PunctualDork

Pros & Cons (Impressions): Lollipop Chainsaw

We are finally two weeks away from Grasshopper Manufacture’s Zombie-Action title, Lollipop Chainsaw. This exciting new title from the twisted mind of Suda51 focuses on zombie hunter and cheerleader Juliet Starling who fights off hordes of zombies in San Romero High School, which Starling formerly attended. She carries with her the severed, yet still living, head of her boyfriend Nick, who she decapitated after he suffered a zombie bite. It is also revealed that Juliet will be assisted by her sisters, Cordelia Starling and Rosalind Starling the younger sister. The enemy zombies are led by “a group of zombie rocker lords” who were former high school students who were turned into intelligent zombies. Neat concept eh?

Concepts are nice, but far too many games these days have great concepts and fall flat upon release. So far, we have some neat impressions of the game, but what is good and what is bad? I seek to answer this question with a Pros & Cons article based on the impressions so far. Without further ado…

PROS:

+ This title comes from the mind of Suda51

Goichi Suda is one of the more imaginative game designers of our time. Far from the mainstream, his titles are stylistic, edgy, and heavily influenced by genre film conventions (if you don’t know what a genre film is, think Evil Dead 2, Maniac Cop, or other films that mesh horror and humour). Because they are such a far cry from the mainstream, Suda51’s titles tend to be a little financially risky, but I’m pretty much in love with everything he does. Titles that he known for are: Killer7, Contact, No More Heroes, and Shadows of the Damned. If he brings the same amount of craziness that he has in the past, Lollipop Chainsaw should be a really interesting game. 

+ It’s a zombie game that isn’t boring

Left4Dead, Call of Duty, Red Dead Redemption, Dead Rising, and a slew of other titles have made Zombies pretty commonplace in today’s video game landscape, but the role they play is pretty standard. You (the player) enter a room and a couple of zombies slowly saunter towards you while moaning. No fear though, because you’ve got a shotgun and a clean shot at their head. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lollipop Chainsaw appears to have zombies with character and many (ironic) ways to kill them. To say that I’m excited for a fresh take on the living dead is an understatement. 

+ Gameplay supposedly resembles No More Heroes

Pretty much everyone who had the opportunity to pick-up No More Heroes loved kicking ass with Travis. The action was bloody and brutal (a nice change of pace for a Wii game). A lot of people have been saying that the reason they are apprehensive about the title is that they haven’t seen enough gameplay. Recently (early this morning actually) a new gameplay trailer was released that shows this cheerleader darling kicking butt all over the place. In the game, Juliet has light attacks, which are acrobatic kicks and punches, and heavy attacks, which she uses her chainsaw for. The light attacks are intended to herd enemy zombies together so that Juliet can finish them off all at once with heavy attacks. Killing enemies and saving classmates that are being attacked by zombies will fill up Juliet’s star meter, which is used for super attacks.Juliet’s boyfriend Nick, a disembodied head hanging from her skirt, can be used for various purposes, including being kicked at enemies by Juliet or being put on the body of a decapitated zombie to control it. Also, you can kill things with pompoms (that’s just nuts). 

+ You can dress Juliet up however you want

DLC is on the way folks and Grasshopper Manufacture wants you to play Juliet as if she were a character from one of your favourite anime series (Highschool of the Dead, Deadman Wonderland, Manyu Hiken-cho, and Is This a Zombie?). I kinda wish they had some uniforms from Tokyo Gore Police, but I like that they’re tapping into some popular - yet gory - franchises. 

CONS: 

- James Gunn was a story writer for Lollipop Chainsaw 

For those of you who are unaware of James Gunn, this hack wrote the big screen adaptations of Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 as well as one of my least favourite art house/snuff films: Tromeo and Juliet. Gunn’s writing is unique for sure, but it’s also aggressively bad. I don’t see him being attached to this game as being a good thing. 

- Mindless Self Indulgence’s music and Jimmy Urine will be featured 

All I’m going to say is that this isn’t my kind of music. If you’re a fan of the band that’s awesome, but I’m not incredibly excited. Also, ‘Zed’ (one of the zombie bosses) will be voiced by Jimmy Urine. If his name is indicative of his voice-work, I’ll probably cringe. 

At the end of the day, this title seems like it really deserves some attention. If you don’t wanna risk dropping some cash on this title right away that’s fine, but I think I’m going to add this to my collection as soon as possible. 

Ask a Dork: Nintendo at E3 2012

“What does Nintendo need to win E3? What do you expect?”

Allow me to make an extremely partisan statement: Nintendo will garner the most attention this year at E3. We already know that Nintendo will be bringing a new Super Mario Bros. entry and Pikmin title to the Wii U and I think it’s safe to say that more of Nintendo’s first party IPs will likely join them. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything new about a Wii U entry in The Legend of Zelda series and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a Mario Kart title released soon after the system’s launch.

That said, the system itself still remains a mystery. When is it released? How big is its launch catalogue? What’s the price? Will it be backwards compatible? Has the controller actually changed? What are its graphical capabilities? At this point in time, we are awash in questions to be answered. My hope is that Nintendo will make the Wii U the centrepiece of their event this year.

Providing they place a heavy focus on showcasing the system and its capabilities, Nintendo will absolutely ‘win’ the Electronic Entertainment Expo, but they should also place a heavy focus on the 3DS’ catalogue. I really want to see a strong new batch of first-party games and hopefully a few new third-party IPs. We know for sure that New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be making an appearance, but my 3DS is already starting to collect dust and first party titles are nowhere to be seen. Nintendo needs some system selling titles and they need them now. While we’re on the topic of systems, I know some people are mulling over the idea of a 3DS redesign (affectionately being referred to by fans as the “3DS lite”), but I don’t think it’s likely this year. The 3DS may lack a second analog pad, long battery life, and a large touch screen, but the big N has already invested a lot into the current iteration of this title and I doubt they would be willing to eat the loss.

At the end of the day, content is king. If Nintendo can shed light on some of the games that consumers are excited over, I have full confidence that they’ll take E3 by storm.

Ask a Dork: Microsoft at E3

         “What does Microsoft need to win e3. What do you expect?”

It’s difficult to gauge how excited we should be for Microsoft’s press conference at E3 this year. Unlike E3 2011 where new technology was being released (Kinect), UIs were being overhauled (New Xbox Experience), epic series were concluding/continuing (Gears of War 3, Halo 4, etc.), and the titular system received a sexy new redesign, E2 2012 doesn’t appear to hold any fundamental changes for Microsoft’s platform.

Earlier this year, rumors hinted that both Microsoft and Sony would show off new consoles during E3. However, since then Microsoft has stated that “there will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon” and Sony has confirmed that “we are not making any announcements at E3” regarding the PlayStation 4. That isn’t really a problem for Sony’s system as its technical capabilities are already more advanced than the competition’s, but the Xbox 360’s limitations are starting to become noticeable. In an age where a majority of games are more style than they are substance, the finger is constantly being pointed at the Xbox 360’s rough graphical output and sheer amount of DVD disks included in every major game release. The tough reality is that Sony had more prep time with this generation of consoles and Microsoft is currently paying the price for an early start. Since the successor (tentatively labeled by media outlets as the “Xbox 720”) will not be making an appearance at E3 2012, gamers are expecting to see more in the way of new titles and other content to hold them over.

No surprises are expected from Microsoft’s game release strategy as it has already been confirmed that Halo 4 and Forza: Horizon are coming out in December, so I’m thinking that some of the system’s upcoming multi-platform titles (Persona 4 Arena, Resident Evil 6, Lost Planet 3, DmC, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3, etc.) will be featured pretty prominently and Microsoft will likely place heavier focus on its other platforms like Windows Phone and Kinect. If I were a betting man, I would say that Microsoft has a handful of exclusives going to Windows phone along with some increased Xbox Live functionality. We’re also likely to see a slew of mostly uninteresting Kinect titles in an attempt to reinforce the platform’s relevance. I can’t say whether or not this strategy will have any impact, but I am hopeful that Lionhead will release more Fable: The Journey details.

From this vantage point, it’s hard to judge whether or not Microsoft will ‘win’ E3 2012. To be honest, a big part of me is beginning to think that this will be Wii U’s year in terms of sheer media buzz. And while I’m still not sure it will be a good show, I will say is that I’m really pleased with Microsoft’s approach to E3 this year.

Many of us would love to attend E3 on a yearly basis, but either a lack the funds or credentials to participate has held us back. In order to bring gamers closer to the experience, Microsoft will be live-streaming their conference over Spike TV and Xbox live. It’s a very cool approach that has totally caught my attention. Spike and Xbox Live’s coverage begins one day ahead of the big show on Monday, June 4. Check out your local listings for coverage times and keep an eye on your Xbox Dashboard if you’re interested.

Ask a Dork [Rebuttal]: Video Game Consoles as Entertainment Hubs

My brother Troy: 

It has been too long since I have walked within the hallowed halls of this blog. For the last few weeks I have been content to rest in my seat as other posts went flying by. However, this recent post did not zoom by as quick as the others, and like a dragon flying unaware by me in Skyrim it unknowingly begs that I ready my weapon and let loose a shot (even if this may come back to bite me). Without further ado:

“Do you think that video game consoles should be purely gaming devices or all in one entertainment hubs? What is the line?”

Now first off I have no contention with what brother is saying about how the consoles within our homes have evolved over time, and through them we no longer need that DVD player,  movie store, or even a watch ( I still remember being blown away when I first got the Playstation and found out it could play my CDs. Then promptly put a gaming disc back in cause c’mon….. why bother using it for a CD player).  Thanks to the online capabilities on modern gaming systems, requiring multiple separate bits of hardware for a specific entertainment function involving a TV screen is a thing of the past. “You got a gaming system buddy? Great. You got a screen of some form for it? Perfect…… well…… you’re done”.  I’ll agree with my brother that from an entertainment perspective it is convenient.

So what is the rebuttal I have with my brother on this one? Do I feel for some reason that the second paragraph he wrote (in which he wants the focus of a gaming system to be on gaming) is out of line? Nope, I would agree with his sentiment there too. 

So now the reader is trying to figure out where I have my issue. Well, if it isn’t his answer then it has got to be (hand me the magnifying glass Dr. Watson while the spooky organ music crescendos ) ……………….the question.

My brother is answering the question based on the presumption that the PS3, Xbox360, Wii, or other gaming device that you frequent could be purely gaming. I am here to raise the point that for the last few years your gaming device has become less and less “pure” in what it is, with more and more reliance on the exterior forces that are linked by social, entertainment based hubs. And people…. It is going to get worse.

Downloadable content (DLC) has been with us a few years now and I think it has evolved from what the game player has wanted to what the console/ game developer has wanted. It used to be a simple add in – put some new armor on your horse, a new color on your character, or a new gun to try out. Did it really change the game? In most cases “no”, the game you bought was the game and this was just going to be a flashy coat of paint on the car (Mechanic “Hey bub. You wanna paint it red then fine, but it won’t go any faster). Over time DLC developed more influence on gameplay, and next thing you know you are slapping in add-on chapters or new quests (Mechanic “Hey bub. Got an extra can a gas for your ride if you wanna go a little longer”). Soon DLC becomes a carrot right out of the gate, where the “special” or “legendary edition” will give you additional DLC …. but it will cost you extra…. and you will have to go online to get it…. which means now the console developer knows you have it and any new shiny DLC for the game will pop in front of your face when you start up your system(Mechanic “ Hey bub. Got some nitro here if you’re interested. Gives you a special edge.” *wink*) So now if you want a pure gaming experience, where the game you bought is what you will play, you will miss out on the online DLC and the ability to get other DLC in the future.

May seem like I’m quibbling, but this has not been a good year so far for a pure gaming experience. Take the Street fighter X Tekken fiasco. If you frequent this bloq….. and you should because it pops up when you type in “awesome“ in Google ( alright it doesn’t… but it totally should) ….. you will recall the game was the fighting game I was most looking forward to this year. And when it released the excitement level was still high – until someone found out there was 8 extra characters imbedded in the disc for future DLC. This DLC was gonna drop when the game came out for PS Vita…. in September! Yup, the developers had prepared 8 extra characters, that are somewhere on the disc I have, but I can’t have em because it ain’t time. This ruined a chunk of the gaming experience for me because now I felt like I was playing an incomplete product. In the past I always fooled myself into thinking that DLC was an add on to a completed game. More and more it seems, you are going to buy an incomplete game and DLC will become the asphalt that fills in the unwanted potholes because things were rushed or the middle chapters of a book so that the plot makes sense. Or, as in the Capcom scenario, when the developers feel like it so you drop more money for something you should already own. 

Issue number 2 – even if I don’t want DLC, even if I want to stay offline and not deal with promotions and commercials, sooner or later I will be pulled online or I…. can’t…. play! This was brought up recently with Diablo 3. You’ve got a game that has been in development  for many, many years and a rabid fan-base that is ready to be blessed by Blizzard’s magical gaming holy water. For Diablo 3 you shell out 60$ for a single player mode that requires an online connection, and there is no offline single-player. Hell, there isn’t even a LAN option, you have to follow the implemented structure chosen by Blizzard. Which means with Diablo 3, you cannot play the game whenever you want; you can only play the game when Blizzard allows you to. And when that rabid fan base took it all in stride as they walked off to their midnight release event, confident that Blizzard for all there rules nailed the gaming experience. They plunked down their cash and sat down to enjoy a long awaited event. The gaming holy water turns to holy #$%@ as you are met by Error 37 and the server will not service you.  Welcome to online gaming on developers terms, now if you could just sit there while we figure this out.

The worst thing is not where we are but where we are going. The Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii have performed admirably, but there is already talk about new consoles on the horizon and while they will have improved graphic processors and creative additions to make the gaming experience more lifelike there is talk of the next gen going to download only format. Yup, if you want a game then like steam for PC gamers you can download it. Developers will argue it is the next logical step – you have downloadable TV, music, and movies. But a videogame – still a form of electronics in format – arguably shares more with a good book. Yes you have your online, electronic downloadable books that are growing in popularity; but at the same time book stores are hanging in and libraries are being defended while Blockbuster’s go the way of the dinosaur. A videogame, like a book, is a narrative that is more tangible to us than a movie or music CD. Yeah I can buy a book online, but y’know what? I wanna hold those pages in my hand and experience the whole thing as it is presented, when I chose. The same is true for a great game …. or at least it was.

This rant was not due just to the question presented to my brother, but the post he followed up with it. That post was based around the series Secret of Mana, a game we both hold in high esteem. It is an example of a great, pure gaming experience. Just you and the controller enjoying the moment from start to finish. There is nothing hidden within that you can’t find, nothing broken that needs an online patch, nothing that railroads you away from the medium that you are comfortable with. If I sound sentimental, it’s because I am, but if I may be so bold as to quote Lennon (from the song Imagine) out of context  “ You may say I am a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”. Look to the scores on sites such as Metacritic for Diablo 3 and you will see serious disparity between established critics that praise it, and users who tar and feather it for the issues I mentioned. Gamers are angry, partly for what the game is (short) but also where the game is forcing us to go (online). This trend is likely to get worse in the future as we take to a next gen with new rules that go against what established gamers see videogames as representing.

So to come back to the question:

 “Do you think that video game consoles should be purely gaming devices or all in one entertainment hubs? What is the line?”

In my opinion the line from pure gaming to an entertainment hub has already been crossed some time ago and we are walking further beyond it. If you desire a pure gaming experience you will have to look to the past. If you want it in the future, you may have to raise your voice so that new technology does not take away the soul of gaming that you cherish so much.