December 2010

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom

December 13, 2010

Reviews / Xbox 360 / by Shawn Vermette Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, despite its premise of a kingdom drowning in a literal darkness, feels somewhat lighthearted and bright when you play and listen to it. It’s a shame, then, that the simplistic combat and inordinate amount of backtracking drags down what would otherwise be yet another overlooked gem by Namco Bandai.

The beginning of the game starts off well enough as, aside from some questionable voice acting, you’re given the backdrop to the story: someone built a kingdom a long time ago with the help of a majin, or a strong non-human being, and a century ago it was overrun by a physical darkness of some kind. You are Tepeu, a thief who can speak to animals, and you are attempting to find the majin so that he can help you beat back the darkness and restore the forests and kingdom to their former glory. The story is told very nicely, with artistic cutscenes and the best voiceovers in the game. 

There are two attacks you can do, and you can also dodge enemy attacks. One of the two attacks is a combination attack with the majin, but it can only be done on critically-damaged enemies, so it won’t happen very often. The majority of the combat will be done by the majin, as your standard attack will do very little damage to the enemies. Due to this, nearly every fight other than boss fights will follow the same formula. First, allow the majin to knock down the enemy. Second, wail on the downed enemy with your standard attack until given the sign for your combination attack. Finally, use the combination attack on the downed and nearly dead enemy. Rinse and repeat. Boss battles, though, are a refreshing change of pace, as they require you to use the various elemental powers that the majin will learn in order to beat them.

As you progress through the game, the majin will learn four elemental powers: wind, lightning, fire, and crystallization. Most of the time, these powers are only used to help you through the various puzzles put in your path rather than helping to diversify the combat. The large amount of backtracking you’ll have to do to progress through the game doesn’t help things. Every time a new area opens up for you to play in, it seems as though it is on the exact opposite side of the world from where you currently are.

Visually, Majin is somewhat impressive. It has bright environments, though none of it is particularly breathtaking. As for the sound, the voiceovers during the cutscenes are well done, but the rest of the voice actors sound as though they were budget hires.

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom’s promising story and an attractive world ultimately aren’t enough to overcome the mind-numbing combat that gets you through it. There are moments worth experiencing, though. 

Pros: Bright, cheery world; Story has promise

Cons: Simplistic combat; Too much backtracking

 

Battlestar Commander

December 13, 2010

iPad / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

It’s hard to balance real-time gameplay and a turn-based structure. Lately it’s been a trend to try a little more often, and on a system like the iPad, that makes sense. After all, you can’t have a two-player full-screen action game without some serious physical injuries. So how does Battlestar Commander‘s approach fare?

More on that later. Bulkypix’s Battlestar Commander is a game where you control a large spaceship with turrets and launchpads and either fight another ship or take on various missions. On each turn, you have a few seconds to flick your ships over to targets or tap turrets to send out shots, and then your opponent gets the same opportunity. 

Battlestar is visually impressive. It runs on a 3D engine, and it’s obviously trying to impress with various little flourishes when ships move and turrets fire. It’s a bit hard to appreciate when you’re moving fingers around everywhere, but it makes waiting through computer opponents’ turns a little more pleasant. The sounds are fairly standard, but no news is good news on a system that supports playing your own music. Or it would be if the game supported the feature, but we’re hoping Bulkypix adds that in a future update. 

The game has an extensive single-player campaign with different missions. Most involve destroying certain targets or taking people out completely. You manage a persistent ship, making repairs and buying upgrades as the missions progress. 

This is an entertaining diversion, but the concept of a turn-based real-time game is clearly designed for two players, and the competition is an intriguing one. It mostly falls flat, though, as the time between moves makes it clear what actions to take. Put simply, leaving things unfinished puts you at a serious disadvantage, so each turn is a matter of rushing in and completely taking out one or two targets. This is where a strategy game designed as an action title falters a little bit.

Ultimately, though, Battlestar Commander is interesting for an hour or two, and it could hold some people for longer. And that’s all you need for a successful game on the platform.

 

Snackbar Speculator: Wintry mix

December 12, 2010

Features / Speculator / by Shawn Vermette Make a comment! / Tweet it!

This week we cover a number of overdue and just revealed rumor confirmations, celebrate a new leader, and get into the season with a number of Blizzard rumors. 

Current score

Andrew Passafiume: +280

Graham Russell: +290

Eric Schabel: +65

Shawn Vermette: +195

 

Results

Scribblenauts 2 drawing on Wii, DS, PC

A little late on the declaration, Super Scribblenauts ended up being a DS exclusive, an event that Wii and PC users may lament, given the strong reception it has received.

Andrew 75% = -25

Graham 65% = -15

Shawn 90% = -40

RedOctane closed by Activision

As rumored, Activision has indeed closed RedOctane. Though, given the fact that the reason to obtain RedOctane in the first place was the Guitar Hero franchise, it is not expected that this will have much of an effect on gamers.

Andrew 10% = -40

Graham 97% = +47

Shawn 80% = +30

Gears of War 3 to be released in April 2011

Gears of War 3 was originally scheduled to be released in April 2011, however it has since been delayed to the holiday season of 2011.

Andrew 90% = -90

Graham 50% = 0

Shawn 90% = -90

F.E.A.R. 3 to be released in 2010

Despite the original statements by Warner Bros, F.E.A.R. 3 will not be releasing in 2010. Instead it has been delayed until March 22, 2011. This marks our second reversal on a previously declared rumor.

Andrew 40% = +20

Graham 50% = 0

Shawn 30% = +40

Next Assassin’s Creed game to take place in Egypt

As anyone who has played Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood can attest to, it is a full-fledged Assassin’s Creed game, not just a stand-alone multiplayer pack. Thus, its presence in Italy causes this rumor to be confirmed false, somehwat sadly.

Andrew 65% = -15

Graham 90% = -40

Shawn 85% = -35

Eric 80% = -30

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair to add two new playable characters

While it has not been released yet, Konami did specify that there will be some DLC released at a later date that will include not two, but three new playable characters for Castlevania: Harmony of Despair: Julius Belmont and Maria Renard, as rumored, but also Yoko Belnades.

Andrew 95% = +45

Graham 90% = +40

Shawn 85% = +35

Eric 80% = +30

Mass Effect to be ported to PlayStation 3

When Mass Effect 2 releases next year on the PlayStation 3, it will do so with the aid of an interactive comic to tell the story of the Mass Effect. While this is a cool feature, it is also confirmation that the original will not be making the jump over to the PS3.

Andrew 10% = +40

Graham 15% = +35

Shawn 25% = +25

WiiHD coming in 2010

Something that all of us expected, except for Michael Pachter, 2010 has come and gone without the release of a ‘WiiHD’. At this point, it’s highly unlikely that one is, or ever was, in the works.

Andrew 50% = 0

Graham 5% = +45

Shawn 25% = +25

Max Payne 3 to be delayed due to internal studio strife

Max Payne 3 was delayed yet again, from its 2010 release date until, currently, Q3 2011. Though no reason is known for sure, such a lengthy delay could have major consequences for Rockstar.

Andrew 50% = 0

Graham 50% = 0

Shawn 35% = -15

Saints Row 3 to be released in 2010

THQ’s flagship franchise, Saint’s Row, will not be making an appearance in 2010, though Saints Row 3 is scheduled to finally be released in Q3 2011. News did come out this year that another Saints Row title will be released for the 3DS as well next year.

Andrew 65% = -15

Graham 1% = +49

Shawn 40% = +10

Next Tomb Raider to be an open world reboot of the series

Square Enix announced last week that the next Tomb Raider would indeed be an open world reboot. Featuring what appears to be a teenage Lara Croft, it will chronicle her first adventure and will presumably have a heavy emphasis on exploration.

Andrew 70% = +20

Graham 70% = +20

Shawn 75% = +25

 

Next Starcraft II episode to release in 2011

After an agonizingly long wait for Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, it sounds as if Blizzard doesn’t plan on keeping us all in suspense as long for our next Starcraft fix. According to a supposedly leaked Blizzard release calendar, the next installment in Starcraft II, Heart of the Swarm, is scheduled to come out during the 2011 holiday season. However, Blizzard’s project director said the next Starcraft II installment was 18 months away in October, which would make it an April 2012 release. So is this release calendar the real deal? Or is it a clever fake?

Andrew: I really don’t see why Blizzard wouldn’t want to get out the next game next year. I’m sure they have more done on the following two games than they are willing to show at this point. But knowing Blizzard, they could probably get away with not releasing it until 2012, so it’s hard to say. 50%


Graham: I thought the point of episodic content was getting new gameplay to consumers in a timely fashion. It seems Valve and Blizzard have different definitions than the rest of us. Especially considering it’s simply another campaign, I don’t know why it would take long at all.  60%


Shawn: I’d almost be surprised if we didn’t see Heart of the Swarm in 2011. That’d be 18 months after Wings of Liberty was released, especially since the tech is all done, all they need to do is basically build a new single player campaign. And I doubt Blizzard wants to go all of 2011 without a Starcraft II episode. 80%


Diablo III to release in 2011

Blizzard has been leaking Diablo III news to us for over a year now, but has never hinted to us about a release date. However, due to the supposed leak of Blizzard’s release calendar, Diablo III is actually set to release the same time as Heart of the Swarm, next holiday season. With no previous timetable given to compare it to, we are left wondering just one thing: Could we really be just one year away from killing Diablo again?

Andrew: I think Blizzard will wait to release Diablo III when the time is right. People will buy it regardless, but I’m sure they want to find the perfect opportunity to get it out to as many people as possible. I think they might try to get their Starcraft II games out of the way first. A lot of people believe we won’t actually see it out until 2012, and I’m very much inclined to believe this. 30%

Graham: Blizzard puts out games when it’s good and ready. Which is nice for the quality and all, but entirely nerve-wracking to the gaming public. Even though anyone else would, they won’t release a Starcraft II pack and Diablo in the same year. Seriously, guys, just give us the game already. (They’re not listening to me, though.) 30%

Shawn: I really hope this happens. I need my Diablo fix. I’m just worried that my computer won’t be able to run it. However, I also don’t believe that Blizzard would release it at the same time as a Starcraft episode. Considering that, and the already crowded holiday season for 2011, I’ve got to say I believe we won’t see it until sometime in 2012. 30%

Blizzard to announce a 4th expansion to World of Warcraft

Blizzard’s cash cow is, without a doubt, World of Warcraft. And what leaked release calendar from Blizzard would be complete without a World of Warcraft entry on it? Sure enough, this release calendar lists an unnamed fourth expansion to the World of Warcraft universe being released in Q2 2012. It seems like it’s a little early to predict something that far out, but we’ll be more certain once it is either announced, or the Diablo III/Starcraft II dates are confirmed/denied. For now, we can only predict away!

Andrew: World of Warcraft makes Blizzard and Activision a lot of money. Cataclysm was the biggest launch of any of their expansions. It’s kind of a no-brainer that they would want to continue putting out content for World of Warcraft, and a new expansion is the thing that makes the most sense. 95%


Graham: Of course there’s going to be another WoW expansion. Blizzard’s not incredibly stupid. There’s this pang of doubt in my mind, but it only comes from the faint possibility that Blizzard may want to completely upgrade the system and pull a World of Warcraft 2 on us. But that’s a very, very slim chance since they can just upgrade WoW. And now I’ll put a percentage that will drive Shawn crazy.  99.863%

Shawn: The only reason I can think of for this to be false, is for either World War 3 happens first, or Blizzard’s new MMO comes out and completely decimates WoW’s population. Since I find both of those events unlikely, I’ve got to say this is a matter of when, not if. 95%

Super Meat Boy

December 12, 2010

PC / Reviews / by Michael Walbridge Make a comment! / Tweet it!

I get really excited about a game maybe once every year. Maybe only twice every three years. So when I say you must buy Super Meat Boy, I’m not saying it’s the best game I’ve played in a few months, or the first game to scratch an itch that’s needed scratching for a while. I’m saying this is one of the best games to be released for any platform in a long, long time.

If you don’t know, Super Meat Boy is a platformer. Originally released on XBLA, the PC version has more content, and developers promise more updates for this version. 

You play as Meat Boy, a red square, and you must save your girlfriend, Bandage Girl, a pink square, from Dr. Fetus, a mean fetus that operates a suit. The game has over 100 levels, and each is frenetic and challenging. Think N+ with higher speed and less-floaty jumps. There are falls, wall jumps, speed runs, well-timed obstacles that are hard to dodge, missiles, flying jaws that explode into other jaws and moving buzzsaws.

I probably missed something.

There are an additional 120 (or whatever) levels that are the “dark world”. These levels are similar but much harder than their original counterparts. There are also warp zones to be discovered and pockets of three levels for which only three lives are given for each level (the regular game has no “lives”, you just try over and over again). There are over 10 other characters to be discovered with different specialties to use, too. Having the options make the game much more fun. So does having a replay at the end of every level with an option to save that shows all your failed attempts and one successful attempt at the same time. Twenty-five headcrabs flying across the room is a sight to behold. 

The graphics are simple, but the animation is highly crisp, which makes the game feel new and classic at the same time. The music is mainly metal in order to match the pace of the game.  

I thought it was impossible for developers to make games that make challenges rewarding for their own sake. Not for the sake of content, completionism, achievements, or competition (though SMB has all those elements) but just its own sake. I took the trip and somehow, I feel like a satisfied person for it. Almost like I did something meaningful. Better than a Mega Man ever made me feel. What games do that anymore?

Note: The game warns you to use a controller. This is advice you ignore at your peril. This game will ruin your hands if you let it, even with a controller. You won’t get very far using the keyboard.

Pros: Funny, well-executed, engrossing, highly challenging while feeling fair, well-presented

Cons: somewhat buggy, practically demands a controller

 

Game Lab: Play this, not that

December 9, 2010

Features / Game Lab / by Eric Jome Make a comment! / Tweet it!

That time of year is creeping up on us again fast – the holidays.  You’ll visit with your family and relatives and after everyone’s caught up on the news of another year… what then?  Odds aren’t too bad that you and yours will sit down at the dining room table for a game.  That same old game.  You know the one.  The one you play every year.  The one that you… dare I say it… dread?

Let’s be honest here.  The classics are classic.  But a lot of them aren’t what we might call state-of-the-art in great game play.  So, why not kick your holiday family game play up a notch?  Take these recommendations and find the ones that work best for you.  I’m sure you’ll be delighted that you’ve found such a great substitute, a new family favorite for years to come!

 

Monopoly -> Acquire, For Sale

Roll and move and roll and move, buy this, land on that… Monopoly is pretty limited in terms of making fun choices.  Why not pump it up a bit, buying and selling hotels in the real estate classic Acquire or try another quality angle on the property game with For Sale?

 

Life -> Settlers of Catan, Formula D

Whrrr… spin the spinner, move the car, pink and blue pegs.  It’s a yawner isn’t it?  Let this old dog go and play a powerhouse of trading and maneuver that’s a modern classic, Settlers of Catan.  Not getting your driving a little car around a track fix from Settlers?  No problem – switch Formula D in for Life and tear up the track in super fun high speed Formula car racing.

 

Clue -> Mystery Express

I’m going to confess that I did it with the lead pipe in the dining room to the person who makes me suffer through this bit of the past.  Instead, put on the most excellent movie version in the background and have a game of Mystery Express instead – murder on trains is so much more interesting than a stuffy old mansion, anyway.

 

Operation -> PitchCar

Bzzt… pop!  It’s noisy, it’s messy… and is this even really a game?  If you want to test your reflexes, upgrade to a little competitive racing with a flick and go action in configurable, expandable PitchCar.  And the noisy part of this one is the cheering of the players, not the game board.

 

Cranium -> Bausack

The old saw party game has had its day… how about something new and tricky?  Bausack is all about stacking odd shape pieces, picking those you think others are brave enough to try – and fumbling enough to fail at stacking.  It’s tense, creative, and tricky just like the game you’re replacing.  And you won’t have to hear Uncle Kermit sing.

 

Sorry -> Ticket To Ride

You don’t have to be Sorry if you’re pulling out the award winning game of railroad building Ticket To Ride!  Accessible, easy, colorful, and fun, Ticket To Ride is a great substitute here.

 

Candyland -> Zooloretto, Gulo Gulo

Candyland is full of charming whimsy, but it’s not really going to pull it together in terms of keeping the adults and the kids at the table and happy – it’s just too basic for the older set.  A great alternative game like Zooloretto keeps the kids with cute animals as well as having engaging game play.  Or something fun and tricky like Gulo Gulo, where little fingers have advantages that adult fingers could only wish for.

 

Chutes and Ladders -> Forbidden Island

Still rolling and moving after all these years, this game doesn’t have much thought in it.  And maybe as much flavor as the old shoe leather to which it is mostly comparable.  Spice up the holiday game with a co-operative, colorful adventure to retrieve the hidden artifacts on Forbidden Island

 

Trivial Pursuit -> Wits & Wagers

Tired of losing to the smartest people in the room all the time?  Know-it-all aunts and uncles showing you up in front of your kids?  What you need is some Wits & Wagers, where knowing the answer isn’t as important as knowing who is going to know the answer – a much more lively party game to enjoy, even with a very large group.

 

Battleship -> Survive!

Is this one a trick to get people to learn coordinate systems or a game?  It had it’s day, but even though it means to represent the excitement of a naval battle, it’s always been a bit flat.  If you’re really looking to get your people out of danger in a fun situation, check out Survive! where you’ve got to get your tribe off the exploding volcanic island before it sinks into the sea.

 

Uno -> Blokus, Bohnanza

The rainy day standard for many, Uno is all about going out of cards… even if you don’t make a lot of interesting choices along the way.  Blokus is all about playing out all your pieces in a twist on Tetris-like piece placement, just as colorful but way more clever than Uno.  If you’ve gotta get your hands on some cards, why not trade silly beans in fantastic upgrade called Bohnanza instead?

 

Yahtzee -> Liar’s Dice, Can’t Stop, Incan Gold

Yahtzee is maybe the game of a bygone era, but there’s charm in a handful of dice bouncing on the table; if only you were doing more than just keeping track of what came up in this one!  Why not bluff and push  your luck with great alternatives like Liar’s Dice or Can’t Stop!  Or, for those more inclined to replicating the adventures of one Dr. Jones, push your luck with traps and monsters in Incan Gold.

 

Cribbage -> Lost Cities

I’ve enjoyed a great game of Cribbage for years so I can’t easily say anything too critical of it – a solid old parlor classic.  But sometimes it’s fun just to switch it up with something else, something with a bit more color, a bit more back and forth instead of just tallying points – and that’s Lost Cities, a modern legend in the two player realm.

 

Chess -> Through The Desert, Hey! That’s My Fish!

Chess is black and white, plain Jane brain grinding.  There’s a serious game in there – too serious.  If you’re just looking to unwind with your friends and family, why not pick up a little more colorful, playful, thematic sort of abstract strategy game, the kind you can play with 2 or more than 2!  Great choices are Through The Desert, the game of candy colored caravans (don’t eat the camels!) and Hey! That’s My Fish!, a tricksy penguin vs. penguin fish fest that will even hold the attention of younger players… and both games offer the strategic depth and complexity of their more staid brother if you want to play hard.

 

Scrabble -> Qwirkle

Are you really going to be consulting a dictionary when you play games?  There’s a time and place for some serious verbiage in competitive Scrabble, but for all your relaxing tile laying needs you might want to dial in some crafty matchmaking work in a rising star like Qwirkle instead.

 

Out with the old, in with the new…

Classics are great.  They’ve got kitsch, memories, and maybe a few of them aren’t even too bad if we put them in the context of the history of games.  But there are so many marvelous new entries in recent years, things that have won lots of awards around the world, lit fires in the video game world as well as the tabletop, and just generally out-fun the old school.  Give some of this new stuff a try the next time you’re with your family.  You won’t be disappointed.

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