Back With a Vengeance + E3 Impressions

It's been way too long since my last post. The big gap wasn't because of a lack of interest, just a lot of personal crap to deal with. I got a promotion at my job, which has meant a lot more time at work and a lot less time gaming. I also moved, so it has taken a lot of time to get settled. These factors, coupled with the current drought of video games(at least until late August when Bioshock releases), has really kept me from doing what I love doing: writing about games. Now that it's mid-July, what better time to start writing again then the week of the new, slimmer, and hopefully improved E3. I had a chance to stream some videos during the week, and I got a chance to catch all three press conferences live on TV (I guess G4 still has some interest in gaming??). Overall I really wasn't impressed with any of the conferences. Microsoft pounded their chest, boasting about how great their 2007 lineup is-which may be the best fall lineup to ever release-but they had one 2008 game, in the form of Resident Evil 5 in a 30 second video which didn't show off anything special. I guess Microsoft knows they don't have to announce anything major because 2007 is already theirs. Nintendo is showing gamers that they are moving more and more away from their core fans. Wii Fit doesn't look like anything great, nor does it look amusing or entertaining. While Metroid Prime 3: Corruption looks great, it wasn't a surprise, nor does it look like a major notch in Nintendo's belt. So what does Nintendo have in the future? A new Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawlers, and Super Mario Galaxy. We'll see if this lineup has what it takes to keep Wii sales up. Last and least was Sony. They needed to really step up this year and wow us with something great. Instead, we got a lighter, slimmer PSP that comes in white. Big friggin' deal. The PS3 game lineup looked great, but Microsoft pretty much has an answer for everything PS3 can roll out. Metal Gear Solid 4 is the last bastion for an exclusive game that can deal some damage, and while Killzone 2 looked good, it has to show a lot more than gritty graphics to prove it can swim in the deep end with the likes of Gears and Halo. Perhaps the biggest news Sony had to offer was announced a week earlier, when Sony dropped the price of the PS3 by a hundred bucks. Uncharted and Heavenly Sword looked good, but are they good enough to answer for games like Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey, Bioshock, Too Human, and that game...uh, Halo 3. Only time will tell what the video game industry has up their sleaves for us, the consumers, but E3 showed one game that is moving the industry forward: Rock Band.
More to come in the next few days...

Halo 3 Beta: First Impressions

Now that all the problems downloading the Halo 3 Beta build have been cleared up, I was able to download (through Crackdown) the beta build of Halo 3, as I'm sure countless other gamers have done so. So what are my first impressions of perhaps the biggest game that will ever release on the XBox 360? First and foremost, the biggest aspect of the Halo 3 beta is that not a lot has changed. The gameplay is pretty similar to Halo 2, with the biggest changes being a tweaked physics engine (jumping isn't so "floaty" anymore), the addition of gadgets (such as the bubble shield and land mines), and the much-welcomed return of my favorite weapon in the Halo universe: the assault rifle.
While something may seem insignificant, such as less "floaty" jumps, subtle changes to the gameplay do make a difference. A better physics engine keeps the gunfights more grounded, eliminating the "bunny hop" scenario that all Halo 2 players are familiar with. The addition of gadgets also makes for more interesting matches, especially since some (like land mines and personal jump jets) may change the dynamics of a map from time to time. Players can now create choke points and funnel opponents into specific areas with strategically placed gadgets. Lastly, the assault rifle is a Godsend. In Halo 2, most of the time when you respanwed you had to grab a battle rifle or the rockets to stand a chance. Now that the assault rifle is back, grabbing a more pwerful weapon doesn't have to be priority one. If you spawn and get into a gunfight with someone with a battle rifle, you have a chance of winning the gunfight, which was next to impossible in Halo 2, and that helps keep the playing field a little more level this time around.
As far as the maps go, we are able to play three new maps: High Ground, Valhalla, and Snowbound. High Ground is a very close-quarters, team based survival map, Valhalla is a wide open, sniper-friendly map, and Snowbound is a little bit of both. Personally, my favorite map is High Ground, because I love close-quarters. I don't like having to run for 20 seconds before seeing someone, or getting spawn-sniped from God knows where. Overall, the maps are pretty balanced, and reek of Halo 2, which isn't a bad thing. Graphically, they can be improved, and probably will when the retail version releases on September 25th.
I'll be back to post more in the next few days, but until then I have a date with some red and blue spartans tonight.

Turret Action on High Ground

A Look at the Mongoose on Valhalla

Carnage on the map Snowbound

--all pics courtesy of Bungie.net--

We Like to Party

Yes, Halo 3 fervor is now in full effect! We are t-minus 3 days until the infamous Halo 3 beta goes live, when gamers can finally get their frag on yet again in spartan vs. spartan action. Chances are that you've already seen a plethora of videos, game screens, and articles on what will make Halo 3 tick. But as we get closer to the inevitable hours upon hours of time that we will spend in the Halo 3 universe, I'm reminded of the amazing party system that Bungie developed for Halo 2. It will most certainly be back in Halo 3, but why can't this great and innovative way of playing PvP online cross developers and become an industry norm?
For anyone who hasn't played Halo 2, the party system would allow a group of friends to remain together while moving in and out of different games. Once a game ended, the party would be put back into their own private lobby, and the party leader could then search for a different game. Parties would be matched up against each other, so gamers could play ranked games with their friends, and Bungie didn't have to worry about cheaters who "boost" to get their ranks up. It was such a successful system, I can only scratch my head and wonder why haven't other developers implemented this system into their online modes? A game like Gears of War would have been perfect for such a system, and would have eliminated the need for that ridiculous patch that eliminated playing ranked games with your friends.
Throughout this generation, Microsoft has made it pretty clear that they will do anything it takes to keep the sanctity of ranked games from being tarnished by "boosters" and cheaters. Unfortunately, this has been a move very disliked by hardcore online gamers, who crave nothing more than to play with their clan mates in games that mean something. The Halo 2 party system was a perfect answer to this problem, in that it answered the needs of both sides. It ensured that rank boosting cannot occur, while letting gamers play with their friends or clans. Hopefully, with the release of Halo 3 in the not-so-distant future, developers will get wise and use the party system to give their game's online life some longevity. Word on the street is that Shadowrun, which is scheduled for release on May 29th, will be using a similar party system. We can only hope...

Smell Ice, Can Ya?

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. The trials and tribulation of Sony as they enter this generation of gaming is truly a site to behold. The industry has seen Sony make their fair share of follies which have lead to some pretty dire consequences, and the hits keep on coming. It seems that Sony has announced that Chairman and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Ken Kutaragi, will step down from his position as of June 19th. He will be replaced by current SCEI president and COO Kaz Hirai, known by gamers for his ever-so entertaining E3 press conferences. This looks like a move that was coming after the PS3 fell on it's face after a launch in late 2006. As of now, things don't look good for the former reigning heavyweight of the video game industry. Since the PS3 has launched, things have been going downhill in Sonyland. The bread and butter of the Playstation 2 was gaming exclusives, as Sony always had a knack for landing huge titles exclusive to their system. This generation has seen a major change in that trend, as Sony staples such as the Devil May Cry and Grand Theft Auto series have both announced that they will launch simultaneously on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Making matters worse, Sony has recently killed off their 20GB hard-drive system, in favor for the more expensive 60GB hard-drive system ($599) to combat the launch of the 120 GB Xbox 360 Elite system.
Clearly it is still very early in this generation to declare Sony dead in the water, but the ship has certainly hit an iceberg and is in desperate need for someone to stop the leak and steer the ship in the right direction. Will Kaz Hirai meet the challenge, or sink with the ship?

Left 4 Dead Wit Yer Frenz

Buzz, buzz, buzz...The volume for the buzz on Left 4 Dead just got turned up a notch, thanks to 1up.com and EGM magazine (same company, different media). Developed by Turtle Rock Studios and Valve Corp (yup, the Counter-Strike dudes, who happen to know how to make a fun multiplayer experience), Left 4 Dead is something most gamers don't know a whole lot about, but in the next few months that's about to change. In case you don't know, the premise of the game is survival. Rabies has taken over humanity and there are only 4 survivors (hence the dumb title) left. As one of the survivors, you need to hold off hordes of zombies with guns, grenades, and a trusty switchblade. The thing that makes Left 4 Dead stand out is that the game was built from the ground up with co-op in mind. From all initial reports, this is finally the co-op that everybody has been waiting for. Not a cheap Tom Clancy co-op throw in that has nothing to do with the single-player experience, and not a little co-op toggle that lets two people play in the same single-player game (a la Crackdown). Nope, not Left 4 Dead - This little beastie has been made FOR you to play with your friends, and if you don't play together, you're gonna be...well, dead. When the next-gen starting taking shape, most gamers wanted to know what new advancements were going to separate the Xbox 360 from the Xbox, and the PS3 from the PS3 (besides graphics, duh). Microsoft went the route of achievements, which have been a tremendous success, and recently Sony launched Home, that weird freaky virtual you thing. Besides changes like those mentioned, co-op was getting a lot of hype. Gamers were excited that the second generation of online games would finally feature other modes than CTF and deathmatch. Perfect Dark Zero started the fun with an extensive co-op mode, but the weather has been rather calm on the co-op front. Left 4 Dead looks to be spearheading the co-op revolution, and hopefully the game will be done right so other developers will follow suit and make games with co-op at the forefront of the experience. I want to be able to drag a wounded friend out of a hostile area, or be pulled up through a window by a friend at the last second. I want these things to be the core of the gameplay, not a throw-in during the games eleventh hour in development. With 4-player co-op also a feature of Too Human, it seems the industry is finally heading in the right direction.

Left 4 Dead is scheduled for release Q4 2007 on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Eating Crowla

Ok, so this is me eating a big fat helping of crow. I am addicting to Viva Pinata. Mr. FPS hack 'n slash shoot first and ask questions later is addicted to a sim. And not just any sim, but one that features furry little pinatas and the gardens that attract them. The obvious answer is that I've misplaced my balls somewhere, but I checked and they're still intact. So, why the warm and fuzzies? It seems that RARE has finally grabbed my ghoulies (pun intended and pathetic at that) this generation, and I can't stop making gardens and romancing pinatas and blah blah blah...trust me, play the game. The con is that it's as immature as it sounds, but the pro is that it's another masterpiece from RARE, one that will have you hooked until you fill every last checkmark in that stupid little journal. I feel like a little kid again and I'm collecting DK coins, and I love every minute of it. Viva Pinata is certainly a nice change of pace, and it all started when I got sick of getting shot in the face in Rainbow Six Vegas on realistic mode. I finally had the guts to pull the shrink wrap off of this rather inexpensive masterpiece after not having even the slightest interest when it first retailed. I've probably gone on way too long as it is, but I owe this to all my friends who I harassed as they collected chocolate coins into the wee hours of the night. I'm eating crow, and it's in print to prove it. Well done, RARE. Now gimme my frickin' next-gen Killer Instinct game before I take this shovel and beat the candy out of you guys.

Too Human Gets a Morale Boost

It's tough for me to really feel bad for Silicon Knights. After a terrible E3 showing last year, Too Human dropped off the radar as Denis Dyack (President of Silicon Knights) had his feelings hurt. Following the hiatus, Too Human returned with a blog on IGN.com where Dyack poked a little fun at himself (with the help of Penny Arcade). Earlier this week, another post on the blog featured a 13 minute video featuring three members of Silicon Knights and a member of IGN. I wasted 13 minutes of my life listening to how much better the Too Human team felt after IGN was impressed with their newer build of the game. GIVE ME A BREAK! I have a hard time feeling bad for guys who make video games for a living, especially when no one forced them to reveal a premature build of the game that they knew would get critically torn to pieces. E3 wouldn't have suffered if Too Human didn't have a playable demo, and the whole pathetic fiasco that has ensued since the game was initially shown to the public is completely unnecessary.
I don't want to be confused with someone who doesn't appreciate the work of Silicon Knights. I think both Eternal Darkness and Legacy of Kain were great games , and I have been looking forward to Too Human since it was originally announced in 2005. My problem comes from the fact that Denis Dyack and Silicon Knights are using a blog on IGN as a psychiatrist's couch as we gamers have to hear about how difficult it was to hear all the negativity from people playing their game. Get over it! We know the game wasn't ready, we know the game will be great when it's released. Use the blog to give us some info on the game, or some gameplay videos, or something other than whining. I'll give you an ice bucket...

April Delays Bring May Monsters

So April's finally here and we have a pretty empty month as far as releases go. The 360 has hit a small bump in the road, with several delays this month making Guitar Hero II the only big release for Microsoft. PS3 has nothing really substantial coming out either, relying on ports of Enchanted Arms, the lackluster RPG that debuted months ago on the 360, and F.E.A.R., the horror-shooter that is seeing it's third iteration release, to carry their April sales. As far as the Wii is concerned, Super Paper Mario is their big title of the month, which will most certainly be a good game, just not something that will hold gamers over for any lengthy amount of time. What does this all mean? Since April is pretty scant of titles, what is the next big title to hit the next-gen systems?
Well, the votes are in and the winner is...Monster Madness, the campy, 4-player monster romp created by Artificial Studios in which gamers take control of high school heroes as they battle their way through hordes of the undead and things that go bump in the night in an effort to retake suburbia. The buzz on the game is that it should be a fun co-op campaign that never really takes itself too seriously, and that's really what you want in a game like this, especially if you're playing alongside three friends. The game will also support 16-player PvP with game modes such as capture the flag, something that's never really been done in a top-down game like this.
Color me excited just because I love any game that I can play from start to finish with my friends. There's always something about playing with friends that enhances the gaming experience, but what will make or break the game is the gameplay. While that might seem like a "duh" thing to say, I think in a game like this you can't just have a strategy of mashing A for hours on end, much like you do in the critically acclaimed Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. I think its safe to say that there won't be an amazing story included in the $60 game, so a little bit of diversity in the gameplay would be nice to see. What exactly does that mean? Powerful weapons pickups, an in-depth combo system (both single player and team combos would be fun to try to pull off), and really interesting boss battles that would force players to work together, instead of everyone mashing A-B-X a hundred times to finally win. I really haven't asked for much here, because I don't think the game will need any more major elements than the ones I have mentioned to make it fun and worth the purchase. Hopefully Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia will deliver. If not, you could always dust off Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

Gears of Woe

OK, so this is old news, but it still pains me when I see it. Last night I decided to jump on some Gears of War online play. I haven't checked out the new maps Raven Down or Old Bones yet, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I thought maybe there would be some how, some way, that Cliffy B. and the good folks at Epic had fixed their awful patch of removing the host name from ranked games. When the new maps were available for download the patch went into effect and pretty much removed me from the GoW online community. Here's my problem, and it's probably one of my biggest problems with Microsoft this gen: Why the hell can't we play ranked matches online with our friends? I understand they want to eliminate cheating and have implemented their new TrueSkill System, but I still cannot understand why we can't play together with buddies.
To me, the solution is simple. You make every game that bolsters strong online pvp action REQUIRE the party system that Halo 2 implemented. If Bungie was able to create that system last-gen, there's no reason why it can't be implemented this gen. Or better yet, create a clan system for Xbox Live, so every online game can offer clan matches that track statictics, rate clan members gamerscore, etc. I can't imagine this being very difficult, which leads me to the horror and dismay that I am starting to see unfold before my very eyes: Microsoft doesn't want you to play with friends. I truly hope this isn't the case, but the deeper we get into this generation, the less I'm playing pvp with my old clan mates.
Microsoft better right this ship fast, because as an avid online gamer that got back into gaming when SOCOM first hit the online servers, they need to realize gamers want clans, they want a strong online community, they want to play ranked games that tracks statistics, and they want games to have longevity. By only allowing friends to play together in unranked games, and lacking strong clan support, they are losing their online support base. If the guys at Sony ever pulls their heads out of the sand they would realize that this would be a way to hurt Microsoft. Gears of War had a good thing going, as friends were able to jump in together and track their kills and deaths while having a good times in games that counted. Then they patched the game and I haven't played since. I can only hope that Halo 3 paves the way for all the changes I'm craving, and that Microsoft makes those changes the standard. It used to be "good to play together", but not anymore.

And on the Seventh Day, God Created Blogs...

It seems that blogs are all the rage these days, so I figured that since I can read, write, and always have an opinion, why shouldn't I get on the blogging craze. So here I am, known in the gaming world as BloodxStone, ready to voice my opinion from high atop the mountain of gaming knowledge...Well, not really. The true aim of this blog is for me to have somewhere I can vent my views, opinions, and general issues I have (and believe me, there are many) with the gaming industry. The true fact is that I have loved games since I can remember. I have grown up with the NES as my security blanket. My best friends were Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong. I learned the rules of baseball and hockey from the 8-bit games of the 80's. My girlfriends were Princess Peach and Samus Aran. Point is, I'm 22, have had a girlfriend for 7 years, play collegiate roller hockey for Stony Brook University (ECRHA DII Champs, baby!!!), and I still loves games. I have grown up with the industry, as so many of us 80's babies have, so I feel close to it. It's a huge hobby for me, from playing the crap out of single player games, fragging punks online in multiplayer games, and keeping up with all the latest buzz and rumors. Feel free to come here as often as you like to check out my point of view on anything related to gaming, from reviews, previews, or just general editorials. Let the BloodxStone blogging era begin...