Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Playstation Network
Okay so the network and multiplayer works. I'm still pretty angry at this since playstation store isn't up. It's just very annoying quiting your game to go to playstation store for some demos or games but when you get to the main Playstation menu, you remember it's not up! I go to check if the Playsation network decided on the games to give to the users for free, and guess what isn't up? The United States playstation blog! That's right, I just checked it and it isn't up. This might not happen to you because you might read this at a different time. What else can they screw up? The playstation production? The games? Or the hiring development hiring people from LJN!
Monday, May 16, 2011
playstation network
So, as you may have heard, the playstaion network is back up. This doesn't include the playstation store so don't expect to have your free month of Playstation Plus or your load of free games. I think that the playstation store is back up but don't count on it. So, you might have tried playstation network and it crashed, that's because stupid people tried to change their passwords all at once. The new system couldn't handle it so it crashed and now it should be back up. I will enjoy being back on the internet shooting people online.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Our 100th post is an old-school review...? AWESOME!
Yup, it's Fiftybottles, back from the virtual grave to give a review of a truly classic gem of a GameBoy game called The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. It came out in 1993, and it's pretty rare to find now if you didn't already own it (I picked mine up at a garage sale four years ago for 50 cents. Lucky me! :D), but if you can find it, it's worth the 30 bucks they'll most likely make you cough up for it.
Link's Awakening was the first portable Zelda game. Ever. And it's kind of funny that it's called "The Legend of Zelda", because while it's true that you play as Link throughout the game, Zelda isn't anywhere in it... In fact, she's only ever mentioned once, at the very beginning of the game, as Link is recovering from a head injury and thinks the girl helping him recover is Zelda. Anyways, the story isn't too big here, but it's enjoyable enough, and it helps keep the quest moving along nicely. An owl keeps you up-to-date on events, and points you in the right direction, and if you ever forget what he's told you, you can open up your map, choose the location you found him (as indicated by an icon. Yay!), and he'll recite it all over again. Pretty nifty, b-boy. Anyways, the ending was a kind of "jump the shark" moment, but it was still surprising and somehwat cool, so I won't ruin any more for you in that regard! Anyways, the story starts as follows: You're Link. You're in a boat. Storm comes. Boat crashes. You're unconscious on an island. You wake up in a strange house with a strange man and woman. You get a shield. You explore beach. You get a sword. You walk back into village. You meet owl. Head into forest. Get keys and items that you need. Head on back to the beach. Beat first dungeon. Owl comes back, and explains that the instrument you found in the dungeon will help you wake the "Wind Fish", the island's guardian, and that doing so is the only way to get back home. You need instruments in all to wake this slumbering ass. I won't go into any more detail, and that's pretty much the gist of it, so there ya go.
The gameplay is classic Zelda, although slightly more linear. You can't explore pretty much every nook and cranny at the beginning (obviously), and the dungeons can only be completed in order. However, much like a Metroid or Castlevania game, exploration is still a huge part of the formula. You must explore the areas you can reach to find entrances, hidden items, chests, hints, clues, etc. for your journey to continue. And trust me, some of these things are just evil in the way they've been hidden. I had to use a walkthrough multiple times to get through this game. I was stuck for hours in some parts, all because I missed one tiny thing! That can get annoying, although it's mostly forgivable when you get back into the action and into those dungeons. Suffice to say, I don't really enjoy exploring the Overworld in this game, however it's still relatively fun. The dungeons are what save the day, though. The satisfying puzzles, the intense boss fights, and the smooth action and item collection all make it worthwhile. It certainly is fun, and there's a a lot of meat here to keep you busy for quite a while. Don't expect to blaze through this thing in a day or two. It'll take you at least a week, and that's if you're really good. Trust me, it's taken me 4 years to beat this sucker.
The graphics and sound were great for their time, and they still hold up pretty well today. The sound effects sound kinda tinny and bleepy and slightly screechy, although the music is still great (although at times a bit repetitive). Although, I must say, that sound swipe noise is awesome! I still can't get enough of that... The graphics resemble "A Link to the Past's". It's kind of like they took "A Link to the Past's" graphics, and ran them through an 8-bit generator, then tried to see what came out of it. At least, that's the best that i can explain it. It looks better than the NES standard (albeit in B&W), but it's still nothing too special. However, that's not to say it's hard on the eyes. It looks clean, and it's easy to navigate and get around. All in all, it's pretty nice, even if it is in Black and White. Yes, I know there's a DX version with colourized graphics and an extra dungeon, but I'm talkin' the original here.
All in all, Link's Awakening is a great game that still hold up well today. Some of the exploring in the Overworld can be a bit boring and slightly tedious, and some puzzles are just unfair/unclear. However, the dungeons are great fun, and the gameplay is still great even in 2011. Just, be prepared to open up a walkthrough once or twice on your quest.
I give The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 85/100 Guardian Acorns.
Link's Awakening was the first portable Zelda game. Ever. And it's kind of funny that it's called "The Legend of Zelda", because while it's true that you play as Link throughout the game, Zelda isn't anywhere in it... In fact, she's only ever mentioned once, at the very beginning of the game, as Link is recovering from a head injury and thinks the girl helping him recover is Zelda. Anyways, the story isn't too big here, but it's enjoyable enough, and it helps keep the quest moving along nicely. An owl keeps you up-to-date on events, and points you in the right direction, and if you ever forget what he's told you, you can open up your map, choose the location you found him (as indicated by an icon. Yay!), and he'll recite it all over again. Pretty nifty, b-boy. Anyways, the ending was a kind of "jump the shark" moment, but it was still surprising and somehwat cool, so I won't ruin any more for you in that regard! Anyways, the story starts as follows: You're Link. You're in a boat. Storm comes. Boat crashes. You're unconscious on an island. You wake up in a strange house with a strange man and woman. You get a shield. You explore beach. You get a sword. You walk back into village. You meet owl. Head into forest. Get keys and items that you need. Head on back to the beach. Beat first dungeon. Owl comes back, and explains that the instrument you found in the dungeon will help you wake the "Wind Fish", the island's guardian, and that doing so is the only way to get back home. You need instruments in all to wake this slumbering ass. I won't go into any more detail, and that's pretty much the gist of it, so there ya go.
The gameplay is classic Zelda, although slightly more linear. You can't explore pretty much every nook and cranny at the beginning (obviously), and the dungeons can only be completed in order. However, much like a Metroid or Castlevania game, exploration is still a huge part of the formula. You must explore the areas you can reach to find entrances, hidden items, chests, hints, clues, etc. for your journey to continue. And trust me, some of these things are just evil in the way they've been hidden. I had to use a walkthrough multiple times to get through this game. I was stuck for hours in some parts, all because I missed one tiny thing! That can get annoying, although it's mostly forgivable when you get back into the action and into those dungeons. Suffice to say, I don't really enjoy exploring the Overworld in this game, however it's still relatively fun. The dungeons are what save the day, though. The satisfying puzzles, the intense boss fights, and the smooth action and item collection all make it worthwhile. It certainly is fun, and there's a a lot of meat here to keep you busy for quite a while. Don't expect to blaze through this thing in a day or two. It'll take you at least a week, and that's if you're really good. Trust me, it's taken me 4 years to beat this sucker.
The graphics and sound were great for their time, and they still hold up pretty well today. The sound effects sound kinda tinny and bleepy and slightly screechy, although the music is still great (although at times a bit repetitive). Although, I must say, that sound swipe noise is awesome! I still can't get enough of that... The graphics resemble "A Link to the Past's". It's kind of like they took "A Link to the Past's" graphics, and ran them through an 8-bit generator, then tried to see what came out of it. At least, that's the best that i can explain it. It looks better than the NES standard (albeit in B&W), but it's still nothing too special. However, that's not to say it's hard on the eyes. It looks clean, and it's easy to navigate and get around. All in all, it's pretty nice, even if it is in Black and White. Yes, I know there's a DX version with colourized graphics and an extra dungeon, but I'm talkin' the original here.
All in all, Link's Awakening is a great game that still hold up well today. Some of the exploring in the Overworld can be a bit boring and slightly tedious, and some puzzles are just unfair/unclear. However, the dungeons are great fun, and the gameplay is still great even in 2011. Just, be prepared to open up a walkthrough once or twice on your quest.
I give The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 85/100 Guardian Acorns.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Post
We are nearing our 100th post so I'm just giving a heads up. There will be a big celebrating post for the 100th. Please tune in for our 100th post and I will send an e-mail to those I know.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Okay, earlier this week there were a few issues with this blog and members, but it is all good now, so I ended up getting LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga for Wii, and despite being LEGO Star wars on Wii, it's actually pretty good, The controls are easy and the multiplayer is entertaining, except for the retarded camera angles, but other that that it is a good game, and if anyone still plays this game, I have three codes that I memorized here to unlock things in the shop:
General grievous PMN576
Admiral ackbar ACK646
r2-q5 EVILR2
Overall, this game is a good one. It has drop in/drop out gameplay meaning the second player has full control on the game, just as the first player does. This game gets 80/100 midi-chlorians.
Also: Video review for LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars and Pilotwings Resort both for 3DS coming soon(whenever I feel like it).
Patapon review
It is an awesome game. I sound is the base for it, without sound you are struck. Because of that, the sound is great. The graphics are simple circles for the most but fits once you know the story. The story is a bit confusing to follow since it is entirely of text. For gamers who just want the action its best to skip it. The controls take a little to get used to and a few of commands to memorize. The levels are just the right length, a big with this is that after you've done an adventure level, you can't do it anymore. The enemies are same but feel as if their different. The customizations are amazing. You can chose weapons for every solider and switch the ones you don't want with the ones you do. The tree of life lets you make your soldiers and depending on the material, it gives you different things. The mini games will keep you at the PSP for over an hour trying to figure them out. I'll give this 90/100 megapons search them your self
Playstation network
Day18
I can't take it! 18 days without multiplayer! My whole Resistance Retribution is for multiplayer. Sure it has skill points and other single player stuff but once you get them all it's over. Games that are only single player and don't have multiplayer are the greatest in these situations. Sadly, Playstation focuses way too much on the multiplayer. All the games I own have multiplayer except for one, Patapon. Now that I think about it, I should really play it.
I can't take it! 18 days without multiplayer! My whole Resistance Retribution is for multiplayer. Sure it has skill points and other single player stuff but once you get them all it's over. Games that are only single player and don't have multiplayer are the greatest in these situations. Sadly, Playstation focuses way too much on the multiplayer. All the games I own have multiplayer except for one, Patapon. Now that I think about it, I should really play it.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Playstation network
day 17
Dear Null
They're everywhere. Ravenholm was supposed to be the only place with playstation network. I heard this from my "new best friend". Little did I know that Ravenholm is crawling with zombine. They are humans taken over by the combine. I don't have enough time or an I.P. address to connent to the Playstation Network. Lucky for me, I found a couple of shotguns to use. Wait, how did I get onto this website? Not engough time to discuss, I got things to shoot. Lack of ammo makes this all the harder.
-Survivor of Ravenholm
Dear Null
They're everywhere. Ravenholm was supposed to be the only place with playstation network. I heard this from my "new best friend". Little did I know that Ravenholm is crawling with zombine. They are humans taken over by the combine. I don't have enough time or an I.P. address to connent to the Playstation Network. Lucky for me, I found a couple of shotguns to use. Wait, how did I get onto this website? Not engough time to discuss, I got things to shoot. Lack of ammo makes this all the harder.
-Survivor of Ravenholm
Friday, May 6, 2011
Playstation network
Day 16
A lot has gone through the last couple of days. Companion cube was my best friend. Suddenly, this new guy came. He was a lot better at portal 2 than companion cube so that new guy is now my best friend. Companion cube didn't even come to my party! and there was CAKE!
A lot has gone through the last couple of days. Companion cube was my best friend. Suddenly, this new guy came. He was a lot better at portal 2 than companion cube so that new guy is now my best friend. Companion cube didn't even come to my party! and there was CAKE!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
playstation network
day 14
I've been occupied by PC games. It wasn't so bad. I already had minecraft so I played that for a while. Later, I got attracted to the Valve games like portal and Half-life 2. They're great games that I might review later. After what happened to playstation network, I'm not so eager to try out playstation network now.
I've been occupied by PC games. It wasn't so bad. I already had minecraft so I played that for a while. Later, I got attracted to the Valve games like portal and Half-life 2. They're great games that I might review later. After what happened to playstation network, I'm not so eager to try out playstation network now.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Gaming With Intellect: Metal Gear Series
Welcome to the premiere of Gaming With Intellect, where I get really dirty from digging really deep into games to reveal its very smart side!
As you guys may know, I'm gonna kick it off with one of my favourite game series of all (on second thought my favourite series of all time), and I'm talking about none other than the Metal Gear series! So let's get this @#$% started!
I remember playing Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons Of Liberty when I was 7, a mature rated game that wasn't visually violent, but it had that eeire mature, and sophisticated feel when playing it or watching it. It got to me very easily, but that drew me in much closer. The amazing stealth mechanics, long, but amazingly executed cinematics, a story that still rapes my mind but is still well woven, what's not to love?
So I followed the Metal Gear series for a while, then I saw MGS 3: Snake Eater, and boy was I amazed at that game. Not only was the it perfect cinematically, and the gameplay was much more intuitive, but that's when I realised MGS games aren't just masterpeices in gaming, but its a masterpeice in art form.
Hideo Kojima didn't want game just to play a game, he want's you to be immersed with the game. He wants you to bawl in sadness when EVA gives the final debriefing about The Boss in the last cutscene of Snake Eater, he wants you to test your patience when you want to get really stealthy, and he wants you to see what it takes to being a true soldier; and he (Mr. Kojima) succeeded.
For that exact reason, I'm (and was) being very skeptical about the portable installments and Rising. I mean yeah, I knew it was gonna be really good but I really worried that it wasn't gonna feel like a true Metal Gear game that has stripped of its goodies due to the PSP's limitations. Luckily, Portable Ops and Peace Walker exceeded my expectations, it felt like a big ass adventure was in the palm of my hands. But there's still MGS Rising, the true "black sheep" of the series that I'm worried about.
I already didn't like Raiden that much in MGS 2 cause honestly, no one can outbeat Snake as a hero character, and plus, it was just unnecessary. That was one of my biggest concerns with Sons of Liberty. In Guns Of The Patriot, Raiden was back and more badass thankfully, but that costed him his personality, another negative. Yeah, his pain and suffering conveyed in MGS 4 got to me, but he was just a meer robot. So why bring a robot back as the starring characterin the next installment? Not mention, the completely irrelevent gameplay mechanics. Again, its a very good mechanic, slicing and dicing people and other things, but there's a time and place for every thing, and slicing $%^& up like an asian cutting vegetables does suit well in the MGS universe. Worst of all, Metal Gear games made you keep your mind in the game and the game punishes you if you start to play mindlessly, and Rising completely abolishes that policy that I come to love, so now, you can just go ahead and slice everything in your path, without even a wee-bit of thought. Is Kojima truly giving up of the seires but ending it on a low note, or is it just a tech demo to see what motion sensign controllers are capable of doing? If that's the case either way, consider me officially losing hope in the franchise.
In conclusion, the Metal Gear series are the a series of games meant for your mind. You have to form a strategy, outsmart your enemy, pay attention to ALL the cutscene if you want anyhope in understanding the whole plot; and I love all that. It sheer cinematics make the games feel like a movie and sure it may give gameplay a bad rub, but you can`t do nothing but admire how well both are executed. But I'm starting to get the itch about the story. Everything has an end, and Kojima needs to close the book on the series soon; but his next project Rising, seems like a sign of a "video game series apocalypse" where the whole seires crumbles in a disastrous ending. I truely love the series, but watching something (heck even someone) deteriorate until its death is hard sight to watch, and I don't that to happen to a series that I have adored for so long.
As you guys may know, I'm gonna kick it off with one of my favourite game series of all (on second thought my favourite series of all time), and I'm talking about none other than the Metal Gear series! So let's get this @#$% started!
I remember playing Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons Of Liberty when I was 7, a mature rated game that wasn't visually violent, but it had that eeire mature, and sophisticated feel when playing it or watching it. It got to me very easily, but that drew me in much closer. The amazing stealth mechanics, long, but amazingly executed cinematics, a story that still rapes my mind but is still well woven, what's not to love?
So I followed the Metal Gear series for a while, then I saw MGS 3: Snake Eater, and boy was I amazed at that game. Not only was the it perfect cinematically, and the gameplay was much more intuitive, but that's when I realised MGS games aren't just masterpeices in gaming, but its a masterpeice in art form.
Hideo Kojima didn't want game just to play a game, he want's you to be immersed with the game. He wants you to bawl in sadness when EVA gives the final debriefing about The Boss in the last cutscene of Snake Eater, he wants you to test your patience when you want to get really stealthy, and he wants you to see what it takes to being a true soldier; and he (Mr. Kojima) succeeded.
For that exact reason, I'm (and was) being very skeptical about the portable installments and Rising. I mean yeah, I knew it was gonna be really good but I really worried that it wasn't gonna feel like a true Metal Gear game that has stripped of its goodies due to the PSP's limitations. Luckily, Portable Ops and Peace Walker exceeded my expectations, it felt like a big ass adventure was in the palm of my hands. But there's still MGS Rising, the true "black sheep" of the series that I'm worried about.
I already didn't like Raiden that much in MGS 2 cause honestly, no one can outbeat Snake as a hero character, and plus, it was just unnecessary. That was one of my biggest concerns with Sons of Liberty. In Guns Of The Patriot, Raiden was back and more badass thankfully, but that costed him his personality, another negative. Yeah, his pain and suffering conveyed in MGS 4 got to me, but he was just a meer robot. So why bring a robot back as the starring characterin the next installment? Not mention, the completely irrelevent gameplay mechanics. Again, its a very good mechanic, slicing and dicing people and other things, but there's a time and place for every thing, and slicing $%^& up like an asian cutting vegetables does suit well in the MGS universe. Worst of all, Metal Gear games made you keep your mind in the game and the game punishes you if you start to play mindlessly, and Rising completely abolishes that policy that I come to love, so now, you can just go ahead and slice everything in your path, without even a wee-bit of thought. Is Kojima truly giving up of the seires but ending it on a low note, or is it just a tech demo to see what motion sensign controllers are capable of doing? If that's the case either way, consider me officially losing hope in the franchise.
In conclusion, the Metal Gear series are the a series of games meant for your mind. You have to form a strategy, outsmart your enemy, pay attention to ALL the cutscene if you want anyhope in understanding the whole plot; and I love all that. It sheer cinematics make the games feel like a movie and sure it may give gameplay a bad rub, but you can`t do nothing but admire how well both are executed. But I'm starting to get the itch about the story. Everything has an end, and Kojima needs to close the book on the series soon; but his next project Rising, seems like a sign of a "video game series apocalypse" where the whole seires crumbles in a disastrous ending. I truely love the series, but watching something (heck even someone) deteriorate until its death is hard sight to watch, and I don't that to happen to a series that I have adored for so long.
Hello Everybody!
What's up everybody I'm Syseral! The newest author of Null!
Now don't worry, I'm not gonna be orgasming about video game news (I'm lookingat your FIFTYBOTTLES!!!), but here, I'm the comic relief, and the gamer with intellect. I beleive that like movies and books, video games can be analyzed for the good, and that's what I'm here for. I'm not here to mindlessly talk about video game news, I'm talking about gaming with intellect! Hopefully you guys will understand what I'm trying to say (If not, well better off playing Black Ops)
Anyways, every week (if I can make this my initiative, I'll be doing a series called Gaming With Intellect, where I talk about the smart side of games and I dig real deep to analyze what they truely mean.
Well that's it for me, and remember to always check out Null!
-Syseral (The gamer with the step above most gamers)
Now don't worry, I'm not gonna be orgasming about video game news (I'm lookingat your FIFTYBOTTLES!!!), but here, I'm the comic relief, and the gamer with intellect. I beleive that like movies and books, video games can be analyzed for the good, and that's what I'm here for. I'm not here to mindlessly talk about video game news, I'm talking about gaming with intellect! Hopefully you guys will understand what I'm trying to say (If not, well better off playing Black Ops)
Anyways, every week (if I can make this my initiative, I'll be doing a series called Gaming With Intellect, where I talk about the smart side of games and I dig real deep to analyze what they truely mean.
Well that's it for me, and remember to always check out Null!
-Syseral (The gamer with the step above most gamers)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Viewers
In March alone, we manged to get 716 viewers. If you read this, pat yourself on the back. You should happy that you spend your free time reading a blog about Canadian video game players.
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