Month: April 2010

In the second installment of the Reader, Nick and Justin tackle the “mystical” world of Japanese game journalism. The 40/40 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker score in Weekly Famitsu recently stirred up controversy, but the guys delve into what that magazine used to stand for. They also shed light on Xbox Live Indie Games through a developer blog on 4 Color Rebellion. Lastly, GameFan is once again sitting in magazine racks across the country, but the guys are still trying to figure out why. (No copy editing makes Justin angry.)

Relevant Links:

Brian Sowers’ “Inside the Indie Game Development Cycle”

Kevin Gifford’s “The Way Cross Reviews Work”

Nintendo Magic – a future Reader selection

Ready, set, pun! This week, the gang switches things up by saving the silly stuff for the end of the episode. Before the breakdown, Nick does a barrel roll in Afterburner Climax, Justin slices up quilted airships in Patchwork Hero and Tony leads the charge in Left 4 Dead 2‘s “The Passing.” Don’t forget to double tap. They also delve into a captivating lineup of Capcom games and discuss the the controversial beginning of Final Fantasy XIII. Plus, PSP bargains, seven wives for somebody and a pinch of “Kick Ass.”

Playing as Sam Fisher, the legendary spy who could put Solid Snake in a sleeper hold, I skulk through the shadows of a heavily guarded airfield; the guards don’t realize that they have me completely surrounded. I’m absolutely meticulous – not a single light bulb is left intact – but I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up my silent assault. One of the guards turns the corner with his flashlight in hand, but I press the B button and knock him out before he becomes trouble. Using my execution move, I pick off two more stragglers in the distance. I’m ruthless, I’m cunning and I’m empowered. This is where Splinter Cell: Conviction shines.

I then trip an alarm, enemies start heckling me repeatedly and the A.I. goes haywire. So much for that.

Fortunately, Splinter Cell: Conviction‘s campaign is usually more hot than cold, but these inconsistencies will drive you mad as you search around the globe for the killer of Sam Fisher’s daughter. The series has always taken pride in its cat-and-mouse dynamic, but in Conviction, Fisher’s increased firepower throws all of that off-balance. Perhaps the guards weren’t all that clever in previous installments, but at least they had weaponry on their side. Now that Fisher can eliminate his adversaries without confidence, its a wonder that they don’t spend the entire game in hiding.

You may have noticed over the past few weeks that Nintendo has been releasing Game & Watch titles for the DSi at 200 points a pop. Then again, maybe you haven’t, since I had to put a temporary kibosh on my Nintendon’t column. Either way, most of the titles are really simple and not worth the points; even the most ardent Nintendo fan would have a hard time finding something to love about Ball or Manhole. The good news is that these throwaway releases bring us one step closer to an inexpensive return of Zelda Game & Watch from eons ago.

I actually used to own one of these when I was a kid (along with Donkey Kong Jr. and Mario Bros.), but my mom accidentally pitched it during some sort of misguided “spring cleaning” frenzy. Considering that the game is now selling for around $200 on eBay, I think it’s safe to say that this was a tragedy. I know for many, LCD games are ancient artifacts from the pre-Game-Boy era, but the Zelda Game & Watch is an exception. Though the game is simpler than even the original NES adventure, it was definitely the deepest and most satisfying experience of its kind.

Chug now and let your voices be heard! This week, the Pack cracks open a bottle of Distortion and talks about recent musings from Roger Ebert. The guys ponder why it matters what the esteemed film critic thinks, and whether or not gamers are presenting themselves in the best light in response. Luckily, Mr. Ebert can’t stop the rest of us from playing games. Justin skulks around in the shadows of Splinter Cell: Conviction, Tom goes to the mayor in Final Fight: Double Impact, Tony’s Eevee factory begins production and Nick gives a shout out to Tilt to Live on the iPhone. Plus, AlphaBounce on the DSi, Rise of the Eldrazi drafting and a podcast-halting shriek.

Relevant Links:

DEWmocracy in Action!

Roger Ebert’s “Video Games Can Never Be Art”

Kellee Santiago’s Followup

If there’s any one takeaway to pull out of Final Fantasy XIII, it’s that it’s an incredibly divisive game. In fact, it’s difficult to discuss or express an opinion on any one aspect of the highly anticipated Japanese epic without almost immediately receiving the opposite viewpoint from someone. To be quite honest, in all of the years I’ve been gaming, I’m very hard-pressed to think of a single title that’s been so loved and hated, appreciated and dismissed, and admired and looked down upon at the same time as FFXIII. It truly is an intimidating task then, to write something concrete about this game, knowing all of the emotion, expectation, hope and disappointment that will be wrapped up in any semblance of a response floated my way. Almost everyone “important” has already had their say, and, at least to a large degree, it seems to be less about how cautiously you word your opinion than what side you ultimately fall down upon. And this, I think, is both the most fulfilling and disappointing aspect of Final Fantasy XIII – its critical reception.

Expectations are sky-high.

Welcome, one and all, to the first installment of our new podcast. This biweekly spin-off will discuss the latest material from all of our favorite gaming blogs, books, magazines…maybe even fan fiction (or not). Many of us here read about games almost as often as we play them, and the Reader will allow us to address interesting topics in a more intimate setting. This show will definitely evolve over the next few weeks, but listener feedback is crucial. We’ll be paying close attention to iTunes reviews and comments, so please let us know what you think!

This week, Justin and Nick delve into a recent article from Leigh Alexander that addresses GDC’s social gaming buzz. Farmville is definitely a phenomenon, but can it possibly take down console gaming? They also delve into the “lost” issue of EGM, supposedly just prior to the digital magazine’s launch. The presentation is pretty slick, but the guys still have a few reservations.

Relevant Links:

Leigh Alexander’s “The News of Console Gaming’s Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated”

EGM’s Lost Issue

WarioWare D.I.Y. is a tricky little game. While past entries were praised for their approachability, the hours of tutorials and dozens of switches in this latest edition can make anyone’s head spin. That’s Tony and Justin are here to help. The guys may not be experts – RumbleTek Inc. has only released 11 hits so far – but they’ll help you get your first few ideas off the ground.

1. Don’t be afraid of the music editor – Unless you’re already a composer, I think everyone’s first instinct will be to click on the little maestro in the corner and let him handle all of the tunes. It’s a cool a feature that is still plenty customizable, so I’m glad it’s there. Even so, give yourself a little credit! You’re not tone deaf, and you only need to come up with four to eight seconds worth of music. Experiment a little – move notes around, learn how to stack notes to make chords and try all of the different instruments. As someone who has used both methods, I can tell you that manual composition is much more satisfying than automatic. Also, the maestro is never going to be able to reproduce Super Mario Land music or the Don’t Wake Daddy jingle.

Snap-snap-snap! It’s time to get served by the Pack! This week, Nick plans his Desperate Escape from hundreds of Resident Evil 5 zombies in the latest DLC, Tony and Kaz continue their League of Legends lovefest, humble Tom unloads some more WarioWare D.I.Y. microgames and Justin unsheathes his beam katana in No More Heroes 2. Plus, the latest news in the Activision/EA/Infinity Ward saga and our takes on the Pokémon Black and White debut.

Congratulations to board member fresh02_88 for winning our Toy Soldiers giveaway! Private message us to claim your prize.

Relevant Links:

“The Pokémon Effect” by Awkward Zombie