Retroactive Reviews: Motorstorm PSP, LostWinds 2, FIFA 10 Soccer

Had a real busy couple of weeks, writing two research papers for college, making this year’s Thanksgiving one of the more hectic in recent memory.

However, I did receive a sweet set of packages earlier this week, almost as some sort of karmic reward for dutifully finishing my schoolwork.

Shown here are my next three reviews for the month (and possibly the last three for this year).

Borderlands: An interesting and highly addictive Quest-driven FPS that had the unfortunate timing to be released alongside Left 4 Dead 2 and Modern Warfare 2. Seems like good a time as any to devote time into it and offer my personal thoughts. I was given a PAL copy of the game, but fortunately it’s one of the few 360 titles to be region-free.

Modern Warfare Reflex: Real odd to release this port during MW2’s highly advertised release. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that the visuals have taken a massive downgrade, but do the motion controls make up for it? You’ll know soon enough.

New Super Mario Bros Wii: I was kind of set on receiving this game as a Christmas present for nostalgia’s sake, but Armchair Empire decided to give me an early X-mas gift. I still concede that the lack of online multiplayer really hurts, but you don’t need me to tell you that this game is still worth getting.

In fact, in preparation for Mario, I made a personal purchase of my own.

The BOSS controller wrap for the Wiimote is, quite frankly, boss. While the buttons are a bit more stiff than what you may be used to, it’s still a comfortable and ultimately essential addition for playing Wii games requiring a sideways-Wiimote interface.

Also purchased the little Shyguy there because, hey…Shyguy’s awesome.

Meantime, here’s some more reviews to check out. Two more have been recently submitted and pending approval.

Motorstorm: Pacific Edge (PSP)

FIFA Soccer 10 (Wii)

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias (WiiWare)

Modern Horror in Modern Warfare

I’m trying to have my review of Motorstorm: Arctic Front ready by Friday, but it isn’t easy pulling myself away from Modern Warfare 2. I tried to have it ready the day before the game’s launch, but the excitement proved too distracting.

I bought the game on launch, naturally. Just the basic vanilla edition for poor old me, and they sure made the package inadequate; I can’t remember the last time I bought a game with a manual so small.

But who cares, really? There is hardly a gamer on the planet who wouldn’t purchase this highly, highly anticipated sequel. Well, except for Wii owners.

In case you’re wondering, I’m not reviewing the game. The purchase was a personal gift from me to myself, and you don’t need me to tell you that it lives up to the hype, and then some. Incidentally, you didn’t need me to tell you that Uncharted 2 was awesome, but I digest.

I’m using this post to talk about one specific aspect of MP2, namely the level titled “No Russian”. You might have heard from the usual (and bitching) sources about a controversial moment that takes place in the game. You’re even warned upon starting up about the impending moment of terrorism, and are even given the option to skip it without missing any achievements.

You’d be missing out on a crucial setup to the game’s heavy-hitting story, though. Having played through it, I wanted to share my thoughts about this one level, as it’s been a while that something in a videogame got me to thinking so profoundly.

I’ll spell it out in big letters for those of you skimming through:

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR MODERN WARFARE 2 LEVEL “NO RUSSIAN”. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The original Modern Warfare was no stranger to controversy and shock value. In the game’s second level, you are thrust into the POV of a usurped middle eastern president who is being driven to his public execution. The entire sequence was quite brutal, giving you a front row seat to a first person bullet to the brain, delivering a level of virtual reality few other games have the stones to carry out. And I loved Infinity Ward for it.

It wasn’t much of a surprise to learn that MW2 would feature a similar moment meant to convey the required emotions for dealing against a violent terrorist. In the sequel, the event doesn’t occur until the third level (or fourth if you count the tutorial prologue); before the level starts, you’re given the explanation that you’re in the POV of a CIA agent posing as a Russian terrorist, who has been placed to earn the trust of the established villain Makarov, while secretly gathering intel on Makarov’s true objective (as if his public reports about “more bombings” and “death to America” weren’t obvious enough).

It didn’t take much to know where they were going with this, and I was already on the edge of my seat once the level booted up. Taking place inside a Russsian airport, Makarov and his men casually stroll inside while decked out in full killing gear, and without any demands or primary announcements, they begin to open fire on all the unaware civilians. And you, the “hero”, are privy to this horrific act…and are given the option to partake in the event.

I haven’t yet seen what, if anything, occurs if you choose not to open fire on the civilians. It could be that there’s no penalty for playing the pacifist in this scene, and Infinity Ward merely wanted to give players the option to engage in the murder spree while coming up with their own moral choices; maybe some players begrudgingly open fire, giving in to their virtual orders that they must give up “a piece of themselves” in order to “save many”; maybe some trigger happy GTA fans happily engage in the violence, repressing their inner desires to commit such atrocities in real life (God hoping). Me? I took the actor role and directed my shots at nearby vending machines, exploding signs, and just mainly pretended to be shooting at the panic-stricken public without actually hitting any of them. I did a 2nd run where I did freely shoot up the airport, and came out feeling worse than I did the first time.

Make no mistake, the game revels in the shocking violence occurring, but it doesn’t glorify it; the haunting music, the terrified screams, and the half-speed pacing indicates that this is an evil event that you’re witnessing, regardless of whether you take part in it or not. As a game, I was hoping my actions to not take innocent lives would result in an achievement or such, but again, they probably wanted players to come up with their own moral decisions. Sadly, once the massacre ends, you’re forced to engage against armed security. If you want to finish the level, you’ll have to take these guys down, although they certainly put up more of a fight than the men and women who were slaughtered earlier. It’s pretty disillusioning to witness a horrific event and then immediately resume to playing the game as normal, although MW2 certainly isn’t the first title to pull that (FFVII’s famous 1st disc moment can attest to that. FYI, I lost that battle the first time, and had to witness the tragic scene twice in a row).

Much like the first game, this level ends with a bullet to the brain; Makarov wasn’t fooled by the American’s disguise, in fact his whole plan was based on putting the blame on the US for the attack. This revelation not only brings to light what an evil bastard Makarov is, it also sets up the stage for the worst fictional attack America has ever faced. Suffice to say, the controversial and grimly realistic moments of the game don’t end with this level. In fact, they all originate from it.

Naturally, lots of people are ready to step up and complain about this “player controlled terrorism” from the game, doing everything they can to defraud videogames. I can agree with them in this instance that it is a controversial moment, but like I said before, I love Infinity Ward for having the balls to do it. I felt personally distraught from witnessing the grimly realistic massacre, but I’m also glad that the game managed to secure an emotional impact from me. It only increases my motivation to play through and mow down the bastards responsible, and to ultimately enjoy one of the best games released this generation.

Retroactive Reviews: Uncharted 2, Tekken 6

As a reviewer, I don’t take perfect scores lightly.

It’s always a big debate when other publications give upcoming, overhyped games a perfect score. People have always criticized such decisions, saying that the magazines were paid off by the developers, as a means of giving their games the best kind of advertising it could receive. Or maybe the guys reviewing the game are just like the majority of gamers who have been suckered into the hype for a massively anticipated title, and feel that it’s a life privilege to finally get a chance to play the game.

As a freelancer, one of my earliest, personal vows was to not conform to such practices. When I review a game, I deliver the most honest opinions and criticisms I’m capable of mustering, even if it’s a game I was personally looking forward to. I also consider myself hard to please, which only strengthens my resolve to not toss out perfect scores like they were free candy.

I’m not shy about giving a game its due merits, however. By my count I’ve given at least three games the perfect pass, with this year’s Shadow Complex just one percent shy of missing the mark (a decision I still get some scrutiny over). I wanted to state though that just because I do give a game the highest score it can achieve (whether it’s a 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10, or 100% of 100%, depending on the site that assigned me the title), that does not make the game itself flawless.

Only a handful of titles remain truly “perfect” in my personal list (which incidentally features a Zelda title, but not a Mario one, and absolutely no RPGs), but besides those holy grails, every game has, in my opinion, room for improvement. That’s why technology improves and sequels are made. Unlike with movies, I never believe in “no more games from this series or genre”, because there’s always potential to take a great thing and make it even better.

So despite my iron will to judge it as harshly as I always judge my games, I gave a major, highly anticipated title like Uncharted 2 the perfect pass, even though I can point out a few critiques that make the game anything but “flawless”. But despite that, I don’t regret my decision one bit; the truly great games are the ones that play out its strengths in order to mask its minuscule weaknesses, and Uncharted 2 is indeed great. I don’t regret my score, and I don’t regret calling it the best game of the year, and an inspired look into the kind of games the PS3 can pump out when running on its maximum potential.

Well then again, Modern Warfare 2 is out next week, so maybe I’m speaking too soon about GOTY.

Uncharted 2

Tekken 6

Happy Halloween: The 10 Essential Chasers

It’s my favorite time of the year. When Christmas gets too Sesame Street and Thanksgiving gets too dry (as in the turkey), Halloween has always been a steady month of kick-ass, from costumes to movies.

And let’s not forget the survival horror games; regardless of the season, I love playing survival horror, and my all-time favorite element that almost every game shares is the Chaser type of enemy.

For those unaware, Chasers refer to recurring enemies that appear at different, often random points of the game to stalk your controllable character, with the sole purpose of dismembering him or her should it manage to get close enough. Chasers are kind of like a boss that follows you throughout the game, except the majority of them can’t be killed, but merely stalled while you make your quick getaway.

Monstrous, unstoppable, and always one step behind you, Chasers have always left lasting impressions on gamers including myself, and in the spirit of Halloween, I’m sharing my 10 choices for the essential Chasers.

Get your supplies ready, and read on.

1. Nemesis (Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)

Starting things with my all-time favorite Chaser (in fact, that’s his official Japanese name), the Nemesis exemplifies everything that makes these gaming enemies so terrifying. A superhuman zombie that doesn’t follow any of the zombie rules, Nemesis runs like a marathon jogger (years before the 28 movies made the concept popular), isn’t bound by locked doors, takes nearly a quarter of ammunition to bring down (and he doesn’t stay down long), and even comes equipped with his own freaking rocket launcher.

No seriously, a zombie with a rocket launcher.

But what makes Nemesis really stand out to this day is the fact that his appearances are half-scripted, half-random. You could pass by an area where he’s prone to attack you, only to not have him show up at all. A few minutes later, relieved, you may get surprised as he drops down a five story roof as you make your way past the seemingly deserted city block. A truly frightening enemy no matter how good a player you think you are, Nemesis will always be the ultimate Chaser.

2. Pyramid Head (Silent Hill 2…and its sequels)

Of course you knew I’d add in this guy, right? More popular than Nemesis, but not as manic a Chaser, it’s impossible to forget Pyramid Head once you lay eyes on him for the first time. As if the mysterious, but ultimately frightening appearance wasn’t enough, your first ever encounter with the silent executioner has him doing….well, this.

Years later, there are people who still can’t believe what they just saw. I’ll certainly never forget my expletive reaction to first witnessing it.

Yet despite his shocking introduction, Pyramid Head is a much quieter Chaser than most, becoming more of a psychological monster, like a visual representation of madness and torment that stalks James as he grows closer and closer to the horrible truth about his wife, and himself. When PH does decide to compliment your inner pain with a healthy dose of outer pain, he’s relatively easy to evade, but during those scripted moments where he requires your undivided attention, you can be certain that there’s no escape.

3. Mr X (Resident Evil 2)

Resident Evil 2 was the first game I ever played that featured the “survival horror” moniker, a phrase invented by the series, even though the genre existed beforehand. Regardless, RE2 was my first “official” entry into the genre, and what a great introduction it was. As if playing through one zombie-ridden campaign wasn’t enough, the game had a second scenario to look forward to upon completion, adding new areas, encounters, and most importantly: Mr X.

The precursor to Nemesis, and in many ways his complete opposite, this trench-coat wearing Tyrant played it oldschool, silently waiting in the shadows, his massive steps being the only indicator that he was waiting for you. Considering his slow movements, Mr X should be theoretically easy to avoid; too bad he has a habit of facing you in tight hallways, using his massive size to keep you boxed in.

Mr X is also responsible for what is probably my biggest jump moment in gaming, shown here at 3:20.

You simply can’t top that. Glass windows were always prime indicators that monsters may be afoot, but solid walls? All bets were off by then.

4. Lisa Trevor (Resident Evil GC Remake)

Yet another creature from Resident Evil. Shouldn’t be surprising, since it was the series that popularized both the horror and Chaser genre.

But by all accounts, Lisa is the most terrifying and tragic of all the game monsters. Separated from her family at a young age, Lisa was subjected to horrific experiments for decades, producing no results due to a bizarre immune system, but also gradually growing more insane in the process. Eventually, all those dormant viruses took hold of her, mutating her into an undead creature so horrific, she hides her deformed face with the skin flap of her mother’s.

Even by Silent Hill standards, that is seriously messed up. Quite a surprise that it was a Resident Evil game that was responsible for this tragic terror, and it’s a bit tragic how the series degenerated (somewhat) into parody afterward. Personally, I hope for the day that Capcom returns the series to its grim (re)beginnings set forth by the Gamecube remakes.

5. Jason (Friday the 13th)

For this choice, I’m going oldschool (in more ways than one). Okay, so the Friday game on the NES hasn’t exactly aged well….actually, it wasn’t that good to begin with.

But what it did do well was the jump scares, possibly the first console game to incorporate them. Jason’s sudden appearances were completely random, and would almost always elicit a jump from players regardless of age. The most tense moments took place inside cabins, where players had to save a fellow camp counselor from Jason, who was confirmed to be lying in wait somewhere. You could spend half an hour searching all the corners of each wall until Jason’s hulking figure (and that dreadfully tense music) greeted you in the shadows. And all you’ve got is a rock.

6. Debilitas (Haunting Ground)

An under-appreciated PS2 game, Haunting Ground did a lot of things right, and also exclusively featured numerous Chasers who seek out the bouncy bouncy Fiona as she bounces her way around a massive mansion. The most recognizable Chaser in that game, though, was the first one; Looking like a cross between Quasimodo and that dude from The Goonies, Debilitas was an absent-minded, but also psychotic hulk of a hunchback who really wants Fiona for….well, let’s just say the Game Over screen opens up a lot of disturbing thoughts.

But what makes Debilitas unique is that he’s actually a sympathetic Chaser; his obsession with Fiona seems stemmed from loneliness along with dementia; during one cutscene, we briefly observe Fiona through his point of view.

What we originally saw as a frightened young girl is suddenly depicted as a smiling goddess in his eyes. It’s an unsettling look into a demented mind, but it’s also rather pitiable.

7. Dr Salvador (Resident Evil 4)

Yep, it’s another nomination from Resident Evil. And yep, the “chainsaw guy” does have a name. What exactly he is a doctor of is never explained, but that all becomes irrelevant once you hear the chainsaw motor and that horrible wail that soon follows. While it may be debatable to classify Salvador as a Chaser, since he can be permanently put down, and the subsequent appearances afterward could just be other loonies with potato sacks and chainsaws, but considering the fear this guy or guys cause from that creepy howl and instant decapitation (at least in the NA version) assures a spot in this list.

8. SA-X (Metroid Fusion)

Okay, so technically Metroid isn’t a horror series. I could fight with you over that, but I won’t. However, the general concept and ferocity of SA-X makes her(?) deserve a spot on my list.

Remember how badass you felt in Super Metroid once you received all weapons and upgrades, completely destroying every monster that blocked your path? You can bet it wasn’t as fun being on the receiving end of that arsenal, as the SA-X proved. Completely possessing Samus’ post-game powers, SA-X was a silent killing machine that stalked the corridors searching for its original owner, immediately dispatching charged beams and super bombs once it sets its sights on Samus. Sadly, SA-X’s appearances are rather brief in the game, but they’re still memorable encounters. Dark Samus has got nothing on the SA-X.

9. Berserker (Gears of War)

So most of the Locust enemies from Gears of War look like knockoffs of Frisky Dingo’s Kill Face.

Not the most intimidating threat, to be honest. But the Berserker is a giant, hulking exception, a rampaging female (typical…just kidding) that tears down everything in its path, relying on her keen hearing to make up for her blindness in order to take down Marcus and his steroid-heavy crew. For a loud action game that requires you to shoot everything in front of you, the stealth-like aspects of the Berserker encounters coupled with the gorgeous graphics make these tense escapes one for the history books.

Not having Berserkers in Gears of War 2 probably added to its list of problems.

10. Silent Hill (Silent Hill Series….except the fourth one)

Confused? Don’t be. While the Silent Hill series is notorious for its laundry list of hideous monsters, many people overlook the fact that the town of Silent Hill is, in itself, a living entity. Whenever the town seeks a new prey to envelop, it always manages to lead them to the cursed town no matter where they may be. Once the characters are trapped in the belly of the beast, they are driven mad by their inner demons, which transform into physical ones seeking to devour them. With an out-of-season weather system, an instant shift from day to night, and nonstop terror on every street corner, Silent Hill is the ultimate Chaser….because it has already taken a hold of you.

Honorable Mention: Scissorman

Before you Clock Tower fans begin to flood my comments box asking why I didn’t include Scissorman, the truth of it is that I’ve never actually played any games starring the manic killer. I just recently gave the SNES original a spin, but the incredibly slow pacing may be within my tolerated limits. Still, a midget with gigantic head-chopping sheers? Sure, I’ll acknowledge him. I’d like to see him in a better game, though.

I came for a Fight, and walked into a Brawl

So today I made my way to Gamestop to collect my pre-ordered Tekken 6 bundle, a package I was looking forward to for quite some time. Not only did it mark the official launch of Tekken 6, which looks like a jam-packed brawler with sweet motion blur, but it also included the wireless arcade stick, the first wireless third party accessory for the 360.

When it came to fighting games, I mostly avoided purchasing the 360 versions, as the horrendous d-pad was not friendly toward veterans of down+down-forward+forward+button mashers. The Tekken 6 arcade stick offered a sweet alternative, and was wireless to boot. The way the 360 dangles atop my TV would have made corded controllers a visual eyesore.

The game was approved by Massive Damage for review, which meant they’d foot the bill, but only on the game itself. Still, getting a chunk off of the $150 price tag was still acceptable, and I also decided to purchase a $10 used copy of Yakuza on the PS2, as I’ve been in the mood to finish it after a previous sampling some time ago.

You think the Wii-sized box bundle and the lengthy Japanese brawler would be enough to satisfy me, but along the way home I decided to stop by my local Blockbuster, which sadly was on the verge of closing.

Tragic though that may be, closing stores also mean big sales.

Well, I do have that wireless arcade stick now, so I figured why not give it a test run with some fighting games I originally put off?

For $7 each, I nabbed Dead or Alive 4 and Virtua Fighter 5. The former, I’m told, is pretty unplayable online, but since the DOA games tend to have a wealth of extra content and CG, and tend to be flashy, quick fun, I figured it was worth the price. This, of course, isn’t mentioning the massive, bouncing honkers that will no doubt take up half of my ‘45 screen. As for VF5, I’ve heard nothing but praise for its online and fighting mechanics, although in all honesty I never was a big fan of the franchise; by skipping out on any story modes or cutscenes, I never identify with any of the cookie cutter fighters. That’s considered a good thing for fans wanting to just step into the brawl, but if they really believe VF’s Akira is as memorable as SF’s Ryu, they’re seriously deluding themselves.

Also, headphones. I needed new headphones, and they were on a discount.

Man, I’ve played a lot of stuff this year.

Retroactive Reviews: Afrika, Dirt 2, C.O.R.E.

Got another batch of reviews for you guys, including my exclusive review of DS First Person Shooter C.O.R.E., a sleeper hit that stands a chance of becoming Game of the Year.

No, actually, that’s a lie. It was the worst piece of crap I had to review since Everlight of Magic and Power. The only thing that managed to surprise me about that game was that someone actually paid $13 to buy it off me from Ebay. Enjoy it, buddy.

My next review will be my biggest yet this year, which will remain a secret UNtil it’s posted, but I’m sure it’ll be a cinCH for you readARs To figurE it out in Due time. It should be up in 2 days.

And with Halloween creeping its way up this week, I plan to make a special blog post in commemoration of the season.

Anyway, gotta wrap this up since I’ve got some Tekken 6 to start playing.

Afrika

Dirt 2

C.O.R.E.

Retroactive Reviews: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Muramasa, Trials HD

Been quite a while since my last post, hasn’t it? As always, I’ve got a pretty good excuse for that, though whether you find it justifiable or not is up to you.

About two and a half weeks ago, this happened:

As if my 360 red ringing wasn’t enough, my 20gb PS3, which I’ve owned since launch day, yellow lighted on me in the middle of the night. And conveniently past its warranty too. I’ve read that many other owners experienced a timely death of their systems as well, which makes me wonder if this was some sort of timed conspiracy on Sony’s part to get people to buy their Slim model.

With no BC? No chance. Sony sent their coffin, and I quickly packed in the system. The good news was that the turn-around time for receiving the repaired system was much quicker than Microsoft’s Xbox repair. The bad news? Pretty much everything else.

What resulted upon receiving my “new” 20gb system was a string of misfortunes and repeated callbacks. This includes:

1. Bye Bye Data: All of my HDD saved data, from my saved PS3 games along with some PS2 titles (the most painful? Persona 3 FES, of which I spent 50 hours on and wasn’t even halfway done) have been completely erased. I knew this was a possibility, but I had also hoped it wouldn’t happen. I later learned that this was pretty much an inevitable outcome, because it turns out what I received back in the mail wasn’t my original system, but a brand new one (or most likely refurbished). Since HDDs are linked to the system it was formatted on, moving the HDD to another system immediately formats it.

Worse yet, I figured at the very least I could download copied saves from Gamefaqs on games I had finished, but hadn’t obtained all the Trophies for. No can do, because it turns out that using a copied save that isn’t your own will negate you from obtaining further trophies. So even though I legitimately finished Batman: Arkham Asylum and collected all of the Riddler’s riddles, I’ll have to do the whole thing over if I want to collect the remaining trophies. Not that I have any real problems playing through Batman again….but I was really hoping to achieve a 100% completion the first time out.

I was “recommended” to do a back-up of my data before shipping in my system, but that was impossible since I couldn’t turn the damn thing on. Of course, I should have taken the time to back up my data to my PC when I had the chance, since I was experiencing some warning signs about a month prior, when the system would freeze or turn off on its own. That’s not even close to the biggest mistake I’ve made during this whole mess….

2. -100 GB: Once I started re-downloading my PSN games and DLC, I was given a message that my hard drive was full, and this was before I reclaimed even half of my stuff. To my immediate horror, I discovered that the 120gb HDD that I included with the dead system had been replaced with a generic 20gb one. Panicked, I called up Sony, who told me that they would have to call the warehouse (aka “graveyard”) where my dead system would be boxed in, see if the 120gb HDD is there, and then ship it back to me.

This one is partly my fault, since I should have left a note that I had replaced my 20gb with a 120gb. Despite that, I thought it would be obvious enough if they opened up the system and looked at the drive. And of course, I’m kicking myself for not having the foresight to just swap the drive with my old 20gb drive, which I still keep packaged and within viewing distance.

At least there’s good news in this case. I was informed that the HDD was found, and that it’s scheduled to arrive at my doorstep on Monday. Good thing too, since Uncharted 2 is out this Tuesday.

3. Maximum Shares Reached: So I have no problems admitting that I’ve shared my account with other people online, so we can download and share each other’s PSN games. It’s not illegal, and it’s something Sony’s aware of.

Unfortunately, since I had shared my account up to four times out of the maximum five, since I had received a new PS3 and logged in my account information, that meant that I had filled out that final slot, thus keeping me from re-downloading any of my games. Worse still is that Sony can’t or won’t de-activate those systems linked to my account, not even the one from my now dead system. They said that was the reason for the five limit in the first place.

Fortunately I was able to get a hold of one of my shared users, and have him de-activate my account from his system. Just having one free slot lets me resume my downloading, but I still have to get a hold of the other guys I shared games with and decide if I should sever my ties with them as well.

What sucks is that with that one dead PS3, I’ll never have a full 5/5 sharing like I did before.

4. $150: And yet despite all these setbacks, I still have a $150 bill to look forward to for repairing my system. I tried to see if I could get a discount since I am, with no exaggerations, a member of the gaming press, but nothing doing.

Well, at least there’s been some good news from the last couple of weeks. I signed on with Massive Damage as a reviewer, who provide games by having me physically purchase the copies, and be reimbursed the cost through Paypal upon review. I actually prefer this method, as it gives me a bigger chance in requesting a particular game to review, plus not having to worry about shipping delays that ultimately result in a late review. In fact, MD demands that I have most reviews ready within a week of purchase. Again, not a bad requirement, since it’s a good test of my ability to meet deadlines as well as retain the feelings I get from a week’s impression. I just better be careful not to request any RPGs though.

My debut title for them is Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for the PS3, and my next title will be Afrika. I’ve also been approved for Tekken 6 on the 360, my second most anticipated fighting game this year after the recent Street Fighter IV.

I’ve got two other reviews that have been put up, with a couple more recently submitted. Also plan to have my review of Dirt 2 to go up soon, which was unfortunately delayed due to my PS3 going kaput (plus the disc was stuck inside the damn system, though it was shipped back to me without a scratch).

More good news: I managed to order a full version of Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store for just $30, using my college e-mail address. I’m also currently using Windows 7 on my laptop as I type this, which I installed using a purchased activation key from Ebay for $12. Not exactly the most secure way to install a new OS (and probably not too legal either), but it’s worked great with no problems. Speaking as a Vista user, you definitely want to make the jump to 7, which is much faster and more convenient than anything that was released prior.

Anyway, on to the reviews.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

Muramasa: The Demon Blade

Trials HD

Prospective Previews: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

The two most recent entries into the Silent Hill universe haven’t quite matched the brilliance and terror of the original Japanese-developed titles, I must admit. Much in the same way Western horror movies make little impact with me nowadays, Climax and Double Helix’s takes on the series is missing that extra something that the first four games delivered (it certainly isn’t Pyramid Head, since he’s now been whored to an almost comedic degree. Give the big guy a break already). Origins was a decent effort, but rode the coattails of the previous games a little too hard without trying anything new. Homecoming, meanwhile, did a few things a little too different, and removed much of the tension and dread of the previous games by making the main character a capable demon-slayer, and a ho-hum story and overall noisy setting that felt more like Hostel: The Game than a Silent Hill title.

And yet, I’ve got my hopes up for the third time in a row for the upcoming Wiimagining (I’m sorry) of the original Silent Hil, coming this year under the name of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Developed by Climax (the same folks behind the aforementioned Origins), the more previews and trailers I see for this game, the more it becomes my most anticipated title of the year. Before, I criticized them for sticking too close to the series formula, but with Shattered Memories they seem to be borrowing their ideas from other classic horror games.

They just so happen to be good ideas, to the point that Shattered Memories seems to contain everything I’ve ever wanted in a survival horror game. Such features include….

So wait, my inner psyche is a guy wearing a red triangle head while raping and butchering women with a huge knife? That's awesome.

1. I’m sane and so are you.

Don’t call it a Wiimake (please). The original SH was a trippy but still straightforward story about an everyday father looking for his missing daughter in a (not very) deserted town. Shattered Memories thankfully avoids telling the same story thrice (the second time being the live movie) and starts things from scratch. Harry is as dull looking as ever, but now he’s apparently out of his mind.

Taking a scenario that Team Silent was rumored to use at one point for one of the games, the entirety of SM is told in past tense, with Harry already admitted into a psyche ward, where he’s being interviewed by a therapist who routinely asks him questions about both the town of Silent Hill as well as reaching deep into his troubled(?) mind. This isn’t just for dramatic effect, but also has an impact on the game itself.

Thank you officer, but I've already got a loaded gun firmly tucked away. I'm referring to my penis, of course.

2. My subconscious is a genius. And horny.

During the start of the game (and later in subsequent intervals), the doctor will ask Harry some personal questions that can be answered in any number of ways by the player. Depending how you answer them, the events of Silent Hill can physically change in accordance with Harry’s inner turmoil. Come across as a womanizer, and Cybil can appear in a more relaxed, suggestive attire rather than her standard police uniform. Admit you’re a total drunk and other NPCs will find it hard to warm up to you. These changes can go as far as completely altering someone’s physical appearance (always gagged at the sight of Dahlia’s mummified face? How about imagining her as a goth teenager this time?). The monsters frequently change their appearance based on your answers as well. Speaking of whom…

Where's a cat in a locker when you need one?

3. Press X repeatedly followed by O to….oh wait.

To me, there wasn’t a more appealing gameplay mechanic to hear than the fact that Shattered Memories features no actual combat whatsoever. No breakable weapons, no dodging rolls and finishing attacks, and no motherloving QTEs to get in the way of the scares. There are no guns, samurai swords, chainsaws, or any other kind of weapon to dispatch monsters with, so you’re only option is to run and hide and hope to God those creatures don’t detect you by the stench of your crapped pants. This instantly brings back the fear and tension that was sorely missing from even the earliest SH games (as awesome as SH2’s monsters look, they were pretty darn easy to kill), and hopefully brings back the original game’s moments of running like a madman in the dark.

You ever notice how you can actually see more with your flashlight turned off while your eyes adjust to the dark? Fine, I'll shut up now.

4. Waggle in the Dark

In the Wii’s first tech video, the one  feature that got me excited was the concept of using the Wiimote like a flashlight for horror-themed games. It took some time, but there’s finally a game making use of this idea. Shattered Memories features many Wiimote applications that don’t feel merely tacked on. Steering Harry with the nunchuck while controlling his flashlight with the Wiimote is a basic but efficient control scheme, but the game does one better by also making use of the built-in speaker to deliver that extra level of creepy. You’ll also be needing the Wii-centric controls to solve the many puzzles of the game, which leads to…

Unlike the girls of Fatal Frame, my walking speed isn't as slow as a turtle on Ritalin.

5. We interrupt the nail-biting scariness and adrenaline-filled tension so you can read this long, boring document

I used to enjoy reading the written documents and files found in Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but not so much anymore. As games get louder and angrier, it feels like hitting a brick wall to stop and read some boring walls of text just to advance the plot (thanks Fallout 3, I totally love reading your incredibly long stories on a blurry computer monitor. I mean the one in the game). SM ditches the conveniently placed files and dossiers in favor of telling the story through its visuals. Certain puzzles require hearing a message from an answering machine, for example, or using Harry’s “pretty sure they didn’t have them in 1999″  palm pilot to snap pictures of cryptic messages or other strange oddities that may come to life in digital form.

The last person who answered was a monstrous hellspawn, but at least he spoke English.

So in closing, I’ve got real high hopes for Shattered Memories. Silent Hill still remains my favorite horror series of all time, and I know there’s a game developer out there who can do it justice. I have a few nagging doubts, of course; I’m hoping the story doesn’t end up another basic plot where we can see the twist coming a mile away like with Origins and Homecoming. I also haven’t seen any monster designs other than the pink teenage mutations of the first game’s baby monsters. Still, this game is primed to be the ultimate release to look forward to this Halloween.

….what’s that? It’s been delayed until November? Mother fu-

Delicious Deals: Valkyria Chronicles

Been a quiet week on this blog. This was mostly due to my younger sister taking on a nasty illness, leaving her bedridden for two weeks, as well as a couple of hospital visits. It got a bit scary for a while, but she’s completely recovered now, so my mind is a bit clear now. I recently submitted my review for Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta, and I hope to have my review for Trials HD ready soon. I’ve also received Colin McRAE Dirt 2 for the PS3, which I’ll be reviewing in a couple of weeks along with Muramasa for the Wii.

On the subject of PS3, it seems the Slim model has finally encouraged people to buy the system in droves, something Sony’s been hoping for since 2006. Should you happen to be one of these Slim adopters, now would be the perfect time to cash in on my latest delicious deal.

Valkyria Chronicles for 19.96 at Wal-Mart

Not sure how long they’re going to sell it at that price, but I encourage you PS3 owners to snag this game up as soon as possible. As my pick for GOTY 2008, Valkyria Chronicles is one of the best PS3 games available, and one of the best RPGs I’ve played in years.

Not much more to say, so just go out and buy it. This is an Order.

Retroactive Reviews: ‘Splosion Man, Shatter

One of the very first reviews for Batman: Arkham Asylum was from this unknown magazine, who went to great, fanboyish lengths to praise the game, clearly arousing suspicions of moneyhats. What would you expect when their most positive comment was “play as Batman” while their biggest negative was that “the game ends”? Let’s face it, there were tremendous odds against Batman’s newest game, namely the fact that it was based on a licensed property. I remained hopeful, however, since it looked great, sounded great (Conroy and Hamil, of course), and because Batman was probably the one superhero to actually have some legitimately good adaptions (in particular, Sunsoft’s NES games, and my personal favorite, Konami’s Batman Returns on the SNES).

Well, color me shocked to learn that not only did Arkham Asylum not suck, it was awesome. And not just “awesome for not sucking” or “awesome for being Batman”, but legitimately, utterly awesome. One person compared it to Resident Evil 4, and I have to agree on that; Batman: AA is like one big thrilling blockbuster that starts with a bang and doesn’t let up until the end, while steadily dropping kickass items and weapons on your lap as you face off against new challenges and intimidating bosses. I’m saddened that I wasn’t given the chance to review this game, but I’m also pleased to give you my biggest off-the-record recommendation. Buy this sucker, posthaste.

I’m planning a new Prospective Preview soon, but in the meantime, I’ve got two more reviews for you.

‘Splosion Man

Shatter