Super Mario 3D Land Review

***Inspired by some of my lazy friends, every review I do will now include a "Too Long, Didn't Read" (TLDR) section at the bottom.  A simple one paragraph summation of the review. For more details, see the ACTUAL article***


Mario is by far the most recognizable video game character ever, and next to Santa Claus I'd say he's probably one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world (yep, I went there). Most gamers have one or two games they consider their first games, usually titles that got played often and the player was great at. Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of my first true gaming experiences. I was old enough to know all the mechanics and it's one of the first games I ever beat. One of the cool things about Super Mario 3D Land is it actually uses many aspects of SMB3 such as the famous Tanooki Suit, bouncing music blocks, and even music, and combines them with the style of Super Mario Galaxy with a hint of New Super Mario Bros. The end result is a Mario platforming experience like none other!

This game excels in the presentation department. Graphically speaking, the game is gorgeous. The levels are bright and colorful, and everything looks crisp and clean. It really does look like Super Mario Galaxy, but instead of being on planets in space, you're just in a regular landscape. The 3D effects compliment the game nicely especially on the vertical levels where your goal is to descend to lower platforms all the way to the end. I honestly got dizzy the first time I looked down one of these cliffs. Fireballs now jump out of the screen at you, and you can always tell just how far down or out your next jump is going to be without doing a leap of faith. The sound effects you've come to know and love are all here, and the music is phenomenal. Most of the music seems to be taken directly from Super Mario Bros. 3 or New Super Mario Bros. but there are original pieces as well. Remember the classic Airship music?  Yeah, that's here too.

Gameplay is just what you would expect: get to the end of the level and stomp on any baddies that get in your way, and make daring platforming moves along the way. Each world has roughly 5-7 levels including either a flying airship or Bowser castle at the end. One thing I loved about this game is the use of many game mechanics from Galaxy. Remember the Flip Swap Galaxy? Blue and red panels swing back and forth on a hinge every time you jump, making you think twice about where your next move will be. There are a TON of levels with new gameplay mechanics such as platforms that tilt and gain momentum, and panels that will unfold to create stairs and walls, and nothing ever feels overused or stale.

In addition to various gameplay mechanics, the Mario universe is famous for power-up items, and SM3DL does not disappoint there either. Just like in the classic Mario games, you start out as regular Mario and obtaining a Super Mushroom will make you Super Mario, allowing you to take one extra hit before losing a life. One of the big selling points for the game is the return of the Super Leaf which allows Mario to once again don the famous Tanooki Suit. This item allows Mario to do a spin attack and hit enemies with his raccoon-like tail, but be wary...a storm has blown Super Leaves all around the world, and now even some enemies are equipped with Tanooki tails! The Tanooki Suit also allows Mario to do a flutter jump similar to that of Yoshi, so you can stay in the air longer and descend at a slower rate. This ability is crucial in many parts of the game and if you're lucky enough to have a Tanooki Suit, you'll be grateful, but if you don't, you really see the difficulty of this game shine through.

Next item we have the always popular Fire Flower, granting you access to Fire Mario for a short time. Mario can shoot fireballs that will bounce off walls and destroy most enemies in one shot. Invincibility Stars make their return, making you impervious to damage and allowing you to plow through enemies quickly. One item that makes its debut in Super Mario 3D Land is the Boomerang Flower, transforming you into Boomerang Mario. With this special power-up Mario will throw a boomerang forward, and on its return flight it will find you. The cool thing about this weapon is you can throw it, then drop down to a different level or go up higher, and the boomerang will follow in a diagonal pattern and kill any enemies along the way until it catches up to you. The last new item is the Propeller Box. After you jump while wearing this handy device, you can give Mario a spin jump that will send him higher in the air, allow for slower descent to grab coins and items, and do a quick drill spin to the ground to defeat enemies waiting below. This item wasn't used as much as I'd like, but the levels you use it on showcase the 3D aspects of the game beautifully. 

The difficulty of this game is a little surprising. At first I was disappointed because I got through the first 6 worlds in mere hours, then Worlds 7 and 8 tripped me up a little. But the best part is after World 8 the game opens up a lot of replay value and depth with new levels, even higher difficulty, and motivation to go back and collect the three Star Coins that are hidden in every level.

Super Mario 3D Land is one of the best Mario platforming games I've ever had the pleasure of playing and it's definitely worth the money. When people ask to try my 3DS and see how the graphics look, I usually pop this game in.




***TL;DR***
Super Mario 3D land makes excellent use of the 3D technology, giving a new perspective to a classic franchise and certain platforming sections and puzzles have new depth. This is by FAR one of the best Mario games in existence, and a must-have (or at least, a must-play) for any 3DS owner.***





Gameplay: 9.0 -Everything about this game is great. I feel like the Tanooki Suit is a little overemphasized at times, like they're shoving it down your throat but not too bad. The difficulty starts out incredibly easy, but will definitely change in the later levels.

Graphics/Presentation: 9.5 - A beautifully presented game complimented even more by the implemented 3D graphics. THIS is what 3D gaming is about.

Story: N/A -The story is: A storm has blown Super Leaves across the land, granting Bowser and his minions their own Tanooki tails. He kidnapped the princess and you have to get her back.  I'm not going to include story in this rating.

Sound/Music: 10 - The music and sounds you've come to love from the Mario franchise are back, and nothing feels out of place.

Replay Value: 8.0 - Getting through the first 8 Worlds will be a fairly simple task.  Completing the rest of the game will give you a reason to keep coming back. You can also earn stars on your profile by completing tasks (such as obtaining every single Star Coin or hitting the top of every end-level flagpole) so this game has replay value, but it's still a single player platformer.

Overall Score:  36.5/40

Top 10 Best Video Games You've Probably Never Played

Some good games just don't get the attention they deserve. Maybe it's a lack of marketing or distribution, or the cover art looks stupid and nobody wants to pick it up.  Too often people will turn down a game based on something superficial and not do their research, or at the very least read the back of the box. This guide is here to help you, whether you're a seasoned gamer looking to try out something new you may have overlooked, or a skeptic who doesn't bother trying.  Here are 10 games you should try out if you ever have the chance.

#10
Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
Available on:  Wii

What is it?
Zack and Wiki is a point-and-click puzzle game, where you try and get to the treasure chest shown at the end of the level. The titular character Zack uses his magical monkey friend Wiki to turn various obstacles and enemies into tools that can be used. Say for example you need a key but theres a gap between you and it.  You use Wiki's ability on a nearby snake, and it changes it from a slithering threat into a grabber-claw that now allows you to reach the key. Use these various mechanics to complete each level.

Why should you get it?
Z&W is an excellent puzzle game with the difficulty curve you would expect, the first 1-2 levels being relatively easy, and letting you explore the mechanics of the game, and increasing in difficulty as you progress. The art style is colorful and fun, and just the overall layout of the game is enchanting and will draw you in. You can also have a friend help give you hints by using a 2nd wii remote to point at the screen. The puzzles in Zack and Wiki are easy enough to figure out but still difficult enough to give you a sense of accomplishment when you finally struggle through the more challenging ones.

#9
Psychic Force 2012
Available on: Dreamcast

What is it?
The Psychic Force franchise (there's another game for the PSX called Psychic Force 2010, the prequel to this game) is a new take on the classic fighter genre. You still fight your opponent 1-on-1 and you both have health bars and try to deplete the enemy's guage first by executing various combos and special attacks. What makes PF2012 different is instead of being on a flat, 2D plane, or even standing on ground with the ability to rotate 360 degrees around, the whole fight takes place in a large cube (or rectangular prism to be accurate) and players can move in any of the 8 basic directions. The characters each control an element or power such as water, fire, sound, lightning, even time and each character has a wide array of moves that showcases their various powers.

Why should you get it?
Psychic Force 2012 has that tried-and-true formula of "easy to learn, difficult to master" that gives so many games replay value. Basic moves are easy to pick up on, but it takes time to figure out your more complex moves and how to use them effectively. It's a fresh spin on a classic genre, and it's very rewarding to play this new style.  If you're looking for a fun fighting game that's easy to pick up, with cool characters, and a new look at how to play, this is the game for you.

#8
The Conduit
Available on: Wii

What is it?
The Conduit is a first-person shooter, set in the not-so-distant future United States. The story starts out simply enough: you're a special agent working for the government handpicked by the President to investigate a terrorist hideout. But you quickly learn as the plot begins to unfold there's more to this story than meets the eye as your character is soon caught up in a government conspiracy involving alien invasions, cover-ups, the works.

Why should you get it?
The Wii has been competing on the market against the PS3 and Xbox 360 and on the technical side of things, the Wii never stood a chance against the HD capabilities of its competitors. But The Conduit pushes the limits of what the Wii is capable of graphically, with beautiful lighting, various particle effects, and realistic scenery. This game really is beautiful and that's not even it's best selling points.  The story is fantastic and the plot twists will actually shock you. You'll find yourself wanting to move on to the next level so you can discover what's to happen next. The weapons scattered throughout the game offer a wide variety of fighting styles as you try out normal guns, secret government organization weapons, and even alien weapons. The controls have the most customization of any game I've ever seen, and that's a good thing because the game DOES use the Wii's infrared pointer to aim your weapons. The first 10 minutes or so might be awkward as you get a handle on the controls, but once you put the customization to work for you, it becomes second nature. Lastly the game supports online multiplayer with a variety of modes and options such as capture the flag, free-for-all, teams, etc. Overall, it's a solid game worth checking out. Oh, and one more thing:  one of the main characters is voiced by Kevin Sorbo, a.k.a. Hercules from the live action TV series "Hercules: The Legendary Adventures." Are you sold yet?

#7
Stubbs the Zombie in: Rebel Without A Pulse
Available on: Xbox, Xbox 360 (Arcade), PC

What is it?
Stubbs the Zombie is one hell of a fun game to play. You control a zombie (Stubbs) and your sole goal is to infect humans, eat brains and build your own undead army so you can seek revenge on the humans who killed you. Stubbs doesn't use traditional weapons like guns and swords, but rather body parts. One example is detaching his own head and rolling it like a bowling ball to take out various human targets, or throwing organs that explode on contact. Every human turned into a zombie will fight alongside you, and also possess the ability to turn other humans, exponentially increasing your army.

Why should you get it?
This game is just silly fun. It doesn't take a lot of skill to play it, but it will keep you entertained for a few hours at least. The various humorous cut scenes and random exclamations of the locals will keep you laughing as one by one they get picked off by the brain-eating hoarde. The environment of the game is set in the future as portrayed in the 1950s (think Back to the Future II) with hovercars and laser technology, but occupied by 50's style humans. The soundtrack of the game reflects this as it consists of 50s and 60s hits, covered by modern artists. The game is fairly short but extremely fun to play, especially if you have a few hours to waste on mindless (pun totally intended) humorous nonsense.

#6
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Available on: Gamecube
What is it?
Eternal Darkness is an action/horror game that uses special effects to mess with the player's mind. You play as Alex Roivas, who is exploring her grandfather's Rhode Island mansion after his gruesome, unexplained death. She discovers a book bound in human skin and bone, which shows her a vision of other people who have encountered this same book, and the fates they suffered. Each "flashback" gives the player control of the character focused on in that segment of the story, and as they progress through the game, the stories all start to become intertwined.

Why should you get it?
Two words for you: Sanity Effects. Nintendo patented a sanity meter in the game, alongside the player's health bar. As you encounter enemies, and discover horrific things, the sanity meter will drop lower and lower, and as a result, the character will start suffering from various hallucinations. As a player, you may notice strange visual effects such as random sparkling objects on the ground that you can't interact with, or blood dripping down from the walls. Audio effects like slow footsteps, moans/screams of women and children coming from everywhere and nowhere, and blades being sharpened. Some of the more extreme effects break the "fourth wall"  and present what seem to be hardware errors, such as the gamecube file being corrupted, or the volume on the tv cutting out. Sometimes the player may walk into a room, only to discover that the room is upside down and theyre on the ceiling.  Right about the time they realize what's going on, theres a flash of light, and the sanity effect is removed. If you want to get freaked out, the best way to play this game is with the lights off, and the volume up really loud. There are methods in the game that allow you to restore your sanity, thereby decreasing the effects you encounter, but let's be honest...that's no fun, right?

#5
Skies of Arcadia
Available on: Dreamcast, Gamecube

What is it?
An RPG that takes place primarily in the sky, Skies of Arcadia puts you in control of Vyse, a young air pirate who travels the world in search of treasure and adventure. He and his best friend since childhood, Aika, work together with the Blue Rogues to attack and steal from ships and crews that are bigger than them, namely the tyrannical Valuan Empire. After incidentally discovering a young mysterious girl, Vyse and Aika are swept up in an adventure to stop the Valuan Empire from summoning massive weapons that will ultimately allow them to control the world.

Why should you get it?
As with most RPGs, the main selling point of Skies of Arcadia is the story. It's full of adventure as you travel from one floating island to the next, exploring dungeons, finding treasure, and defeating enemies. The game is unique in its setting and style; pirates who sail their flying ships through the skies rather than water, and exploring various cities.  While the game DOES have the typical random battles with monsters involving turn-based combat, one of the unique features of this game is in the inclusion of air ship battles, also using the turn-based combat system. As you sail your ship, you will encounter other rival pirates and be forced to blast them out of the sky with various ship upgrades while trying to protect your own ship from too much damage. If you're not a huge fan of RPGs to begin with, this might not be the best game for you to try, because in a lot of ways, its similar to the rest of the genre.  But if you like to try out different styles and stories, this is definitely worth picking up.

#4
Psychonauts
Available on: Xbox, PS2, Xbox 360 (Arcade), PS3 (PSN), PC

What is it?
Psychonauts is an action/adventure platform game that puts you in the role of Razputin a.k.a. Raz,  a young boy who yearns to be a Psychonaut; an elite group that uses psychic powers to combat threats and save the world. Raz sneaks into a psychic training camp, and starts going through the training program to learn how to master all the different psychic abilities. As he's trying to progress, weird things start happening around camp and it's up to Raz and his new psychic powers to get to the bottom of things.

Why should you get it?
One of the best things this game has to offer is the style and humor. It's full of one-liners and offbeat humor and it keeps a light atmosphere while still keeping an intriguing story. I was already enjoying the game but one of the moments that sold me is Raz is transformed into a Godzilla-sized monster accidentally destroying a small town as he moves. One of the frightened civilians offers their love to this huge being, only to see their house smashed soon after. The civilian can be heard saying "Oh no!  It's immune to bullets....AND LOVE!" Awesome. The platforming aspects are everything you can hope for, where the first few levels won't have anything too difficult, but then as you progress things start getting tricky and you need get creative to figure out the spacing for certain jumps, or how to get through certain puzzles. So what sets this game apart from others in this category like Crash Bandicoot, or Ratchet and Clank? The psychic abilities that you can collect throughout the game. Everything from firing your pent up aggression as mind bullets, to making your enemies spontaneously combust, to rolling around on a ball of psychic energy. Progression through the game is done by entering the minds of various individuals to gather clues and information regarding the happenings of the camp, defeating enemies and nightmares along the way. It's an extemely fun game, and can provide a decent challenge to all the platform kings out there, and it will definitely keep you entertained with its cast of characters, and wild sense of humor.

#3
Geist
Available for: Gamecube

What is it?
Geist puts you in the role of a soldier who, while working with his team to perform a rescue mission, is captured and subsequently his body and soul become separated. At this point you take control of the spirit, as a poultergeist floating around. You can not directly interact with things such as opening doors or picking up guns, but you can "possess" various objects around the room, and if someone has enough fear, you can even possess humans and take control of them.

Why should you get it?
Geist is part first-person shooter, and at times, part puzzler. In order to possess a human, they must be scared. In order to scare them, you must possess various objects, sometimes in order. In the game's built-in tutorial mode for example, you warp yourself into a phone and make it ring. A guard picks it up only to hear static and weird noises. From there you move on to a trash can, and cause it to rattle and roll, making the poor guard even more nervous. Then you take control of a small explosive device and set it off, and the guy gets freaked out enough that you can take control of him.  Now you can access areas that only a guard would have access to, and you have a gun. At anytime you can dispel yourself from your current host, then move on to a new host. Progressing through parts of the game involve figuring out who you need to be controlling to get into what areas, and also how to make someone scared enough to get possessed.  It's a cool concept for a game, very original, and while the game IS fun, and the story is actually fairly difficult to progress through, the whole possession thing starts to seem more like a novelty after a while.

#2
3D Dot Game Heroes
Available for: PS3  What is it?
Have you ever seen statues created and displayed at places like LEGO World? Imagine if you will, the same art style of these creations but applied to the world of 8-bit gaming. If Super Mario Bros. was drawn in pixels, this game was sculpted in them. The game itself is like that of the original NES Legend of Zelda game. You play a warrior, equipped with sword and shield, and you traverse the land fighting enemies with your weapons in real time. Travel into dungeons, solve puzzles, fight bosses, etc.  The typical adventure type game, but in beautiful 3D 8-bit.

Why should you get it?
3DDGH is not only a fun adventure game, but it also mocks other famous video games, using various sound effects, dialogues, and just the style in general. You can even attack random chickens and have them attack you back! If you've ever played an old school action/adventure game, this is definitely a must-play title. The visual presentation of this game is absolutely breathtaking and creative, and the gameplay is 100% solid. Fighting with enemies requires a combination of timing your attacks while also blocking or evading theirs. Each dungeon you encounter grants you a new weapon and plenty of puzzles to solve in order to get to the end, followed by a challenging boss battle. Back out on the overworld, travel to villages, talk with the locals, find items, and proceed to new dungeons. A customization feature allows you to change your main characters sprite into anything your imagination can conjure, from a warrior, to a king, maybe a dragon, or just a grey cube if you so wish. You can also customize your weapons as you progress, building up your sword's size to half the screen if you want to. 3D Dot Game Heroes has a little something for everyone to enjoy, especially for old school gamers and at the very least, it's just pretty to look at. If you're an adventure seeker, you'll definitely want to give this game a shot, just remember: it's dangerous to go alone.

#1
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Available on: DS

What is it?
999 is a text-heavy, point-and-click puzzle game with an absolutely amazing story that will keep you guessing right up to the end, then leave you staring at the screen with your mouth gaping open. Yeah, it's one of those. The game finds your character trapped on a sinking boat with eight other people. Nobody knows how they got there or why, but they discover they're all involved in a twisted game of survival where they only have nine hours to find the right path to escape or they all die. The game they're playing has a strict set of rules that must be adhered to, and the consequences of breaking those rules involve certain death, a la the Saw franchise. The game's puzzles are all point-and-click and you find various clues and objects to help you escape whatever room you're in at the time. Will you make it out alive before time is up?

Why should you get it?
If you don't like reading a lot, this is not the game for you. It is very, very text-heavy because the primary focus of the game is more in the characters and the story rather than the gameplay itself. But in that regards, the story is amazing, and you will never see the plot twists coming. The puzzles are just the right level of difficulty, and every puzzle room gives you a chance to learn a piece of one or more of the other characters' back stories. The game is kind of twisted, and it definitely earned its ESRB rating of M but it's not so over the top that it's unrealistic. 999 is one of the most overlooked games out there and as word of mouth spreads, it's finally starting to get the attention it so deserves.

And there you have it folks, my opinions on the most underrated, overlooked games of the modern day. Next time you're browsing for games, and you see a title that doesn't look like it's worth playing, do some research first.  You might be surprised what kind of gems you can find.

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Partial Review

 So I've had about 48 hours with Skyward Sword (of which, i spent like 5-8 hours playing. A guy has to sleep and work) and so far, I definitely approve.  I intend to write a full-blown review of it someday, but right now, this is just my opinion on the first chunk of the game.

Let me start by saying I'm not going to compare this game point for point to Ocarina of Time.  Yes I'm aware OoT is a fantastic game, one of my favorites of all time and arguably the best in the Zelda franchise but this is NOT Ocarina of Time and people should stop treating it as such. If you want a prettier version of Ocarina of Time, then go buy a 3DS.

The first thing many of you will notice about Skyward Sword is the art style.  I am personally a fan of this. I feel like Wind Waker was TOO over the top cartoon-y (and honestly, a fantastic game, you just have to accept it for being a different piece) and Twilight Princess took the series towards a more realistic, even darker side than the light-heartedness we call came to love from Ocarina and Majora's Mask. SS kept some of the more realistic looks and expressions of Twilight Princess, especially noticeable in cutscenes when you can see the emotion played out on the characters' faces,  but they chose to also do a colorful, partial cel-shading. Honestly, it just feels like the next natural transition.

One of the other things you'll be quick to notice is the setting.  Skyward Sword initially takes place in Skyloft,  a bustling civilization set high up in the clouds among floating islands. Skyloft is a peaceful place where there aren't any monsters or trouble lurking about, and everyone is enjoying their day-to-day life. All of the main characters (mostly students at the Knight Academy) have a giant bird called a Loftwing that they use to travel around on, and this is your mode of transportation through the sky when you're not directly standing on Skyloft itself.

Next up is the story-telling of Skyward Sword. LoZ games usually have a very brief intro, then you're dropped into the action. Skyward Sword differs on this a little, as the whole first section of the game is getting introduced to characters, acquainting yourself with the area, and learning the controls. There IS more story and background than usual, but it really is a nice touch.  For those who aren't aware, chronologically this is the FIRST entry in the franchise, so a great many things have not been established.  The game has a nice flow to it, and the pace feels just right.  You don't spend TOO much time in Skyloft before taking off on adventure, but they could've shortened the experience a LITTLE.

Controls have been a huge selling point that Nintendo has been pushing with this game since it requires a Wii Motion Plus attachment, and I will admit it has ups and downs. Sword fighting feels more natural. Instead of randomly flicking the remote and hoping, you have to actually swing the remote vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to hit your targets. You can also thrust forward for a jab. You will occasionally have to recalibrate the wii motion plus (done from one of the pause menus) if you feel the controller isn't accurately depicting your motions, but this is a minor nuisance. Spin attacks are done by shaking the Wii remote and nunchuck horizontally, and your shield is controlled by flicking the nunchuck. One thing I love about the controls in Skyward Sword are the way they have streamlined items.  No more are the days of pausing, going to an item select screen and equipping stuff in a menu.  Now, while moving/fighting you can hold down a button, and flick the Wii remote to the item you want, and it's instantly ready to go. Motion controls have been included for certain items, such as small pots and bombs. Instead of pressing A to throw an object like it has been for years,  now you flick the remote while it is pointing upwards to throw, or a new feature is if you point the wii remote downwards and flick you will roll an object, giving it further distance and clearing certain puzzles. Overall the controls aren't the dream we wish they were,  but they're definitely not horrible.

Gameplay is still as golden as ever. My biggest complaint is flying around on your Loftwing...it can feel unresponsive at times, but I think it's just the bird because when you use the exact same controls for something else later in the game it works flawlessly. Puzzles are still scattered around and they have just the right amount of difficulty that you might be stumped at first, but as soon as you figure it out it's a good feeling. Newly added to the series is a Stamina meter.  You can hold A to make Link dash, but this will quickly deplete the Stamina guage (which will then refill immediately after). Using a spin attack or too many back-to-back slashes will also deplete the meter, as well as climbing or hanging on ledges.  When I first saw it, I was a little put off by this addition, but as I progress through the game it's starting to feel more natural. Also newly added is a feature called Dowsing. by going into first person view, you point the Wii remote around and a reticule will blink faster and louder as you get closer to the target (be that a person, item, goal, etc).  Unfortunately they made this more required than optional and I really feel the game could have done without it, or again, at least make it optional to use.

I've completed the intro (dare I say, prologue) for the game,  cleared the first explorable area, and also the first temple. I'm not going to tell you what item you get in this temple, but it's really cool, and if you've watched videos/trailers I'm sure you've already seen it before.

Again, I'm only a short ways into this 40-hour game, and reviews have said after clearing the game, there is incentive to go back through again, so I'll be curious to see how that plays out.  As long as you aren't looking for an exact replica of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, and you can accept this game as its own separate entity in the franchise, I have to say it's a solid title so far, and I'm leaving this review now so I can go play more.  :)   Please leave any comments, thoughts, questions, etc on the comments!  See ya next time!

Sonic Generations Review

***This is a review of the PS3/360/PC version. There's also a version on the 3DS but it's different gameplay***

Okay, the time has finally come for me to write a review of the game I've been waiting anxiously for since earlier this year. Sonic Generations launched at the beginning of November (yes it's true, there WERE other games that debuted besides Modern Warfare 3 and Skyrim believe it or not) and I have spent enough time with the game to write a review that I feel can cover all the bases properly. Now anyone who knows me is already aware that I'm a huge Sonic fanboy, and I was afraid that I might end up being biased, but I think I can form an unbiased opinion and let you know what this game is about.

In case you aren't aware of the game's plot, a mysterious force sends modern day Sonic back in time to team up with his classic self to save the world before it's destroyed. Classic Sonic is the blue blur from the earlier games, namely the Genesis titles, Sonic CD, etc. He's shorter, with a potbelly-esque appearance, and doesn't speak. Modern Sonic is the one we've seen from the Dreamcast's Sonic Adventure all the way up to the most recent Sonic Colors for the Wii. This sonic is taller, has longer spikes, and as most fans have noted since the Dreamcast era, he unfortunately speaks. Most of the fans of the Sonic universe disliked when the franchise naturally progressed to the next level and added voice acting to their games, but Generations isn't HORRIBLE. Believe it or not, I even laughed at a few parts.

So why two Sonics? The two Sonics have very different play styles and that's what makes this game unique. Classic Sonic's levels are just what you'd expect: 2D side-scrolling classic gameplay. One of the developers stated in an interview that classic Sonic's style is "old-school momentum-based platforming" and I really don't think anyone else could describe it better. Think of the old days of playing your Sega Genesis, playing Sonic 1, 2, or 3, but imagine doing it with updated HD graphics, with much higher speeds and extended levels. It's truly platforming and timing at its finest and every level has branching paths you can choose from. If you can manage to stick to higher paths, you'll usually get to the goal faster but of course these are the more difficult routes as they require precision timing of leaping from platform to platform and bouncing off enemies with the right speed to get to higher ground. Overall, if you grew up playing classic Sonic games, this is gonna be a major nostalgia factor for you.

Anyone who has played Sonic Colors or Sonic Unleashed (the cool, speedy daytime levels.  Not the clunky, ridiculous werehog night time levels) will recognize gameplay for the Modern variation. Fast-paced action, speeding through levels with a third-person perspective following Sonic from behind the back, holding down the speed boost button and just barreling through enemies and obstacles at blinding speed. Modern gameplay is all about speed. As stated above the camera is usually behind Sonic while you send him forward through all the obstacles the level has to offer, but there are many points where the game will change to a 2D, side scrolling view similar to Classic Sonic's levels. Platforming is abundant in the modern levels but the style is different than classic. Modern Sonic has access to a homing attack, found in all of his games since Sonic Adventure, that locks on to the nearest enemy, spring or lever when you jump and with another push of the jump button Sonic shoots himself over to the target. This plays a major role in the modern levels but I can't emphasize enough that these levels are all about speed. Some of the best visual aspects of the entire game come from using the Boost through a modern level and just being amazed at the colors and scenery as they fly by.

Now that you know the difference between the two versions, this is where things get cool.  There are 9 Zones to play through each covering 3 sections of the Sonic timeline; Classic, Dreamcast/Gamecube, and Modern Day, and you get to do them as both versions of Sonic. Green Hill Zone, famous for being the first Sonic level ever, will be playable as Classic Sonic in 2D old-school glory, and then you get to play it from a whole new perspective as Modern Sonic seeing the same enemies and environments but with a twist. In similar fashion, some of the memorable later levels like City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2 can now be playable in 2D mode with basic platforming and obstacles both old and new to cross your path. Remember the famous GUN truck chase scene from City Escape? It's back, with a vengeance. One of the coolest things about this game is playing through an old-school level (like Chemical Plant Zone from Sonic 2) as Modern Sonic and seeing how everything is familiar yet appears from a different angle. Another feature of the two versions is one of this game's highest selling points: the music.  If you play a level in its original form (old-school level in Classic mode, Modern Day level in Modern mode) then the levels have their original songs playing which DEFINITELY kicks up the nostalgia. But if you play on the opposite style, the Sonic Team has made remixes of all the songs to play in the background. If you thought "Escape From the City" was catchy before, wait until you hear the techno-ish remix. Or listen to the smooth jazzy sound of the new Green Hill Zone. You also have the ability to customize which songs play during a level. As you unlock more songs throughout the game, you can play them in the background of any level. Sonic 3's Angel Island Zone playing during Modern Green Hill? Sure. Why not?

The difficulty level of this game actually shocked me. As would be expected, the first few levels are relatively easy, and don't require too much skill to complete but as I got into the later levels (some of the Dreamcast levels and even a few Modern Day stages) I found myself legitimately challenged to find the right path and make it to the end without dying. I even got a Game Over a few times! It's definitely not unbearable and the escalated challenge level was a welcome change of pace in the late game. Overall, the game IS relatively easy though, and the campaign is short, maybe lasting around 5-7 hours. Despite the short campaign the game has a ridiculous amount of replay value in the form of collectibles and alternate paths. Every Zone (both classic and modern) has 5 hidden red rings to find, each of which unlocks a piece of concept artwork or a song from Sonic's vast library of games.  Most of the time these rings involve sticking to the more difficult high paths as I mentioned earlier, or finding a hidden route that every level contains. Each Zone also has 5 Challenge Gates to play through with various categories of things to try. Some of the challenges include racing one of Sonic's friends while avoiding obstacles, extra enemies, or collecting a certain number of rings before the goal. Other challenges test your skills with using various items and power-ups, and some are just speed runs to get to the end faster than usual. Everytime you complete a Challenge Gate you also unlock another concept artwork or soundtrack song. So let's do some math here: Two Sonics, nine Zones, each with 5 Challenge levels...that's 18 unique levels (not including 3 rival battles and 4 boss fights) all containing 5 hidden red rings, and 45 challenges for both Sonics to play through.  As if that wasn't enough replay value already, everything I just named has a Ranking system when you clear the level. If you got through the level in a quick time you'll be awarded an A-rank. If you do so without losing a life you can get an S-rank. Going back through the game and getting S-Ranks on every level is a daunting task only for the true completionist.

The game is not without flaws though. As stated earlier the Campaign is extremely short, so if you're not into replaying old stages and getting collectibles, you might just wanna rent this or go to a friend's house to try it out.  Also something that hardcore Sonic fans will be disappointed in is the use of Chaos Emeralds in this game.  There's no special stage where you have to pour your blood, sweat and tears into the system to earn them.  You get one everytime you beat a boss. Lame, right?  Major loss of respect for Sonic Team on that one.  Another thing I didn't like is the final boss. No spoilers here, but the game is great up until that. The music for this game is extremely awesome as I've mentioned, and the sound effects are spot on, but during some of the boss fights the overused voice clips saying the same five things over and over again DOES get really annoying.

In conclusion, Sonic Generations is a must-play title for anyone who has ever loved Sonic in their life, whether it was his early years as a platformer, or the more recent games as a speed demon, this game has a little something for everyone.  And if you're a completionist or Trophy/Achievement Hunter, Generations does NOT disappoint.


Gameplay: 9.0 - Classic levels give an awesome throwback to games of old with 2D platforming, while the Modern levels will blow you away with speed and power.

Graphics/Presentation: 10 - The recreation of old levels with new graphics is beautiful, and the beauty of seeing newer levels fly by you is awesome. There are parts that will take your breath away and make your eyes water from staring too long. Never once did I think "they could have made this look better."

Story: 6.0 - This game is about gameplay, not necessarily story.  With a short campaign, a lackluster story, and a horrible final boss, this is probably one of the game's few weak points.

Sound/Music: 9.5 - The music in this game is simply fantastic. The old music brought back, the new remixes adding a flare of style, plus the ability to collect songs from old Sonic games and re-use them is just awesome. The voice-overs really aren't THAT bad through most of the game until you get to the latter bosses, and a few of the challenges. Yes, I know it's a Homing Shot. (This will make sense when you play through the game :D)

Replay Value: 7.0  - Not gonna lie, I get bored with replay value sometimes. If it isn't DESIGNED for replay value (like the Smash Bros. series or Halo) I usually don't bother. But this game has me coming back for more. Unfortunately the replay value does have a finite amount of gameplay to it, there are a lot of opportunities to strive for an S-Rank, but it's also much easier to S-rank in this game than previous ones. But for a collector/completionist, this game will keep you busy for a while.

Overall Score:  41.5/50

Infamous 2 Review (Spoiler-Free)

What would you do if you were given super powers? Would you be a hero, do good deeds, and help people?  Or would you be corrupted by power as you strive for personal gain and trample on anyone who got in your way? This is the question asked by the inFAMOUS franchise. To anyone who hasn't played the first inFAMOUS game, I highly recommend it if you enjoy open-world action games. I'll try to avoid spoilers from the first game for this review, so here is a (very) brief summary of the events that unfolded. You play as Cole MacGrath, a bike courier in Empire City and you are unknowingly the cause of an explosion that wipes out city blocks, and despite being at the epicenter of this disaster, you survived. As you recovered, you discovered you have electrical powers; firing bolts from your hands, draining electricity from objects to regain strength, healing other people, and of course, blowing things to pieces. Fast forward to the end of the story: through the game's events you come to find out a Beast is coming that will destroy everything in its path and you are the only one who can stop it, but as of now you are not strong enough to do so.

Enter inFAMOUS 2.  The Beast is Coming. You once again take on the identity of Cole as you head to the southern port city of New Marais along with your best friend Zeke, and NSA agent Lucy Kuo, to meet with Kuo's friend Dr. Wolfe.  The good doctor claims he has a way to enhance your powers so you'll be able to combat The Beast. New Marais draws much of its design and culture from modern day New Orleans with everything from swamps and marshes to a bustling city complete with a Red Light District.

One of the best things about inFAMOUS 2 in my opinion, is the environment. You won't get bored exploring New Marais, and there's always something interesting to see. In Flood Town (a portion of the city that looks like post-Katrina New Orleans), buildings are underwater, debris is scattered about, and you can even find graffiti on the walls that lends some humor to a desperate situation (my favorite being "Wanted: One Giant Sponge").  You really get a feel for the environment and it feels very natural. The presentation is fantastic, with each section of the city having new challenges to offer. The citizens walking around the city always have something to say and depending on if you perform good Karma deeds (such as healing injured citizens, or saving civilians from muggings and abductions), or bad Karma deeds (killing/injuring civilians, blowing up random buildings, or attacking police forces) the people of New Marais will have varied opinions of you.  As you build up your good karma, some citizens will praise you as you pass by and even help you out in a fight by attacking your enemies! The more destructive and reckless you are, you will be chastised by the passers-by, and some may even come up and attack you, or throw rocks from a distance. Just another excuse to defend yourself, am I right?

The combat in inFAMOUS 2 has been improved upon vastly from the first game, with the most noteable change being melee attacks. Cole is given a new weapon called the Amp, and you can use this to perform combos on enemies leading up to awesome looking finisher moves. Attacking with melee moves basically means mashing Square and pressing/holding the directional stick towards where your enemy is. The powers are not only easy to use, but inFAMOUS 2 has a new system for switching between different types of powers on-the-fly. So if you're firing regular bolts and it's just not doing the job, hold down a button, and you can momentarily pause the action and switch to rapid fire bolts then resume the fight.

In this game, there is much more emphasis on the Karma choices you make, instead of just "Oh, he did something bad!",  now your Karmic choices will actually affect the story at times and even your relationships with other characters.  As to be expected from the inFAMOUS team at Sucker Punch, the story was very well done, although I will admit it was lacking something that the first game had. Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker by any means, I was just slightly less pulled in by this story than I was with the first game.

One of the new features that inFAMOUS 2 has included is the ability to create and play User-Generated Content or UGC. This feature allows you to make your own missions, and have them displayed in the game in real time, for other people to try out and rate.  From my own personal experience with the UGC Creator tools, there is seemingly no limit to the kinds of missions you can set up. Seeing some of the missions Sucker Punch created, and the kinds of things you can do with the physics engine of the game is just astoundingly impressive, and anyone with a creative mind will be able to use the UGC tools to give this game tons of replay value. One thing I feel the game lacked in this department was ANY kind of tutorial regarding the UGC interface is that there is no instruction whatsoever, which is a little unfortunate.

The only things I can really critique this game on negatively, aside from the SOMEWHAT lackluster story/ending,  are difficulty and length. Playing through the game on the Easy setting makes it almost boring to play. The decreased amount of enemies severely takes away from the challenge, but I suppose if you chose Easy, that's what you wanted. Conversely, playing the game on the Hard setting was quite a challenge. a few of the levels will have you ready to pull your hair out and will require many lives/attempts to get through. Or maybe I just suck. It really doesn't take away from the game, just something I figured I would mention. As for the length of the game, even though there were the same amount of missions from the first game and some of those were even longer, I feel like this game had less play time.  This could also be because I played it constantly once I got my copy.  Luckily, there are plenty of collectibles and side quests to keep you busy, and the ever-changing lineup of UGC adds replay value as well. Not to mention, there's incentive for playing both karma stories, so you'll want to give the game a second play-through.

Overall, I believe inFAMOUS 2 to be a great game in its own right, and a very good sequel for the franchise. If you haven't picked up either of these games, theyre both available for download on the Playstation Store as digital downloads.



Gameplay: 9.0 - There's nothing better than living in a fantasy world where you can do whatever you please and not suffer the consequences.  Using your powers on exploding towers, bad guys, civilians, it doesn't matter. It never gets old and it feels GOOD.

Graphics/Presentation: 8.5 - A lot of thought and design went into the various aspects of New Marais, and there's always something new to see. I don't feel like the graphics are as perfect as they could've been, but they're still damn pretty.

Story: 8.5 - As I said above, the story is great, but it DID lack something that the first one had. Definitely worth playing through both endings.

Sound/Music: 9.0 - The various sound effects and music throughout inFAMOUS 2 really lend to the atmosphere, and even gets your adrenaline pumping for some of the harder missions.

Replay Value: 7.5  - Being that this is a single-player action game, it doesn't hold as much replay value as some games, however, in the single player department inFAMOUS 2 has plenty to offer.  Side missions, collectibles, User-Generated Content, and of course two separate storylines to play through.

Overall Score:  42.5/50.

Thanks for reading! This is my first attempt at actually writing a video game review so opinions, comments and suggestions are all welcome.

Welcome to the World.

Video games have been a part of the entertainment industry for more than 25 years and their history is a rich, expansive one.  In this day and age you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who can say "I've never played a video game at all in my life."  In fact, I think it'd be close to impossible. They have worked their way into our lives just like movies, music, and other forms of entertainment we now consider commonplace.

First, allow me to talk a little about myself. Personally, I have been actively playing all kinds of games since I was about 4 years old. I remember playing games like Super Mario Bros. and the Disney's Magic Kingdom game with my grandpa and brother. I grew up as a Nintendo fan boy, with a hint of Sega thrown in. I've owned an NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, N64, Gamecube, and a Wii. I got my Playstation 3 last year and I've fallen in love with it. I'm also a big advocate of handhelds as well, having owned numerous Game Boy variations, a Game Gear, and every member of the DS family, including my newest Nintendo 3DS.

I've never been one for PC gaming though, so please do not contact me asking for reviews on such, because frankly I just don't want to. I have nothing against them necessarily, because I believe everyone is entitled to their entertainment however they may want it. But I digress. I have a long, healthy relationship with the world of video games, and I have created this little piece of real estate on the Internet so that I may share with you my insight and opinions on the games that I encounter in hopes of sparking your interest in them as well. I will primarily write reviews for games as they come out (or as I obtain them) as well as random articles that I may come up with. 

I hope you'll take the time to check out my reviews, and just maybe I can help show you how awesome games can be. I'm always available for contact with any questions, comments, requests, or anything else you'd like to say. This is a gamer's world, and I'm here to show you around.

Best wishes,
-Nighthunter387