game works, as the tutorials are effective and fun.
The graphics have been totally rebuilt from the ground up, and the controls on the Xbox 360 work well. Your character will move smoothly and more realistically with the environments he or she is interacting with, and the rag doll physics make bailing a lot more entertaining than it was with previous games. The level design in this game is much like a Grand Theft Auto game, with sandbox-style gameplay allowing you to go anywhere, and new portions of the game world are introduced and unlocked as you play through the career mode. Another key feature is the 'nail the trick' mode, which allows you to slow down time and control your board with your feet, moving each foot individually with the 2 analog sticks. Sounds complicated, but in practice it really is a lot of fun, and it is easy to activate during gameplay.
As far as skateboarding is concerned, this game features tons of skate celebrities including Tony Hawk, Jason Lee (of NBC's My Name is Earl Fame), and Bam Margera, along with other heavy hitters that may surprise you.
The graphics for the Xbox 360 version seem to be a bit better than the PS3 versions, (more effective normal mapping and bump mapping) and the 360 version has a smoother frame rate and online play that the PS3 doesn't offer. The one advantage the PS3 does have is the familiar controller and the ability to use the motion sensor for balance, but this feature just doesn't translate well in this fast paced game. If you have to go next-gen, I would recommend the Xbox 360 version of this game this time around. If you don't have or plan on getting the 360 or the PS3, the Playstation 2 version is a good game, and there is an Xbox version, as well. Whichever one you go with, you are sure to enjoy it. I mean, if you are "extreme" enough, that is.


Stevie Williams in Tony Hawk's Project 8


New Releases This week:
The Playstation 3 launches on Saturday the 17th. This is a big deal!! Though most people will probably admit that they are standing in line to buy this thing just to make more money selling it on eBay, some hardcore gamers will have theirs as early as this weekend. Be advised, GameStop and EB Games released a memo online that they will probably not receive enough systems to meet their preorder demands by the 17th. For more info on that, check out the GameStop/Ebgames website. For best results, I recommend camping out at a place like Best Buy, Circuit City, or Sears if you absolutely have to get one. Actually, don't camp out. It makes you look like a nerd with no friends. I'd just wait on this one. Retail price for the PS3 is $499 or $599, depending on which model you want. The more expensive model boasts a bigger hard drive and more input ports for various types of memory/media cards.

On Sunday the 19th, the Nintendo Wii game console will surface. Nintendo advertises that they will not have the same limited launch numbers that the Playstation 3 will be dealing with, so walking into a store to pick one up shouldn't be an issue. We can't wait to get our hands on one of these! Retail price for this item is set at $249.

Gears of War and Movie downloads? Make mine Microsoft!

Apparently, according to a recent blog post on Joystiq (and other linked articles reviewing the game)Gears of War has been kicking all sorts of ass in the reviews department. Which, of course is good news, considering all the hype it has been given. I really do believe the reviews, after seeing gameplay videos you could say that it could probably be one of the best looking shooters to date. As of today, it should be available at most major retailers. One thing sort of bothers me though. What the hell is up with that Gary Jules cover of 'Mad World' in the TV commercial? Totally out of place, although I'm pretty set on the conclusion that each are great in their own rite.



So how about that HD movie and Television content on Xbox Live? I think that is a pretty good move on the behalf of Microsoft. Looks like the 360 is starting to be the next iPod/iTunes-living room equivalent. Hell If I'll put my music on my 360, but I don't think I'd mind downloading some new on-demand UFC matches from time to time. Good call, Microsoft.

Play with your kids:Parents and Video Gaming

With some especially controversial games coming to store shelves for the holiday season, the dilemma of finding the right video game for your young one(s) can be a big one. With teen violence in the news and blaming fingers being pointed right at video games, its difficult not to be concerned about what games your kids are spending their time with. The ESRB (or Entertainment Software Ratings Board)) has a ratings system designed to deter younger gamers from games that may be inappropriate for them. Games with mature content including nudity, violence, and vulgar language may be given an “M” (mature) rating, whereas a game geared toward preschoolers that features learning activities, music and rhythm exercises and color matching would be Given an EC (Early Childhood) Rating.
One item of note with this system of ratings is that law doesn’t enforce them. Unlike going to a movie theatre, game shops won’t always turn away young buyers from purchasing M-rated games. I could almost never get into an R-rated movie in my youth, but kids these days don’t have any problems logging into a game of Halo 2 on Xbox live and fragging their friends into oblivion. (All the while, trash talking and acting like…kids.)
So how do you know where to draw the line? The answer is pretty simple, but going through with it is a little more difficult. First and foremost, you should pay attention to what they are playing. You could even go far enough to even play the games with them, but not every kid wants that, and parents may find some video games to be difficult to understand and get into. If they like a certain game, there has to be a reason behind it. Find out what that reason is, and you may learn a good deal about your child.
Some games are just too popular and too hyped to escape, and even though they are advertised on TV and in game magazines kids read, they probably aren’t suited for anyone that wouldn’t be considered a “mature audience”. Take Rockstar Games’Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as an example. Although the storyline is great and the voice acting is top-notch, due to the violence and drug use, I would not want my tot playing through this game. I mean, I love Scarface, but you won’t catch my kids watching it in my house. You can’t always trust the local news to tell you what is right or what is wrong for your kid, you really should find out for yourself.
Rockstar’s Bully is a new title that had a good bit of controversy behind it just before it’s release. Going by the name alone, people were to assume that the role of your character was that of a bully, and some people went to great measures to assure that the game would not be released. However, after just 15 minutes of gameplay, the player would find that this game is more of a video game version of Catcher in the Rye than it is a school aged-Grand Theft Auto clone, with a great story about an outcast student attending a prep school. Sure, there is violence, crude humor and prank pulling, but the idea of the game is to deal with bullies, not to be one. The game actually punishes your character for bad behavior, if you choose to engage in it. Basically, if you would let your teen read Salinger, you should be able to let them play Bully without having too much to worry about.
Some popular games really push the limits in terms of violence, such as the recently released Mortal Kombat: Armageddonfor the PS2 and Xbox. Although the action depicted on screen is hardly realistic, the violence is pretty intense and hard to avoid, and this is why the game receives an M Rating.
There are plenty of games available today that are family friendly, and you don’t have to limit yourself to one game console or platform. For more detailed information on what game ratings mean, and how you can use them to find out about what games are right for your children, you can visit the ESRB’s website. For more information about the games themselves, ask your local game retailer. Game store managers and employees tend to be really chatty; so don’t be afraid to ask about what games they would recommend.

No news, not such good news.

So I'm working on this story about the few-week-old release of the game Bully. By now, everyone knows its a great game. My focus is going to be primarily on the fact that the storyline borrows heavily from my favorite genre of novel-the prep school collection. This collection consisting of books like Catcher in the Rye, A Seperate Peace, and Old School. I mean yeah, its a video game, right? but I think the storyline really holds something. I think all of Rockstar's games tend to have great stories with the exception of Thrasher: Skate and Destroy, but I love that game for totally different reasons anyway. Grand Theft Auto has always been about the great dialogue and progression of story, although sometimes the free-form gameplay gets my ADD-addled brain off the beaten path of the game's storyline. But I can forgive it for that. I love driving my motorcycle off cliffs and then opening my parachute, its just as much fun as a crime story. And, I can always get back to the story when I feel like it.

To my point, the only thing I can find to talk about is this game that was released weeks ago, which is fine by me. Its a hell of a game. The only other thing I can think of is to talk about how I, like Eric Cartman, can hardly contain myself with the anticipation I have building up inside me thanks to the Nintendo Wii.

Arcade Renaissance in Kissimmee

So come November 25, I'll be on my way to Kissimmee for Arcade Rennaissance 4: Gameapallooza. Arcade Rennaissance 4: Gameapallooza. I've got a friend named Jamal from Mobile Alabama coming with me. Jamal is the guy who won our recent Jacksonville Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike tournament that was held at the Pearl, he goes by the Handle "RPD Rookie". He also placed 2nd in the recent SRK sanctioned Ranbat. Hopefully, I can get some people to come out with me. I know Jacksonville has some serious Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Guilty Gear Slash players, so I'm hoping that Jax can make a name for itself at the event. In case you need a flyer to make it official, here it is:

SkullgirlS

So if I hear news about a new fighting game being in development, of course I am going to be all over it. Yesterday a poster on shoryuken.com's forums clued me in on the development of SkullGirlS, and the game seems pretty promising so far. If you are lucky enough to be a windows user, (which I am unfortunately not), you owe it to yourself to check out the game and its progress so far. The demo, from what I hear, is worth checking out, and it would be great if you could provide some feedback for these guys.

Here's to hoping that my windows PC will be up and running again soon. I need to find some time to fix that thing. All I have used it for in the past year is MUGEN games and emulation, which is probably a subject I want to avoid here. Anyway, check out the SkullgirlS game for me, and tell me all about how it plays. I'd appreciate it muchly.

Ebay and EB Games crack down on Pre-order re-sales, violence erupts?

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Fighting Games Make a Triumphant Return This Fall

(And I couldn’t be happier about it)

norm@904skate.com

So the media is abuzz with all of the new fangled gaming machines and the herds of software titles bombarding retailers this holiday season, and for good reason. These next gen systems really do have a lot going for them, in many different ways. However, the fighting games of yesteryear are creeping out from these next-gen cracks, and finding their way onto modern current-gen consoles with a growing amount of fanfare. Those not familiar with the genre are quick to write these games off, but make no mistake- 2006 will be the year fighting games made a comeback, and this time around, you don’t have to deal with tokens and over-used, under-repaired arcade machines.

King of Fighters 2006

Playstation 2

King of Fighters 2006 is the much-improved sequel to last year’s KOF: Maximum Impact. Unfortunately this game hasn’t received much publicity, and it’s too bad. KOF 06 is probably one of the most balanced, well paced 3D fighters out now, with 2D style gameplay that works well in 3D environments. Added to the game from last year, there are parries, safe moves, and a great selection of bonus minigames and hidden characters. With easy to pick up and fun to master gameplay, this is my choice for new fighting game of the year.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

On Ps2, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii

MK: Armageddon is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have broken, crippled gameplay and weird-looking graphics and animation. The fighting action is full of glitches and unbalanced characters, meaning whoever picks the strongest character usually will win. The game adds ‘combo breaker’ moves to limit your opponent’s use of combos, and you can use these 3 times in a match. You can also make use of the new Parry system, which can work to your advantage as well. Even so, competitive play can get a little unbalanced once you know your stuff. HOWEVER, this game does have some very redeeming aspects to it. I’m not talking about the ‘korny’ Konquest mode, or the forgettable ‘Motor Kombat mode-I’m talking about Kreate-a-Karacter.

MK:A has an awesome character creation mode. In addition to creating almost an entire cast of Street fighter characters and my favorite action movie characters, I can create a playable version of He-Man and Skeletor. And that is the reason you should buy this game-He-Man and Skeletor. (Maybe some X-men, too.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

On Xbox Live Arcade

Yep, we have another entry to the Xbox Live Arcade fighting game lineup, and that is the arcade-perfect port of UMK 3. Long gone are the days of camping out at Kona Skatepark in Arlington, playing UMK 3 in the clubhouse while wearing my stinky elbow pads, knee pads and helmet. With this version, I don’t have to worry about some wobbly-footed rollerblader on the player-2 side bumping into me messing up my killer combos. Nope, it’s all Live, and its all gravy. UMK 3 on Xbox live is all about nostalgia, and its great. My only regret is the lack of a button-mapping feature, because my DOA 4 arcade stick would be perfect for this game.

Big Guns

The Big Guns of Console Gaming

Soon, the games we have all been waiting for will be ready for our grubby little hands. With the amount of hype surrounding these recent releases, it’ll be difficult for most video game fans to sit idly. Well, here they are, the games that we have all been waiting for.

Gears of War

Xbox 360

Gears of War is one of those first-person shooters you can’t get away from. Aiming to be the next Halo, Gears if war packs quite a punch. While the screenshots that have filled the net show plenty of death, destruction, doom and general gloominess, the finished product provides a lot more than what the demo clips have revealed to us. Gears of War is filled to the brim with exciting gameplay options, including co-op and multiplayer modes. With an intuitive and fun-to-use cover system and great single player modes filled with exciting boss battles, Gears of War is certainly the shooter game to buy this holiday season. This is one of the games that you just have to play to understand, as the mountains of hype surrounding it don’t do it justice. Really.

Final Fantasy XII

Playstation 2

If reviews and scores mean anything to you, it may be reassuring to hear that Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave Final Fantasy XII a perfect score. Gamespot and similar websites have given the game similarly high scores, which leaves no doubt in most gamers minds that this is truly the sequel they have been waiting for. While some have been put off by previous installments, FFXII seemingly addresses all those negative vibes this time around. With a heavily updated combat system including a new feature known as the “Gambit” system, the developers seem to be trying their best to make the fight scenes memorable and exciting, which is welcome news. It may seem boring at first, but it should really grow on you as the game progresses. As far as voice acting is concerned, the game is stereotypically sub-par, but the game’s interesting storyline and characters more than make up for it. Visually, the game is probably the best-looking PS2 game to date, and that says a lot. With an overall package that comes together surprisingly well, FFXI certainly delivers. If you are any kind of RPG fan, you owe it to yourself to check this game out.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Xbox 360 (also available for Gamecube, Xbox, and soon PS3 and Wii)

I’ve always liked the Splinter Cell series, especially Chaos Theory. My only complaints with the series have rested in the tough-as-nails requirements for you to follow the mission to a T. With Double Agent, UBIsoft seems to cater to those who found its predecessors to be a little too strict. Sam Fisher returns in this installment, with an interesting plot twist involving some confusion as to whether or not he is working with the bad guys. It’s a great storyline to follow, and the plot and delivery works. Double agent does have some downsides however, specifically in the multiplayer department. Those who were big fans of the Mercs vs. Spies game may be disappointed in the fact that the Mercs have been significantly nerfed, yet somehow they become pretty overpowering in some aspects of gameplay. The game is still lots of fun; just don’t expect more of the same from multiplayer. Visually the game is great, and although it does seem a bit short, the exciting gameplay and storyline and the inclusion of a fun multiplayer mode should make up for that.