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SNK vs. Capcom 2 = C+
02.19.05 (4:55 pm)   [edit]
For an error free version of this post, go to pathofdeath.blogspot.com

========================= =


Well, there's a few good things, and a number of bad things. But it's a decent game if you like fighters. However, I only played the PS2 version. reasons explained later.


This is a pretty straight forward review, so here it goes:

Good: wealth of characters. very deep set-up strategies, 6 different grooves (super meter systems), custom color maker.

Bad: ammount of not-solid characters (especially from the SNK side), bigness is very intimidating to newbies, single player mode.

More on the single player mode: it's pretty much pointless. Thing is that they have a super-over-powered boss (Akuma or Rugal on steroids). Problem is that this uber boss usually attacks you at the end of a normal bout of play. i.e. first time I played the single player arcade I breezed through the fighters that were about a 3 of difficulty from 1 to 10, then I come accross the boss that's like a 15. I mean, if you're going to have a rediculously overpowered boss of that magnitude, by all means do so; just do it as an uber unlockable and not as the normal boss of the game. So, after playing the boss for a half-hour just to up my own degree of skill to adjust to this hoser I beat him. The reward sucks: 90 second noncharacter specific ending, with 4-5 lines of text for your chosen characters. Apparently there's a better reward (unlockable modes) after you do it a couple times, but there's no reason to want to do it for the character endings.

I probably would have given it a better score had I played it on XBox, there's online play there. And multiplayer is really the main redeeming value on this game.
 
Resident Evil 4 = VERY YES
02.13.05 (9:33 pm)   [edit]
if you want to see this page without publishing errors, go to pathofdeath.blogspot.com

===========



Well, I rented Resident Evil 4 a couple weeks ago. Logged in about 7 hours. And, here's my verdict:

Resident Evil 4 = VERY YES. (which means game of the year material)

The short of it is that they fixed the minor-moderate grieviences of the previous games, as well as completely maxing out on a few of the specific production values. To make things easier, I'll just run it down by category.


Dialogue: This is my biggest complaint about the earlier games in the series. The dialogue sounded like it came out of a B-movie. (mind you, I love Evil , but it doesn't scare me in the least bit since I'm laughing AT the dialogue.) The dialogue in RE4 is really natural and it's free for the most part from tired cliches. On a side comment, I did question Leon's intelligence a couple of times when he pointed out something that was painfully obvious for the sake of the game play; but that doesn't even really constitute a complaint.

Controls: This is a marked improvement. The controls are still the same, but it makes more intuitive sense now that the camera is behind the player. With the worlds being fully 3d (and remarkably rendered at that) it also works very well to draw you deeper into the game.

Music: YES! There is music this time around! And it's very appropriate scary type music at that! The music is very good at getting your adreniline pumping in the classic horror sense.

Animation: This really wasn't too much of a gripe aforehand, but they really topped themselves with this. For one the body movement animation is VERY natural and believable. But the other big thing is that the facial animation expression stuff is top notch. I mean, Leon's facial character isn't locked to a certain set of expressions, it's flexible to the point where the character can smile, grimace, scream, and pretty much do anything (which is EXTREMELY rare in video games, let alone computer animation in general).

Voice Work: On par with the dialogue. There really isn't any stinkers in the cast.

Story: As you're probably aware, the first villian you run across is a not zombie. The story (from what I saw) is pretty fresh and original for the genre. Good stuff.

AI : Very impressive. The enemies attack in swarms and attack in team tactics, meaning that if your back isn't up against the wall in the end of the ally the enemies will come from behind to beat the crap out of you.

Gameplay: Just a couple miscelaneous notes. One is that the villains will drop supplies for you when you kill them (which is very nice given the sheer number of them). The other thing is that there's a store in the form of a psychotic stranger with a pirate accent. The guy is one of my favorite characters. Anyways, it's cool.
 
New blog site.
02.04.05 (9:32 pm)   [edit]
well, tblog now sucks.

It's screwed up my past two posts.

It's deleted words at random.

Now I leave.

Here is my new blog.

Follow me, to a better place.

http://pathofdeath.blogspot.com" title="http://pathofdeath.blogspot.com" target="_blank"http://pathofdeath.blogspot.c...
 
Court Reform
02.04.05 (9:16 pm)   [edit]
I know I've said that I'd keep politics out of the picture. But I figured that this one shouldn't escape my sniper scope:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6914824/?GT1=6190" title="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6914824/?GT1=6190" target="_blank"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6...

Bassically, 2 teenage s decided that rather than go to a party where there would be swearing and drinking they would bake cookies for the neighbors and drop them off as surprises.

One woman saw the two s stop by her front porch in secret shadows. She panicked, called the police, went to her sisters house, and went to the hospital the next day.

She then sued to the teenage s for damages equaling about $900.

She won.

Despite evidence in the form of thank you letters recieved from other neighbors that the two s were ly dropping off cookies just to be nice the panicky old woman won.

Let me repeat:

A lawyer and a panicky woman were able to convince a jury of 12 people that 2 teenage s should pay $900 for unwittingly and ly creating a false panick by delivering cookies to the front doorsteps of their neighbors so that they wouldn't be at a party where there was swearing and drinking involved.

And yes, I know people like that exist because my whole community is chuck full of them. I live in a religious community, and people like to do good deeds to each other every now and again. It's a nice thing to do.

Why do I point this as a prime example of the need for court reform?

Bassically, people have forgotten that accidents happen. There's this insane crazed mentality that if something goes wrong SOMEONE is to blame that isn't them.

Listen hard enough and you'll hear of all sorts of these types of trials happening. Another painfully obvious example is all the warning labels you find EVERYWHERE. You've probably heard some in those humorous chain letters, but here's a couple more (taken from another MSN news article):

Digital Thermometer: Once used rectally, the thermometer should not be used orally

Children's Scooter: This product moves when used

Toilet Brush: Do not use for personal hygiene


To me, these warning just kind of point out the painfully obvious. And, chances are they are the result of lawsuits. Honestly, what kind of idiot tries puts a thermometer up his ass, and then into his mouth, and expects that nothing will go wrong?

Closing point:

What a great country we live in, where you can win a law suit against a medical supplier company because you claimed that it was their fault you got fecal poisoning for not informing you that sticking a thermometer up your ass and then into your mouth could result in very serious illness! Why, with a legal system as just as this there's no reason in the world to change it! It's simply amazing!

In fact, I think I'm going to look for something that doesn't have a warning, maim myself with it, then retire off the impending law suit right now! I'll be sure to get the money if I get a good enough lawyer and I act the right way in the court room.

See ya later!
 
Star Fox Assault = A
02.03.05 (7:08 pm)   [edit]
Like I said, star Fox reviewed.

Bassically, gameplay wise, it's about as much as you can expect from the series (which is a good thing). One interesting note is that on the single player missions, there's a lot less of the original on-rails flyer levels and more of the arena style maps. One big reason for this is the emphasis on the different player modes.

Foot soldier action can be configured to a classic FPS configuration (move with the left stick, aim with the c-stick, shoot with the R Trigger). And, surprisingly enough this actually works out pretty good. Looking at it, I'm kinda surprised at how fun those levels actually are.

Anyways, there's been a big change in the landmaster from the 64 version; namely it isn't always stick in drive. Given the full control, it makes the handling a bit interesting. Still, it works pretty good. (although, in this category I'd give an advatage to Halo's Scorpian tank for handling.)

And, of course, the Arwing still kicks ass.

And sorry for fans of the submarines, TOO BAD! No sub for you.



Anyways, the rest of the production values are pretty darn high up there. The only complaints are that of nit-picking preferences (not much of a fan of the slightly sleepy orchesteral music as opposed to the jumpy arcade music from the original). But it's still very above average. (and it kicks the living out of GTA San Andreas, so switching the games that way was a pleasant experience for me).


So ... yeah.


One thing was that I was unable to review the multiplayer aspect of the game. Turns out I got a very cold that I didn't feel like passing on to everyone else I knew. You'll have to find that one out for yourself.


So yeah, it's a good game. At the very least it's worth a rent.
 
Metroid Fusion = Very Yes.
02.02.05 (1:52 pm)   [edit]

It's a late review, I know.  But I rate them when I get the chance to.  (tomorrow I'll be posting one for Star Fox Assault a FULL WEEK before it gets released, and it's a pretty good game).


Anyhoo ... finally got my hands on Metroid Fusion.


It's a kick ass game.  ^^ that's about the extent of what needs to be said.


Anyhoo ... Metroid Fusion continues on the path of Super Metroid and delivers with an awesome impact.  Tight controls, and very good puzzle exploration business that's come to be expected of the series.


well, I'm sick at the moment, and tired.  so I'm not going to go into detail.  Besides, given the platform it delivers really very well.


One thing for Metroid fans that you won't be dissappointed on.  There is a TON of items to collect.  I thought I did pretty well the first time I beat it.  I had gathered some 30 missile packs, 8 health tanks, and 8 power bomb packs.  The collection status at the end gave me a 47%.  Incentive to play it again!


Yeah, the game play will probably last you about 6 hours the first time through, but with how fun it is, you'll probably want to play again.


Go buy it, and get the bonuses from Metroid Prime.
 
GTA again.
02.02.05 (12:33 am)   [edit]

Normally I'm not going to do this.  But i felt like doing it today.


Earlier I wrote a scathing review on GTA San Andreas.  I know it's not actually proper ettiquite for a reviewer to be dishing out negative criticism since it creates a division between elitists and newbs (as the groups usually end up calling themselves).  But, I felt it ok since Rockstar games probably isn't concerned about what a lone blogger has to say.  (how the hell Seanbaby keeps up his hilarious "Rest of the Crap" in EGM is beyond me).


Anyways, a fan of the GTA series obviously wasn't too thrilled that I had anything bad to say about it.  So he (I'm assuming he's a he) wrote me a "nasty" reply.  I posted both his reply and mine afterwards.


Again, I'm not a mean spirited guy.  It's just that I don't take insults very seriously when I'm trying to read past the gramatical errors to see what it is you're saying to me.  In other words, stupid people really get under my skin.  (which makes me wonder why the hell I'm intentionally going into the comics industry where I have the potential of being pestered by fan boys.)


 







» MavericK [outside user]

i dont care what you say, u can have your opinion if you wish, but its alot of crap, u say about swearing.. its 18+ if u dont like it.. but play it, the graphics are because of the 5 year old graphic card in the ps2, get the slimline version for better graphics.. and u dont understand the way of the gangster, dont understand it, laugh at it and learn how the back street americans do things, jesus the mafia in GT3 was pretty ing stupid, but no one complained. static pops.. no static pops, your high or something, and the controls, what do u expect from third person shooter, there has never been a good third person shooter.. first person is the best and only..
just stop complaining and give them credit for trying to squeese the best they could of of the old ps2
if this came out for the ps3, you would not complain

Send newbie a private messageView newbie's ProfileReply to newbie

» butcher [outside user]

hmmmm ....

perhaps you're a bit touchy.

Or, judging by the fact that you didn't use the return key to organize your thoughts you were so mad that I contradicted you by knocking an item of the GTA series that you wanted to razz me bad and make me feel about about having done so.

Another possibility is that you're not that mature/intelligent since you used VERY LITTLE punctuation or capital letters. And you also used lazy typing practices like "u".

Or, youment well but just weren't that organized when you wrote this and were tired.



Regardless, I'll reiterate my points just to make sure you know my views:


I made the review after playing a number of other titles on the PS2. I will refer to these other titles in the re-explaination.


Swearing: ok, so I mocked it. Big whoop. The main reason I mentioned it was that I'm sure most people aren't used to hearing vid games drop the F-bomb. (and it's not like I have a high-horse to get on, Ladykillers was one of my fav movies last year).  I just don't view swearing vid game characters as something to be proud about.  To me it's just a logical step that was going to happen.


graphics: yeah, the PS2 has a 5 year old card on it. But, you apparently didn't read my specifications on how the graphics sucked.

Here is ONE of the points again.

Heavily pixelated textures. I mean REDICULOUSLY pixelated textures. (that means the images painted on the game s have big square blocks of color on them).

If you want good examples of games whose textures AREN'T pixelated, where's a handful: DOA2 (one of the first games on the system), Time Splitters, LOTR the Two Towers, SSX3, Rachet and Clank, XIII, FIFA 2001 MLS, Kindom Hearts, Maximo 1 and 2, Escape from Monkey Island, Simpsons Road Rage, Castlevania: Lamment of Innocence, just to name a bare handful.

None of those have the un-antialiased crap for textures that occur in this game. Like I said, the portrait of CJ's mom was an impressive 8x12 pixels wide.  (to give you reference, this is lower picture quality as the hidden bonus pictures of Mario and the gang that you can see in Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the Hyrule Castle courtyard scene.  That was on the 64.) Again, comparing to Rachet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal (because comparing games that came out at a similar time is the best way to tell how well a game should be), there's a funeral scene in which they have a picture sitting out of the recently deceased.  That was a fairly high quality picture, and had the same screen time as did CJ's mom.  painful.


The gangster life: I just want to reiterate that I didn't mean to knock it. I just don't relate.  Similar  idea would be if they made a GTA game set in the midwest backed with a country soundtrack (implausible, but it gets the point accross), I'd have the same level of apathy towards the style of the thing.  Again, the reason I brought that up was to emphasize the point that I was looking at the game for what it was without the style.

And if you didn't notice, I did give it a 300% style bonus. I said they did the style well. It doesn't float my boat, but they did do the style well, and it helped the end score what little it could.



"static pops.. no static pops, your high or something":

what did you just say?

ok, I'm assuming you're trying to debase the fact that I ripped on the sound. If you want good examples of sound, PLAY ANY OTHER F***IN' GAME! Good grief! Rachet and Clank has some of the coolest gun noises I've heard.  The Time Splitters series has very realistic gun shot noises as well.  Even Goldeneye from the 64 had better sound quality than this game.

But I honestly couldn't tell what the crap those gunshots were supposed to be the first time I heard them. I mean, Contra from the original NES had better gunshot noises. When you heard those noises, you knew it was a gun shot. When I heard the static eminating from my Big Screen, I thought that there was a glitch. Then I saw the person firing the gun. It just wasn't good quality!

that and "your high" is a possesive phrase meaning a high that I own. I believe that the correct phrase you were looking for would be "you're high" which includes a contraction of the words "you" and "are."



controls: you made mention that "there has never been a good third person shooter."

I am going to assume you have never played the following games (which came out before GTA San Andreas): Rachet and Clank 1, Rachet and Clank 2, 007 Everything or Nothing, Oni, Jak and Daxter 2. All of these games contained at least a segment of 3rd person shooter in them. And all of these games were fairly good at giving you a good ammount of control over the character. (the Rachet and Clank series, again, is by far the best 3rd person shooter game I've played, including in terms of being able to control what you're doing).


Also, about your comment that "first person is the best and only.. "  Turok 1 provides a prime example of what isn't a good idea to include in a FPS, heavy platform jumping.  They have a number of tight-rope style log walking to do, plus an inordinate ammount of platform jumps that have to be made.  1st person is about the worst perspective to have in these scenarios since it's very difficult to get a feel for where you are in relation to the edge of the cliff.



I say it has sucky controls because the character on screen is sluggish to respond to your inputs.

I also say that it has sucky controls because it hasn't improved in the least bit since GTA3. (sure, they added more things too control, but they didn't improve on how you control the things you alread do, aside from the targeting system, which is passable at minimum.)

Drving controls would be a good example. the cars handle in just about the exact same way that they did back in GTA3, somewhat sluggish (including the sports car that I stole). They've been at it for how many years now? and the controls of how the vehicles work still act the same way? Where would the Gran Turismo series be if that was their motto: "functional controls need not be improved upon." Right, they wouldn't have continued to impress us with the most realistic feel to driving a car that's out on the market.

I'm not expecting car control like GT, but I am expecting SOMETHING better than GTA3.


Trust me, if this game came out on the PS3, looking as ty as a high-frame rate PS1 game, I wouldn't complaining. I'd be hunting down the developers for wasting my time.
 
I'm on Xbox live now
02.01.05 (12:12 am)   [edit]

well, if you want to play me at Halo2 on Xbox live, here's my user id:


Thinkbomb


Just be sure to tell me you got my name from the blog so I don't wierd out on you when you act buddy buddy.