Grand Theft Auto III changed everything. The GTA series is one of the most popular in the history of video games, but it was Grand Theft Auto III that really made the largest impact. Being able to go anywhere and do anything you wanted was, at the time, something we just never thought could happen. Today, a sandbox game is nothing special; we see it in a lot of games today, with implementations ranging from great to pointless. What is it about these games that are so attractive to gamers? READ MORE
Andrew Passafiume
The original Puzzle Agent was a surprise to a lot of gamers who expected just another traditional Telltale adventure title. What we got was a unique mix of Professor Layton-style puzzles with clever writing and a rather intriguing story. However, many questions were left unanswered by the very end of the first game, leaving plenty of room open for a sequel. READ MORE
In an industry full of brown and gray military shooters and with fresh and original games generally found only on the downloadable market, it’s refreshing to see a game like El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. Like a painting come to life, El Shaddai strives to combine something we’re all familiar with, character action games, with a gorgeous art style and intriguing story that is rarely found in most games today. READ MORE
Every year, gamers, journalists, and analysts gather at the Electronic Entertainment Expo for the latest gaming announcements and hands-on time with the biggest upcoming releases.
E3 has always been the center of attention for the gaming world, even with bigger conventions around like PAX, which is open to the public and continues to gain more and more supporters each year. And yet E3 continues to be the highlight of the gaming year for a lot of people, despite not being open to the public. Why is that?
We know the Big Three always have a big presence at the show, ready to showcase their next big games (or hardware) to the people. We know that the big publishers have their own press conferences for their biggest reveals and demos. But how did it all culminate to this event first? For starters, E3 came before a lot of the other big expos. Games and game tech used to always be shown at CES before it was decided they needed their own venue back in 1995. Since then, the show has only gotten bigger and bigger, only rarely being overshadowed by other events.
E3 was the first and continues to be the biggest in regards to the hottest video game news, and that will likely never change. And although E3 has never been open to the public, gamers have been able to get access to it quite frequently. Sometimes they can get into the show itself, but often times, thanks to the many big gaming websites out there, we have ways to see everything that the journalists see. We can watch the press conferences live from the comfort of our own homes and find out every piece of news as it happens.
But who is E3 for? The gamers get to see the upcoming games and find out the latest news without even having to attend the show. The analysts most likely have plenty to gab about with price cuts and announcements of new hardware abound. The journalists enjoy what they do, as do regular old gamers, and are responsible for getting this content to those gamers who are stuck at home with their internet connections, eager to find out more.
E3 has become more than just another expo designed around video games and game announcements. There are always discussions about who will “win” E3, the best game of the show, the biggest surprises and disappointments. It has almost become a contest to try and see who can roll out the most impressive game and hardware announcements and which will have a lasting impression. Perhaps then, E3 is only for the industry folks themselves who work hard to both put on a good show and expect to win these awards, or at least get the attention they think they deserve.
E3 has become more than just another gaming convention. It serves an entirely new purpose. It showcases the future of this industry in a way that no other convention can capture and allows us to experience it, either from the comfort of our own home or right from the show floor itself. It isn’t just about us gamers, journalists, or the folks working in the industry itself anymore. E3 has become more than just another convention; it’s a rare moment of where we as gamers and journalists come together to truly communicate to those in the industry and have a rare moment of understanding and enjoyment. That is what E3 is about.
When it comes to video games based on superheroes and superhero movies, Sega has published some of the worst. The two Iron Man games immediately come to mind, but you can now add Thor: God of Thunder to that list. While it certainly improves upon the standard set by Sega’s previous efforts, it still fails to deliver an experience that most people would consider fun.
As the title may suggest, you play as Thor, the all-powerful God of Thunder. The story borrows elements from the movie but doesn’t entirely follow the plot of the film, allowing it to stand on its own. You follow Thor as he attempts to stop the enemy of Asgard, the Frost Giants, from destroying his home world. There really isn’t much more to this story than that.
The combat is functional; you can pull off some cool-looking moves and special attacks, but these attacks are rather worthless as you find your basic attack is all you need to defeat most enemies. There are certain stronger enemy types and bosses you will encounter that will require you to perform certain special attacks, but outside of those rare moments, you will never feel the need to use them.
Here’s where I would make a comment about the enemy variety, but there really isn’t any. You will find yourself fighting the same three or four enemy types, with the exception of an occasional boss fight, throughout the game. The enemies are all really easy to defeat, as the same basic strategy applies to most of them: hit the attack button, occasionally block, and there you go. You can also upgrade Thor with new moves and special abilities, but you will never find a need for them.
The problem with creating a superhero video game stems from not being able to truly use Thor’s abilities as demonstrated in the comics or in the film. He is a god after all, yet he feels like just an ordinary man with a big hammer and some special moves. You never feel you are all-powerful at any point in the game. Sure, the enemies are easy enough to dispose of, but the few moments of actual challenge the game presents make Thor feel puny and insignificant.
Despite all of the flaws, the game does look decent and offers more variety in the visual and level design than I expected. The voice acting, featuring both Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki, is forgettable but certainly not terrible. If there is anything this game did surprisingly okay, it’s the presentation.
Thor definitely improves upon Sega’s previous efforts. The game is actually a reasonable length for a full-priced video game, and it offers something that could pass as a somewhat enjoyable rental if you’re a huge fan of Thor (although even that is debatable). You’re better off just seeing the movie again than playing this uninspired God of War clone.
Pros: Decent presentation
Cons: Stiff and shallow combat; lack of enemy variety; extra powers and abilities are pointless
