Even though we're moving full steam ahead with the web site, I still plan on posting similar content on the blog as well. You can see the infancy of our site here.
Tomorrow I will begin to transfer the reviews over so that you can peruse through them all in a more organized fashion, as well as some of the features we've put up here. My own ramblings such as this one are uninteresting and so will remain here.
Carlos is still plugging away at getting the podcast(s) up and running. Mitch will be taking over the graphic design end of things. Make us look good, Mitch!
Carlos and I started this little endeavor with grand visions that will hopefully be realized, but for now we're scaling back after realizing the immensity of what we originally planned. We're basically figuring things out as we go here.
I don't report the news. If you haven't read up on the events at the Nintendo Media Summit, you can check out Matty C's live blog of the event. As a gamer, what I care about the most is the game news that came out of this.
And I am most pleased.
Mario Galaxy 2 looks just as joyful as the first. And my loving extra-jump-if-there's-a-pit-too-far-away-to-reach dinosaur will be here for another round. Let's hope (for his sake) all gaps are small. Metroid Other M looks to up the adrenaline of the series. Monster Hunter 3 looks to be a graphical and online powerhouse. And Sin and Punishment 2 will give me my arcade shooter fix that I so badly need.
WiiWare will see a trio of great games with Megaman 10, And Yet It Moves, and Cave Story. Others, like Max and the Magic Marker, show quite a bit of promise.
On the DS side of things, I've never been more stoked for a DS game than Heart Gold/Soul Silver. Infinite Space looks like a very deep experience (in terms of gameplay rather than some sort of existential bullshit). The DS lineup seems a bit sparse after those two land in March, with a little bit of Dragon Quest love this summer.
Hold on tight now, because my little white underpowered system-that-could is heading into the summer full-steam with some spectacular software. From Mario Galaxy 2 to Sin and Punishment, there will be quality games to fill the months till June. Nintendo is keeping mum about the rest of 2010 until E3.
But the hype train is rolling. Anything less than a holiday season with Link and Olimar present would be underwhelming. Ok, I'd be willing to give Olimar a pass this time if Link shows up.
I am finally happy to say that we FINALLY have an actual website!!! Last night around 1:30am I managed to find a site and register our new domain name. We are now gonna be www.gamersunanimous.com!!!! Granted the site won't be up and running for at least a few more days but at least we have a name. Name Pending will be no more and we will switch over to Games Unanimous over the next couple of days. We may still keep this blog running regardless but jon and i will have to figure things out first. gamersunanimous.com will be up and running soon so keep an eye out for our announcement!!!!!
Shiren finally meandered his way into stores a couple of days ago, but my online order from Game Stop arrived, trumping the completion of my quest to find that game at retail. Atlus has yet to give me an explanation or apology.
The game itself is fine. It feels more akin to playing a really pretty SNES game rather than a mediocre-looking Wii game. I'm never inclined to comment on the graphical prowess of a game, mostly because my system of choice is the underpowered console of the lot. However, the game feels and plays 16-bit, which is very appealing to a old man like me.
It is difficult to qualify what I mean by "feels and plays 16-bit". I can only say that there is a beauty to the simplicity of gameplay and a complexity available for those looking for it. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction from mastering them intricacies of these games.
The game could be played successfully without ever really diving into the depth of battle system. But for those of the more daring gamers, depth can be found by switching between full controlled allies and customizable commands for the computer controlled allies; in customizing weapons and trying to decide whether or not to take your strongest into battle, for if you fall in combat, your weapons are lost; and in managing an inventory full of spells, items and weapons you find in randomly generated dungeons and deciding what is worthy of coming with you on your quest and what must remain on the dungeon floors.
The game is long and challenging. If you are looking for a long epic tale, then this is the one for you. Fear not, for when you die, and die you shall, you will lose your weapons, but keep your hard-earned levels. Take heart, because conquering dungeons gives a big sense of accomplishment.
If you had been introduced to Irrational Game’s underwater city of Rapture then you are most likely aware of 2K Marin’s new updated version of Rapture taking place in the game Bioshock 2 and if you aren’t one of those familiar with the franchise I would strongly recommend becoming acquainted.
Bioshock 2 at first glance seemed like a copy and paste of the first Bioshock plus a Big Daddy suit. However, as the game progressed, its updated graphics and unique story line showed that the gamers’ second trip to Rapture not only revisited the events and environments of the first but then expanded upon them. The story line did seem to have a slow start, but allowed time for the player to be drawn in before showing its true colors with surprising plot twists further in the game.
As far as game play goes, the style of control from the first Bioshock is back with a few differences such as weapon zooming and some new content has been added to keep a little freshness in the fight. The most frustrating point to overcome is how easily you are hurt in your new Big Daddy roll. More often than not I found myself running for a health station while my Little One mumbled about how no one could hurt her Mister Bubbles.
Collecting Adam and purchasing Plasmids was much of the same as it was in the first game and because of this as well as the apparent lack of anything new 2K Marin did a great job with not distorting the original concept behind Rapture, though I would have liked to see the company try something new to entice the gamer further.
All in all, no one should be too disappointed with their purchase of Bioshock 2 and avid FPS fans (or anyone with time to kill) should definitely give the game a try.
I've always thought the first rule of marketing was make your product available. If something is on a store shelf, inevitably, even a small number of people will buy it. Someone should get the memo over to Atlus.
I've been to or been on the phone with every Gamestop in my area and come up empty. I have even entered the soul-sucking realm known to the white trash of the world as "WalMart", but I cannot find a copy a Shiren the Wanderer. I may have to resort to ordering from Amazon or Gamestop.
I am possibly the only person on earth looking for this game at retail. It seems that Atlus is resigned to sell no copies of the games instead of one.
The review will be up at some point, whenever Atlus decides to take my money.
Retro Revival highlights games that revitalize franchises that have not seen a traditional installment in several generations.
Part 1 focuses on games that have not seen an installment since the 8-bit or 16-bit generation.
Contra 4
On the NES and SNES, Contra was the series for run and gun action. The series saw a few poor to mediocre installments on the PS2, so Konami handed the reigns to developer WayForward for a main entry in the series on the DS. The risk paid of brilliantly, as WayForward took the series back to its roots of scathing difficulty, gigantic bosses and blistered trigger fingers. The obligatory co-op is included and fantastic.
Mega Man 9
Mega Man on the NES and SNES was known for a high degree of difficulty, stealing enemy’s powers and finding the correct sequence of levels to conquer. The formula has evolved over the decades, but for Mega Man 9, Capcom went back to the bare roots of the 8-bit series, with the 8-bit graphics intact. Just as challenging as the early entries of the series, Capcom added a plethora of features, including a mode to play as Proto Man.
A Boy and his Blob
The NES was home to many unique platformers, A Boy and his Blob being one of the most unusual. Feeding your white blob different flavored jelly beans transformed him into different useful tools for the puzzle platforming. WayForward took this formula and adding even more challenging puzzles and tons of charm in the Wii version. Beautifully animated in hand-drawn 2-D, A Boy and his Blob is as retro as they get.
Punch-Out!!
More rhythm games than boxing, Punch-Out on the NES and SNES was one of the most fun, addictive and culturally stereotypical games on the consoles. Next Level Games took the NES and SNES formula and didn’t stray too far from it. The necessity to recognize Mac’s opponent’s patterns are intact, the controls are responsive and the animations fluid.
New Super Mario Bros
Mario moved into three dimensions on the N64, and he was so good at it, Nintendo didn’t bother to make a 2-D entry for over a decade. That changed on the DS, and more recently on the Wii; and it reminded gamers why the 2-D Mario games where so good back in the day. The multiplayer features of the Wii version makes it even more fun to play Mario with friends.
January had a plethora of worthwhile games and that looks to continue this month. As far as reviews go, watch for these on their corresponding release dates:
2/09 Shiren the Wanderer(Wii)- reviewed by Jon
2/09 Bioshock 2 (PS3/360)- reviewed by Mitch
2/16 Raganrok (DS)- reviewed by Wes
2/16 Ace Attorney Investigations (DS)- reviewed by Carlos
Also, Jeremy may be chiming in with a new monthly feature: "Retro PC Reviews". Keep an eye out for that as well.
For more details about upcoming games as well as a look at some of what made January such a great month, check out our podcast, "The Jon and Carlos Show" on iTunes.
