Saturday 27 February 2010
Thursday 25 February 2010
Nintendo Media Summit 2010 Round-up
As promised, here is a round-up of the news from Nintendo's Media Summit 2010. Courtesy of ONM.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Metroid: Other M
Unfortunately, we only have a vague UK release of the next Metroid game as Q3 2010. Those lucky Americans get it June 27th. See new screens over at ONM.
Sin and Punishment 2
The second Sin and Punishment game has been given the spectacular subtitle of "Star Successor". See the trailer below and new screens at ONM.
WarioWare: Do It Yourself
The next WarioWare game will be seen in the UK on the 30th April. The new game features over 90 microgames and the ability to create your own. It was confirmed that Nintendo will hold contests for designers to show their talent to a particular theme. Also in the game are options to create your own four-panel comics and also music. These can also be shared. The DS game will be able to link up with A Wii channel WarioWare: DIY - Showcase, with more microgames and the ability to play your creations on the TV. An unlockable multiplayer mode has also been included. See the trailer below or go to ONM for screens.
Monster Hunter Tri
Monster Hunter Tri will be free to play online when it is released on the 23rd April.
DragonQuest IX
DragonQuest IX will be published by Nintendo when it is released in the summer.
Photo Dojo
Now this one could be an interesting title. Photo Dojo is a first party side-scrolling beat-em-up for DSiWare that will utilise the DSi camera. You must pose for 13 pictures and input 10 sound effects before launching into the game as the main character or going against a friend. See the trailer below.
Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
We have two new trailers for Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver, which you can see below.
FlingSmash
FlingSmash is a new WiiWare game being developed by Artoon, the creators of Yoshi's Island DS. Wii MotionPlus is used to fling a blob around 2D side-scrolling levels. The aim is to find medals in the stages to unlock more stages. Smash stuff up and defeat as many enemies as possible to grab those high scores.
Nintendo Media Summit 2010 (UK)
As you should know, Nintendo's 2010 Media Summit comes to the UK today, and with what has been revealed at the Australian and US summits, we should expect a firm UK release date for Metroid: Other M and Super Mario Galaxy 2. I'll post a round-up of all the news this evening, courtesy of ONM.
What's This? More Changes?
Yeah, more changes to my blog folks. With the addition of the categories menu, I have decided to drop the bracketed information things from future blog post titles. So for example, if I posted a review it would be Thing Review - Thing Being Reviewed. Just makes more sense really.
Sunday 21 February 2010
[Dr. Who] New Series Trailer
Below is the new trailer for the brand new series of Doctor Who, which starts Easter this year. Courtesy of BBC. For best viewing hit play then view full screen.
Thursday 18 February 2010
[Feature] My Top Ten Anticipated Games of 2010
After reading Noodle Link's blog (http://noodleblog-noodle.blogspot.com/) and seeing his, and also Shiekah_Link's and SteveTheDuck's anticipation features, I was inspired to do one of my own. So, a great thanks to Noodle Link and co, and let's set our sights on the games I am waiting for in 2010.
10. Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (DS)
Yes, it's the new Pokemon games; but it's the DS remakes of the best Pokemon games in the series. Released at the end of next month and given a healthy review score by ONM, this is going to be a title that sucks the hours from under my feet.
I remember back in 2002, when I got Silver for my birthday, and I was astounded by the improvements from Yellow (I never owned Red or Blue); and I was never off it until Christmas, where I also recived Gold. I then played the two games in tandem, completing both up to the point of getting past the Elite Four for the second time. And I then went on just to play Gold.
Now eight years later, I can't wait to return to Johto, now using the Platinum graphical engine, and it's certainly a game I'll be playing until the fifth generation of Pokemon games is released.
9. Final Fantasy XIII (360/PS3)
An odd choice, you would say, for a top ten anticipated games list, but for me, this will be my first proper Final Fantasy game, and I hope that this will serve as a main introduction to the series. I have played the DS spin off of XII, Revenant Wings, but that was an RTS.
As my first true Final Fantasy game, I'm expecting it to be a little difficult to get into it, but as I'm quite getting into RPGs now, and being an avid reader, it shouldn't be too much trouble. However, I'm just hoping that when I play it I feel that the gameplay does hold up in between the lengthy cinematics that have been reported by PSM.
Overall though, I'm expecting it to be a good experience, and I'll be very surprised if I don't go off and buy the better Ds reamkes of the earlier titels after playing this.
8. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Only number eight for the sequel to one of the best games on the Wii? Yeah. I did love the original Galaxy, but I seem to have fallen out of love (metaphorically of course) with my Wii at the moment. This means that for me, Nintendo's main series has taken a back seat to my 360.All that aside, I am expecting Galaxy 2 to be a great improvement over the original. The inclusion of Yoshi and all new galaxies should provide a fresh twist and hopefully not make the game feel like Galaxy all over again. I'd love to see that orchestral music put to good use, and hear more classic Mario tunes in this one. For example, have a galaxy with a certain theme, but have the music very similar to a classic Mario tune.
Surely great things will come of this, but I'm starting to get slightly worried now about where Nintendo will take Mario's 3D adventures from here.
7. No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle (Wii)
No More Heroes was an absolute corker of a game, even though it did have a very lonely feel to it. With all the improvements that have been mentioned for its sequel, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle should be a great game. Gone, supposedly are the empty streets, with a lot more generic NPCs walking around Santa Destroy. The new weapons look ace, and more imiginative than those in NMH. Dual lightsa... beam katanas that can be weilded? Yes please. The new bosses that have been revealed so far also look amazing, and much more challenging than at lest some of the earlier ones in the first game. The fact that you have to get to the top from around a rank of 50 something was a great idea, as the player will now have to face multiple bosses in boss battles, which I can see being pretty intense.So I can see this being one of the Wii's last epic mature games, and I just hope it isn't drowned in the sea of casual games like other recent mature efforts.
6. Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii)
Hands up if you have the original on VC and found it great but hard. That you as well? Ok then, we are on the same ground. The original was mainly my purpose for actually going and buying a Classic Controller Pro to use in the stead of my old GameCube controller, and due to my 360 I haven't been able to play it yet, but I will do. But from my limited playthorugh of the original N64 title on the VC, I can say I just want Sin and Punishment 2 to be bigger and bolder.
To be fair, this one could be hit and miss. It's definately the right time for a new version of the game to be released, with as good as graphics can get on the Wii and superb controls; but with all the news that on-rail shooters are fairing poorly on the Wii, this one could be doomed to sell very little. Of course, I will get it, but seeing as though it's more going to be a birthday or Christams present, I just want the game to be available by December.
Fingers crossed for this one then, as this is looking to be one of the best on-rail shooters that the Wii has to offer.
5. Okamiden (DS)
After the release of the Wii version of Okami, we get heralded with the coming of Okamiden, a sequel to Okami. Okamiden will revolve around the son of one of the main characters in the first game, and will have you controlling Chibiterasu, which if I remember right is literally "little Amaterasu". The game will be controlled in a similar way as the DS Zelda games, and will bring the vibrant Okami version of Japan to the DS' small screens (or the DSi XL's bigger screens if you will).After loving the first game, this is just one I can't wait for. Call me a weaboo but I do have an interest in Japanese culture and all, which is what first attracted me to Okami, and I was rewarded with a great game. Some people did go against it, but I think the original was a Zelda-esque gem, and hopefully the sequel will be the same.
You can read my review of Okami right here on The Emperor Ing Blog. http://emperoringblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/rev-games-okami-wii.html
4. Red Steel 2 (Wii)
I'll probably get shot for saying this, but I liked the original Red Steel. Yes, it wasn't groundbreaking or really that intuitave, but it was a start for the FPS genre on Wii.
Red Steel 2 is lookigng to go beyond all other FPSes when it is released though. It aims to do right what the original was heavily criticised for - the swordplay. In the original, for those who avoided it, had boss battles where you got out your great big katana and flicked the Wii remote around to slice and dice. To be fair, it worked with the limitations of the Wii remote at that point. Sure, the controls were imprecise, but I never felt there was a moment where you had to be precise. Red Steel 2 looks to set this on its head and create a flowing swordplay mechanic with a myriad of moves and tricks available.The key to this will be the integration of Wii Motion Plus, giving players the accurate control that they need for the sword. The switching between the gun and the sword is also an improvement, as I would have loved to just go roaming about the levels of the original Red Steel with my huge katana. Now my dreams have been realised. However blindingly stating the obvious, there'll be an appropriate time for using each weapon.
From ONM's preview I can tell the story is shaping up to be a cracking one, and although they say it gets off to a slow start, I think once the game really heats up, it'll be a fantastic experience.
3. The Legend of Zelda (Unknown Subtitle) (Wii)
A.k.a Zelda Wii, the new console Legend of Zelda game, is set to appear by the end of the year. Again taking the realistic style, this is designed to be a comeback after the Ocarina-again feel of Twilight Princess.
Of course, just being a Zelda title is enough to get people excited; hell, even I am. However, I'm throwing in a bit of caution just to be on the safe side. Hopefully, the Wii Motion Plus integration can blow all that caution out of the window, and let me just go round with Link hacking things to pieces and just generally saving the world.
Since E3 2009, there have been tantalising hints issued from Nintendo; the concept art at E3, and just recently the announcement that the internet specualtion was correct about the image.
Hopefully, we will see some solid footage at E3 2010, and then we'll get to grips with the true Wii Zelda by Christmas.
2. Napoleon: Total War (PC)
I'll confess and say I'm a huge Total War fan. I have been there since the beginning with Shogun, and after missing out on Empire, I'm looking to get back on the warpath with The Creative Assembly's latest effort.
Set in the Napoleonic Wars, the game will see you controlling the armies of Napoleon, or the armies of his enemies in whole new campaigns. For this game, The Creative Assembly have said that they wanted to focus more on the history of the period, rather than keeping to Empire's rough interpretation. There will ceratinly be other improvements over features in Empire, but sadly I can't really identify these as I haven't played Empire.
But, in the end, that's one of the main reasons I want Napoleon. Just because I haven't played Empire, and Napoleon is supposed to be a better experience than Empire.
And I'll soon know for sure, for Napoleon: Total War is released at the end of the month as a standard edition and as a collector's Imperial Edition. If you can afford the extra ten quid, the Imperial Edition offers extra units for you to play around with, along with a smexy cover to boot. Different retailers are also offering different pre-order bonus units, so snap them up while you still can.
Once thing is for sure though. I will be playing this for a long timne after its release.
1. Metroid Other M (Wii)
If it's one series I enjoy more than any other, its Metroid. Heck, you'll probably guess that from my username on various sites, and of course, the name of this blog. There's just something about the over arcing storyline of the series that I love. Samus, the Space Pirates, the aliens, and the Galactic Federation.... Ooh, I love it all.
Other M is set between Super Metroid and Fusion and is set to reveal more of Samus' backstory. We already know about the Space Pirate raid on her home and how she was brought up by the Chozo; so I eagerly await what revelations will come about from this new title.
Partial voice acting has been in the game since Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Corruption exapnaded and had voice acting for everyone but Samus. This time we have full voice acting. That's right. Samus speaks at last.
From the E3 2009 trailer, Other M looks to be a fusion of the recent Prime Trilogy with the classic 2D titles. There's 2D style platforming and shooting action, but we also see the first person view from prime and some (hopefully) awesome cutscenes.
So, if there's one game I must play this year, it's Metroid Other M. Coming off the back of Metroid Prime Trilogy, this seems to be the next true step of the Metroid series. Let's just hope Team Ninja can do it proud. If you can't wait, check out the teaser site at www.metroid.jp.
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So, there you have it. That's my top ten anticipated games for 2010. For a reason, I did not include games that have already been released, or the likes of Bayonetta and Tatsunoko VS Capcom would be in there. You'll notice that most are Wii titles, and you'll notice that I said that I have fallen out of love with my Wii. Well, hopefully later in the year these games can entice me to get off my 360 and get down to some solid Nintendo gaming.
Wednesday 10 February 2010
[Rev.](Games) Forza Motorsport 3 (360)
Forza Motorsport 3Developer: Turn 10 Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Year: 2009
For many years, the console racing sim crown has been held by Gran Turismo; but no longer can it hold its crown outright, for Forza has really upped its challenge with this latest entry to the Forza series.
Forza 3 was all about creating an accurate simulation, while not alienating the more casual players; but providing a great customisable experience for hardcore race fans. From my own experience, Forza 3 gets all of this right.
From the flexible difficulty system, I could set the game up to race my own mother - who usually hates full blown race sims - and by tweaking the assists for each player, it was challenging enough for me while being easy and fun enough for my mam.
The customisable experience has also been a big hit for me; being able to do my own paint and decal jobs on a game that doesn’t have Need for Speed plastered all over the front is quite a relief; and I’ve spent quite some time fiddling around with my cars. If you only have fifteen minutes, it’s a great time waster and can give you something aesthetically pleasing to look at in races.
The customisation also goes into real depth when you try the tuning setups. Of course, first you have to have the adjustable part upgrades on your car, but when you do, you can create and perfect a race setup. Like all tuning parts of racing games, many of the options look rather daunting, and many of the casual players I feel will never touch this feature.
If you don’t have the skill or the time however, and have Xbox Live Gold, you can just pop into the Forza Storefront, where you can buy vinyl designs, race setups, and even full car designs that other people have created. You can also find photos and movies on there, and you can obviously upload your own stuff. There are quite a few gems to be found on the storefront too. It’s a great addition to the game and provides a strong sense of community.
However, all of this would be for nothing if the gameplay and controls didn't hold up; but rest assured, they do.
The main gameplay focuses on the season mode, where you race in fantasy championships utilising real life circuits, where you earn experience and credits. As you go through each season you unlock better cars as you gain a higher driver level, and discounts off upgrades as you gain car levels. The credits you earn can be used to either upgrade your cars, buy new cars, or make purchases in the storefront.
There is also an event mode where you can play through each championship race by race. The event mode is easy to navigate and lists all the championships in a grid view, and indicates by colour if your current car can race, a garage car can race, or you have no cars that can race. For the latter, the championship will be greyed out.
Cars themselves are grouped into different classes based on their performance index (just a number to indicate the car’s performance). The classes range from F to A then S, R1, R2 and R3, with the Rx cars being powerful supercars and racing cars.
Each car handles differently; and you will be challenged in your control of them, especially if you are driving a powerful car with the normal Xbox controller. For the best experience, I would recommend buying suitable wheel and pedals, although the game seems to work fine with the Xbox controller.
The difficulty of the main game in my opinion is perfectly gauged. It starts off easy in an attempt to gradually lead in the amateurs, and then by season three the game launches you into a couple of challenging races in A class cars. The main barrier that any casual players may face is learning the actual tracks, especially ones with a lot of different layouts. Fortunately for these players, there aren’t many tracks, but that is one of the game’s main flaws. It is true that there is a possibility of expansion through DLC, but there just isn’t enough variety in my opinion.
Turning now to the visuals, they are very pleasing. As shown in comparisons by other media, they aren’t as good as GT5, but when the game plays so well, would you have sacrificed this for pushing the 360 to its limits? I would think not. Still, they are good anyway, and the racing HUD is perfectly laid over the top, like icing on a very delicious cake. Accessing the telemetry view while racing can be a bit fiddly; having to reach over to the D-pad, but after a while this also becomes unobtrusive.
The music however is another matter. I found the in-race music quite distracting, and although turned on by default, this can easily be muted in the options. The menu music sounds modern and relaxed and does, however, enhance the Forza experience.
This experience is then brought to a full circle with the online modes; of which the words that could sum it up would be “very very fun”. However, make sure you learn the tracks at least to some degree, or, to put it lightly, you will get owned. In one way, it doesn’t help that the game does not match you to people of your skill level. In my online test, in around 90% of races I was matched against a player with at least a Pro level. Still, even though I was finishing last, it was still a good experience; and racing online or even just spectating gives you a chance to see where the perfect lines and braking points are. Therefore, if you are a Xbox LIVE Gold member, it’s worthwhile to peek into the online at least once in a while.
Overall, Forza Motorsport 3 is an excellent pick up and play racing simulator, packed with so many cars you’ll be spoilt for choice. The gameplay is perfectly paced, with the addition of a fun online mode. If you are a racing fan, this is one game you shouldn’t be without.
+ Excellent gameplay
+ More cars than a car dealer
+ Strong multiplayer
- Lacking in tracks
- Unbalanced online matching
9/10
[YouTube Vid] DP Wi-Fi #8 VS Pokemon Postmon (PokemonWorld Vs ONM JAW R2) [Narrated]
Here's my round 2 battle against Pokemon Postmon in the PokemonWorld VS ONM Journey Across W-Fi Tourney.
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