PunctualDork

Pros & Cons (Impressions): Lollipop Chainsaw

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:37:59 -0400

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

Thu, 31 May 2012 18:34:00 -0400

“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.

Random/Awesome facts about Ditto/Mew

Tue, 29 May 2012 06:40:04 -0400

Random/Awesome facts about Ditto/Mew

Do you have the heart of gaming?

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:45:17 -0400

Do you have the heart of gaming?

Ask a Dork: Microsoft at E3

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:05:00 -0400

“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

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:32:00 -0400

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.

The Cold Shoulder - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:56:00 -0400

There are a lot of great game out there that are overlooked because they aren’t AAA titles, they’re made by an unknown developer, or they have a few problems here and there. These games are essentially given the ‘cold-shoulder’ by most purchasers because they don’t get the same level of exposure. A sad fact that I find absolutely tragic.

So why not provide a platform for these great games to represent themselves without a bunch of noise getting in the way? That’s what this serious will be about. The hope is that I’ll stumble upon a gem, play it, beat it, and share it with you. Maybe it will spark enough interest in the game for you to go out an buy - good for the developers, the industry, and you of course.

Enter: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

War, death, and demons are just a way of life in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It’s a crappy place to live, but makes an awesome setting for the third-person action game, Space Marine. Developer Relic Entertainment does the 40,000 franchise justice, telling a great Warhammer story that’s enjoyable whether or not you’re familiar with the world. Disappointing games like Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior taught me to expect the worst, but Space Marine is a satisfyingly violent shooter/hack-n-slash combo.

BUY:

+ If you like Gears of War, Binary Domain or Resident Evil 4/5

+ If you’re a fan of the universe or Roman culture

+ If you enjoy cutting things in have and blood flying everywhere

+ If you’re looking for a legit challenge from a third-person shooter

+ If you have $20 (seriously, it’s cheap now)

DON’T BUY:

- If you hate cut-scenes (there are more than a few)

- If you need a campaign that lasts longer than 9 hours

Ask a Dork: Sony at e3

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:50:00 -0400

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

Attending e3 is kind of like playing a game of cards; most companies go in assuming that their going to trump the competition with their offerings, only to find that the competition has brought the winning hand. So, what exactly constitutes winning at e3? Two things: blockbuster game announcements and upcoming hardware details.

In the months before e3 2012, the press was all abuzz with talk of the ‘PSP2’. Sony blew the competition away last year in-part due to their announcement of the Sony PS Vita (formerly the ‘NGP’ - Next Generation Portable). The system would have two control sticks (as opposed to the PSP’s single ‘puck’), near-PS3 graphical capabilities, dual cameras, a front-facing touchscreen and rear touch screen, and gyroscopic sensors. While it’s doubtful that anyone expected this system to be so much of a work-horse, the real story was that of the games to be released for the titular console. Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Ruin, ModNation Racers and Capcom’s Street Fighter x Tekken were on display during the event to demonstrate the system’s capabilities. This announcement alone had e3 2011 pretty much in the bag for Sony, but the hardware giant didn’t stop there.

New and exciting exclusives Sly Cooper, Dust 514, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception captivated gamers and the press alike, the PlayStation Move was getting some much needed attention at the time due to the ‘Star Trek Phaser Gun for PS Move’ announcement, and there was a highly anticipated PlayStation-branded 3D HD Monitor on the horizon. Overall, Sony went above the call of duty with e3 2011 and if they want to keep the momentum moving forward, they’ll have to do the same at e3 2012.

We know that Sony is currently gearing up for an interesting e3 conference this year, with the publisher promising to “lift the lid on 20 new experiences” on Monday 4th June. I can’t say that I know exactly what Sony is getting at when they say ‘experiences’, but we are aware of some of their games line up. God of War: Ascension, The Last of Us, PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royal, Kara, Killzone Vita, and Call of Duty Vita are all in the works and e3 will be a rewarding event providing we get more details on these hot titles. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s enough.

The one PS3 game on everyone’s mind this year is Team Ico’s The Last Guardian. Producers have left, cancellation rumors have flown, and no one knows what the current status of this beautiful vapourware is. I would argue that since Sony isn’t planning any upcoming hardware releases, they’ll have to pull a release date out of their butts for their most anticipated game.

Final Fantasy XIII-2: A DLC Love Story

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:51:46 -0400

Alright, I like Ultros as much as the next guy, but Final Fantasy XIII-2’s DLC is on my last nerve.

Let’s call it like it is folks, Final Fantasy XIII-2 was released in an incomplete state. So many questions are raised during the story that are never addressed and we are made to assume that they will be appropriately addressed via DLC. The only problem being that they aren’t.

So far, we have seen Weapons, Costume, Accessory, and Colosseum DLC as well as a handful of mishandled story scenarios.

The First Story Scenario is Sazh: Heads or Tails

The Good:

+ You get to play as Sazh (probably the most relatable character from FFXIII)

+ You can add Sazh to your party after the scenario (he’s an awesome Synergist)

+ You have some clue as to where the hell Sazh went

The Bad:

- It’s a Casino level (unless you actually like these, there is nothing here for you)

- The voice work for everyone other than Sazh is really, really bad

- Boring, boring, boring. The whole scenario isn’t very engaging.

- Doesn’t really add any value to the storyline of FFXIII-2.

The Second Story Scenario is Snow: Perpetual Battlefield

The Good:

+ Snow is recruitable (he’s a pretty decent Sentinel)

+ Plenty of fun battles (if you’re a fan of the battle system)

The Bad:

- This is a cheaply padded Coliseum addition that doesn’t answer any questions

- Completely uninteresting if you aren’t a fan of the Coliseum

The Final Story Scenario is Lightning: Requiem of the Goddess

The Good:

+ Valhalla Lightning is recruitable (she has a slick character design and is an excellent Commando)

+ Allows you to experience the battle between Lightning and Caius

+ Answers SOME questions about Final Fantasy XIII-2’s story

+ New battle mechanics

The Bad:

- BASICALLY CONFIRMS FINAL FANTASY XIII-3’s FUTURE RELEASE (*sigh*)

- Makes you ask more questions

- Isn’t worth the price of admission

I should emphasize that DLC is meant to add on and expand a story. As opposed to releasing a complete and worthwhile story and THEN releasing DLC to expand the mythos, Square decided to WITHHOLD content and hurt the plot in the process. It’s pure greed and shortsightedness.

$20 later I still have no idea what the hell is going on in this story.

Summer Gaming List

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:48:00 -0400

Sunny days and warm nights are almost upon us. In an elementary school kind of way, I’d like to throw out my planned Summer Gaming List and I invite you to do the same.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is epic for sure, but you almost have to be an invalid to enjoy it. This game is a life-sucker. Due to work and life commitments, I’ve only invested about 5 hours into what is clearly a 200 hour game. I look forward to going back to Skyrim soon (and hopefully staying there for a while).

2. Seiken Densetsu 3

Thanks to the valiant efforts of a new reader (thanks mooncloud217), I have located a perfectly patched and fully English ROM of this masterpiece. I’m currently in the process of locating a decent usb controller and am looking forward to finally playing Seiken Densetsu 3 this summer.

3. Pokemon Leaf Green, Heart Gold & Ruby

It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a Pokemon game and I’m interested in going back to the series’ roots. Leaf Green is a classic, Pokemon Gold is likely my favorite game in the series, and Ruby offers a new challenge. I can’t wait to catch em’ all.

4. Golden Sun (the entire series)

I recently bought the Nintendo DS Golden Sun entry in the series (Dark Dawn), but I realized that it’s hard to follow everything that’s going on without going back to the first two titles. I’d like to go back and replay the originals to refresh my knowledge of the series.

Video Game History: The Mana Series

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:58:00 -0400

We all have that one video game series that draws us back for each iteration regardless of how terrible or ill-conceived as they might be. Some of you may return to each iteration of Call of Duty or Final Fantasy expecting dramatic improvements only to be let down, but I return to the world of Mana hoping for things to return to their original formula. To understand why early entries in this ground breaking franchise are so fantastic, we need to examine the series’ roots.

Consider this article the Magic School Bus and me Ms. Frizzle. I plan to take you back through video game history and communicate the value of this beautiful action-RPG franchise start to finish.

Game 1: Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (Japan)/Final Fantasy Adventure (NA)/Mystic Quest (Europe)/Sword of Mana (Enhanced 2003 Remake)

Final Fantasy Adventure, known as Mystic Quest in Europe and as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden was originally intended to be a handheld spin-off of the Final Fantasy series. Translated to “Holy Sword of Legend”, this title sets up the entire Mana Series. Being made for a smaller platform, several changes had to be made to the games structure. Rather than opting for traditional turn-based gameplay, Seiken Densetsu featured gameplay similar to that of the original The Legend of Zelda game, while adding role-playing statistical elements. A far cry from traditional Final Fantasy games, this title was technically the first Final Fantasy title to reach the PAL region.

In this title, the world is threatened by a “Dark Lord” who conquests for Mana to rule supreme over the land. At his side is a mysterious wizard named Julius, who has secret motives. The hero, a gladiator whose parents were killed by the Dark Lord, is imprisoned by him and forced to fight daily for the Dark Lord’s personal entertainment. One day he escapes and by chance overhears the Dark Lord and Julius in their plans to seize the power of Mana. When they discover his escape, they chase and throw him over a waterfall to what they thought was his death.

Having survived the fall, the hero then saves a mysterious young Heroine from monsters and attempts to find the magical objects needed to defeat the evil massing against the Mana Tree (the world’s source of Mana). After defeating Julius and the Dark Lord the Mana Tree dies. The heroine sacrifices herself to become the Mana Tree and preserve the world (essentially becoming the goddess of this universe). The hero then becomes her Gemma knight and guardian.

Sword of Mana is an enhanced remake of the original Game Boy game. At the beginning of the game, the player is able to choose to play as the male Hero or as the female Heroine. They each have a different quest, but their plots remain similar. It should be noted that the plot of this game is very similar to the original, but with more emphasis on ethnic cleansing.

Despite being the progenitor of the Mana series, Sword of Mana incorporates many aspects of later entries. The game was made to resemble the graphical style of Seiken Densetsu 3, but the artwork rather resembles that of Legend of Mana. The ring system from Secret of Mana is featured once again, allowing players to choose various options on the field screen. The day-and-night system introduced in Seiken Densetsu 3 also makes a return and much like Legend of Mana, players can forge weapons, plant produce in an orchard, and read recorded events in the game’s “Hot House” feature.

Unfortunately, this game isn’t everyone’s taste. Purists believe the original to be superior in gameplay and the story’s structure hadn’t aged well since its initial release. Regardless, I’m currently playing it in my gameboy and would definitely recommend a play-through (especially if you’re a fan of the series).

Game 2: Seiken Densetsu 2 (Japan)/Secret of Mana (NA)

Rather than fall back on the typical turn-based RPG structure of it’s time, Secret of Mana utilized real-time battles while also employing select role playing elements and an innovative user interface. The “Ring Command” menu system that the series is known for was first implemented here. For the uninitiated, this menu pauses combat and allows a multitude of actions to be performed without needing to switch screens.

Outside of of the Ring Command menu, the brightly coloured graphics, expansive plot, real-time battle system, modified ATB meter, and cooperative drop-in/drop-out multiplayer gameplay, all received considerable acclaim. It was also the first game to allow customizable AI - something that is still being incorporated into games today.

The plot is pretty cool to get into as well. Disobeying their Elder’s instructions, three boys from a small village trespass into a local waterfall where a treasure is said to be kept. One of the boys, the game’s protagonist, stumbles and falls into the lake where he finds a rusty sword embedded in a stone. Guided by a disembodied voice, he pulls the sword free, inadvertently unleashing monsters in the surrounding countryside of the village. The villagers interpret the sword’s removal as a bad omen and banish the boy from Potos forever. An elderly knight named Jema recognizes the blade as the legendary Mana Sword, and encourages the hero to re-energize it by visiting the eight Mana Temples.

Originally planned for the SNES CD-ROM add-on in development by Nintendo and Sony, the game ended up being altered to fit on a standard cartridge when the add-on project was dropped by Nintendo. Because of this, the overworld travel systems (cannons and Flammie the Dragon) seem far more advanced than a standard 16-bit console would be able to generate.

Secret of Mana has been on numerous all-time “best games” lists. It was listed at number 42 on Nintendo Power magazine’s Top 200 Nintendo Games Of All Time, as well as the 86th best game made on a Nintendo System. It was also rated number 48 on IGN’s “Top 100 Games” list in 2005, number 49 in 2006, and number 79 in 2007. Also in 2006, Secret of Mana was voted the 97th best game of all time by the readers of the well-known Japanese magazine Famitsu. Suffice to say, SoM is an excellent title and should be played by every RPG fan (which is easy, now that it’s available on iOS).

Game 3: Seiken Densetsu 3 (Japan)

Seiken Densetsu 3 is a very ambitious games. It features 3 lengthy main plotlines, 6 different characters (each with their own storylines), and a range of classes to choose from (which all provide exclusive skill sets and status progression).

A single variety of weapon is available for each character, and the “progression by means of use” present on the series’ previous game was removed from the weapons and magic systems; now the only factor which influences a spell’s damage is how high the character’s “magic” attribute and how low an enemy’s magical defense towards a special kind of magic is.

Level progression is coordinated by the player, as a choice is given regarding where to invest a character statistics point at every level up. A “class” system is also present. Once a character reaches level 18, he or she is able to go to a Mana Stone and choose a class to progress to - either a class aligned to “Light” or a class aligned to “Dark” - which provides a different set of skills and different improvements to character statistics. A second class change may be performed at level 38. The second change requires the use of rare items to be performed, and once again an option between a “Light” and a “Dark” is presented. Counting all possibilities there is a total of seven possible classes for every character, including the initial class.

Seiken Densetsu 3 also employs a calendar function into its gameplay. The seven-day week cycles much more quickly than an actual one (a day passes in a number of minutes), but it still affects gameplay in certain ways. Each day of the week is represented by a different elemental spirit. On that spirit’s day, magic of that element will be slightly stronger (a system formally copied in Sword of Mana).

According to Seiken Densetsu 3’s in-game lore, the Mana Goddess created the game’s world by forging the powerful Sword of Mana and defeating eight benevodons (God-Beasts in the fan-translation) with it, sealing them within eight Mana Stones, before turning herself into the Mana Tree and falling asleep. The game is set at a time when Mana starts to fade and peace has ended, as some people plot to unleash the benevodons from the stones so as to gain ultimate power, politically and magically.

It’s a wonderful story that I’ve never had the pleasure of enjoying. The game was published in Japan and only came to NA Mana fans via a fan translation several years after its release. Sqaure has stated that bugging issues and space issues halted this games released in NA, but it’s believed that the release of Secret of Evermore was the real reason for the lack of an English version of this title. Which is a shame, because Secret of Evermore has nothing to do with the series and kinda blows.

Game 4: Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana (Japan)/Legend of Mana (NA)

While Legend of Mana is the fourth installment in the Mana series (and third to come to NA shores), it is actually considered to be a spin off title with Dawn of Mana acting as the fourth canonical title.

This game incorporates some action RPG elements from previous titles, but has its own distinct style of gameplay. Unlike previous titles, you had the ability to shape the game’s world of Fa’Diel as you see fit through the use of ‘artifacts’. The player uses artifacts found through the game to create different towns, dungeons, etc., to venture an explore. This creates a non-linear gameplay throughout he numerous side-quests attached to these areas, but also makes the plot suffer as a result (the 3 main plots do not necessarily need to be completed for the player to finish the game).

Legend of Mana is set in the fictional world of Fa’Diel. The Mana Tree, the giver of mana and life for the world, was burned down nine centuries prior to the events of the game. A war erupted between faeries, human, and others seeking the scarce power of mana that was left. When the war concluded, the drained Mana Tree slept and the many lands of the world were stored in ancient artifacts. The hero, is self-charged with restoring the world, and its Mana, to its former self. It presents an interesting backdrop, but nothing substantial is done with it.

Much of the game’s criticism stemmed from its substitution of mostly unrelated quests over a main storyline. There’s an overabundance of subplots and quests and all the main plots end up being superfluous. Had a stronger focus been placed on structure and plot, this title could have been amazing.

Game 5: Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana (Japan)/Children of Mana (NA)

Children of Mana, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana, Children of Mana was the first release of the World of Mana project launched by Square Enix and was developed by Nex Entertainment under the supervision of Koichi Ishii. The concept of ‘World of Mana’ is to push the Mana series into different video game genres while still maintaining the core essence and mythos of the Mana series. Such as it is, the results are varied.

In the middle of the island of Illusia stands the famous Tree of Mana. Several years ago, a great disaster took place at the base of the tree and many lives were lost, leaving the main characters as orphans. A brave young boy and girl used the Sword of Mana to save the world from disaster. Now, years later, our heroes set out to investigate the details of the event that took so many loved ones away from them.

Unlike previous games in the series, Children of Mana is a dungeon crawler and the majority of the gameplay takes place in selected locations. These areas are reached by the player selecting them on the world map, and travels to them from the safe area of Mana Village by using Flammie (the Dragon and mainstay mana-beast of the series). The primary objective in each location is to clear the dungeon of monsters and the boss. As you can imagine, this get’s pretty tiring.

I love the art style implemented in this title, but it’s hard not to agree with the game’s critics when it comes to its tedious nature. Simply put, dungeon crawling gets boring and the story can’t hold its own. Unless you’re a diehard Mana fan, you won’t enjoy this title.

Game 6: Seiken Densetsu: Friends of Mana (Japan)

Friends of Mana is an online role-playing game for mobile phones. It has been released exclusively in Japan, and an international release is SUPER unlikely.

Friends of Mana takes place within ten years of the events of Legend of Mana. I can’t really comment on the game’s plot, gameplay, or mechanics, because I haven’t had the pleasures of seeing it in person. I will say that I dig the art style and would love to play it myself at some point.

Game 7: Seiken Densetsu 4 (Japan)/Dawn of Mana (NA)

Dawn of Mana was the long awaited fourth canonical entry in the Mana series. Release over decade after the previous canonical entry in the series, Dawn of Mana aimed to incorporate the beautiful music and art style of previous entries into a new combat system. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly the best entry in the ‘World of Mana’ campaign.

Elements seen in Dawn of Mana are quite different from Mana games of the past. While it can be classified as an action RPG, it comes off as more of a platforming adventure game (in the same vein of Kingdom Hearts). The Havok physics engine used for the Mono system is likely my favorite feature in this game. Unlike Kingdom Hearts, DoM’s Havok engine implements realistic physics that allow you to change your combat and platforming approach.

Dawn of Mana opens on the fictional island of Illusia, a place where the giant Mana Tree lies dormant. Much of the story takes place on Fa’Diel, a continent composed of the five nations of Jadd, Topple, Ishe, Wendell, and Lorimar. According to producer Koichi Ishii, Dawn of Mana is the first game chronologically in the Mana series, showing the origins of both the Mana Tree and the Spirits of Mana (Officially, the game takes place 10 years before Children of Mana).

Most people praised Dawn of Mana’s graphics, music, and character design, but found fault with the unreliable controls and awkward camera. I personally really like the title and think most Mana fans would, although I did expect a lot more from the first numbered Mana title since Seiken Densetsu 3.

Game 8: Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana (Japan)/Heroes of Mana (NA)

Heroes of Mana is the first tactical role-playing game attached to the Mana seriers and a prequel to Seiken Densetsu 3. It was born out of the desire to make a real-time strategy game similar to Age of Empires, StarCraft, and Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.

The game is a real-time strategy game (RTS) and is almost entirely a touch-based system. Players summon monsters to fight alongside heroes in order to accomplish objectives or defeating all enemies in the area. New equipment is obtained through completing story and bonus missions and finding it as hidden treasure. There are a total of 26 bonus missions, one for each mission of the story mode, as well as additional missions only available through the Heroes Ranking system. Overall, there is a lot of content here for hardcore RTS gamers.

Heroes of Mana sets the story in the same world and mythos as previous Mana titles. In Heroes players will control not one or two main characters, but dozens of “Hero” cast members that start as a loyal crew working for the region of Pedda; an enigmatic nation of the world known as the “Ancient Kingdom” by outsiders due to their impressive use of sorcery and lack of diplomatic relations with the outside world. After an early plot twist the game changes dramatically, as the young protagonist Roget bans together with his allies Yurchael, Qucas, D’Kelli, and Gemiere in a search for not only justice across the lands, but also answers to inexplicable questions about Pedda’s past.

Heroes of Mana isn’t for everyone. Hell, it probably isn’t for most Mana fans, but it does offer something different and actually does a decent job.

Conclusion:

The Mana Series has a lot to offer, but a majority of recent entries have fallen in the shadows of the original titles. To get back on track, I would recommend moving back to the gameplay structure of Secret of Mana and placing a greater focus on plot and character development.

Hopefully, we’ll see some amazing Mana titles again in the future.

Ask a Dork: Gaming Consoles as Entertainment Hubs

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:08:36 -0400

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

I don’t wear a watch, nor do I carry around a PDA or mp3 Player. To the same effect, I do not own a Netflix box, DVD/Blu-Ray Player, or PVR. This is not because I’m poor so much as it is that owning many devices to do many tasks isn’t as efficient or economical as owning one device capable of many things. Much in the same way my smartphone has reduced the amount of gadgets and gizmos on my person at any given time, my video game systems and their various streaming/recording functions have replaced most of the clutter in my entertainment centre. It’s not a bad thing from an entertainment perspective because they do the same jobs just as well and still act as a platform for gaming.

The line is where priority shifts from gaming to entertainment. While I love that my consoles are brilliant entertainment devices, they were built to facilitate gaming and it makes me nervous when console manufacturers place I higher value on non-gaming content such as films, music, and using social media channels. In fact, I find the incorporation of social media into each of the console platforms to be downright befuddling; who would want to boot up their PS Vita or Xbox just to update their Twitter status? We have smartphones and computers for that. Regardless, the focus should always be to produce the highest quality of games and gaming content; entertainment should be a secondary concern.

So, Marilyn Manson’s new album is out and it’s...

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:19:14 -0400

So, Marilyn Manson’s new album is out and it’s easily his best album in 10 years. If you like Holywood or Mechanical Animals, you should check it out.

Little late on the trigger, but this one goes out to all my...

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:17:21 -0400

Little late on the trigger, but this one goes out to all my favorite Jedi and Jawas.

Ask a Dork: Gamer Preferences

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:30:35 -0400

“Do gamers like putting themselves inside action or do gamers prefer a more cinematic character based experience?”

[Originally written for nerdsontherocks.com Check out the site!]

Wow. This is a deceptively difficult question to answer.

The short and sweet response is that gamers enjoy both putting themselves inside action and taking in a more cinematic character based experience. This questions becomes more complex when you examine the semantics of the word “gamers”.

To be blunt, not all gamers are made the same. We each have our own preferences in terms of the types of games we like to play, how many people we like to play with, and how often we play them. Is a gamer someone who plays video games for two hours a week or twenty? Does a gamer play console games or computer games? Should we care if a gamer plays by themselves or has a massive friends list? What if someone only plays a couple times a year – should they be considered to be a gamer?

It’s also important to note that tastes change. Serious and casual gamers alike both enjoy variety in what they play. I’ve yet to meet a single individual who only played Role Playing Games or only played First Person Shooters. It’s doubtful that anyone would want to play the same type of game forever and I can see most gamers moving back and forth from action-oriented titles to cinematic titles as time passes.

Top 10: MIA Video Games

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:09:00 -0400

How many potentially awesome games have failed to see the light of day due to funding issues, perceived lack of demand, and censorship? Too many. Now, I’ve already droned on about my deep adoration for the fledgling Thrill Kill, but what other amazing games are we missing out on? This is a top 10 list (Thrill Kill excluded) of quality games that will likely never see the light of day. Much like Indiana Jones, I’ve painstakenly combed the catacombs of the internets to find as much information on the following gems as possible.

Read on and shed a few tears.

10. Division 9

Irrational Games is known by many now as being the studio behind Bioshock (a masterpiece of contemporary gaming), but they also handled System Shook 2, Tribes, and the SWAT franchise. So why would anyone in their right mind question the will of this powerhouse studio?

Division 9 began as a joke among these developers, having just finished SWAT 4. This title would be like a SWAT 5, but with zombies (it was jokingly referred to as being Zombie SWAT). The premise was similar to Left 4 Dead, but actually predated the Valve title. Division 9 would feature a co-op survival style gameplay and feature complex FPS elements like changing missions and environmental challenges.

Unfortunately for Irrational Games (and for us), the studio was going through some difficulties at the time and only had one week to pitch the idea to buyers. While they were able to produce a full demo and were prepared to sell to Vivendi, the timelines clashed as the company was sold to Take-Two. Among other concerns was the zombie genre; buyers thought it wouldn’t be a popular enough concept to sell.

We now know just how wrong that assumption was. Zombie titles litter the gaming landscape and pretty much every popular FPS has incorporated Zombies in one way or another. It’s just tragic to see was was essentially the fore bearer to Left 4 Dead put out to pasture.

Division 9 Gameplay Trailer

If production had gone as planned, Division 9’s release would have been around the same time as Bioshock.

9. Shenmue III

The Shenmue series is famous for 2 things: ravenous fans who desperately want closure and costing a butt-load of money to produce.This masterpiece series of the Dreamcast/Xbox era is an interactive cinema open-world adventure video game series created, produced and directed by Yu Suzuki, and developed and published by Sega. The original Shenmue was listed in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive video game produced for its time, with a production budget of US$70 million (equivalent to $96 million in 2012 adjusting for inflation).

As you could imagine, Sega was looking for that cost to pay off. It didn’t. Shenmue and Shenmue II were very successful critically, but both games maintained lackluster (at best) sales and failed to justify their sky-high price. Sega was understandably unhappy and all attempts to resurrect the titular series have pretty much failed.

That’s a problem for fans. You see, the Shenmue series was supposed to be comprised of 16 chapters. The first Shenmue covered the first chapter, while Shenmue II contains four chapters of the series. However, chapters included in Shenmue II are chapters 3 to 5. Chapter 2 is in neither game and only existed as part of a manga spinoff titled “Shenmue: Side Story”. So…we don’t really know where the story is going and what we do know is a little muddled.

Yu Suzuki Interview on Shenmue

In 2003, Sega-AM2 announced that remaining chapters of the Shenmue series would be included in Shenmue III, but due to poor sales of Shenmue II (Shenmue II sold around 400,000 units), Sega decided to put the project “on hold”. Sure, a recent interview with Yu Suzuki stipulates that he has a full plan for Shenmue III and “can acquire the IP” from Sega, but I’m calling it - this game is never coming out and we will never know how this series is supposed to conclude.

8. Kameo 2

Sure, I could have thrown Perfect Dark 2, Banjo Threeie, or Killer Instinct 3 on this list, but only one of these titles has actual development details floating around (Perfect Dark 2) and none of them interest me nearly as much as Kameo 2.This vaporware was meant to be the successor to Xbox 360 launch title Kameo: Elements of Power. It was unfortunately canceled and never officially announced (which breaks my heart), but former Rare developers have leaked certain details and artwork that make me want to salivate.

As you can see from the artwork, Kameo 2 opted for a more realistic approach. Kameo herself looks almost photo-realistic. Speculation says that this art style was aiming for a more realistic approach to appeal to a broader Xbox userbase, but the title was oddly shelved early in development.

Why? Xbox 360 Kinect.

Kameo 2 Tech Demo

Simply put, Rare is owned by Microsoft. Regardless of what they might want to do, their priorities will always shift to fall in line with Microsoft’s plans. Microsoft wanted its most innovative first-party company to support its new motion platform and avatars. As a result, Kameo 2 got the shaft.

7. Redwood Falls

This one hurts. Redwood Falls was a FPS/Survival Horror project that was in development for Xbox 360 and PS3 at Kuju Entertainment in 2006. Coming off as something similar to Alan Wake or Silent Hill, Redwood Falls had a very impressive looking playable demo and was in being pitched to multiple buyers in 2006. I remember being particularly hard up to play this title and being blown away when it was canceled.

Redwood Falls was running on Unreal Engine 3 and maintained a fully destructible (and flammable) environment. Gameplay revolved around a virus that was able to regenerate monsters and the strategic use of fire.

The development of Redwood Falls was stopped in 2007 when Kuju Entertainment was bought out. The new owners of the studio were not interested in a new IP like Redwood Falls and immediately halted funding for the project.

While many publishers were impressed with the prototype (where it was the result of only 4 months of work), without the possibility to see more of the gameplay mechanics, no buyers were confident enough to support the game.

Redwood Falls Prototype

In the end Redwood Falls was officially cancelled and only few screens and a video remain from this promising title.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Courage

You may not have heard of this game before. It was the intended final piece of the “Triforce Trillogy”. The Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Courage was a Game Boy Color game that was planned to be the third Zelda game in the Oracle series, alongside The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons.

Despite the title’s shelving, we actually know several interesting facts about this vaporware. It was to be published by Nintendo and was being developed by Capcom. Mystical Seed of Courage was supposed to feature Farore, similar to Din’s appearance in Oracle of Seasons, and Nayru’s appearance in Oracle of Ages. This title kept the pre-release prefix of the Triforce Trilogy and is was the only one out of the three titles to do so (the original title of Oracle of Seasons was Mystical Seed of Power and the original title for Oracle of Ages was Mystical Seed of Wisdom). Finally, we know that upon cancellation, the themes of Mystical Seed of Courage were incorporated into Oracle of Ages (i.e. time travel & colours).

Mystical Seed of Courage was eventually scrapped due to problems in the debugging process (specifically, issues with how all three games interacted with one another). It’s a shame that we’ll never get to enjoy the title’s story JUST because it wasn’t able to interact with the other two games in the trilogy.

5. StarCraft: Ghost

It’s pretty obvious that this vaporware was going to end up on this list. In fact, you may be wondering why it isn’t higher. Well, to be honest, I don’t think it was going to be that good. Blizzard may still believe in the IP, but I’m assuming it didn’t meet their quality expectations and was shelved.

Unlike its real-time strategy predecessor StarCraft, Ghost is a third-person shooter, and was intended to give players a closer and more personal view of the StarCraft universe. Following Nova, a Terran psychic espionage agent (somewhat similar to Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake) called a “ghost”, the game is set four years after the conclusion of StarCraft: Brood War and covers a conspiracy about a secretive military project conducted by Nova’s superiors in the imperial Terran Dominion.

Blizzard announced in March 2006 that the game is on “indefinite hold” while the company investigated seventh generation video game console possibilities. Subsequent public statements from company personnel have been contradictory about whether production will be renewed or planned story elements will be worked into other products.

Starcraft: Ghost CGI Trailer

Let’s be honest folks - things are delayed because they need work and Blizzard has very high standards of quality. To the same effect, the game was being developed by an inexperienced studio (Nihilistic Software) and Blizzard themselves had no prior experience in third person shooters. It is completely possible that the game just sucked and Blizzard didn’t want it attached to the Star Craft name.

4. Star Fox 2

The original Star Fox was one of my favorite titles for the Super NES. It was an all new Nintendo IP that featured spaceship combat from a new perspective. Up until the release of Star Fox, all space shooters were from an overhead, 2D angle. Because of the new ‘FX’ technology implemented by in it’s release, Star Fox was able to handle gracefully from a third person 3D perspective. Obviously, I couldn’t get enough at the time and desperately wanted a sequel ASAP.

StarFox 2 was a planned video game for the Super NES. It was to be a part of the Star Fox series and the direct sequel to Star Fox. The game was extensively covered by the various gaming magazines of the time, both at its one E3 appearance as well as in the many screenshots provided by Nintendo to generate interest in the sequel. As you might expect, anticipation was high and many were let down by this title’s shelving.

The game was never released due to the impending release of the Nintendo 64 and the desire to use the most advanced systems available for the game. Sure, Star Fox 64 was great, but it acted as more of a Star Fox remake than it did a sequel. I was left hankering for more (something which we really haven’t received).

Star Fox 2 Game Footage

But fear not; if you’re crafty you still might be able to play Star Fox 2. There is a ROM floating around the internet compiled from the latest known source code before the project was cancelled (this version is nearly complete and contains minor bugs, debug code, and unfinished features such as a rudimentary multiplayer mode). A fan-made patch can be added to this ROM which fixes most of the bugs, removes the debug code and the unfinished features, and translates the game’s dialog into English.

3. Mega Man Legends 3

I’m sure this one still stings for most people. Mega Man Legends 3 (Rockman DASH 3 in Japan) was in development by Capcom for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was announced in July 2010 and it was going to be created with the help of the fans, thanks to the MML3 Developer Room website.

A playable Mega Man Legends 3 prototype was going to be released with the launch of the 3DS eShop download service to let players to test the game and give even more feedback about how to develop it. Interestingly enough, this demo was just a portion of a near completed game. It’s been stated that the game was at about 95% completion when nearing the prototype’s public release (this prototype was in fact played by numerous gaming publications before Capcom passed).

Unfortunately it was felt by the higher ups at Capcom that the Mega Man Legends 3 Project did not meet the required criteria and cancelled the project July 18, 2012. Capcom will never publicly release the Prototype or the full game. Additionally, updates of the Mega Man Legends Developer Room ceased.

Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Trailer

Who knows if this prototype will ever leak. I’d like to think that someday I’ll get to play at least a portion of Mega Man Legends 3, but it looks like Capcom really, really, really doesn’t want me to…even though its basically finished…and critics enjoyed it…and they have nothing else going for them on the 3DS. *sigh*

2. Seiken Densetsu 3

Okay, okay, okay. Technically, this game shouldn’t be on this list because it was released in Japan. I put it on this list (and so high on this list) because it is the one game in the Mana series that I will never be able to play.

Seiken Densetsu 3 is a direct follow up to Secret of Mana (my favorite game of all time). The game features three lengthy main plotlines, six different characters, each with their own storylines, and a wide range of classes to choose from, which provides each character with an exclusive set of skills and status progression. The game also makes use of a time progression system, with transitions from day to night and weekday to weekday in game time, adding to the game’s challenging gameplay. Essentially, this title improves upon Secret of Mana in every conceivable way.

BUT IT WAS NEVER RELEASED OUTSIDE OF JAPAN. :(

I am downright petty when it comes to this game. It kills me that Sqaure didn’t have enough faith in Western audiences to publish this Super NES gem. I keep hoping that this will be released someday for download, but that would require translations and reprogramming - two things square isn’t likely to do without a significant amount of Fan support.

Seiken Densetsu 3 Trailer

There are ROMs floating around out there with English fan translations, but they don’t work particularly well and it isn’t the same on a computer. *sigh*

1. Chrono Break

The one vaporware title that I most want to see the most is also the one game I know the least about. Chrono Break is the name of a trademark registered by Square (now Square Enix) in the United States on December 5, 2001 that was later abandoned. A similar trademark was registered by the company in the European Union on December 14, 2001, while the trademark Chrono Brake was registered in Japan. Although no official announcement was made, the trademark sparked speculation that Square was working on a new game in the Chrono series.

The registration followed a press report of talks about a new Chrono series game. Within this report, Hironobu Sakaguchi mentioned that the team of Chrono Cross, especially Masato Kato, was interested in developing a new game in the series, and that script and story ideas were currently being considered. The project had not been greenlighted.

On November 13, 2003, the trademark was dropped in the U.S. It is set to expire on December 14, 2011 in the European Union, and on July 26, 2012 in Japan. With the team disbanded and a loss of trademarks, we may never see this title (or any other entry in the Chrono series). Sadness.

I’m a big fan of this.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:58 -0400

I’m a big fan of this.

Top 5: Nintendo 3DS Games I'm Looking Forward to Playing

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:59:02 -0400

Announcement: I will be buying a Nintendo 3DS.

I’ve staved off any will to purchase one in the past, but the stars have finally aligned. At this point the handheld is finally financially viable and has a library to support it. It helps that there are some pretty exciting titles on the horizon as well.

With that in mind, I thought it would be neat to make a list of the five games that are spurring my purchase. Some of them are out now and some of them will hopefully be out soon, but all of them have caught my eye.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

This is a bit of a no-brainer. Ocarina of Time is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Legend of Zelda franchise. This epic features a fully three-dimensional sandbox world, innovative combat mechanics, interesting puzzles, strange characters, and the coolest music. NOW WITH 3D EFFECTS AND GYROSCOPIC CONTROLS. To say that I am excited to save Hyrul again is a bit of an understatement.

Why does it rank so low on my Top 5? Well, I’ve played it about 63,201 times already and updated graphics/controls can only get you so far.

4. Luigi’s Mansion 2

I love the original Luigi’s Mansion. Apparently, so did you as this was actually the fifth best selling GameCube title. So why exactly have we had to wait a solid 11 years to see an Italian plumber wet his pants in fear?

Regardless, this cutsie survival horror title will essentially follow the same gameplay model of the original and (again) focus on the adventures of Luigi, who is sent by Professor E. Gadd, through teleportation,to explore varioushaunted mansionsand capture ghosts using the Poltergust 5000. Its release is likely a ways off, but I’m definitely excited.

3. Resident Evil: Revelations

Resident Evil: Revelations returns to the survival horror gameplay of earlier series installments, with returning elements such as a limited supply of ammunition, and more emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving. The game’s camera keeps an over-the-shoulder view from behind the playable character.

How could anyone not like the amalgamation of old survival horror and new gameplay concepts? Revelations looks great and will hopefully expand what happened between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. This will be a day-one purchase.

2. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Anyone who doesn’t like Final Fantasy music deserves to be unfriended from your social network. Whether you actually like the games or not, the series’ music has been consistently spectacular.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a rhythm video game. Players take control of four Final Fantasy characters, and select a Final Fantasy game from the first Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy XIII. Each game has three stages: field, battle, and event. Each stage features different game mechanics than the others; once a stage is completed, the characters level up. This title seems like a sweet mix of traditional Final Fantasy gameplay and the beautiful music that the series is known for.

1. Paper Mario

Admittedly, not many details are known about the first handheld appearance of Mario’s paper iteration, but I’m still pumped as hell for it. Intelligent Systems is returning to design the title and returning the series from the 2D platformer style of Super Paper Mario to its turn-based RPG roots.

When I say that Intelligent Systems are the only people outside of square that can properly handle RPG Mario, I mean it. Some may cry foul and point to the Mario&Luigi titles, but to me, Paper Mario is wear it’s at.

Shameless Mission:Geek plug So I write for this AWESOME...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:58:00 -0400

*Shameless Mission:Geek plug*

So I write for this AWESOME website about everything geeky called Mission:Geek. We have a Facebook page now, but could always use some awesome followers. Please scan the QRcode and ‘Like’ us to receive updates about new posts and see what’s new with the crew.

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-Trent (Punctual Dork)

Ask a Dork: Silent Protagonist

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:56:00 -0400

[Originally posted at nerdsontherocks.com - Check it out]

“Are silent protagonists still relevant in gaming today?”

The simple answer would be “Yes”, but I should probably explain my reasoning.

Silent Protagonists continue to dominate a variety of roles, but not all of them are exactly ‘silent’. Several Silent Protagonist variants populate the gaming landscape today and it’s likely that some of your favorite playable characters are actually the strong, silent type.

The traditional Silent Protagonist archetype is that of the “Mute”. Mutes are characters who are recognized within the game world as people, but do not speak or respond to to NPCs. A prime example of a mute is Vasili from Call of Duty 2’s Soviet campaign. Vasili is addressed on numerous occasions by allies and will make sounds when hurt (indicating that he is not incapable of speech), but is not at all communicative and we are told nothing about the character’s personality or background. While this structure is an effective way to put the player into their shoes (by using them as an avatar), it is also becoming increasingly antiquated and doesn’t quite jive with the story-driven nature of most modern games.

The next archetype builds on that of the Mute. “Developed” Silent Protagonists have full backstory and are capable of speech, but would rather maintain an inner dialogue than insite a conversation. When a game employes this archetype, we are able to see different aspects of who the Developed Silent Protagonist is while the character remains dead-silent. This allows the player to invest their own thoughts and motivations in the protagonist while still acknowledging their identity. Gordon Freeman of Half Life fame is a prime example - we know that he was born in Seattle, Washington, is 27 years old, and is a MIT graduate with a PhD in theoretical physics. He also has a background of good intentions and trying to do the right thing. Gordon never speaks, but his personality isn’t a blank slate like the Mute. This is the archetype most often used by contemporary video games (especially FPS titles).

The final archetype is essentially a developed character who has been edited. “Edited” Silent Protagonists are characters whose actions are assumed by the game’s scripting, in spite of having no lines or dialog options. The character technically speaks and other characters in the world react to player as if they have spoken, but the words are never actually shown or heard. Link from The Legend of Zelda is a prime example of an Edited character. We never hear Link speak, but NPCs all talk to him as though they have had previous conversations with him. Also, most dialogue responses we receive from NPCs sound as though they are a direct response to an obvious question. Almost as though Link is actually talking to people and we just aren’t privy to his words.

Based on these three archetypes and their use in contemporary video games, I would say that the Silent Protagonist is most definitely still relevant. However, I would not say that the Silent Protagonist is the best device to execute an engaging story.

PunctualDork

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