Thursday, September 27, 2012

Top Ten most anticipated Wii U games

           As the Wii U's release date approaches, I was wondering which games I should buy for the system. Needless to say, there are many Wii U games I want. When a new consoles is right around the corner, all you think about is which games are coming out for this console and since the Wii U is about to release (and since I talk a lot about the Wii U), why not make a list of the ten Wii U games I am looking forward to? The rules: These games must be announced games. Even if a game is likely to come out for the Wii U, if it isn't announced, it doesn't count. Second, they must be available on the Wii U. As obvious as it is, it matters. Third rule, Nintendo Land doesn't count since it comes with the system. Now that we are done with the rules, let the countdown commence!


10. Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed 

        I'm a big Sonic fan, there's no secret there. I'm definitely getting the next big Sonic The Hedgehog game that comes to the Wii U. But the only one that is announced for the Wii U so far is Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed. It sort of what happens when you combine a fat Italian plumber on a kart and a blue hedgehog. It definitely looks fun. But I'm a bit... scared. The reason is a bit ridiculous. If you've watched the trailers for this game, dubstep plays in the background. I know, it is a ridiculous reason but if you've read my Top Ten things I like in games list, you'd know by now that Music in games is important to me. Sonic The Hedgehog has some of the best soundtracks in gaming. Why does he need dubstep? I hate dubstep. But hey, you play games for the gameplay. While it looks fun, it doesn't really look like something new. But definitely a fun looking game.


9. ZombiU

       Why is ZombiU so low on the list? Raaaah! If you can't tell, ZombiU is one of the most anticipated Wii U games right now and I can see why. It looks interesting and all but what "scares" me is the fact that it might just be Red Steel all over again. But people who played the game have positive thoughts about it. But I'll be careful with this one though. Looking at some gameplay videos, I can see that this game is going to be scary. When was the last time we've seen a good survival horror game? I also like how you use the Wii U GamePad in this game as well as the whole idea of controlling one character and if this character dies, you go back to square one. Scare me, ZombiU!


8. Tekken Tag Tournament 2

      I've NEVER played a Tekken game before. Never. But Tekken Tag Tournament 2 definitely looks interesting. I mean, it's the first Tekken game to hit a Nintendo home console. I've seen many gameplay videos of this game and, my god, I like it. I love fighting games so I'll definitely try this one out. Being the only triple A fighting game in Wii U's library of games, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 looks like one of the best games in the franchise. It's getting positive reactions from the fans and since the Wii U version has even more content than the other versions, looks like Tekken Tag Tournament 2 on Wii U is the way to go.


7. Trine 2

           Yeah, I know, another port. But who cares if it's a port when I haven't played the game yet? Trine 2 is a 2D Platformer. I love platformers. Plus, the game looks beautiful. I am one who doesn't usually go ape crazy over graphics but honestly, this game looks gorgeous. And since it got some great reviews, I'm even more excited for this game. A lot of people who played this game said nothing but positive things about it. Another thing I love about this game is that it's not just a copy paste port with just better graphics. The developers are actually putting effort in including more content in the Wii U version of Trine 2. That is a great thing and it shows that developers are actually interested in the system.


6. Bayonetta 2

               The game that pissed people off across the world. Must've been an excellent game to piss people off like that. Indeed, I am looking forward to the game that made fanboys rage. It had to be on this list though I can't put this game any higher since all we have is a teaser trailer. I want gameplay but I'm happy the game even exists.  I definitely want to give this game a shot. I like those Devil May Cry style action games. The weird thing is, the game is actually going to be published by Nintendo since they were the ones who financed the game. Nintendo publishing Bayonetta 2? Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Bayonetta or whatever her name is for Super Smash Bros. 4!


5. Assassin's Creed 3 & Rayman Legends

The first tie       
       
           Assassin's Creed 3: One of the most anticipated games this year PERIOD. And I can see why. Much like Tekken, I have never played an Assassin's Creed game before. That's sort of weird to me since I like Action Adventure games. Apparently, the whole game runs on a new engine and the game itself took several years to develop. The longer the development time, the better. And since Ubisoft is one of my favorite developers, why not support them by playing this game. It will keep me busy until Zelda Wii U comes out.

           Rayman Legends: Another real Rayman game! Look, people, Rayman Origins is simply one of the best games of 2011. There is no denying it. The soundtrack, the art style, the controls, THE FREAKING LEVEL DESIGN! Everything looks even better on Rayman Legends! If Rayman Legends manages to top Rayman Origins, it will be in my favorite games of all time list. Between New Super Mario Bros. U and Rayman Legends, I recommend you Rayman Legends. While Mario is the better series, Rayman Legends just looks a lot better, gameplay wise, than New Super Mario Bros. U.


4. Batman Arkham City Armored Edition

             Yes, another port and yes, I have not played Arkham City yet. But since it is coming to the Wii U with all the DLC included, I'm hyped. It was one of the best games of 2011 and I want to see why. Though, Arkham City Armored Edition gets a lot of negative response from players because of a few problems with the texture, it still isn't enough for me to not purchase the game. Of course, I'll be reading the reviews before buying the game but still, Batman Arkham City looks awesome and I love Action Adventure games, like I said before. I don't care about what you say, this is my chance to play this game!


3. Nano Assault Neo

           Not many people know about this game and that is a bit depressing because it made by Shin'en, a talented and VERY underrated developer. These guys are the guys behind Jett Rocket and Fast Racing League on WiiWare which are arguably some of the best games on WiiWare. They also made Nano Assault for the Nintendo 3DS. This time around, they're coming with Nano Assault Neo, a downloadable title. It is sort like a... a.... PARASITIC SHOOTER! Yeah, a parasitic shooter. But anyways, the game looks GORGEOUS. I haven't played the first one of the 3DS but I won't let this game slip away from me. Support Shin'en! And Nintendo, please, BUY SHIN'EN! Let them develop the next F-Zero game!


2. Pikmin 3

            You thought Pikmin 3 was going to be number one, didn't you? Well, it was going to be number one but, I found a better game than Pikmin 3, believe it or not. Let's not go off topic. Pikmin 3 was one of the most anticipated games at E3 and one one of the most anticipated Wii U games right now. I played Pikmin 2 only, but I do know what Pikmin is all about. It's been 8 long years since we've seen these walking vegetables. It was long but worth it. The gameplay is pretty much like the last two Pikmin games but with four new captains, new pikmin types and HD graphics. I really don't know what to say outside of going crazy over the fact that Pikmin goes HD but one thing is for sure, I WILL BUY THIS GAME.


Before we get to number one... RECAPITULATION!!!

10. Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed

9. ZombiU

8. Tekken Tage Tournament 2

7. Trine 2

6. Bayonetta 2

5. Assassin's Creed 3 & Rayman Legends

4. Batman Arkham City Armored Edition

3. Nano Assault Neo

And finally

2. Pikmin 3

And my number one most anticipated Wii U game is...

1. The Wonderful 101

       Yep. The one game that was left out of Nintendo's E3 2012 Press Conference is my most anticipated Wii U game as of now. There first time I saw this game, I thought it was going to be some shovelware game no one is going to care about. I was proven wrong when I saw the gameplay. The game is sort of what happens when Pikmin and Viewtiful Joe fuse together. And that is no coincidence since this game is being made by the talented people at Platinum Games (formerly known as Clover Studios). This game actually brings me hope for the future of gaming. I was afraid that creativity in gaming was lost. I was proven wrong. I want to support creativity. Let's show these devs that we want creativity in our games!


Thank you for reading!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Top Ten things I like in video games (Part 2)

     This is the second part of my third countdown, Top Ten things I like in video games. If you've missed the first part, go ahead and read it first. Here, I talk about the ten things I look forward to when I play a video game. Now, let's continue this list with number five.


5. Music

           Yes, you've read it right, I like music in video games. Why did I chose music? Well, for many reasons. Music is very important in video games, hell, in all media. It can express emotions or set a mood. If your game lacks emotion, it wouldn't really be a memorable experience, at least to me. It can make something as simple as opening a chest epic. It helps a lot when you try to build an atmosphere for your game. Also, it is something I always keep noticing in games. Good music shall not go under my nose. It contributes a lot to making an action more than just an action. For example, try fighting a colossi in Shadow of the Colossus without the music playing. Pretty boring, right? Now, try to fight a colossi with "The Opened Way" playing in the background. Now, I think you guys know what I'm trying to say. It can make your overall experience all the more memorable. I will not reveal what my favorite soundtracks are since I am saving it for another list.


4. Bonus worlds/Special worlds

         Sometimes, when I'm about to finish a video game (a good video game), I feel a bit... sad. Some games are just too good and you don't want to finish them because you want more. Some developers actually understand how I feel. So, what do they do? They include bonus worlds/special worlds. By that, I'm not talking about Sonic The Hedgehog special stages. I'm talking about World S from Super Mario Galaxy 2. Why are they so awesome? Because they make the game longer, so you don't have to cry over the fact that you'll have to fight the final boss because you don't want the game to end. Another things I love about bonus worlds/special worlds is the fact that they are usually much harder than normal levels, meaning you'll be losing more lives and you'll have to practice your skills which takes some time. Grandmaster Galaxy from Super Mario Galaxy 2 comes to mind. I think you guys know by now how much I love my games to be difficult. This is very common in Super Mario games. Some Mario games that include this bonus worlds/special worlds are Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Super Mario Galaxy 2. One of the many reasons why Super Mario Bros. is such an awesome series.


3. Playing as different characters

             You know, I like playing as Mario or Sonic. They're awesome characters, don't get me wrong. But playing as another character, other than the main character, is great! Like I said, I like playing as Mario and Sonic but being able to play as the other characters is something great and keeps the game fresh. After constantly going from point A to point B in Sonic Adventure, I'll get a bit tired. Fortunately, the game allows to play as your friends like Tails, who has to race Sonic or Eggman, Knuckles, who has to find 3 pieces of the Master emerald in each stage, etc. It makes the entire experience much less redundant. But Sonic The Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. aren't the only ones who allow you, the player, to play as different characters. In Team Fortress 2, you have nine COMPLETELY different characters you can chose from, each with their own pros and cons. If you are sick of playing as a Sniper, why not help on offense and play as Solider? With more characters comes more strategies and different ways to play. I also feel like I should talk about Xenoblade Chronicles (what an underrated game!) which allows to play as several different characters, each with their own Arts and styles. Overall, being able to play as different characters is a fantastic feature.


2. Upgrades/Items/Techniques

             If there is one feeling that is truly satisfying, it is the feeling that are getting stronger. Leveling up or getting better weapons, you'll be satisfied to know you're actually becoming stronger. That is why I love upgrades/items. By items, I'm not talking about a potion you use once and then it's gone. I'm talking about Legend of Zelda style items. You get it once and it will serve you 'till the rest of the game. I also like the upgrades from the Metroid series... and the brush techniques from Okami. There is something about getting a new upgrade that is just so satisfying! Is it because you can overcome new obstacles that used to block your way? Is it because you are getting closer to becoming a walking swiss knife? Either way, getting more and more stronger by gaining new upgrades/items/techniques is a great feeling and also a great way to reward the player for his efforts. Yet another reason why I love The Legend of Zelda and Metroid.


Before we get to number one, let's recapitulate!

10. Flashy moves

9. Open worlds

8. Intense difficulty 

7. Art styles

6. Creepy levels

5. Music

4. Bonus worlds/Special worlds

3. Playing as different characters

And finally

2. Upgrades/Items/Techniques

What is my number one thing I like in a video game?

1. Boss battles

          Yes, you have read it right. My favorite thing in video games are boss battles. There are so many reasons why I chose boss battles as my favorite thing in a video game. Firstly, the challenge. In many games, you have to fight against several minions. Killing the minions is easy but trying to beat their boss can be difficult. Usually, bosses try to put the player's skill to the test and see what he learned in his journey, which is one reason why I love boss battles. Second, the feeling of accomplishment. Whenever you fight a boss and defeat him, you get one obstacle out of the way. Can't say the same thing when you kill a minion. Some games like the Legend of Zelda games will give you an extra heart as a reward for the player. Third, they are different from each other. While there are many bosses that look the same (*cough* Andross clones *cough*), there are a lot of other bosses that try to do something different. Take the Great Mighty Poo for example. You are pretty much fighting a giant ball of singing crap and to defeat him, you have to throw toilet paper in its mouth. Even to this day, people still remember this boss battle. There are so many series that have great bosses, it's pretty hard for me to chose a favorite. Fourth reason, they are awesome. Of course, not all bosses are good, but when they're done right, fighting them is pure bliss. To conclude, boss battles are the one thing I look forward to the most when I play a video game.


This was the Golden Hedgehog. Hope you enjoyed the list and of course, have a nice day!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Top Ten things I like in video games (Part 1)

       Now that I have talked about the ten things I absolutely hate in video games, I thought it would be nice to be positive and talk about the ten things I like in video games. Sure, there are a lot of annoying things in games but there are far more awesome things you can find in video games. This list is about what I look forward to when I play a game. There's so many things I love in video games but I had to pick ten. I'll try not to copy what is on joshscorcher's list. The rules: they must not be obvious things like good gameplay. I mean, who doesn't like good gameplay? That is what I expect from a game, good gameplay. Without wasting another second, let's start this list with number ten.


10. Flashy moves

        What can I say, flashy moves are pure awesomeness. It is pure eye candy and can be done in so many different ways. Sometimes, just a little sword slash is not enough for me. Sometimes I just want to see my character obliterate my opponent in a "cool" way and also because I want to feed my eyes with pure awesome. One of the reasons I play games is to do things I can't do in real life. If you can't "hadoken" your friend in real life, you can do it in video games. But, flashy moves are pretty much just eye candy which is why they are so low on the list. Nevertheless, destroying your enemies with a Kamehameha is pretty awesome. That is one of the main reasons why I absolutely LOVE Dragon Ball Z games.


9. Open worlds

          Like I said in my Top Ten things I hate in video games list, I love exploring levels. It is something I usually do. I can't help it. When I find a cave, I NEED to explore it. And nothing is better than open worlds when it comes to exploration. The feeling of being so small and having such a huge world to explore is such an overwhelming feeling. It makes you truly feel like you are on a journey... on a journey to save the world! You can spend tons and tons of hours exploring your surroundings and not even realize that you've wasted five whole hours. Some of my favorite open worlds are the Great Sea from The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker because of how colorful and down right gorgeous it is and the one in Xenoblade where you are walking on two giant freaking titans! Two freaking giants! Anyway, open worlds are awesome.


8. Intense difficulty 

         Something I hate is when developers think we're retards and they have to make the game as easy as possible. But there are some developers that understand that we, the players, want some challenge. Challenge is something more important than you think. When a game is too easy, you can breeze through the game without breaking a sweat. But if the is actually difficult, it is a whole other story. Difficulty makes games a lot harder to beat, meaning you have to spent more time practicing and perfecting your skills in order to progress and beat the game. A lot of developers tried to make their games hard back in the 80s so it could last a while. And boy were they right! Some people manage to beat Castlevania after 20 years! Plus, it is so satisfying to beat a hard game. It makes you proud. Developers, if you want me to enjoy your games, make them harder! Come on! Don't be afraid to challenge the player.


7. Art styles 

        I tried not to copy joshscorcher's list. I really tried! But he has a good point, art styles are awesome. It is as simple as that. Some games try to look the more realistic possible but end up looking dated after a few years. This does not apply to games using art styles. Usually, games that use a unique art style tend to age well unlike many games who try to go for a more realistic approach. Also, as someone who absolutely loves drawing, I can't help but respect developers who spend hours upon hours trying to create a different and unique art style. That requires a lot of work. Art styles express a lot more emotion than realistic looking games. Of course, not EVERY game using an art style do that but still. I also LOVE colors. When I draw, I want my drawings to be as colorful as possible. If done right, art styles can be pure eye candy, just like flashy moves. Some of my favorite art styles include Wind Waker's cell shaded looks, Odin Sphere's beautiful anime-like visuals (along with Blazblue and Guilty Gear) and Rayman Origin's cartoon-like art style (which almost made me want to join 2D animation).


6. Creepy levels

          Sometimes, I like getting scared. Not always, sometimes. It's cool when you go from one cheerful, happy place to a horrifying place the next level. I don't really know why I love creepy places, but they're simply just so awesome. Well, if done right, that is. They can come in various different formats and various different styles. Not one looks like another. They don't have to be scary or horrifying, they can just be cool and creepy. Like Hang Castle (as well as Mystic Mansion) from Sonic Heroes or Twinkle Park (Amy) from Sonic Adventure. I found myself enjoying creepy levels pretty much every time there is one in a game. For whatever reason, they sort of have a charm (if you can call it that) that makes you want to come back. Some of my favorites are the Earth Temple from The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker, the Ancient Cistern from The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, Creepy Steeple from Paper Mario The Thousand Year  Door, Haunted House from Super Mario 64, Submerged Castle from Pikmin 2, the aforementioned Sonic levels, and Ravenholm from Half Life 2 just to name a few. They're just great. I don't think I need to say anything else.


That does is it for Part 1 of the Top Ten things I like in video games. Have a nice a day!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Top Ten things I hate in video games (Part 2)

      This is part 2 of my second top ten: Top Ten things I hate in video games. Here are things I truly HATE when I play a game. This is a personal list and it is in no way factual. With that being said, let's proceed to the next five things I absolutely hate in video games.


5. Spam attacks

          If there is one thing I don't like, it it cheapness and nothing is more cheap than spam attacks. My. God! I hate spam attacks. Spam attacks are mostly common in fighting games. I think the biggest offender by far is Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Melee. Pikachu's down B and down smash, Meta Knight's Standard B, Pit's side B, Ness' down A come to mind. These moves are not fair and make the character overpowered and cheap. You won a game against just by using Pikachu's down B? Oh, boy, you sure are good at fighting games. NO. You are not. It is cheap. Since I can't really say anything else other than the fact that it is cheap, I'll stop right here.



4. Useless allies

          Can I ask developers one little question? Why, just why do you give me an ally that doesn't kill enemies and does nothing else? So I can feel a little less lonely? Well, I feel even MORE lonely when my stupid partner isn't able to kill a single enemy. The biggest offender is the LEGO games. You think that with your partners, you'd be able to beat a wave of enemies with ease? No. You are the only one who can kill them and your allies are just decoration. Hey! If you made an ally for me, make it so he can kill my enemies and do what an ally is suppose to do. I think this isn't too much to ask.
                                         If only my stupid ally could do something...

3.  Andross clones

          You know what I really don't like? Unoriginal boss designs. And what is the most unoriginal boss designs EVER? It is none other than Andross clones. I like fighting bosses. I like bosses who try to do something new. But a head with two hands? It is unoriginal. Nintendo has done this SEVERAL times in many of their games. Bongo Bongo from The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Gohdan from The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker, Wham Bam Jewel and Wham Bam Rock from Kirby Super Star Ultra, Necrodeus from Kirby Mass Attack, Eyerok from Super Mario 64, Tiki Tong Terror from Donkey Kong Country Returns, Oikonny from Star Fox Assault. This has been done to death and is just plain lazy. Stop doing that. Just stop doing that. Heck, even Falco makes fun of Oikonny for looking like Andross.


2. Time limits

        I had a hard between number 1 and 2 but I decided that my number two is time limits. Why do I hate time limits so much? Well, it goes completely against what I want to do. Sometimes, when I play a game, I want to explore my surroundings and such. With time limits, you are forced to get to point B as fast as you can or else you'll lose a life. This sort of thing happens a lot in NES games. Hell, can I appreciate a level with getting brutally punished for it? I also hate when developers had time limits in mini games. Yeah, most of the time it is well done but Donkey Kong 64? Good GOD are the mini games annoying. Mostly because of the time limit. Especially the stupid mini game where you have to lead these little crocodiles in a hole. Ugh. It takes away the freedom of the player and is pretty stressful. I play games to relax! Stop being cheap to me! But there is one thing that is even worse than time limits.


Before we get to number one, let's recap.

10. Button mashing/rotating analog stick as fast as you can

9. Long cutscenes

8. Pay-to-win

7. Not letting me save when I want to

6. Annoying sidekicks

5. Spam attacks

4. Useless allies

3. Andross clones

And finally

2. Time limits     

What can possibly top the unoriginality of Andross clones, the uselessness of useless allies and time limits?


1. Tutorial levels    

         Yes, the number one thing I hate the MOST in video games are tutorial levels. I. F*cking. Despise. Tutorial levels. They are annoying, useless and are most certainly not original. Let's start with why they are so annoying. Most of the time, when you want to play a new game you got, you have to play the tutorial level first to understand the basics of the game. Press this button to jump, use the R button to defend and all that. More often than not, some idiot will interrupt you during gameplay to tell you about these obvious things! Team Rose's tutorial level comes to mind. If I want to know what each button do, I have the freaking manual that comes with the damn game! They are useless. They pretty much waste the players time when he could just read the manual to learn the basics. It is not even necessary to the game. Take a look at egoraptor's Mega Man X video. He pretty much shows us that tutorial levels aren't needed to teach the player the basics! They're not ridiculously long but DAMN, they're boring. It is such a kill joy moment. Just imagine. You get this new game that you've been wanting for months and you expect an awesome first level. No. You have to play the boring ass tutorial level that comes before it. That is lame. Stop insulting people's intelligence. Why do you make a freaking manual if you make a tutorial level? What is the point? I could talk about how lame and boring tutorial levels are but I think these reasons are more than enough for me. I'm the Golden Hedgehog and Tutorial levels SUCK.      


     You can expect the Top Ten things I like in video games soon.      

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Top Ten things I hate in video games (Part 1)

            You know it, I know it. Video games are fun. Unlike movies and books, video games allow you to fully take control of your surroundings and actually be the hero. This makes it easier for us to get into the game. But, sometimes, developers like to add some things I HATE in their games and that is what this list is for. The Top Ten things I HATE in video games. The only rule: they must not be obvious things like bad AI or just bad gameplay. I'll try to be original with the entries on this list. With that being said, let's get started with number ten.


10. Button mashing/rotating analog stick as fast as you can

          What do you need to play a game? You need the system, the AC adapter, that thing you plus to your TV and most importantly, a controller. But to some developers, controllers are no big deal, right? Why do you put such things like button mashing in a video game? Button mashing can DESTROY your controller. Rotating analog sticks as fast as you can with make your analog sticks loose like hell and I'm looking at you, Dragon Ball Z games. Most of the time, I try not to rotate the analog stick as fast as possible but then I lose. Same goes for Mario Party and their annoying button mashing games. Hey! Developers! I don't want to break my controller! Is it so hard understand? When I play a game, I want to feel like I am in control of what I'm doing and I want to beat the crap of my opponent. I DON'T want to let the computer or player kick my ass because I might break my controller. Plus, it hurts.


9. Long cutscenes 

          It is nice to have cutscenes and all. It makes games look like movies. Woohoo! But some developers like to let themselves go and try to look like movies when they're suppose to make a freaking game. Let's get something straight. I love watching movies but when I want to play a game, I want to play the freaking game! I don't want to spend 10 minutes listening to two characters talking to each other. Just keep things simple, like in the good old days of video games. I like following the story, but it is not by making long as hell cutscenes that you are going to catch my attention. Metal Gear Solid is a big offender. I always remember that long as hell cutscene between Raiden and the president in Metal Gear Solid 2. I have shivers going down my spine when I try to remember it. I wouldn't mind having a long cutscene at the end of the game because it is rather relaxing, after every thing you had to go through.


8. Pay-to-win

       What is pay to win, you say? Pay-to-win is a feature mostly found in online games that allow the player to buy better gear, upgrades, items and things like that, so you don't have to work as hard as other people do. Already, that sounds wrong... well, to me, at least. That makes the game unbalanced and I HATE when games are unbalanced. Heck, that means a gamer that is new to the game can take out a player that is more skilled but decides not to pay for better items. That is unfair. Diablo III is a big offender. Geez, I wonder why people hate Diablo III. Pay-to-win can go die in hell for all I care. Stupid feature.


7. Not letting me save when I want to

      Look, people, I am a save-paranoid. I have to save the game very often. I often save my game a few minutes after I played the game for a while. That is how paranoid I am. But some games like to mess with me by limiting the save feature. Some games, like the original Resident Evil, will use ink ribbons and typewriters to save your game. But be careful, you can only use an ink ribbon up to three times. Three times? I save my game four times every ten minutes. Some games, like Metroid, allow you to save your game in save rooms. While it is much less worse than ink ribbons and typewriters, I still want my Ocarina of Time style saving feature. Simple, fast and you can use it whenever you want to. Only paranoids like me can understand this.


6. Annoying sidekicks 
        Usually, you are not the only one whose going to save the world. Sometimes, you'll get help from a sidekick. Some of them are good, like Tails, Clank, Yoshi and others are ANNOYING! The most annoying, I'd say, are from the Legend of Zelda games. Precisely, Navi and Fi. Why do they need to state the obvious every single time? Heck, let me solve this puzzle on my own. I have two hearts left? Oh, geez, that's what the beeping noise was trying to tell me? I sure didn't know that. Oh, leaves on a rocky surface that lead to somewhere? Nah, it is just nature doing its job. STOP. STATING. THE. OBVIOUS! Yoshi is seen as one of the best sidekicks in video games... and that is without opening his mouth. If I'm stuck, all I need to do is ask them what I should do and that is it. Simple as that.

 

  This is it for part 1. Hope you liked it....

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Rant: Trolls

     This is the first rant I have ever done. I'm not really a guy who does rants but hey, I can try. Usually, I talk about video games and all but I thought it would be cool to take a break from games and talk about something that is quite big on the internet. What exactly? Trolls, like what's written on the title.

    I would say this. I've started facing trolls around 2008, four years ago... on YouTube. So I sort of know what they are. For those of you who don't know what a troll is, a troll is a person who posts a provocative comment on a forum or YouTube videos or something like that. Trolls usually want to piss you off and waste your precious time. That is a troll. So let's start this rant with a story about how I met these vile creatures.

       It all started in 2008. That's the year I joined YouTube. I spent most of my time watching AMVs (remember those). Some day, my friend tells me a "bully" commented on one of his friend's video. So I went this friend's video out of curiosity and because I wanted to argue. So this guy started posting some very racist comments (especially against Asians) on this friend's video. So I decided to join this "fight". Needless to say, I was excited. So I started insulting him. Back then, I wasn't ashamed of calling someone else names over the internet. No matter what I said, this guy continued spouting racist stuff. He sounded more like a broken record since he used the same words in every single one of his comments. Our "fight" moved on to another video. COMPLETELY unrelated to what we were discussing. He had some serious problems with anime and for some reason, he didn't like Asians. We continued attacking this guy, on the same video, for days. One day, I realized my friend's username was different for some reason. The bully's username was different as well. The stupid kid I was back then, I replied to the bully. It was actually my friend who was impersonating him because the bully started impersonating my friend. I was confused. That would be the trademark of this troll, impersonating others. But you could tell the difference because he used pretty much the same words over and over so it was pretty obvious he was impersonating someone. Later, I met a few other anime guys. Apparently, they were fighting against a group of trolls. Not a single troll, not a few trolls, a BIG group of trolls. Most were racist towards the Asians, but everyone of them was as the disgusting as the other. One of the biggest trolls was RobBarren (now terminated). What made him so special was the fact that he impersonated the YouTube staff so he could get people's passwords to log into there account and hack them. He was an intimidating troll and he had a big group to support him. So a bunch of guys decided to form the Anti Troll Organisation (now terminated). We used to ban trolls almost on a daily basis, so if there's a particular troll we didn't like, it was a matter of time before we banned him. Unfortunately, we fell apart. The trolls won over AntiTrollOrgo. But it wasn't over. The organisation was gone but we continued fighting. Ultimately, we managed to get rid of RobBarren and some of his allies such as oneshotbros. We also managed to stop nparga23 (the bully I was talking about  in the beginning). That's when we removed our internet for one year. Sure I didn't like that, but looking back, I wish I remained without internet. After one year, what did trolls look like?

       They lost the touch. They lost everything that made trolls menacing. They became some wannabe trolls that beg for attention.

     Let's start with the first reason why trolls suck.

1. They're attention whores. Sure, a lot of trolls back then were attention whores but these days, they're even bigger attention whores. Some of them just make a Username for the sole purpose of catching your attention. Man, what a bunch of pathetic freaks. They just want to argue either because they have so much time in their hands and starts hating pointlessly instead of contributing to the advancement of mankind as a whole or they're simply mad. Like people begging for my attention is going to be menacing to me. Pfffffffffft.


2. Their comments are redundant. I've seen many trolls these days. All of them are using pretty much the same words. "Butthurt", "weeboo", "faggot". How about a little originality next time? Do you think I'll spend an hour listening to a broken record? I don't think so. I feel like the more I see these words, the less of an impact they have on me. Oh boy! Someone called me a weeboo on the internet! What should I do? Get real. These words lost their impact long ago. You aren't threatening anymore. They usually type comments FILLED with foul words. Am I suppose to decipher this crap for you?



3. They aren't able to carry on an argument. Back then, getting in an argument with a troll was a big deal. Now? It is a waste of time and usually, the troll is the one who leaves the argument before you do. They're feeble, weak, they aren't able to do what a troll is suppose to do. I got into many arguments against trolls and it is pretty easy to refute their points. It's like they leave an opening for you so you can strike as hard you can. Give me a hard time, dammit! I have yet to see a troll that can make me relive the same excitement I felt when I was arguing against RobBarren's allies. It's boring how easy for me it is. Most of their comments, like stated previously, are filled with foul words... even during arguments. That sure gives you the upper hand.


4. Trolls back then were menacing. They weren't daily routine like they are to me now. Back in the RobBarren days, trolls were racist. Some of them saw Hitler as a hero. Needless to say, there were some Nazis back then. These days? They just troll you for your personal preferences. I like a specific thing? They hate me for liking this specific thing. Wow, you are really scaring me. Woooo. This guy can hack into my account if I'm not careful but this one has insulted me over my opinion? Oh no! Jokes aside, they aren't menacing.


5. Lack of originality. Like I said previously, most trolls nowadays sound the same. Same structure of sentence, same words, same everything. They do nothing to stand out of the others. Back then, trolls were original. nparga23 used to impersonate others, RobBarren used to impersonate YouTube staff to hack into people's account. Modern trolls? Nothing. Nothing forces you to troll. So why do you do it when you'll end up acting like the others? They end up looking like wannabes. I'm an anti-troll at heart and I feel like I know more about trolling than these idiots.



6. They get mad. Remember "U MAD BRO"? That one phrase used by trolls? Well, apparently, troll these have forgotten this phrase. Either that or they don't know how to use it. I know when people are mad, I know when they're angry and most of time, when I argue with these wannabes, they start raging like a bull. Throwing the "U MAD BRO" at me doesn't make you seem like you are not mad, idiot. It is not this phrase that is going to change the argument completely. Stop resorting on this phrase, it has no meaning anymore.

    There are more reasons why trolls these days suck, but I feel like six is enough. Hope you enjoyed my first rant. I bet trolls are going to hate me for this one.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Top Ten Nintendo franchises that need to make a comeback (Part 2)

         This is the second part of my first countdown in a long, long time. I don't think need to explain anything because I think you guys have read the first part. If you didn't, go read it. If it doesn't bother you, fine. So let's continue where we left, shall we? Let's start with number five.

5. Eternal Darkness

     This is the second entry on this list that isn't a series. Ah, Nintendo, a world of joy, happiness and in this case, terror and insanity. Eternal Darkness is known for being one of the first M rated games Nintendo has ever published. Eternal Darkness is a GameCube game that was released in 2002. This game managed to get a 92 on Metacritic, that's how good of a game it was. But let's talk about the real thing. Eternal Darkness is a Survival Horror game that revolves around a book known as "The Tome of Eternal Darkness". You'll play as 12 different characters, each coming from a different time period. The game is well known for something called "sanity effects". If you don't know what it is, do not worry, I'll explain it for you. In this game, you have a sanity meter. If it goes down completely, you'll go insane. Some sanity effects include sounds such as someone knocking on the door when clearly no one is there, losing your own head, walls bleeding and the game will go as far as trolling you by saying that your memory card is corrupted. That sure scared a bunch of players. The game manages to combine good music, great gameplay, great story and great characters very well. Apparently, Silicon Knights (the developers of this game) were planning a sequel to the game for the Wii U. Unfortunately, they got into trouble with Epic Games and apparently, the game is cancelled. That is quite frustrating because I like getting freaked from time to time. If only Nintendo could do something about it. I'll just wish it comes back and shows people that Nintendo can be "Hardcore" when they want to be.

4. Earthbound/Mother

      You knew this one was coming at one point on this countdown. Well, Earthbound is number four. For those of you who don't know the Mother series, I won't blame you. I'll explain what Earthbound is for you. There is 3 games in the series. The first one is Mother, which was released for the Famicom in 1989. It is the least popular of the 3 games. Then, in 1995, Earthbound is released for the Super Nintendo. The sales in North America were abysmal to say the least but surprisingly enough, the game as gained popularity in recent years. The last one is Mother 3, released in 2006 for the GameBoy Advance. It is widely regarded as the saddest game ever made and a work of art which unfortunately never made it to North America. It is a Role-Playing game. In most Mother games, you use powers you got from aliens. Unlike most RPGs, you don't really use swords and knives to attack your enemies. You usually use sticks and stuff you can find around your house. The series is set in modern days. It is hard for me to go in-depth because I didn't play the games, I've watched walkthoughs of it and really, you can't blame me because Earthbound is a very rare game and Mother and Mother 3 haven't released in North America. I know for a fact that the plot of Mother and Earthbound is about a bunch of kids trying to fight an alien that tries to destroy the world. Mother 3's plot, I'm not so sure about what it is. I wish one day we'll see a new game in this series as many people say this is one of the best RPG series ever made. It used to be an obscure series but with the help of games like Super Smash Bros, Let's Players like chuggaaconroy and NintendoCapriSun and Giygas himself, the popularity of the Mother series has increased. The series is no longer an obscure series. Apparently, fans are trying to work on a Mother 4 game. That has caught the interest of Shigesato Itoi (creator of the series). Maybe that is a sign that the Mother series isn't quite dead yet. Let's hope we'll see Itoi's beloved series once more.

3. Chibi-Robo!

    Oh boy, do I really want to see a new one of those. This is the third GameCube game already. The GameCube sure had some great games. When a game makes cleaning your house FUN, it has to be a great game. This game is no other than Chibi-Robo! There are 3 games in the series. Chibi-Robo! which released in 2006 for the GameCube, Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol for the Nintendo DS, which released in 2007 and Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Osoji in 2009 for the Nintendo DS. I've only played the GameCube one so it'll be kind of easy for me to explain what the game is like. Basically, you are Chibi-Robo, a miniature robot that helps cleaning the house. BELIEVE me, the game is incredibly fun. You can clean up stains on the floor using a tooth brush, putting pieces of paper in the garbage and help other toys. By accomplishing these tasks, you will earn happy points.  You can also buy new gadgets such as Chibi-Copter and Chibi-Blaster as well as new costumes. But, be careful, you will slowly lose your battery power so you will have to charge very often. You can increase your battery power so you can travel to more distant places so, no worries there. There is also a Day/Night mechanic. I could play this game for hours. It is definitely one of my favorite GameCube games. It has so much style. Skip Ltd. (developers of the game) are truly admirable developers and they don't shy away from making such creative games that truly understand what fun is. If only this series could make a comeback on the Wii U, I'll cry. Heck, I'll buy a "New Play Control" of the game if it ever releases in North America. I truly feel stupid for not having bought the game when I had the chance to. Enjoy the video below as I slap myself for being an idiot.

2. Custom Robo

        Now let's talk about about another kind of "Robo", shall we? But this isn't the kind that would clean your house, no sir. These were meant to FIGHT! Remember that awesome Robo you get from an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros Brawl? Well, that's his series. There are a total of five games in the series. The original Custom Robo which was released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, Custom Robo V2 which was released on the Nintendo 64 in 2000, Custom Robo GX, released in 2002 for the GameBoy Advance, Custom Robo for the GameCube, released in 2004 and finally, the one I have, Custom Robo Arena for the Nintendo DS in 2007. Custom Robo is sort of like Pokemon but instead of having Pokemons, you have miniature robots that are meant to fight. The combat system is also different as it is not a turn based RPG style of combat but more of a 1 on 1 arena sort of combat system. You attack using guns, bombs, and mines which you can customize. The sport of Custom Robo is taken very seriously and is pretty much what students learn at school (what an awesome school). You have a variety robots you can get, each coming with their own advantages and disadvantages. I also LOVE the soundtrack of Custom Robo Arena. If you like Pokemon, you will definitely love Custom Robo. It looks a lot alike. Unfortunately, the sales aren't similar to Pokemon. It is one of the series I want to see on the Wii U. Here's hoping Ray MK IV shows up one day.

 Let's recapitulate before we get to number 1:

10. Star Fox

9. F-Zero

8. Wave Race

7. Battalion Wars

6. Cubivore

5. Eternal Darkness

4. Earthbound/Mother

3. Chibi-Robo!

And finally 

2. Custom Robo

Ready to see what my number one "Nintendo franchise that needs to make a comeback" is?

1. Nazo No Murasamejou (The Mysterious Castle Murasame)

         A very odd choice for number one indeed. I myself never played the game, I just watched a long play of it. But, again, you can't blame me since this game was released in Japan only for the Famicom... in 1986. What struck me about this game was how similar it was to another game that came out the same year. The Legend of Zelda, anyone? Well, it's a more linear and fast-paced but you know what I mean. After that, I tried to imagine how Nazo No Murasamejou could be like nowadays. I imagined it being an open world game like The Legend of Zelda with samurais instead of knights. I tried to imagine how the combat could be. A Ninja Gaiden-The Legend of Zelda hybrid would be nice. I imagined that the only weapons you could use were Katanas, Shurikens and Bow and Arrows which you could upgrade throughout the game. Having two "Zelda-like" games would be incredible. Seriously, think about it! People wouldn't be crying for the next Zelda game to come out. It could be a more difficult Action Adventure game for players who want a real challenge.  Nazo No Murasamejou is probably one of the few games on this list that made me go nuts about how it could be if it ever came back. You can't really say the series is quite dead yet. Here's some proof. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, you could unlock the overworld theme of the game (Nazo No Murasamejou - Dochuumen). In Samurai Warriors 3 (a game published by Nintendo for the Wii), Takamaru (the protagonist) appeared as a bonus character. In the upcoming Wii U title Nintendo Land, there is a mini-game based on the series: Takamaru's Ninja Castle. Why a Nazo No Murasamejou mini-game instead of a Star Fox mini-game? While it is not absolutely likely that the series will make a comeback, the game isn't quite dead yet. Surely, the series needs to be popular so it can make a comeback which is why this game is my number 1. I want to see Takamaru's bloody face once for more!


   Well, that concludes our Top 10 Nintendo franchises that need to make a comeback. I sure loved doing this list. I am pretty proud of how the list turned out to be. My skills at doing countdowns have definitely improved in comparison to the crap I used to do in 2008 and 2009. This is definitely not my last countdown. It has just begun.


  Have a nice day.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Top Ten Nintendo franchises that need to make a comeback (Part 1)

   This is the first "Top 10" I'll post on this blog and the first one I did in years. I'll do my best because I don't want to disappoint anyone with a horrible "Top 10".

   This Countdown is about the 10 Nintendo franchises that have been gone for years but I want to see them make a comeback someday. Please note, this is a personal list so, if your favorite franchise (that has been gone for years) isn't number 1 or isn't on the list, please do your own Top 10 instead of insulting me. The only rule here is: The franchise must be owned by Nintendo. Some entries in this list aren't actually series but who gives. Without wasting another minute, let's get started with number 10.

10. Star Fox

        Star Fox, one of the finest On-Rail Shooters of all time and definitely one the most beloved Nintendo franchises. If you don't know what Star Fox is, you are missing out... BIG TIME. The game revolves around Fox McCloud and his team (Falco, Slippy, Peppy, Krystal) who have to fight alien monsters. They use Arwings to travel to planets and fight their enemies (occasionally they'll use the Land Master). The game is basically a Rail Shooter meaning you advance automatically and you have to dodge obstacles and shoot stuff on your way to get to point B to finish the level. Some of the later games in the franchises aren't necessarily Rail Shooters like Star Fox Adventures which is an adventure game and Star Fox Assault which mixes Rail shooting and Third Person Shooter elements together. Compared to other entries in this list, Star Fox is quite popular among the Nintendo community. Some people might find it odd that Star Fox is so low on the list. Well, that is because it is VERY likely that we will see a new Star Fox game in the near future. Shigeru Miyamoto (the creator of the series) said he REALLY wants to see a new Star Fox game on the Wii U. Rumors are heavily hinting that Retro Studios (makers of the critically acclaimed Metroid Prime series) are working on the next Star Fox game. It is only a matter of time before we see the space fox making a comeback.

9. F-Zero

      Some people say Mario Kart is the best racing series Nintendo has ever made. In my opinion, F-Zero is without question the best Racing series Nintendo has ever made. F-Zero is a Futuristic Racing game where up to 30 racers race to win the race. Unlike Mario Kart, you do not use any items to take down racers. You have to use boost pads and boost power so you can catch up to the others and while Mario Kart is open to a large audience and is easy to play, F-Zero requires skill and can be, at times, soul crushingly hard. You have to use your memory and have quick reflexes because this is one of the fastest racing games ever. You have a vast roster of racers you can choose from including the awesome Captain Falcon. Like Mario Kart, there are Multi-Player modes in F-Zero, but F-Zero is mostly a single player game. It is definitely one of the most competitive racers you'll ever find. Imagining an online mode in the next F-Zero where you can race against 29 other racers is just.... it's too beautiful, man! F-Zero is quite popular and like Star Fox, it is likely we will see a new one in the near future. Shigeru Miyamoto said in an interview that with the Wii U's hardware, it would be possible to create a new F-Zero game and the fact that there in an F-Zero mini-game in the upcoming Wii U title "Nintendo Land" means we might see Captain Falcon once again. I don't know about you guys, but I am PUMPED. And yes, F-Zero is low on the list because it is likely we'll see a new one.

8. Wave Race

      Some series, like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, are roasting under the spotlight while others are left in the dark. Some series sell well enough to earn a new sequel every few years. Unfortunately, that is not what happened to Wave Race. Being the second Racing game on the list, Wave Race is a personal watercraft Racing game released for the original GameBoy in 1992. The game sold well enough to have a sequel, Wave Race 64, in 1996. People know Wave Race mostly because of Wave Race 64. There is also a third game, Wave Race Blue Storm, which released along with the GameCube in 2001. That was the last Wave Race game. It is a fairly simple racing game but it sure is a fun one. You can race with 3 other friends in local multi-player. Unlike F-Zero, there are only 4 racers "that race to win the race". But that doesn't really mean Wave Race is an easy Racing game, no sir. While it isn't as hard as F-Zero, it certainly will give you a rough time. While you have to beat the other racers, you also have to successfully maneuver around buoys. That can get difficult at times. It is one of the most original Racing games out there. For a game that was so well received by fans and critics alike, it is weird that Nintendo has stopped making Wave Race games. It is higher than F-Zero because we're not sure if this series is going to make a comeback. Wave Race 64 is available on the Wii Shop Channel, so give it a try. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go cry in a corner.

7. Battalion Wars
   
         I'm not as much into war games as other people are nowadays. I feel like every war game has to be a bloody First Person Shooter or a gory Third Person Shooter. Why can't there be an original war game? What do you mean by "Battalion Wars"? Can you tell me what on earth this is? Battalion Wars is a real-time tactics game with third person shooter elements. It got its first game in 2005, for the GameCube, and got a sequel, Battalion Wars 2 for the Wii, in 2007. What I think is absolutely awesome about this game is the fact that you can change the classes you are playing as whenever you want to. Don't like being a Grunt? Play as a Tank! Do like being a Bomber? Play as a Recon Unit. The game can get very hard towards the end, which is something great because not many games today have the balls to challenge the player. Instead of being another generic, depressive First Person Shooter, Battalion Wars is colorful and joyous. Well, it's rated T for teen but anyways. It's a war game that truly stands out. To be honest, I am really worried about that game. I haven't heard words of a third installment and that is making me a little uneasy. Battalion Wars, unlike many modern war games, is not repetitive. It makes you think about HOW you should attack your enemies instead of mindlessly running to the battlefield to shoot the bad guys. There is a lot more thought put into the gameplay than your average modern shooting games. I just wish that a Wii U one will come out soon. Please, Nintendo.

6. Cubivore
   
     Being the first game on the list that isn't a series, it is none other than the bizarre and mildly disturbing Cubivore. There is only one Cubivore game. Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest is a GameCube game that came out in 2002. It is by far one of the weirdest games Nintendo has ever made (right up there with LSD: Dream Simulator). It is difficult for me to explain what on EARTH this game is, but I can sure as heck try. It's sort of an Action RPG, Action Adventure game where you have to eat other cube animals to become stronger. I do believe that at the end of the stage, your cubivore flies off the screen with a bunch of females so it can reproduce. Yes, it is a Nintendo game. Frankly, I've never played the game. This game is just so damn rare, it is almost a treasure! If only they could re-release this game on the Wii U's virtual console, that would be pretty nice. Out of all the series on the list, this one is the least likely to get a sequel. I would really want to see one though. That's why it is my number six. It is definitely one of the most disturbing games on the GameCube. Don't believe me? Watch the Japanese commercial without cringing at the thought that this is rated E for everyone. You don't see weird games like this these days. Let's cherish the f*** out of it.

     Well, folks, that's it for Part 1. I sure am proud of my work and I hope you are just as happy with this list. Part 2 is coming soon... I hope.