Monday Musings - 28 Feb 2011

Week 3! I'm still sunburned and sore from Soundwave on Saturday, but i had a great week of gaming. Let's get started, shall we?


Stacking

A couple hours after writing last week's musings, i loaded up Stacking and completed it. The final boss was a fun collection of puzzles with only the last part of the fight being somewhat annoying. On completion, i clocked in at 82% finished. I have no desire to go doll collecting and find all the hijinks at the moment. We shall see if i decide to do so later.

As an aside, i would probably buy an additional chapter or two if it was released via DLC


Fallout 3

I am continuing to explore the wastelands. Almost level 8. The game can certainly make me jump. I think it's the stark contrast to the world being so desolate and lonely, and then all of a sudden you're under attack by a hostile force. I mean in the ruined cities or in a building, you expect raiders or super mutants, but out in the wilderness, i never fail to be on edge.

Power fists are amazing weapons.

That wasteland survival guide for Moira? Testing radiation poisoning, i found it hilarious that to get myself sick, i was standing in radioactive water, casually drinking it from my cupped hands. Passers-by would have been very puzzled.


Final Fantasy XIII

The second RPG i've played this week with 3 in the title. This linear JRPG is a nice contrast to the open worldness and loose levelling system of Fallout 3. I really like this game. The story is intriguing, i like all of the characters (yes, even Hope), and the voice acting is decent. The combat system is fun, the levelling system is just a strung out version of the sphere grid from FFX, and the game is gorgeous visually. What i don't like? Just when the battle music gets to the part i really like, the fight is usually over.

You know, i think another reason this Monday Musings thing is good is it will track my progress with these long games that i usually end up putting down, and i might be more inclined to ride them out to the end. We shall see.


World of Warcraft

Level 17 now. I had my first dungeon run last night in the deadmines. Our tank turned out to be a bot so we kicked him and got a better tank. Story over! Nah, it was lots of fun. Dungeons have always been my favourite part of WoW. Something about having a specific role in a self contained area for an hour or two, with great rewards along the way. Yeah, when everyone in a party knows what they're doing, it's a great gameplay experience. If people don't, or act like douches, then the experience can certainly be frustrating.

As for the main game, i'm off the island, went to Orgrimmar and am now levelling in the new Aszhara. Good stuff so far. A nice amount of variety in the quests, and i like how quests are bundled together in a section, and then once completed, either a new bundle becomes available, or you get sent to somewhere else on the map where a new bundle becomes available.

I was busy Friday so i played WoW on Sunday. So much for WoW day.


Super Meat Boy

My favourite game of last year. I haven't touched it in a while as i was stuck on level 6-4. I completed level 6-4 last night and am now stuck on level 6-5. Ever since World 4 it's been like this. Beat 1 - 2 levels, get stuck, quit. Come back, beat level, beat 1 - 2 levels, get stuck, quit.

Sometimes i go back and play the dark levels in earlier worlds, or open up warp zones and try my hand at them. They are very difficult because you have lives. You can't just play the level till you complete it, and then watch as hundreds of meat boys die for your amusement. I also unlocked level -1 a little while ago in World 1. That one is really hard too. I love all the secrets though. I think there are two more worlds i have to discover as well.

This game just has content oozing out of it. Definitely value for money.


Final Thoughts

I play RPGs for two main reasons (and i imagine lots of people play for these reasons). One is to experience a solid story. It can be hard to find an RPG that fufills this, but they are out there.

The second reason is levelling of characters. In Borderlands, outside the town of Firestone there are usually 3 bandits that run up to attack the town regularly. Level up quite a bit, come back, and they explode in one shot. RPG level progression is all about becoming stronger. It's a mechanic that reflects a coming of age or being where you need to be. Once that plateau is reached, i for one take immense joy in exercising that power on groups of enemies.

Most gaming involves power fantasy, but in many FPSs, the only progression is better guns. I personally like the idea of starting out kind of weak but full of potential, and then by the end journey being a badass. That's why i enjoy RPGs.

Till next week, happy gaming!

Monday Musings - 21 Feb 2011

Week 2, a lot to talk about, and my coffee hasn't kicked in yet. Let's do this!


Left 4 Dead 2

I got invited into a game of this by a friend twice this week. I haven't played the game in forever, but L4D2 is always a blast. We played through Dark Carnival and Hard Rain, and as a first, i made it to the chopper in Dark Carnival. I also got an achievement for hitting a charger in the face with an axe as he was charging. Good times. Melee weapons might have disasterous effects on your health throughout a campaign, but they make the game oh so much more fun. Especially the baseball bat and samurai sword.


Stacking

I didn't play as much of this as i wanted to this week. I'm halfway through the final level, and just need to sit down and finish things off. There's a henchmen that you best by feeding him tainted soup. The act of taintaing said soup was quite unpleasant.

As an aside, that is actually one of my favourite things about the adventure genre. Those puzzles that make you think, "My god, i'm actually doing this? This is horrible!" One of my favourite examples is distracting the stewardess on the airplane in Zak McKraken and the Alien Mindbenders. Stacking has had quite a few of these types of solutions. I guess it's sort of like choosing the dick responses in games like Mass Effect, but the thing is in adventure titles, you don't get to choose, and have to go through with these plans.


Mass Effect

Finished off my 2nd playthrough this week. Made a few different major choices (Virmire, and the last part of the game). Also as i completed every sidequest i could find (except those survey and anomaly ones), i wonder if anything will come of that in the sequel (Admiral Kohaku and Cerberus).

I'm taking a break with some other RPGs before jumping back into Mass Effect 2... but i think it's the sign of a good game, that now i want to new game+ Mass Effect with my beefed up Super Shepard before heading into ME2. I most likely wont. That way lies madness.


World of Warcraft

Without planning it, it seems Friday has turned into WoW day. I played for a few more hours, mainly distracting myself levelling up my herbalism and alchemy professions to an adequete level before continuing questing. I'm level 12 now so i've started assigning talent points. I'm heading into the Fire tree (i thought about Arcane, but Fire seems safer as a levelling spec) and i must admit, it's great when you proc arcane missiles on a frost bolt and then crit your fire blast, and your enemy just drops. Yeah.


Grim Joggers

An iphone game. I've been meaning to pick this up ever since Andrew showed me his Appspy review. Also, seeing i used to review these things myself, i thought it might be fun to stick on top of iReleases™

This is a simple endless runner game where you have a gaggle of joggers who respond to your input at different times, and you have to jump and double jump to get them through an obstacle course of death. The longer you play, the more levels open up, and the final level is especially fun and deadly.

The way the joggers work reminds me a little of Lemmings 2: The Tribes, in that you could still complete the levels with only one lemming left (well some of them). The more joggers, the higher your score, but the game is easier on sole survivor mode (for a while).

I dunno if i'll buy a new one this week. We'll see if there's anything i wanna check out. ^^


Fallout 3

The Game of the Year edition has been sitting in my steam library fully loaded for a long long time. I finally decided to load up. Yeah... i've been sucked in. The whole aging sequence in the vault is a great introduction, and then when you step outside the first time, wow. This really is Fallout in a full fledged 3d world. I've only played about 5 - 6 hours so far, exploring some of the wasteland and helping out Megaton (i disarmed the bomb), but i can see that i'm gonna be playing this for a while (especially cause this version of the game has all the expansions).

I was complaining about how buggy the game was over the weekend and how it was crashing for me all the time. Turns out, a simple change to the ini file in regards to multi-core threading, and the game runs smooth as butter.


Final Thoughts

We'll see how long i last in Fallout 3. I've been doing some thinking on burning out on games. With RPGs (seeing as they're the main genre where the hours played are measured in groups of 10), my burnout point seems to be 20 hours in. It happened for Persona 4, it happened for FFXIII, it happened for Mass Effect 2 (Mass Effect's playtime on both plays was about 16 - 19 hours so that was ok).

Now part of me says all i need is a break of something else, but the problem is i never go back to the original game once i break. Now i've had this problem with other titles that aren't RPGs (Super Mario Galaxy 2 is on this list), and actually there are plenty of long RPGs i've completed (the longest being Xenogears clocking in at 80 hours or so), so perhaps it's a situational occurance. Still, i have noticed a pattern. Occum's razor says i just have selective ADD when it comes to playing videogames.

See ya next week, and happy gaming!

Monday Musings - 14 Feb 2011

Ok, let's try something new. I have a bunch of saved drafts on ideas to write about, each being about 1 or 2 paragraphs. They're probably not going to see the light of day. I need something regular so why don't i take this space and time to talk a little about some of the games i've been playing each week.


Mass Effect

I'm replaying the first one (which i find to be superior to its sequel, but perhaps that's a discussion for another day). The first time i played through this, i didn't do many side quests. I kind of just barreled through. This time i've been exploring all the planets and completing every task that crosses my path. I'm still playing a paragon (i just can't be an asshole in these games), and have already maxed out my charm, but we'll see if anything in the side quests changes my experience with the 2nd game.


Borderlands

I was invited back into the game by some friends on Steam, and i decided to try a Siren (my first playthrough i played a Hunter). The host of the game was level 20, so pretty much all the missions were off limits to me (i still got exp though). I was powerleveled to 14, and started a single player game to catch up storywise (and to get some elemental guns that were level appropriate).

I forgot how fun and beautiful the game is, especially with other people. It's a shame about the way the game handles multiplayer in relation to where people are in the plot (level 14 and i had to go through that intro bit with Claptrap).

Oh, one thing i've always loved about Borderlands is the way it relays story information either in a video or audio file in the top right corner. Basically, it doesn't halt the gameplay at all. A great feature that suits the run and gun style of gameplay.


World of Warcraft

I got the itch again and dove back in Friday. Thought i'd try a class i've never tried before (Mage) and thought i'd play through the opening Goblin areas. I now have a plucky female Goblin Mage named Plenky. I'm level 9 and am in the 2nd main area (on this island), and have been having a blast. Cataclysm does give you a greater sense that you're affecting the world through the narrative, especially with phasing landscapes.

We'll see how long i stick with the game this time :)


Stacking

The latest game from Double Fine. The instant i heard about the concept a month or two ago (you play a small Matryoshka Doll who can hop in and take over dolls one size bigger than you), i knew i'd be buying the game. Well it dropped on Thursday here, and i bought it, and i'm loving it. The game has charm, character, great art & sound, and is just fun to play.

One thing i like is that every puzzle has multiple solutions... and right after you've solved it one way (and furthered the plot), you can instantly solve it another way for more unlockables and achievements. My sense of completion has compelled me to solve every puzzle every way so far (with liberal use of the in game hint system). There's also doll collection and hijinks (playing around with each doll's unique ability), but we'll see if i really care about 100% completion once i get to the end.

For $17.95 (AU), this has been the best game featuring a doll rescuing his siblings from child labour at the hands of an evil industrialist Baron set in a 1920s silent movie i've played!


Final Thoughts

Return every Monday and I shall be writing about my gaming experiences. I might be posting in the style of my old posts later on in the week if inspiration strikes, but at least Monday Musings will be consistant.

Happy Gaming all!

Dave's Top Games of 2010

I know, I know.

The blog has been neglected. That being the case though, I couldn't resist posting my top games lists. I've been doing this in various forms in various places for a few years now, though the most entertaining list was probably last year on the podcast...

Ok, here's how this will work. There are two lists. They both will be Top 6 lists (The great cult movie podcast 'Outside the Cinema' gave me the idea, and it just makes sense dammit!). Each entry will be accompanied by a small paragraph explaining the choice. The first list will be a Top 6 Wishlist. There are too many quality titles these days to play em all, and this will count down the 6 games of 2010 I have yet to experience, but want to. This will be followed by my personal Top 6 Games of 2010!

Let the countdown commence!

Top 6 Wishlist of 2010

#6 - Scott Pilgrim Vs the World


The movie was amazing. Many people have said the same about the game. I love my old school beat-em-ups and sprite art, so it is quite astonishing I haven't made time for this title yet. That shall be rectified sooner or later (I will say that for pretty much everything on this list).


#5 - Red Dead Redemption


Maybe I was burned out on GTAIV. Maybe it's cause I had played Red Dead Revolver. Whatever the reason, RDR just didn't appeal to me upon release. It's only recently at the end of the year, with the continued positive talk about the game that makes me think I should give it a try and see what all the fuss is about.


#4 - Alan Wake


I love Max Payne and its sequel. I have been waiting for Alan Wake by Remedy for years. I do not own an Xbox 360, so cannot play it. I still am holding out hope for a PC port, but am doubtful. A pity. This looks good!


#3 - Donkey Kong Country Returns


A modern reboot of the Donkey Kong Country series with devious level design and co-op play? Count me in! I just have too much on my plate game wise at the moment. This will be a must buy soon enough.


#2 - Civilization 5


The Civilization games consume me. The fifth installment would be doing the same, but i've been a poor bastard for a while so need to wait till a steam sale in the coming year knocks back the price substantially.


#1 - Kirby's Epic Yarn


This is here on a technicality (i always seem to have one of them in my lists). The technicality being it isn't being released in PAL territories till 2011. Regardless, the latest Kirby adventure looks fun, and full of wonder. It sits atop my wishlist with pride!

Some of those games might be on your personal top 6 of the year, so you might be wondering what exactly is on mine. Let us explore!

Top 6 Games of 2010


#6 - Bit.Trip.Runner


This Wiiware rhythmic platformer strikes me as the type of game that would annoy many players. It seems to click with me. The 'keep at it till you get it right' learning curve, and the zen like state you reach while dodging everything the game throws at you in time with the music earns it a spot on my list.


#5 - Alpha Protocol


A modern espionage RPG wherein your decisions have consequences. A lot of RPGs these days tout the moral choices PR but few really make you feel like they pull it off. Alpha Protocol pulled it off with gusto. I've been planning a 2nd playthrough just because i made some seriously bad choices the first time through and I wish to make amends.


#4 - Vanquish


I have only started playing Vanquish today (I had a couple games I thought might make the list this week so needed to give em a whirl). My short time playing the game gives it the #4 spot. It's got an over the top ham fisted story, and half the time i'm playing, i have no idea what i'm doing (kinda like Platinum Games' other release this year Bayonetta). That being said, the mechanics are incredibly fun and offer a nice amount of strategy to a shooter. Also, the bosses are completely over the top. The game is also quite hard, but in that good "I'll get it right this time" way.


#3 - Super Mario Galaxy 2


Funnily enough, the only sequel on my list. Super Mario Galaxy was my top game for 2007, and yes, the sequel is more of the same. As if that's somehow a bad thing! They went overboard on the level design, and the new suits and Yoshi's powers are a nice addition. A class act game all the way.


#2 - Deadly Premonition


You know that children's rhyme that has that line, "when she was good she was very very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid"? That's exactly how I feel about Deadly Premonition. The setting, characters, story, sound, and attention to detail in this game create an experience that leaves me with a smile on my face. The stiff controls, laughable animation, and periods where the game forces you to waste time bring that jubilation to a halt. I've been playing this over the period of a couple months at my friend Kenneth's place (he has a 360). We definitely have a love/hate relationship with this game.


#1 - Super Meat Boy


I haven't had this much fun playing a videogame for a while. Tight Controls, inspired level design, tons of secrets, and bursting with gamer nostalgia. This game chews you up, spits you out, and has you coming back for more. There's not really much more I can say. If you've played it, you either know what i'm talking about or think i'm crazy. Either way, i'm fine with that!

So that's the ol' Top Games list. 2011 is shaping up to be a great gaming year so we'll see what it brings. Feel free to post your own lists in response. I'd love to see what everyone else enjoyed this year.

Happy Gaming!

The Pros and Cons of Voice acting - A study of Planescape: Torment

As part of the Vintage Game Club over at Brainy Gamer, i have been playing through Planescape: Torment (PS:T), a game I've had many goes at over the years but never completed. An interesting idea was raised that I would like to explore further, and that is whether voice acting enriches or detracts from a gaming experience.

Now the first thought most people would have is that of course voice acting makes games better. Like movies, it allows the lines to be inflected with the right tone and emotion, giving more weight to performances and thus immersing the player within the game's world and connecting them to the characters. I would agree with this. Games like Uncharted 2 and Mass Effect had time and effort devoted to casting actors and directing them in a way that would add to the overall experience. Many games however do not echo this dedication towards voice work. Whether it's due to time or money, a lot of games have cringe worthy voice acting. Now a lot of games have cringe worthy dialogue so not all the blame can be on delivery, but there seem to be a lot of titles that suffer from this problem.

Voice acting was introduced to gaming in the early 90s. Sure there were arcade titles like Sinistar and Bezerk that had characters speak, but the first games to have every line of dialogue in the game spoken were adventure games like the cd-rom version of King's Quest V. It's interesting that with the introduction of talkie versions of games, and then FMV (full motion video), gamers were so quick to dismiss and defend bad acting (vocally and physically). My thoughts are that the technology was still new and novel, so just having characters speak or actors act out a scene in front of you in a game was an amazing experience, regardless of quality. That was when the technology was new however. Nowadays, I would say there is no excuse. The good news is that bad acting is not defended, and is somewhat criticized now. The bad news is it's still so prevalent.

In PS:T there is minimal voice acting. When you first meet important characters, they usually say the first sentence of the first line of dialogue, and when you give orders to your party, they will vocally respond. Also, members of your party will vocally banter amongst each other every now and then. Aside from this, all the game is text, and one could say text heavy. The introductory voice along with the banter is an interesting concept, as it gives you an impression of how the character speaks, but then leaves the rest up to your imagination. People often complain about when they hear a character they love from a book or an old game has been given a voice actor. Even with good delivery, the voice is always going to be different than what each individual has heard in their own heads while reading the dialogue. I think Planescape: Torment meets players in the middle on this. Sure the main characters all have a voice, but once you've heard it, the delivery is all up to you on how the lines are read and inflected.

Another aspect where i feel PS:T excels with text over voice acting is in its descriptions. Not just with examining objects (because most RPGs if voiced will use text for descriptions), but in having things happen to you that due to the design choices of the game, couldn't be animated. One example is in fetching seeds for this old woman. You discover that the only way to acquire these seeds is to use your will to grow this plant. The plant then creates strands of barbed vines that twist around your arm, attaching themselves to your flesh. You then walk back to the old woman, and basically say "Here's your seeds. Get this thing off me". Without a close up or animated cut-scene, such a memorable moment couldn't have been expressed visually, so the designers decided to use the text, and at least in my opinion, it left more of a lasting impression.

Finally, at least in PS:T, the use of text over voice acting allowed them to focus more on the multitude of choices a player has in approaching how they want to play. Dialogue trees with different options based on stats can drastically change outcomes, as will approaching goals in a certain order and with certain people. You can even have drawn out conversations with your party members that unlock not only experience points but new avenues to explore. That's not to say this level of depth cannot be done with voice acting. Look at the level of vocal options that change the game in this year's Alpha Protocol (which funnily enough is created by the same designer as PS:T).

A lot of RPGs from that era used text, mostly due to the incredible level of dialogue, and budget and technology constraints (CDs only held so much data). Still perhaps part of the reason that Planescape: Torment, Baldur's Gate, Final Fantasy VII and others are so fondly remembered is due to the player imprinting their own characterizations into the well crafted experiences these games delivered. Now that voice acting tecnology is no longer new, every game seems to have it, including complex RPGs. It can definitely help a game, but whether or not the voice acting adds or detracts from the experience does seem to be subjective. Just look at the response, both positive and negative when Final Fantasy XIII was released earlier this year.