Archive for November, 2009

Blog Roundup: November ’09

By
Justin
 – November 30, 2009Posted in: Blogs, Main

It looks like we’ve survived the November onslaught long enough to do some blogging on the side. As always, this month was a big month for big games, but Nick, Kaz and Justin kept their eyes on the more niche releases and the handheld scene. (Editor’s Note: Kaz would probably get mad at me for categorizing Forza 3 as niche.) After you’re done with your modern warfare, you should look back to our blogs to see what you may have missed.

We should also mention that we’re going to be handling our blogs a little differently in the future. We’ll keep the personal stuff relegated to our own individual pages, but if we think want we have to say pertains to gaming our or podcast, we’ll post it on the main page too. We’re hoping this will bring a steadier flow of content, but let us know what you think in the meantime.

Here’s what’s noteworthy right now:

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Review

By
Justin
 – November 29, 2009Posted in: Justin, Main, Review

There’s been a lot of taking turns and character swapping with the Super Mario Bros. games over the years, but it seems strange that a series about two brothers has never really put them on the same screen before. In other genres, the name Mario is synonymous with multiplayer thrills, but in the official platforming games, Luigi, Toad and anyone else in the headlining plumber’s crew are usually sidelined. But with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Miyamoto decided that this year’s big innovation would be four-player support, ushering in a fresh, chaotic, friendship-ending brand of fun to the beloved series.

 

This is not to say that the game fails to offer a compelling solitary experience. While playing alone can’t offer anything as thrilling as tossing your buddy into a swarm of enemies or using him as a go-go-Gadget personal helicopter, you’ll still appreciate the impeccable level design and nostalgic enemy roster. But NSMBW is most successful when it forces players to figure out a means to proceed forward together, even as they constantly push each other off into bottomless pits. Intentional or otherwise.

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Episode 114: Everybody Loves Rufus

By
ThePack
 – November 25, 2009Posted in: Main, Podcasts

It’s time to play big or go home. This week, the guys interview Ian Cofino, the creator of recent fighting tourney documentary “I Got Next.” The first-time director talks about gamer bonding, Street Fighter IV longevity, the dwindling arcade scene and what to expect from the final cut when it’s released next spring. Bookending the interview is a surreal sojourn through Sour Patch Fields, and even more blockbuster gaming. Tom and Kaz turn off the party chat in Modern Warfare 2 long enough to make some new friends, Tony hunts down his zombie grandma in Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ, Nick hosts a D.C. Mario marathon and Justin endorses another inscrutable Bit.Trip game. So put your quarters on the cabinet and get in line – we’re ready to take on all challengers.

Relevant Links:

“I Got Next” Official Web Site

2009 Blip Festival

American Diabetes Association

Episode 114: Everybody Loves Rufus [ 1:40:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (356)

Game Night: Modern Warfare 2

By
Justin
 – November 23, 2009Posted in: Game Night, Main

Who: Everyone (minus travelin’ Nick)

When: 9 p.m. EST, November 25th

What: Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer

Where: Xbox Live

Why: Because we’ll all be falling asleep if we attempt post-turkey gaming.

RSVP here

Not Quite a Phinal Phantasy – Part 1

By
Nicolo
 – November 22, 2009Posted in: Blogs, Main, Nicolo

My good friends and listeners to the show will know that I have a soft-spot in my heart for the Phantasy Star series. As a Japanese-friendly gamer who owned a Genesis long before a SNES, it’s not hard to see how Sega’s flagship RPG series has made a favorable impression on me over the years. Of particular note were Sega’s first internet-capable (or should I say internet-primed) entries, Phantasy Star Online, and Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II.

phantasy_star_online.PNG               pso-1-2.jpg

Truly phantastic games.

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Excitebike: World Rally Review

By
Justin
 – November 18, 2009Posted in: Justin, Main, Review

(originally published at Smile Politely, 11/25)

Since its debut last spring, Nintendo’s WiiWare service has scored a number of well-received hits: World of Goo, BIT.TRIP BEAT, Swords & Soldiers and a handful of others. But you may notice that the one thing missing from that brief list is Nintendo’s own lineup of beloved mascots. World of Goo’s bulgy-eyed globules are not without their charm, but they’re not going to move software like Mario or Donkey Kong can. This has been a deliberate decision, as the company higher-ups are trying to promote independent developers, whose games probably wouldn’t stand a chance against the plumber and company. That’s why it came as such a surprise last week when Excitebike: World Rally showed up.

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Episode 113: Persistence

By
ThePack
 – November 17, 2009Posted in: Main, Podcasts

The Pack weathered all sorts of hardships this week – fire alarms, disturbing Skype chats, shoddy wi-fi connections – but they’ll stop at nothing to make sure you get your weekly Rumble fix. If you’re trying to escape the Modern Warfare 2 media blitz, you’re probably listening to the wrong show, but at least Kaz, Tony and Tom offer some interesting insights on the campaign and the phoned-in “controversy” surrounding it. Nick gets nostalgic with Phantasy Star Ø, but warns of better things to come, while Justin recommend Artstyle: Whateveritscalled*, a game that combines the thrills of curling with the thoughtful strategies of a crossing guard. We’ve got all that, plus The Ballad of Gay Tony, Dragon Age Origins and early New Super Mario Bros. Wii impressions.

*Make that Artstyle: DIGIDRIVE.

Episode 113: Persistance [ 1:19:40 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (311)

One Year Later…

By
Justin
 – November 16, 2009Posted in: Features, Main

Welcome all to our biggest feature yet. While not all of us here at the Rumble Pack are huge platforming nuts, all of us can appreciate the talent and joy that goes into an excellent user-made LittleBigPlanet level. So to celebrate one year of Popits, Paintinators and pulling our friends into bottomless pits, we’ve compiled an LBP blowout. Follow the links below for…

Building Upon a Solid Foundation: An opinion piece from Justin on why the game still matters and how to build sales momentum in year two.

Our Own Favorite Levels: We promise you won’t see any of the usual genre cliches here.

An Interview with Joe O’Rourke (LiBiPl.net): Joe talks about the loyal LBP community and why the game’s groundbreaking level design tools have captured its imagination.

And as always, let us know about your favorite levels, multiplayer moments, costumes or whatever else is on your mind on our message boards! The game’s all about sharing, after all.

The Juri’s Still Out

By
Justin
 – November 11, 2009Posted in: Blogs, Justin, Main

We’ve been talking a lot about the “cult of the new” on the podcast and message boards lately, and I’m admittedly more susceptible to this phenomenon than anyone else on the ‘cast. But for all of my idiotic impulses buying, I still find myself routinely going back to Street Fighter IV. I’m not going to pretend that I even know what I’m talking about when we have Nicolo over here pouring over minutiae from the latest King of Fighters, but I do like to unwind with some hundred-hand slaps every now and then. While my much beloved Street Fighter III‘s series always confounded with its split-second parries, the countering in IV strikes the perfect newbie-friendly balance, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the core World Warriors introduced so many years ago.


my reaction to the SSFIV announcement

So when Super Street Fighter IV was announced in late September, I was a little hesitant to jump on board. It’s true that eight new fighters is practically two sequels worth for a game in this genre, and now that Dee Jay and T. Hawk have been checked off the list, we’re all but assured at least one or two of my Alpha and III favorites. Supposedly, online improvements are on the way too, thank goodness. But shouldn’t this all be DLC? (Yes!)

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Episode 112: One Game Save Short of Heaven

By
ThePack
 – November 10, 2009Posted in: Main, Podcasts

Marco…Polo! This week, the entire gang dives headfirst into Uncharted 2‘s thrilling conclusion, taking cranky ol’ Lazarević down with them. After that, Justin delivers vague but ominous predictions of a brewing Modern Warfare 2 controversy. Tom steps into the Dragon Age: Origins for some Tolkien-esque questing, Nick’s got some Persona in his pocket, and Kaz craves for more hand-drawn Wii efforts. Plus, a Tony Gauntlet 33 episodes in the making and “live” Twitter feedback.

*For those of you who haven’t solved the mysteries of Shambhala, be sure to skip to 19:52 for a spoiler-free cast!

Episode 112: One Game Save Short of Heaven [ 1:22:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (268)
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