City in the Sky
The long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed "Bioshock" series is finally here, and despite its flaws, it was worth the wait.
The Joy of Failure
The function of Dwarf Fortress is to simulate in unnerving complexity a chaotic, living world, from its geology to its psychology.
Beyond the Sea
"BioShock" is banned from Valve Studios. The team behind the legendary first-person shooter "Half-Life" has declared that none of its employees is allowed to touch the game. Managing Director Gabe Newell explained to computerandgames.com: "Nobody gets to play it until Orange Box is done—that's our reward to ourselves as a company; everyone gets a copy of 'BioShock." When Valve openly praises another company's FPS, it becomes clear that something has gone very, very right.
Consult Physician Before Use
Platform: Wii
Gamers have been subjected to many things over the years. Fighting the Nazis: Check. Hunting dinosaurs: Been there. Stuck on a hostile planet surrounded by both vicious aliens and all-consuming parasitic lifeforms: We've got the T-shirt.
Great Overlooked Games
"Breakdown" for the X-Box
Flat World, Deep Game
When reviewing a game like "Super Paper Mario," it's difficult to avoid comparing it to its predecessors. "SPM" is technically the sequel to the two "Paper Mario" games released on the N64 and Gamecube, which were loose continuations of "Super Mario RPG," a Square-made Super Nintendo gem. Despite this, "Super Paper Mario" is a whole new game, sharing only some of the elements of the original "trilogy." It's still a solid title, but the changes may be a bit much for a fan expecting the same kind of game.
Back In The USSR
In 1972, Arkadi and Boris Strugatsky, brothers who were celebrated Russian science-fiction writers, published a short novella called "Roadside Picnic." It chronicled a man's journey into "The Zone," a quarantined area where alien forces had crash-landed, spreading strange radioactive anomalies. The main characters, Stalkers, broke through military cordons and made their way into the Zone to search for artifacts, strange pieces of alien technology beyond humankind's imagination. For years after-ward, Stalkers who entered the Zone suffered unexplained deaths and disabled children.
[Music] The Piano Man Plays Guitar
When you think of George Winston, you probably think of his career as a solo pianist and the countless albums he's released over a 25-year period with the Windham Hill Label. But that's not all Winston can do. On April 28th, he'll be performing a benefit for the Heritage House, a newly opened cultural learning center for teens in Hazlehurst. And he'll be playing guitar, not piano. He'll be playing slack-key guitar, to be exact—a fingerstyle solo guitar tradition, originating in 19th century Hawaii. His own label, Dancing Cat Productions, has documented and recorded many masters of this lesser-known indigenous style.
[Music] The Mystery of Robert Johnson's Legacy
Robert Johnson, known far and wide as The King of the Blues, remains the most enigmatic character in the history of the blues. Born in Hazlehurst, Miss., to a plantation worker in 1911, he took up the guitar after being taught by an older brother. At the age of 19, he was described as less than skillful with the instrument. Only a few years later, his talent had improved so greatly that he confounded those that had heard him play before. This gave rise to the famous legend that he'd sold his soul to the devil for his playing skill. Johnson died at the age of 27, amidst rumors that he'd been poisoned for having an affair with the wife of a juke-joint owner.
Ice, Bugs, And Guns. Perfect.
"Lost Planet," despite being a modern, high-tech title, brings me back to the days of gaming long past, when top-of-the-line graphics were 8-bit, when you could spot a hardcore gamer by his untidy mullets and his Alf T-shirt, and when dedicated players keeled over dead from exhaustion—not while farming for gold in "World of Warcraft" but by going for the top score in "Donkey Kong" or "Galaga."
Intergalactic Failure
Why do people make bad video games? I can't even begin to describe how awful "Rogue Galaxy" is. In fact, I believe that if you were to smash the "Rogue Galaxy" disc into tiny shards and then drink them, you would be having approximately 35 times as much fun as you would putting the game in your PS2 and playing it.
The Wait is Over
GC | WII
Needs More Speed
Platform: PS2 | PS3 | XBOX | 360 | GC | WII | PC
The Gears Keep Turning
Many games over the years have been advertised as "Halo-killers." These so-called next-generation shooters proved to be only minor diversions in comparison to Microsoft's flagship game. Enter "Gears of War." This game got no hype before it was released—in fact, it was hardly on the radar. Now that it's been released, people are calling this tactical third-person-shooter the next big thing. They just might be right.
Boyz In Da Row
"Saints Row" is part of a growing genre known as "GTA Clone," referring to the "Grand Theft Auto" series, built on free-roaming criminal adventurers. The similarities are instantly recognizable, from the ability to commit crimes like larceny and homicide—causing policemen, and later FBI agents, to hunt you down—to the mission-based system, as well as the mini-games that allow you to gain money and respect. One could accuse this game of plagiarism, but don't be too harsh. "Saints Row" may be an imitator, but at least it does it well.
Zombie Marlon Brando!
All right, I lied. While Don Vito doesn't actually make his undead debut in this game adaptation of the classic movie, the depth and fun presented by "The Godfather" is a sure winner. In this version, the series, the player creates and controls a young Italian boy, gives him a name and then lets him loose in the world of 1950s New York. In the beginning of the game, the boy's father is brutally murdered by Don Barzini and his thugs. Confronted by Don Corleone, he is told to "save his anger," and then runs off in confusion. Years later, his mother shows up at the wedding party seen in the beginning of the first movie claiming she needs help.
PS3 in trouble?
Both of them, I need 'em all 10.1% 1387
Now, this is just speculation, but take a look at this poll conducted by Gamefaqs starting last night.
Sex, Lies, and Ping Pong
Sometimes it's hard to write about video games. When there is good news to report on, it's likely too cryptic or too little to really write up until it's no longer news. So, because there are no good facts to show you, I'll be using the next best thing: hearsay and rumor.
Madden, MS gets… Madden?
In other news, I'm going somewhere peaceful and uninhabited to found the city of Metal Gear.
In a heartwarming act of customer appreciation, the evil corporate suits over at Electronic Art$ (Look, I used a dollar sign instead of an S! I'm so risque.) decided to have a 'Maddenoliday', in which the adorably hick residents of the tiny town of Madden, Mississippi all recieved free XBOX 360's and a copy of EA's newest item in their eternal series, Madden Football '07. Let's hear it for the residents of Madden, who probably don't even have electricity.
Crime Really Does Pay
Platform: PS2 | 360 | PC
"Hitman: Blood Money" is the only game in which the player can kill his enemies with a cake, Viagra, the clever use of a garbage truck and a sausage. When I review games, I generally write a short intro, possibly from the perspective of the character, to let the reader get into the feel of the game. This was not necessary for my "Hitman" review. The sentence above tells you most of what you need to know.
Generic Sci-fi Goodness
*Platform: PC*
Games today get too wrapped up in story line. You watch CG videos, drawn-out cutscenes, and plot exposition until finally the game is over and you realize you hardly actually played anything. "RF Online" does not make this mistake.
Oklahoma Rep. Fred Morgan: ‘Games are porn.'
Another headache-inducing law was passed through the state legislature in Oklahoma last month. Representative Fred Morgan [D], the bill's author sat down in a Q&A session with Gamespot to discuss it.
[Biztalk] Fragging Your Friends
The first time I went into Game Theory, it was surprisingly quiet. One person sat in the back, playing something I couldn't see. All around me were widescreen TVs and comfortable couches. Directly ahead of me, the owner was sitting behind a desk, headphones on, focused on something in his hands.
Wii Are Not Amused
E3 has come and gone, and in the end, the main factor was, of course, the next-gen.
Well, technically next-next-gen, but I digress. The three consoles that made the show were the Nintendo Wii, the Playsation 3 and the tubby bucket of hardware known as the XBOX360. In terms of games, everyone had something to show, but in my opinion, the winner was Nintendo. For more in depth coverage on how the major companies did, check out Gamespot.com.
Their Finest Hour
There is a trend in game series: One successful game is released, and that prompts a sequel. Whether or not the sequel is any good isn't important. What is important is that as soon as a game and its sequel sell well, the developers instantly take that as an opportunity to release dozens of new installments, each less original than the last. The problem with these new "Franchise-in-a-Box" series is that the more they sell, the less the new products are changed. It happened with "Dynasty Warriors" and with "Pokemon," and it was happening with "Ace Combat." Fortunately, "Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War" shows a faint glimmer of fundamental change.
Metal Gear?!!
Word on the streets is, Kojima's confirmed a film adaptation of the legendary MGS series, accompanied by bells tolling and cheering masses. I'm not quite sure about this one yet, so stay tuned.
Cops, Killers And Thugs
The world around you brightens into view. You're in a bathroom, somewhere. Something below you is pulsating slightly. You look down and find the corpse of a middle-aged man, and your hand clasps a bloody knife that seems to fit perfectly into the three wounds he's got in his chest. Outside, a police officer finishes his meal and heads toward the bathroom.
The World Of Oblivion
Platform: XB360 | PC
A new age has arrived. It was bound to happen at some point. Yesterday's dreams of the next generation have become a reality. It wasn't abrupt, but gradual, over a period of time technology developed. New games and systems came out, each with better graphics and more advanced features than the last. But when it really hit me, when I was really aware that the next generation was here, it was on March 20. The day "Oblivion" came out. The greatness of "Oblivion" isn't really a surprise. Since the success of "Morrowind," the previous installment in the "Elder Scrolls" series, people have been eagerly awaiting what came next.
Red Steel Screenshots!
Alright, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this, but I'm going to anyway. Nintendo's newest system is the Revolution, and they've been keeping it under wraps heavier than Area 51. But I have two scans of in-game graphics from the next-gen's first game: The FPS Red Steel. These pictures are exclusive, unless you find the site I jacked them from, or the site that site jacked them from, or if you read Game Informer.
Later Guys, I'm Moving to Tamriel
Alright, I've had it with this stupid place. You can't steal silverware and weaponry and sell it at a local store, gates to hell that have to be closed to protect the very fabric of reality never open and get this, shooting superheated balls of fire at small woodland creatures? Banned.
The World Of Oblivion
Platform: Xbox360 | PC
A new age has arrived. It was bound to happen at some point. Yesterday's dreams of the next generation have become a reality. It wasn't abrupt, but gradual, over a period of time technology developed. New games and systems came out, each with better graphics and more advanced features than the last. But when it really hit me, when I was really aware that the next generation was here, it was on March 20. The day "Oblivion" came out. The greatness of "Oblivion" isn't really a surprise. Since the success of "Morrowind," the previous installment in the "Elder Scrolls" series, people have been eagerly awaiting what came next.
More of a Murky Gray
Now, I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I pretty much called this one. I'm sorry, but any game that calls the "Guns the main characters" probably isn't very deep. I was right. "Black" is an interesting experience, coupling the frantic pace of games like "Counter-Strike" with the length and flow of "Medal of Honor." The setting is modern, and the story is, of course, based around Global Terrorism.
A ‘Star Wars' Game? Brilliant!
Xbox | PS2 | PC
You know, I might be a little biased against "Star Wars" games. It's not that I don't like the franchise. I love "Star Wars." I even have a pair of Boba Fett underw—uh, never mind. But so many games based on the popular series have come out, it's really hard for one to capture my attention.
Episode 3: Revenge of the… Combine?
In a recent talk with Gamespot, Valve marketing director Doug Lombardi unveiled an interesting tidbit- The expansion pack for the newest entry into the Half-Life series has been renamed 'Half-Life: Episode 1'. Lombardi confirmed that this meant regular content being released over Steam, Valve's online distribution service.
How to Fail At Reporting: By Suzanne Collins
I'm sorry that this has nothing to do with video games, but as a member of the press, I have to address stupidity this painful.
Breaking News: Nothing is Happening, Dammit.
There. I said it.
Seriously. I've had about enough of this. Jack Thompson isn't making an ass of himself, Uwe Boll is hiding somewhere, no good games are coming out... Not a single Chinese gold farmer has starved to death playing Everquest II in the past month! You want to hear the story of the day in the gaming world? Alliance owns Horde in World of Warcraft.
Hideo Kojima Lays Down the Law
When people say the name Uwe Boll, some might think of a disgusting, slimy bug that eats crap for a living. Members of the gaming community, on the other hand, envision a disgusting, slimy human that makes crap for a living. Uwe Boll has been the producer/director of several massive box-office failures based on videogames.
Open for Business
Hello, and welcome. This, as you've probably guessed, is my blog. In order to provide the great city of Jackson with up-to-the-minute coverage on the political front, I've taken it upon myself to...
The Art Of Killing
A Review Of "Shadow Of The Colossus"
What is art? A painting by da Vinci? Michelangelo's David? A guitar solo by Hendrix, maybe. But while Mona Lisa can be seen, David can be felt, and a riff by Jimi can be heard, none of these art forms can be controlled. They are what they were when created. But now video games, no longer confined to being kill simulators and virtual ping-pong, can become controllable art. "Shadow of the Colossus" proves this point.
How The West Was Won
A Review of "Gun"
This is my third review of a Western game, and the last for a while. Scout's honor. But "Gun" is such a fun game, building on the successes and failures of previous attempts to make an experience out of the Wild West, that I had to go West one more time. Like many games set in the time period, the theme of "Gun" is a mix of revenge, greed and sadness. Starting out in the wilderness, hero Colton White is thrust into a frantic search for a sacred artifact that took the life of his father. With only a couple guns, a horse and a token to a place called the Alhambra, he sets out for Dodge City.
Crash, Bang, Boom
A Review Of "Burnout Revenge"
After playing "Burnout Revenge," I have to simply sit back and ask myself something: Why has no one thought of this before? The concept seems simple. What's more fun than getting into a car you could never afford and racing it around cities that seem made for racing? The answer, according to "Burnout," is crashing those cars into each other, causing massive explosions, pileups and general disorder. I have to say that I agree. If you can't see the logic in that, watch kids play with toy trucks or Hotwheels. What does it remind you of: "Gran Turismo 4," with its slow precise driving, or "Burnout Revenge," filled with crashes and mayhem?
Vampire Cowboys And Zombie Indians: A Review of Darkwatch
I'm surprised by "Darkwatch." I don't think you could blame me for being skeptical about a game that can't even decide what stereotype it wants to use, but after looking past the cover, I found it to be a genuinely fun game. "Darkwatch" stars a Grade A anti-hero, Jericho Cross.
Supernatural
Razputin, the psychic son of a circus trapeze artist, runs away from home to enter Whispering Rock Summer Camp, a training facility for possible psychic secret agents, the "Psychonauts." Using powers like clairvoyance, telekinesis, pyrokinesis and levitation, he will uncover a sinister plot involving the stolen brains of his fellow campers.
Going To Hell In Style
A Review Of Romance Of The Three Kingdoms X
I'm screwed. Really. Maybe it's because I constantly overwork my entire population of peasants into revolt, or because I flip a coin to decide if I execute the enemy officers, but I just know there's some list down there with my name on it. But at least I'm going in style. Damning yourself to eternal suffering has never been so enjoyable as it is with "Romance of the Three Kingdoms X." ROTKX is a strategy game set in ancient China, where the player takes control of a officer in the history of that time period. All the original officers are real people from history, taken from the novel by Luo Guanzhong. But if you'd like, you can create your own, chosen from a wide variety of stats and traits.
He Is The Night: A Review Of Batman Begins
After a string of boring, ugly, repetitive games, it's good to see Batman get an interesting, pretty, repetitive game. "Batman Begins"—the movie—blows the previous films out of the water, and so does the game. But it's not without its flaws. While sneaking around and destroying scenery to scare your enemies is a fresh idea, it's just not executed well. Everything seems so scripted. Enemies with guns are too dangerous to fight, but there's not a single situation that doesn't let you take them out easily. Mobsters without heat can't lay a finger on Batman. There are only a few areas in the game where you're actually in danger of dying.
Noooooooooo!!!!: A review of "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith"
You know, sometimes the gaming industry confuses me. I'm really not sure how you can take the concept of "Star Wars"and make a bad game. It's one of, if not the, biggest movie series in history, and it's hard to deny how loved it is. But time after time, crappy games are released under the "SW" title. Attention all designers: Slapping a popular franchise name onto your high school science project is not an excuse for a game. So, against my will, I'm going to play the latest "game," affectionately re-titled by me, "Star Wars Episode III: At Least We Aren't On Hoth."
I Came, I Saw, I Nuked
: A Review of Empire Earth II (Platform: PC)
Strategy games are a mixed bag. Some find them impossible to get into, others can't stand the slow pace, and some just can't get the tactics down. But when you become good at a well-made strategy game, you're sure to have fun. One of the first things I noticed about "Empire Earth II" was the steep difficulty. It's fairly simple to get used to the controls and modes, but the computer AI is unrelenting on any difficulty.
Not Even A Game: A Review of "Gran Turismo 4"
Image Courtesy of Sony
I've always enjoyed racing games. They're fast-paced and easy to get into. The environments and cars are often beautiful, and they lack much of the baggage that other games have. But in spite of all this, racing seems to have a worse "good game" to "bad game" ratio than any other genre. And, why is that? No innovation perhaps? What makes "Gran Turismo 4" different from "Gran Turismo 3"? Or "Need for Speed 3" different from "Need for Speed 2"? There are a few graphical updates and a couple new cars. And if that's really all you need, feel free to shell out $50 left and right for each boring new clone. People tend to buy the newest racing game regardless of what's been added, so … the developers don't add anything.
[Geek] Human Nature 101
A Review of "Faces of Mankind"
One of the most intriguing yet frustrating games I've ever played, "Faces of Mankind" is based on a concept that would crack up most developers: a completely player-run world. There are no admins to enforce the laws. There is no learning curve and helpful NPCs, and unless you have a good buddy or a streak of luck, nobody's gonna hold your hand. FoM is, as of now, only for the hardcore.