Friday, January 28, 2005
Del Lagos el muerte
Less than a month after "The Greatest Year of Gaming Ever," the all-mighty 2004, a game truly worthy of the title "Great" is released. While 2004 featured a ton of over-hyped games that didn't deliver on their promise, 2005 starts out with one of the best games this generation. In fact, if I was asked at gun point right now what my Top Five Best Games This Generation are, I would say Metroid Prime, Grand Theft Auto 3, Halo: Combat Evolved, Ninja Gaiden (even though I only played it an hour) and... Resident Evil 4. Put them in any order you want, but these five games are some of the very best titles ever made.
Resident Evil 4 is the most surprising entry on this list to me. Before it was released, I absolutely hated the RE series. Hated with an ever growing passion. The games played like complete ass. Sure, they offered some scares, but the games were so tedious to play it was hardly worth the trouble. Remember the horrible tank-like controls? The inability to actually aim properly at enemies? The ridiculous puzzles involving combining medallion pieces to open the bathroom door? Remember the extremely limited ammo so you had to slowly walk away from any monster you encountered? All that crap, as well as the horrible camera angles and boring pre-rendered backgrounds, are finally gone. Even the laughable voice acting is gone. No sequel has ever made its predecessors look quite so archaic. To anyone who has played RE before RE4, can you even imagine going back to what was once considered great games?
There is so much that is right with RE4 I don't even know where to begin. The first is the pure terror that hangs on your shoulders throughout every step of the journey. Obviously, seeing scary pseudo-zombies jump out at you is as scary as ever, but this game provides a much deeper level of fear as well. The environments have that eerie campfire light feel to them. When a thunder storm comes and makes the environment almost pitch black with sparse burst of lightning providing a brief view of your surroundings, you'll understand fear. When you come to a sign that points to "The Lake" in one direction and a "Church" in the other, and can't decide where to go because both locations offer more fear than you can handle, you'll understand why this game is so great. I honestly don't think I have played a game this entire generation that I was so reluctant to hand over the controller after I died, while at the same time relieved that I didn't have to fight that troll one more time.
In just four hours of gaming yesterday I experienced a handful of some of my favorite gaming moments in recent memory. When I first started playing, after almost an hour of making lame excuses why I shouldn't have to play, I was in a foggy graveyard. I hadn't even fired my gun at that point yet, and was terrified beyond belief. I looked around and saw that no one was nearby so I slowly made my way to the far corner where a rupee lay. As I came nearer I heard a noise. "I think that's just a crow," I said. Andrew responded "Do you think?" "No," I said, "I just really want it to be." As I came to a house I heard a thumping noise behind me. Just as I was about to turn around a women, out for my blood, burst out of the house. Andrew and I screamed. I whipped out my gun and tried to aim it at her. The footsteps behind me were growing louder. I finally locked on and shot her square in the chest, stunning her for a second. I took a chance then, running right next to her to enter the house, narrowly avoiding the charging enemy behind me.
At another point, a little after this, I came to a crate. There are crates all over in this game, most are empty but some of them contain health or ammo. We were already four hours into the game so the sight of a crate was less than alarming. Just a chance to restock and move on. I casually walked up to it and struck it with my knife. There was a brief streak of white and my health went all the way down. Andrew, Scott and I yelled "What was that!? What's going on!?" I look behind me and saw a snake. Just a normal, three foot long snake, doing snake things on the ground. Who keeps snakes in crates anyway? Shot it dead.
I would love to tell you more about the game, especially the fight with Del Lagos, one of the best boss battles I've ever experienced, but this game just needs to be played first hand by anyone who likes games.
Resident Evil 4 is the most surprising entry on this list to me. Before it was released, I absolutely hated the RE series. Hated with an ever growing passion. The games played like complete ass. Sure, they offered some scares, but the games were so tedious to play it was hardly worth the trouble. Remember the horrible tank-like controls? The inability to actually aim properly at enemies? The ridiculous puzzles involving combining medallion pieces to open the bathroom door? Remember the extremely limited ammo so you had to slowly walk away from any monster you encountered? All that crap, as well as the horrible camera angles and boring pre-rendered backgrounds, are finally gone. Even the laughable voice acting is gone. No sequel has ever made its predecessors look quite so archaic. To anyone who has played RE before RE4, can you even imagine going back to what was once considered great games?
There is so much that is right with RE4 I don't even know where to begin. The first is the pure terror that hangs on your shoulders throughout every step of the journey. Obviously, seeing scary pseudo-zombies jump out at you is as scary as ever, but this game provides a much deeper level of fear as well. The environments have that eerie campfire light feel to them. When a thunder storm comes and makes the environment almost pitch black with sparse burst of lightning providing a brief view of your surroundings, you'll understand fear. When you come to a sign that points to "The Lake" in one direction and a "Church" in the other, and can't decide where to go because both locations offer more fear than you can handle, you'll understand why this game is so great. I honestly don't think I have played a game this entire generation that I was so reluctant to hand over the controller after I died, while at the same time relieved that I didn't have to fight that troll one more time.
In just four hours of gaming yesterday I experienced a handful of some of my favorite gaming moments in recent memory. When I first started playing, after almost an hour of making lame excuses why I shouldn't have to play, I was in a foggy graveyard. I hadn't even fired my gun at that point yet, and was terrified beyond belief. I looked around and saw that no one was nearby so I slowly made my way to the far corner where a rupee lay. As I came nearer I heard a noise. "I think that's just a crow," I said. Andrew responded "Do you think?" "No," I said, "I just really want it to be." As I came to a house I heard a thumping noise behind me. Just as I was about to turn around a women, out for my blood, burst out of the house. Andrew and I screamed. I whipped out my gun and tried to aim it at her. The footsteps behind me were growing louder. I finally locked on and shot her square in the chest, stunning her for a second. I took a chance then, running right next to her to enter the house, narrowly avoiding the charging enemy behind me.
At another point, a little after this, I came to a crate. There are crates all over in this game, most are empty but some of them contain health or ammo. We were already four hours into the game so the sight of a crate was less than alarming. Just a chance to restock and move on. I casually walked up to it and struck it with my knife. There was a brief streak of white and my health went all the way down. Andrew, Scott and I yelled "What was that!? What's going on!?" I look behind me and saw a snake. Just a normal, three foot long snake, doing snake things on the ground. Who keeps snakes in crates anyway? Shot it dead.
I would love to tell you more about the game, especially the fight with Del Lagos, one of the best boss battles I've ever experienced, but this game just needs to be played first hand by anyone who likes games.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
PSP Hands-On
Through his infinite wisdom, resources, and apparently supply of disposable cash, my assistant manager at work imported a PSP last week, and he gave me the honor of manhandling it a few days ago. And what can I say - It's a goddamn mind-blowing piece of technology. Not only is it the most impressive and marketable gadget since the iPod, but it's set to open up a whole new echelon of gaming. Sony was absolutely right about this being designed for a different market than the Game Boy, and it's that market that interests me. At this point I've shifted my stance on buying one from "I suppose there's a possibility" to "If I'm not able to play Lumines at my leisure ever again, I'll kill a man." So, yes, I want one now - badly.
Obviously the main draw is the sheer power, and seductively gorgeous screen. And let me tell you, you will never appreciate those aspects until you hold it in your hands. It's like a wonderfully fluffy kitten, staring up at you with all the cuteness in the world. And the kitten is made of chocolate - the most delicious chocolate you're capable of theorizing. The introduction to Ridge Racers is the single best CG sequence I've ever seen in a video game, probably because of the super-high resolution; seeing it and hearing it come out of something that looks like it was sent back in time from a sexy industrial future, and feels like a dual shock controller, well, it's comforting. And the actual games, of course, look stunning as well. Again, you won't believe it until you see it in person, but it's shocking having something that powerful in the palms of your hands. It feels like a new generation of gaming, and I suppose it is for portables. I hate to say it, but it seems the DS will wind up as an intermediary of sorts, a half-baked, botched introduction to what will ultimately be a new era in portable gaming. Prove me wrong, new 2D Mario game, but the system just seems a bit silly after playing a PSP.
So, beyond my propensity for beautiful things and pretty colors (also know as graphic 'whoring'), how are the games? Well, I played some Ridge Racers, and then a good chunk of Lumines. Ridge Racers is a pretty straightforward racing game, with a near-perfect presentation. It's not really my thing, but it's a great showpiece for the system. The analog nub is REALLY weird, but it's a nice little bonus to have around for things like racing games (though I'm curious how well a third-person action game will work). Also, the thought of playing a portable Burnout on that thing near gives me a seizure of joy. And what of Lumines, the game I'd initially buy the system for, from the creator of my treasured Rez? It's great. Really, really great. I won't call it the new Tetris, simply because it's not as intuitive, but it's quite an amazing puzzle game. Oh, and since it's somewhat music-based, I guess now would be a good time to mention the sound on this ridiculous system. Imagine turning a 5.1 surround sound entertainment center inside out, shrinking it down, and encasing it in glossy plastic. Well, something like that. It sounds great, to the point where playing MP3s through it off of the memory stick doesn't seem like such a foolish idea anymore. It's crisp, full, and loud when you want it to be. Oh, I won't bother explaining Lumines too much, but know that it's deceptively simple, audiovisually thrilling, and instantly addicting.
I guess I shouldn't be wanting this thing as badly as I do based on a few cool-looking games (Infected, Mercury, Brotherhood of the Blade, Twisted Metal: Head On, a couple others), and the promise of what lies in the future, but hold one yourself and tell me you don't want to go to bed with it. I hate to be a sucker for must-own gadgetry, but Sony have done their job taking their time with this thing. For the relatively cheap price, it seems like something I'd be foolish to pass up with an interest in gaming and technology such as mine. I have a feeling several million other people will be having that same thought soon enough, but trust me, this thing deserves to be the success it will become.
Obviously the main draw is the sheer power, and seductively gorgeous screen. And let me tell you, you will never appreciate those aspects until you hold it in your hands. It's like a wonderfully fluffy kitten, staring up at you with all the cuteness in the world. And the kitten is made of chocolate - the most delicious chocolate you're capable of theorizing. The introduction to Ridge Racers is the single best CG sequence I've ever seen in a video game, probably because of the super-high resolution; seeing it and hearing it come out of something that looks like it was sent back in time from a sexy industrial future, and feels like a dual shock controller, well, it's comforting. And the actual games, of course, look stunning as well. Again, you won't believe it until you see it in person, but it's shocking having something that powerful in the palms of your hands. It feels like a new generation of gaming, and I suppose it is for portables. I hate to say it, but it seems the DS will wind up as an intermediary of sorts, a half-baked, botched introduction to what will ultimately be a new era in portable gaming. Prove me wrong, new 2D Mario game, but the system just seems a bit silly after playing a PSP.
So, beyond my propensity for beautiful things and pretty colors (also know as graphic 'whoring'), how are the games? Well, I played some Ridge Racers, and then a good chunk of Lumines. Ridge Racers is a pretty straightforward racing game, with a near-perfect presentation. It's not really my thing, but it's a great showpiece for the system. The analog nub is REALLY weird, but it's a nice little bonus to have around for things like racing games (though I'm curious how well a third-person action game will work). Also, the thought of playing a portable Burnout on that thing near gives me a seizure of joy. And what of Lumines, the game I'd initially buy the system for, from the creator of my treasured Rez? It's great. Really, really great. I won't call it the new Tetris, simply because it's not as intuitive, but it's quite an amazing puzzle game. Oh, and since it's somewhat music-based, I guess now would be a good time to mention the sound on this ridiculous system. Imagine turning a 5.1 surround sound entertainment center inside out, shrinking it down, and encasing it in glossy plastic. Well, something like that. It sounds great, to the point where playing MP3s through it off of the memory stick doesn't seem like such a foolish idea anymore. It's crisp, full, and loud when you want it to be. Oh, I won't bother explaining Lumines too much, but know that it's deceptively simple, audiovisually thrilling, and instantly addicting.
I guess I shouldn't be wanting this thing as badly as I do based on a few cool-looking games (Infected, Mercury, Brotherhood of the Blade, Twisted Metal: Head On, a couple others), and the promise of what lies in the future, but hold one yourself and tell me you don't want to go to bed with it. I hate to be a sucker for must-own gadgetry, but Sony have done their job taking their time with this thing. For the relatively cheap price, it seems like something I'd be foolish to pass up with an interest in gaming and technology such as mine. I have a feeling several million other people will be having that same thought soon enough, but trust me, this thing deserves to be the success it will become.
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