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That's so PC of you
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless
Posts: 10,490
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Bell's Review - End Year Edition! 6 Games!
He'yall.
So, after a little time out i got to do a whole lot of stuff, but also ended up with my hands in a whole lot of great games, so instead of flushing a bunch of threads i thought it would be best to place them all here to close the year.
These Reviews are as Spoiler Free as i can get, there are some really great titles and a couple of surprises and very few duds (for my surprise actually). So, to keep things manageable, i'll place each review into it's own Spoiler box for 2 reasons:
1- Lots of text and images, and i would like to keep this manageable.
2- Some of these games you may actually wish not to know of or to keep yourself 100% spoiler free, so i would like to respect that.
As with all my reviews, they are writen on the point of view of what is it like to simply pick up the controller and play. It's not technical, and it's certainly not deep. I just try to pass the feeling that i got from playing these games... and once you play a lot of them, you kinda get a "sensitivity" to it, so i hope it works for ya!
Also, in the end, there is my little list of games i'm looking for in 2010;
Let's get this over with, uhn? And i want to start big.
SILENT HILL SHATTERED MEMORIES REVIEWThink of yourself, talking with this game... this is what that conversation would be right after you finished the game...
YOU: Ow... that... that was creepy. Wow.
GAME: Yeah, but did you noticed that X happened and the later own you saw Y?
YOU: Wait... what?
GAME: Think about it for a second...
YOU: Oh.... oh! Holly shit! Damn...
Seriously. It's that good.
You might know by now that i have 2 things to say about horror games:
1- Most games that call themselves horror games aren't really horror games for me.
2- All of them scare the shit out of me.
Right of the bat, the game bathes you with with production value. Before you even get to the title screen the game warns you that it's testing your psyche during gameplay and that "it plays you just as much as you play it".
It got a chuckle out of me... 2 hours into it, i noticed that i should take it seriously.
This game is a true horror game. It stares dead center in the eye and says "I'm going to make you unconfortable" and you know what? You get unconfortable. For me, Horror games aren't about things jumping at you from dark corners or being afraid of your ammo running out... it's about what Silent Hill does here. It's the details, the creep-as-fuck factor that goes up hill and beyond as you unravel it's story.
As you play as the lonely dad searching for his missing daughter, you are alone in this frozen ghost town, full of dark corners. Everything here is made to lure you to go forward while making you wish you would back away. Music goes up in tense moments on open areas and goes totally absent in closed spaces with little to no lighting. Dynamic shadows cast from every object by your flashlight pulls tricks on you as you never really fell like you're truly alone.
Hell, it's not like this game doesn't pull old tricks at ya. There is your occasional "Flash" of the screen with a loud Panic sound effect bursting at your, but it's telegraphed from five miles away with your Flashlight acting up, your damn cellphone jamming with a buzz and even the freaking screen a little TV noise and it STILL gets you more than the first time.
Forget about combat though. You are not a hero in this game. You're a guy. a Normal guy. A loving father in a desperate search for his little girl with little to no idea about what is going on. This is not about combat, is about the gaming using you against you to tell a story.
And let's talk about that for a second, shall we? Right at the start of the game, and during certain "breaks" the game takes you to this first person sequences in a Psychiatry's office.... a creepy one actually. You are in session and the doc wants to know you deep. The questions are very simple actually, but that is what the game uses to mold itself to mess with you.
I don't want to spoil this, but i'll tell ya the most innocent example in the game.. at a certain part the doc request that you paint a picture of a loving house and family. You get a picture and a bunch of coloring pencils. The colors you use in the drawing? You get them on real life too when you get to the house...
Silent hill can be a dull game if you crave for action and don't get scared at all in games like Fatal Frame or early Silent Hills, but it's not about the action really. Silent Hill is trying to tell a story, the production is fantastic, the graphics are really amazing and well done, animations are smooth and you will be damned to find a single loading screen in here.
This is a game that is trying to tell you a very very creepy, twisted, increasingly dense and quite well executed story and by the end, you will be glad you went for the ride. Puzzles aren't hard. Need a key for a door? The key is usually near the door in a very simplistic puzzle. Are you fleeing from demons? Usually there is a flare in your way. The game is not about frightening action, it's about high quality storytelling.
Want to know just how seemliness the game really is? Why not start with room transitions. Wanna open a door? Don't just press A, Hold it. Your character will open the door, look inside and enter it. Release A midway in this action and the door stays halfway open. And the fact that your character dives into the door head first after he opens it? Yeah... that raises tension, and trust me, from time to time you'll want to slow down on all that door opening.
But of course, it's not always this slow. Are you been chased by a Demon? Running for your life? Just dash towards a door or and climbable surface and the character does it automatically. GREAT when you're running for your life.
And what about your phone? Take pictures of ghosts, use the GPS map, Call people... which by the way, to listen to the other people talking you actually need to place the Wiimote speaker in your ear. But there are subtitles so don't worry about not picking stuff up.
In the end, Silent Hill Shattered Memories is an amazing game, and it's 100% worth a place in your game shelf. You should do yourself a favor and pick it up. You can finish it in a rental, and that might be a good idea if you are in doubt... the replayability here is great and in the overall, we're talking about a Prime game with great value on all accounts. Gameplay, Story, Graphic and Audio. So PICK IT UP.
Next up!
RESIDENT EVIL ZERO - WIINow, you see... it's hard to recommend this one. It's a very good game from the gamecube, no ported to the Wii... but the major "sell" point here is the Wii Controller setup which is.... not that great.
You don't you the pointer to aim, it's just the gamecube controller mapped to the Wii.
But for the game itself, this is Resident Evil for what it was known for. Bad acting, fixed camera angles that make you feel like you're being watched by the very things that want to kill you, a weird ass story and Slow-Tank-Like gameplay that works.
If resident Evil stopped at 2 for you, this game IS for you. But is it really fair to suggest such game when you can probably get the gamecube version around for much less and have, in essence, the exact same game?
I can't really say it is.
This is Resident Evil at it's core. ink Ribbons, herbs, Fixed camera, Slow REAL zombie-zombies coming at you in narrow corridors. The works. There isn't really much to say because, if you played RE1 or RE2 or RE3, you know what is for you in here.
The only real difference is there is no Magical chest of teleportation where you can stash your crap... for that you have a Partner! The 2 player system works fine, kinda like a predecessor of RE5, it takes a little to get used to it (and some of the 2 player Puzzles are a little... not clear) but it's not a hard game overall.
Resident Evil is one of those rare games that can get away with 3 hours of Gameplay (as in, you can end this game in 3 hours if you want the always present Unlockables).
Deep down, this is Resident Evil for Resident Evil Lovers, but if you're willing to pay the extra for Wii Controllers, go ahead. If you can get the Gamecube version for less.... i would suggest doing so.
And now...
JUST DANCE!
Can i just start by saying that i LOVE this game?
And that i'm REALLY pissed off with the reviews it's been getting?
Really, don't buy the IGN bad hype of this. This game is great for what it is. Now only it's an Awesome 4 player party game, it's a simple novel approach for music games that work right out of the box. Not attachments needed. No plastic junk necessary... the title says it all. Pick a song, and JUST DANCE.
And you know what? It works. If you play the game like it's telling you to play it. You can't be coy, you can't be shy. The Motion recognition is counting on timing (that you need to hit it just right, truth be told) and that you do the silly and big gestures the game is asking you to do.
hell, don't give me this crap that you would look silly playing this... if you have a Wii, that excuse doesn't count. Because you don't have to do anything more than what the game is showing you on screen.
Not only the motion recognition works, it works so well that some of the movements you do with your FREE HAND sometimes feels like IT is being tracked somehow by the Wii. It's really impressive. But for you to get that, you actually need to dance. Moving your arms like a Tool won't work here.
Of course, the Motion recognition isn't perfect. But go back to Guitar Hero 1 and tell me that it's perfect... how about DJ hero? Tony Hawk Ride?...
this game is on par with all of those, and it just requires your Wiimote. Nothing else.
Also, the songs are awesome... if you EVER wanted an perfect excuse to dance Step By Step from New Kids on the Block this game gives you just that.
Check the Tracklist.
Quote:
* Acceptable in the 80's – Calvin Harris
* A Little Less Conversation – Elvis Presley
* Bebe – Divine Brown
* Can't Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue
* Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex
* Hot n' Cold – Katy Perry
* Dare – Gorillaz
* Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky)
* Fame – In the style of Irene Cara (cover)
* Funplex CSS – The B 52's
* Girls and Boys – Blur
* Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper
* Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite
* Heart of Glass – Blondie
* I Get Around – The Beach Boys
* I Like to Move it – Reel To Real
* Jerk it Out – Caesars
* Jin Go Lo Ba – Fat Boy Slim
* Kids in America – Kim Wilde
* Le Freak – Chic
* Louie Louie – Iggy Pop
* Lump – The Presidents Of The USA
* Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
* Pump up the Jam – Technotronic
* Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
* Step by Step – New Kids On The Block
* Surfin' Bird – The Trashmen
* That's the Way (I Like it) – Kc & The Sunshine Band
* U Can't Touch This – MC Hammer
* Wannabe – The Spice Girls
* Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
* Womanizer – In the style of Britney Spears (cover)
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And everything is unlocked from the Start for you. This might turn some people off, but that also means that the game wants you to have FUN. remember FUN? Now you don't have to work your ass off just to get a few more songs that you may or may not like just to work your ass off SOME MORE.
Also, what about Fitness game? I never got so tired playing a Wii game since i first played PRO Boxing on Wii sports. Each song has it's own Coreography and it's expecting you to mimic it to the fullest. That means doing a whole "Eye of the Tiger" Boxing Routine, that i thought it was simply awesome.
Do me a favor, Will ya? Rent this game. Seriously. Just give it a try. Be silly for once and dance The Surfing Bird in your living room. This game deserves it. And not only that, it would be really great if in the next one (be for the wii or for Project Natal) they added some Michael Jackson's songs. Actually it would be nice if they added Wiimotion plus support to improve the motion recognition, but i was glad with the results i got from just the Wiimote.
Right now this game is $40, which i do think is a tad too much for it. But with it's craptacular reviews i'm sure you can find it in the bargain bin soon enough.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN RYUJINKINaruto Shippuden Ryujinki is a Brand new Action-RPG for the Wii celebrating Naruto 10 years in japan.
I must say... underwhelming.
The Naruto Fighting games on the PS2 are up there with some of the games i liked the most. The over the top, responsive, fast controls are always a great thing to enjoy... but this just isn't.
Ryujinki is a Action-RPG that mimics the Adventure portion of Naruto Shippuden narutimate accel 2 on the PS2. But there is just too much lacking.
The only real new thing in here is the new Clothing all characters got. Not a big deal here, and the novelty runs off under the first hour.
The game has tons of voice acting. Too bad it's all wasted in some REALLY tedious and slooooooow conversations. Characters just stand there slowly saying their lines even in the middle of a high action situation like a village being destroyed.
The game is your standard Action Platformer with Skills magic and partners. There isn't really much to see here because it's not even that great of an Platformer. really underwhelming for something that should be celebrating 10 years of a franchise.
The basic story Features naruto with his brand new sword, protecting a brand new magic maiden from a brand new Ninja group of bad guys and monsters while you collect Magical obrs that give your sword special skills and fight some giant beasts in some really lame God of War action sequences with deep repetition.
In the end, Ryujinki is a game i doubt will ever get out of Japan. It's not a big loss really, Other Naruto games in the US are actually better for the franchise and for the System, so unless you're a Naruto Fanatic, you'll do yourself some good by letting this one go.
MODERN WARFARE REFLEXThis game is Awesome. The best Shooter on the Wii right now that is not on Rails. Period.
But it can get chaotic as all hell. I think it's some sort of commentary on just how chaotic war really is... but c'mon.
Visually, the game is sutnning. In the Audio department, is everything you would expect it to be. The action is solid and the pace is mind Blowing. Those praises i'm sure you already saw going around.
So let's talk about what it is to actually pick up the game and play. Let's explore it's weak side for a change.
In some missions you just get so overwhelmed at the clear fact that your AI Buddies aren't doing Shit, and it's just you taking HUGE waves of Brown Terrorists.
In one specific mission you're supposed to defend a Tank for some time while a infinite wave of enemies dash towards you, Some with Rocket Launchers, i have to be honest here and tell ya i have NO idea how i got past that one. I think i was overhyped with adrenalin after my 25th consecutive death, and i just dashed, runned and jumped in the battlefield like a maniac, mowing down everything that stood in my way (which DID cause some game overs because Friendly Fire is a No-No.)
In the very first mission, and a certain point you need to run away from a sinking Tanker Ship. It would be ok if the damn ship wasn't turning so much! Made me feel like my character was drunk, never being able to navigate in the direction i needed to or was trying to go.
Aside from that, the flow of the game is great, and there is really a deeper sense that the game works with what is trying to do. The banality and brutality of war get explored, the action is great and the mission where you shoot at enemies from the air via the Camera of a Choppah is just amazing, i felt like i was playing a sequence of a really good war movie.
In the end, on the things that really matter for an FPS, specially on the Wii, Modern Warfare Reflex just jumps straight to the top. It's a great game with a few quirks but that still allows it to be the best FPS in the system right now.
Like FPS's? Own a Wii? This game is for you. No doubt.
 James Camerom: Avatar
Yeah... this game is not good.
It's your generic Movie Tie In. Basic level design, basic mechanics, weird enemy AI... it got it all.
The Wii version focus on just the Blue guys (i forgot their race...  ) and there is Jump-In Coop. Which is good! But it's your basic fare of Stealth Action, hide in the tall grass or get the high ground, wait for a enemy to pass by, press B, swing the Wiimote. Move on. Collect "souls" and upgrade your status... there. that's the game.
There really isn't anything more to it. The game is short, it looks ok, the audio experience is barely there...
i guess you couldn't really expect much of a game-movie tie in. But i guess you should always give a chance, maybe someday one of these games will surprise you!
But not this one. This is ok at best.... at best.
a Younger gamer might enjoy this, but unless this is one of the first 10 games you ever played in your life, i bet you played better things.
So, Reviews done, 2009 is coming to a Close. Soon we get 2010, and a LOT of games are coming up... there are some that are on my Radar right now and i would like to share with you. But these are just the covers. Really, keep your eyes open for them, these games promise a good year for the WII on 2010.
WII GAMES FOR 2010
 
 
 
 
 
As always, Feel free to ask questions, talk about them or if you want to go in depth about one of these games (and maybe spoilers) open a new Thread for it!
EDIT: Also, i just got Tales of Grace Today, don't know if it's review will come this year, but if you guys are interested in it, i can do it!
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12-11-2009, 10:58 PM
Linear Mode
