virtualfanboy

2010-12-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

I CAN HAS PSP-2000?

2007-09-20T02:48:00.000-07:00

No, it isn't the distant future like the name implies, now is the age of the PSP-2000. A few months ago, I was not sure if I would be buying the new updated PSP, but after visiting our friends in Washington state my PSP started clicking when playing Katamari. Soon, it would no longer load levels from the UMD, and it was not isolated to one game. Since over half of my games were now unplayable, my decision to get a new PSP model was made that much easier.

I have already had many discussions about which PSP SKU I would be purchasing. The black one was out of the question because I do not want to mix up my two systems. (I am keeping my old system with custom firmware for videos and other non-UMD applications.) That left the two bundles. I really considered waiting for the Star Wars PSP because I am a huge fan of the Star Wars Battlefront games and the new game is the pack-in with the bundle. Unfortunately, the Star Wars version is going to be white and the Darth Vader image on the back doesn't look that great. Zack reminded me that the game may be great, but the PSP itself would be visible no matter which game I play.

So, I got the silver edition in the Daxter bundle. I wanted to get the Daxter game, which is $15 everywhere, so that was good. Unfortunately, this bundle also included a 1GB memory stick, which is great for beginners, but I already have a 1GB and a 2GB stick, so I could have used the 1GB in the new one, but my old 1GB will now be for extra storage when we go on trips. It also includes a Family Guy UMD. I love Family Guy, but I didn't really need a greatest hits collection, especially when I already own those seasons on DVD. Anyway, I have it now and I may watch it sometime. Basically, the $22.50 price difference between the two bundles that I was considering (accounting for the fact that I would be buying the new Star Wars Battlefront game and Daxter regardless of which system I buy) is justified by the better color and the bonus Family Guy UMD and 1GB memory stick. If I didn't already have two memory sticks, this would have been my choice from the start.

Okay, opening up the box I notice that the Daxter instruction manuals are in the plastic baggy, which means that there won't be a UMD case. The game, software, and hardware are all in that awful evil packaging. Damn Americans with our theftproofing technology and damn the Americans who steal, which causes them to use death plastic.

Inside the death plastic is the PSP. My first impression (with the battery out) is that it is remarkably light. I am a bit pissed that the discs are in sleeves and not cases. Also, there is no sleeve for the PSP so I will need to buy one. (For now I have it on my CD shelves to avoid dust and cat.)

I already knew that the new TV out cables would not be included. Not sure if I will ever use them; I bought the remote for my PS2 and used it twice and I can see this being a feature that I would use a couple of times as a demonstration. If I were in a dorm room, it would be different.

Ironically, the disc caching is one of the main new features of the PSP-2000 and Daxter has been highlighted as the game with the lowest load times. (Like Metroid Prime on the GameCube.) Star Wars Battlefront will be a better example because those games always have long load times. Not sure if disc caching has to be programmed into the game or if it will apply to every game.

Okay, this was the best pic I could get of the d-pad. I promised to evaluate the controls compared to the original for the benefit of my friend Zack. I tried them out on Guilty Gear X2 Reload from the Guilty Gear Judgment disc. The d-pad is definitely not sunken in like the original. It is the perfect height now, but I think it might be a little... I don't know. The d-pad is even more pronounced than the Dual Shock 2. A definite improvement, but I sort of feel like I am rocking on it rather than making definitely movements. I guess it feels a little imprecise. But that is being picky, and it is light years better than the original. Definitely comparable to the Dual Shock 2. Nobody mentioned this, but the shoulder buttons are slightly different and they feel clickier and less tight, which is an improvement for twitch motion. The nub is not very different.

Other thoughts: The system is a bit too slim for my tastes but it is not bothersome. The polish feels slicker, but that may change over time. The memory card slot is wierd now; it has these rubber band-like things that hold the cover in place when the cover is off. I was not sure if I would like the new way that the UMD slot opens. The old version had the UMD jump out at you like a VCR and this one is more like opening up a GameCube. This one feels much better; some people have said that it feels cheap, but less parts can mean more elegance, which it does in this case. It has 3.60 firmware right now. I wish that I could do side-by-side loading to test the caching, but any game with long load times won't work in my old PSP. I also tried out the volume at top volume and it was no different, but at times in the past, my fingers covered the speaker holes, so this should be better.

Drawbacks: The power button is still too easy to turn off while you are gaming. I cannot think of a Nintendo portable where the on/off is so easy to accidentally trigger. Also, the second nub should have been added. By default, it could correspond to the triangle, circle, square, and X. Individual games could program it to be a separate entity. It took me about 5 minutes to come up with that idea, so there is no reason that they could not have made it work.

Here is the important part, the silver/platinum comparisons. It fit in very well with the various silver systems (my favorite system color) and looked most comparable to the GBA and GBA SP colors.

Elway sez: Take the PSP, leave the bucket.

Overall, I am pleased with the new PSP, but I am disappointed that they did not include game cases or a sleeve for the system. The d-pad is way better on this version and I am falling in love with the shoulder buttons. I am very pleased with my purchase and I look forward to the chance to play games that I could not play with my previous one, like Vice City Stories and Tekken.

SUPER NINTENDO!!!

2006-11-21T21:23:00.000-08:00

November 21, 1991 was the release date for the Super Famicom in Japan, so I am taking this opportunity to celebrate my favorite system of all time, the SNES. (Also, the DS was released on this date in 2004, and it is probably my second favorite system of all time at this point, followed by PS2, then NES, then Game Boy. But on this day, I would rather honor the SNES.)

I own 53 SNES cartridges at this point, 52 are pictured, and I have a lot of experience with other games, through renting, borrowing, and other means...

I would like to share my top 30 games that I own, with a couple of comments. The order may surprise some of you, and by some of you, I mean Zack.

Elway sits in awe of the greatest game of all time...

#1 on my list, Super Metroid, my favorite game of all time. Beautiful graphics, score, amazing level design and enemies. Metroid for the NES was great, but Super Metroid was perfect. This is everything I love about gaming. I also like to think that this game inspired the creation of my second favorite game, Symphony of the Night.

These are my top three SNES games, 1. Super Metroid, 2. Final Fantasy III, and 3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. As has been repeated several times, FFIII/VI is my all-time favorite Final Fantasy game. I even have the soundtrack, and that is the only video game soundtrack that I own. A Link to the Past is an extraordinary adventure, and really provides a template for so many great games to follow.

Unfortunately, I have been having problems for the last hour trying to get the rest of the pictures to post, so the rest of the list is going to be all text.

Top 30 SNES Games that I Own

Super Metroid - Best game of all time. (Zero Mission is almost as good, but it has a few imperfections.)
Final Fantasy III - Best Final Fantasy.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - My sentimental favorite Zelda.
Super Mario Kart - My all time favorite racing game.
Street Fighter II - I wore out my left thumb after playing this for a week straight. I had blisters and almost no fingerprint.
Actraiser - One of the best concepts of all time. I play this game every few months. It is really short, and a bit uneven, but it is so much fun and is still visually stunning. This would be the franchise that I would vote first for the need for a new sequel, an actual sequel, and not just the action. The music is some of the most incredible in any game I have ever played.
Super Mario World - My favorite Mario platformer; what hasn't been said about this game? The music, design, graphics, fun; it has everything you could want.
Star Fox - Ironically, I still feel that this is the best in the series, despite numerous attempts to revive it. I have given up all hope of ever having a great sequel.
Clayfighter - Certainly the most original fighting game I have ever played. It has a sense of humor, and good fighting mechanics.
Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball - MY game. I have a lifetime record with only 4 losses; once to Zack, once to my brother, and twice to the computer when I got cocky.
Pilotwings - A beautiful and fun game. I don't think I ever got to the final flight school. Mode 7 graphics out the ass!
Rock n' Roll Racing - RC Pro Am with weapons and a kickass soundtrack.
F-Zero - This, Pilotwings, and Super Mario World were the games I got when I got the system, which should tell you that I was extremely happy for a long time. Samurai Goroh and I had some fun times together.
Jurassic Park - Blends first person shooter sequences and top down Zelda style action. Much better than people think, and it is still fun today.
Super Bomberman 2 - While I have not played every Bomberman game, this is my favorite of the ones that I have played. Great weapons and a good system. I am sure that Zack remembers some of the frenzied battles.
Final Fight 3 - Possibly my favorite brawler of all time. (If you count Double Dragon games, then Double Dragon 2 would win.)
Lemmings - I don't like any version of this game nearly as much as the SNES version.
Battletoads/Double Dragon - Some people hated this teamup, but I think it is a great game.
Justice League Task Force - A slightly unbalanced fighting game, but a ton of fun. Some people criticize it because Superman should be able to crush everyone, but that really goes against the point of fighting games. (He shouldn't have been so shitty, though.)
King Arthur's World - Lemmings with battle units. This would actually finish higher, but several of the levels feature magical creatures that can teleport anywhere, and I think that ruins the fun. The entire overworld is incredibly fun, and it is great to be King Arthur seiging a castle.
Super Mario All Stars - This was my first opportunity that I can recall ever playing Mario Bros, so that alone was good.
Killer Instinct - A really great fighter, just not a favorite of mine. It should be said that I would rate this fighter very high in my all time fighter list, just not as high among SNES fighters.
Super Star Wars - This series is still really strong, and holds up surprisingly well.
Super Empire Strikes Back - Probably objectively better than the first, but not sentimentally.
Super Return of the Jedi - Not as much fun as Empire Strikes Back, but still a good game.
Super Scope 6 - No Nintendo accessory looked as cool as the Super Scope. The 6 games in Super Scope 6 ranged from great to boring. A bit of unfulfilled potential.
Fatal Fury - This should be the posterboy for uneven fighting balance. I think that it features some of the best fighters in any game to this day, but the balance was terrible. Also, in two player versus, the first player couldn't play as any of the boss characters, so they were stuck with the three main fighters.
Populous - This game was fun and memorable, but I hated playing the advanced levels.
The Legend of Mystical Ninja - Fun and quirky action game.
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Great graphics, great missions, tons going for it, but the controls felt off. This is extremely common in Star Trek games.

Probably the two games that people would be most surprised that I left off would be Secret of Mana and Samurai Showdown. I just wasn't really into either game, but they were both okay.

Let me know your thoughts. Remember, this is just my favorites that I own. Aerobiz would definitely be high on my list otherwise, as would Super Buster Bros, and Bust a Move, among others.

I won the Kotaku Daily Comments!

2006-07-26T02:06:00.000-07:00

I was the Kotaku daily comments winner for yesterday!!!

See my win here!

Here is the original comment section

Oh, and because I chose to take the high road regarding steampunk’s comment on Kotaku and not offer a response, I figure that I should do so for any readers of my blog. Steampunk appears to be mixing up etymology with actual usage, I will spell it out for him: Video in Latin is the root word for video the English word and prefix, but the meanings are different. It is not appropriate to prefix a word in English with video- and expect that the audience will reference the Latin root rather than the English word. By the time “video game” entered the lexicon, “video” had already established an English meaning. His definition more closely resembles the English word “view” which also shares the Latin etymology. Another poor argument regarding a comment contest winner. *rolls eyes*

APPLESAUCE, BITCH!

And for full disclosure, I have myself been bitching about the comments contest winner from a few days ago because I thought that I had a better argument that implied the obvious point that the winner stated. Please see below for the references. I just was not bitter enough to make a comment about the winner on Kotaku, but just bitter enough to mention it on my own webpage. I congratulate the winner anyway.

The daily comments winner

The original comment section with my comment

DS Game Rankings

2006-02-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

In honor of my upcoming visit to Zack's place, I wanted to rank the DS games that I own. I have finally gotten to the point where I have at least played all of them. So far, I have most of the games for the DS that I wanted. Of the games that are already out, I still would consider Kirby Canvas Curse, Bomberman, Pac Pix, Phoenix Wright, Sonic Rush, and Electroplankton. Also, coming out soon, I want Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, The Rub Rabbits!, Super Princess Peach, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and maybe even Tetris DS.

Here are the rankings, in reverse order:

24. Pictochat -- Not much fun with only one DS. This is included on the DS. I would probably enjoy this more with someone else to use it, but I really don't think I would consider it much higher.
23. Mr. Driller Drill Spirits -- Very disappointing, probably the only real disappointment on this list. Too fast to be a good puzzle game, not really effective as an action game. I know that there are a lot of fans, but I really cannot understand why. His father would be very disappointed.
22. Metroid Prime: Hunters First Hunt -- This came with my DS when I bought it on the first day. Pretty entertaining for a demo, but that is all it is, and it gets old quickly.
21. Ridge Racer DS -- A mediocre racing game, very few tracks, relies too much on drifting. Not exactly terrible, but not really great either.
20. Spider-Man 2 -- A dull action game with pretty good graphics. I enjoyed this on a weekend that I was sick in bed, but it does not have much staying power.
19. Polarium -- As I have said before, this is a mediocre puzzler. This has a terrible challenge mode, the puzzle section is the only worthwhile part, and after a while, it just feels like a Rubik's Cube.
18. Tiger Woods PGA Tour -- Good graphics, a decent golf game, but I think that the swing mechanic is faulty. I think the best swing I ever did was 85% power.
17. Nintendogs: Lab and Friends -- I have a cute Shiba Inu named Elway, but I haven't really felt much of an urge to play it since I unwrapped it a week or so ago, but it has potential. I feel a bit pressured on this one, so maybe it is just too stressful right now. The games from this point on in the list are all very worthy, so it was hard to rank them.
16. Puyo Pop Fever -- A fun competitive puzzle game, a lot of fun. I like the simulated competition that the game offers. I just don't feel as compelled to play this as some other games on my list.
15. WarioWare Touched! -- Normally, I am one of the biggest fans of WarioWare; I would give each of the other games in the series a perfect score. The problem with this one is poor control response; not all of your slashes are detected, which can be really annoying when trying to slice watermelons, etc. That really drops the rating for me.
14. Metroid Prime Pinball -- I am really happy that this came with a rumble pack, which alone was worth it, and I do enjoy pinball and Metroid, but... It is really difficult to unlock additional maps in this game; I still haven't been able to, and I have tried it a lot. Plus, the gap between the flippers is too large, which from someone who has played a lot of pinball is fairly damning. In fact, sometime I should rank my favoirite pinball games.
13. Zoo Keeper -- Cute graphics, addictive gameplay. I have played this for several hours in a row, and while I am still not very good, it is very enjoyable.
12. Feel the Magic XY/XX -- Some may feel that I have ranked this one too low, and if I were rating purely on style, this would probably be the winner, but that is not the case. I don't like the games that require the use of the microphone, and I also feel that several of the games are too difficult. I cannot complete the unicycle across the shark infested water because I cannot control my hands that well. That is one thing that I can compensate for with a control pad, but not with a stylus. But it is a great looking game, and some of the levels are really fun.
11. Burnout Legends -- A much better racing game than Ridge Racer, the downfall of this game is the crash mode, which is the highlight of the console versions. The physics in crash mode are really bad, hard to describe until you see it in person. The racing makes up for this, but it is unfortunate that the best element of the console games does not translate in this version.
10. Super Mario 64 DS -- My favorite of the launch games, good graphics, fun game. I still play several of the mini games. I have over 80 stars from what I remember, but I never bothered going further. The mini games really extend the life of this game.
9. Trauma Center: Under the Knife -- Excellent variety, probably the best use of the stylus for any game. The story is pretty entertaining too. For me, the problem with this game is the challenge factor. I like games to be easy, and this is anything but easy. I still did manage some very tough surgeries.
8. Animal Crossing: Wild World -- This game suffers from the lack of the NES games like the original. The message boards suggested that they should have included some first generation Gameboy games, like Solar Striker and Super Mario Land. That would have made it a much better game. For me, this is too much of the same game that I played for months before going cold turkey.
7. Meteos -- A classic puzzle game, even more fun to play than it seems like it would be. Entertaining music and visuals.
6. Tony Hawk's American Sk8Land -- I have not enjoyed a Tony Hawk game this much since I used to tear up the mall on the PS1. A very good game, fun and funny. The story is pretty bad, but the graphics are excellent. I am looking forward to playing this online.
5. Mario & Luigi Partners in Time -- I have played this game to completion, about 30 hours of game, which is a huge compliment from me, as I rarely finish games. I think that the gameplay is even better than the first one, although the GBA release was funnier and I enjoyed the bean collecting rewards much better.
4. Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow -- As is well documented, I am a major Castlevania fan, and this one does not disappoint. Great monsters, and I love the soul draining powers. I still think that the character Alucard in Symphony of the Night was better and had a great set of powers, but this game is a fantastic sequel.
3. Bust-a-Move DS -- The best puzzle game on the DS, and not surprisingly the best puzzle game of all time per my puzzle rankings. When I first put it in, I was actually a bit disappointed, as it did not immediately live up to my expectations. I was beginning to believe that Zack was right about Dr. Mario, but then something happened. I started playing it for hours. Whenever I get a free minute I reach for this game. Recently I have been playing the vs. mode a lot, and it makes for some fun competition.
2. Advance Wars Dual Strike -- This is my third game in the series and it is another quantum leap. Advance Wars 2 made the original unplayable with the introduction of the Neotank. In this version, there are tons of new COs, a few more weapons, and the best feature, the new feature where you can play with 2 COs in the same battle. This game was meant for the DS.
1. MarioKart DS -- This is based less on my history with the game, I have been playing it a lot since I got it, but probably not as much as some others, but on its lasting appeal. My driving skills have deteriorated over time, but it is still a lot of fun in 50 cc. (And 50 cc is much harder than it was on the SNES.) I really like playing the classic tracks, and almost all of the new tracks are great. I like the haunted house, the pinball table, and especially rainbow road. It gives me the same joy that playing the original rainbow road did. I am really looking forward to playing this online.

Let me know your thoughts on my list...

8 Bit Wizard

2006-02-02T21:36:00.000-08:00

A quiz about the NES. No cheating! I scored a 410/600, which is pretty good compared to how the Kotaku people did. The Kotaku editor got 360/600.

8 Bit Wizard

G.A.M.E.

2005-11-18T01:53:00.000-08:00

Just mentioning to any who may be interested, there is a game convention of sorts in SF from December 2-4. I would like to go if anyone else would. I am available all three days (I would only want to go on one day, though) because I already have that time scheduled off.

Here is more information in case any readers of my blogs might be interested. (Non-spammers only please.)

Gamespot Page (with discount if you register through them!)

Official G.A.M.E. Website

Should have a lot of EXTREME things, but hopefully a few good experiences. Less shopping, more chaos.

Latest Timesuck

2005-10-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a while since I did a post. I have started several drafts, but none of them are anywhere near ready to go. This week, I have abandoned doing anything because of my addiction to Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. I am really addicted to collecting souls, which give you new abilities to choose from and can be fused with weapons to make better weapons. I am at a high enough level to finish the game, but I do not have the weapons that I want. I currently use the third best axe, which is a slow but powerful weapon. I only need to collect a duplicate of a soul that I already have so that I can upgrade my axe to the second strongest form, but the strongest form requires the soul of a boss, and I am not sure if I would want to give up one of my boss souls for any weapon. When I get the correct souls for it, I will probably try to get a Valmanway, which is the equivalent of the Crissagrim from Symphony of the Night, which was by far my favorite weapon in that game. I also use a throwing sickle occasionally when I want to attack from a distance. I also use Eversing armor, which has the second highest defense in the game. I switch between accessories a lot, but my favorite is the Soul Eater Ring because it increases the appearance of souls.

As for souls, there are four types that you can use: Ability, Bullet, Guardian, and Enchant. All ability souls are active all the time, so you never have to choose between them. Enchant souls are souls that are always active and do not use magic. I have used Ghost Dancer almost the entire time, as it increases your luck, which increases the appearance of souls. (Gotta catch them all!) Guardian souls are pretty interesting, as they are activated and drain MP at a constant rate until deactivated. This category includes familiars. I switch in this category more than any other. I use Flying Humanoid when I want to increase my luck, I use Manticore to grow a tail when I want to increase my attack, and I use Bat Company when I need to turn into a bat. Bullet souls are one time costs to MP. I mainly use Malachi which shoots an enormous dark energy ball that usually hits the enemy four or five times as it passes, Witch which is basically a homing missle, and Waiter Skeleton which serves delicious curry. That is the most amusing soul in the game: He throws a plate of curry on the ground, which burns any enemy that steps on it.

Anyway, so I am not done with the game yet, so I know I am not posting a lot. (Also, our DVR is getting really backed up.)

Here are two of my favorite links, to try to make up for lost time. I enjoy Grand Theft Auto, and one of my favorite aspects of both Vice City and San Andreas was the amazing soundtracks. These two links are to decode the music so that you can use it on your computer. Vice City had a single sound file for each of the stations, so that is what you get when you decode to a wav file. (It should be easy enough for you to cut into the individual songs with a sound editing program.) Really, while the way that they did the decoding for Vice City is impressive, it pales in comparison to the San Andreas radio program. This program is amazing, allowing you to do everything you could want to do with the sound files. If you have either game on the PS2, get these programs.

Vice City Radio

San Andreas Radio

First Impressions: 3 New Games

2005-10-16T04:35:00.000-07:00

Of my recent purchases, my three latest games are portables. Here are my impressions of the three after at least an hour with each.

DK: King of Swing (GBA) - Do not play this with your DS, it is extremely painful that way. So far, the use of the L and R buttons almost exclusively does not feel very inuitive and pretty gimmicky. I am also a bit tired of the Donkey Kong Country figures. I will be giving this another try, but so far, I am not very impressed.

Trauma Center (DS) - So far, very good. Excellent, in fact. I have learned that I am pretty good with everything but suturing. I like the wide variety of actions that you can perform, although I worry that you may be forced to learn memorize too much, which is not good for me because I often leave a game for a few weeks and come back to it.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS) - Excellent game so far. I am not sure if I like having to draw magic seals to vanquish major bosses, but the gameplay is solid like all of the recent portable Castlevania games. (I unfortunately waited too long to get Aria of Sorrow, and have not seen it in a long time, except for eBay, so I have never played it.) I am hooked on this game right now, so I will probably be playing this exclusively for a while.

I will post full reviews eventually. I think I will start doing this first impressions thing for all new games that I try out.

Puzzle Games Ranking

2005-10-08T04:15:00.000-07:00

Today, I want to rank my favorite puzzle games, but I have run into a bit of a snag. Finding a consistent definition for the puzzle genre is pretty much impossible. Searching Gamefaqs reveals several hundred games that are classified as puzzle games, and from a quick glance, I would say that most should not be listed in this category. I try to avoid including most board games and strategy games. While there is an element of strategy in basically all puzzle games, I do not feel that games like Risk or Final Fantasy Tactics really fit into the puzzle realm as they take the strategy element to a different level, although the strategy realm is definitely going to be worthy of its own list very soon. My quick impressions of a puzzle game are that it should be simple to pickup, but difficult to master, and that it is it is possibly trying to create order out of an increasingly chaotic system in the game. I don't think it is necessary for a puzzle game to not have an ending, as puzzles can have solutions.

Wikipedia defines the puzzle game as:

Computer puzzle game is a genre of computer games that emphasize puzzle solving.
The types of puzzles involved can involve logic, strategy, pattern recognition,
sequence solving, word completion or, in some cases, just pure luck.

I would tend to agree with several parts of this definition. I think that logic and strategy are key elements to a good puzzle game, and in a sense, luck is a key element to a poorly executed puzzle game. It is easy to make a definition that includes puzzle games, but it is difficult to come up with a definition that excludes non-puzzle games. With that in mind, I have prepared two lists with my favorite puzzle games; one list following strict definitions of a puzzle game, the other list with games that could be considered puzzle games, but might not be. Please let me know what you think about both lists. Also, I have not played Meteos, Lumines, Chu Chu Rocket or Puyo Pop Fever, so it would not be fair to include them, and I also avoided using any internet games. (parentheses indicate the system upon which the game was mostly played.)

Strict interpretation list:
20. Daedalian Opus (Gameboy) - Not that much fun, and doesn't really hold up that well over time. Basically you fit pieces together to fill a rectangle. Inbetween levels there is an annoying section where you have to walk to the next puzzle and get a new piece. Trust me, not fun for long.
19. Wrecking Crew (NES) - Another game that has not held up well over time, but still somewhat fun. You have to break all of the walls to exit the level. It is fun for a while, but gets old fast.
18. Mario and Wario (SNES) - Pretty solid puzzler, where you lead Mario, who has a bucket on his head, to Luigi.
17. Qix (Gameboy) - A weird randomly moving force is in the middle of the screen, and you need to isolate it to a small portion of the screen by boxing it in with lines. This is a challenging game, but I am not sure that it really holds up as well as some other ones do. It is still fun every now and then, but not completely a classic.
16. Mario Clash (Virtual Boy) - Even though the Virtual Boy had V-Tetris and 3D Tetris, this was a much better game, basically a 3D Mario Bros. I struggled deciding whether to include this here, given the level of action, but each screen is basically a strategic puzzle that you must work out (spaces are more confined than in Mario Bros) in a limited space. Enjoyable, although perhaps it does not have the pick up and play appeal of Mario Bros.
15. Pipe Dream (NES) - Put together the plumbing to lead the liquid to the exit. Fun, easy to pick up, just not necessarily my favorite game for no real reason. By the truest definitions, one of the more innovative games on my list (possibly inspired some of the later games where you lead a character to a destination without their input, but the same could be said about Gyromite.) I had a friend in middle school who loved this game like no other, and I have always just felt fairly ambivalent towards it.
14. Beetris (PC) - There have been several Tetris clones, even if you exclude some of the games that could be classified as clones that also appear on this list. I have personally played 3D Tetris, Sextris, and Fruitris, but my favorite has always been Beetris. Beetris uses hexagons rather than squares as the basis of the falling blocks. It offers a different but familiar experience from Tetris itself. And it was Shareware, so I never paid anything for it.
13. Panic Bomber (Virtual Boy) - The Virtual Boy was a good platform to have puzzle games, but owing to its short lifespan, very few games of any sort were made. Panic Bomber appears on other platforms, and other platforms have multiplayer, but this is my preferred platform for single player. Even with single player, you are constantly playing against an opponent, and so you have to do well on your side of the screen to cause their screen to flood with extra pieces.
12. The Lost Vikings (SNES) - Innovative puzzle-action game where you have to use the skills of each of the Vikings to make it through each level. The one problem, and this plagues a few of the games on this list, is that once you have played the easier levels, there is little point to playing them again, so you never have the option to play something easy again without already knowing how to complete the level. In any case, it was a really great game. I would definitely pick up the sequel if I had a chance. (And the first one, for that matter, which was a rental for me.)
11. Klax (NES) - This game is a lot of fun, and the objectives vary by level, so there is a lot of variety. I have this game on Midway Arcade Treasures, and it is one of the games that I play most frequently. The sound effects are fun, but it definitely has a dated feel to it. I can see someone who is unfamiliar with it having trouble getting into it, which is too bad.
10. Columns (GENESIS) - I now play this game on the Sega Classics Collection. This was a major game for Sega back then. I think that it is perhaps a little too simple for my tastes now, but at the time it was a lot better.
9. Kwirk (Gameboy) - This game still holds up very well. The sound is fun, the graphics are simple but effective, and the gameplay is easy to learn, but very challenging. I would say that the one drawback to this title, as long as you do not consider black and white graphics a drawback, is that like other games, once you have learned how to complete a level, it is no longer really a challenge. Still, a great game, and it has aged well.
8. Lemmings (SNES) - Assign roles to the lemmings and save as many as you can while leading them to the exit. The game can get quite frantic as you keep track of lemmings at several different locations on the map, and you need to make sure you assign them their tasks at just the right time. I played this again a few weeks ago, and it was still pretty fun. I tend nowadays to play more King Arthur's World, which is the medieval action version of lemmings, but I don't get far because the levels get to be far too long, and there are some enemies that basically do not fight fair. Lemmings would definitely win in a head to head mainly because of the level design.
7. Krusty's Super Fun House (SNES) - I enjoy this game because of the simplicity in each level. This game is another one where you lead a character, in this case rats, to the end of the level, where they get destroyed rather than finding an exit. The animations when the different people destroy the rats are one of the best parts. My favorite is when Corporal Punishment eats the rats. Classic!
6. Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA) - This is a newer game, but it is already a classic. It combines the best elements from several games, like Krusty's Super Fun House and Donkey Kong Jr. Unlike most puzzle games, and admittedly, this is a puzzle action game, this also has boss battles. I am surprised that more people have not gotten into this game.
5. Zookeeper (DS) - Fun and addicting Bejeweled clone. Bejeweled does not have cute animals, so this is the far superior version. Easy to pick up, easy to learn. If it suffers from anything, it is that success depends far too much on luck, much more so than the games that are higher on the list.
4. Tetris (Gameboy) - The game that launched a handheld empire and that launched a thousand clones. Most people put this game higher, but as brilliant as it is, and as fun as it was, I think that it lacks a bit of soul for me. I don't enjoy this game as much as I used to, and I am not sure if I should have it this high up, but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt.
3. Emerald Mine (Amiga) - I know that not many people had an Amiga, but this was one of my favorite games. You have to get to the exit of the room and pick up a certain amount of gems while avoiding cave-ins and monsters. Very clever, and very well-designed. This game is very out of print, but I have seen it available on the internet and also with extra levels.
2. Dr. Mario (NES) - Great music, great premise, great game. Simple and fun, and based upon skill rather than luck. You can play for a short time or a long time, and just because you have completed a level before does not mean it is not as challenging to play again. Almost the perfect puzzle game, if not for...
1. Bust A Move (SNES) - Comparing Dr. Mario and Bust A Move, there are good arguments for both. I give the graphics nod to Bust A Move, but music nod to Dr. Mario. Randomized variety is obviously a part of Dr. Mario and not Bust A Move. It is the control and gameplay itself that for me gives Bust A Move the edge. For me, I could pick up and play this game anytime, whereas I need to be in the mood for Dr. Mario, but that is not taking anything away from Dr. Mario. (Bust A Move also has several sequels to make up for the lack of random levels.)

Tomorrow, I will post my list of (currently 13) games that could be considered puzzle games, but did not quite fit the standards of my strict list.

Please let me know what you think of this list.

XBox360 pwns all?

2005-10-05T23:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog, my exclusively video games oriented blog. This blog will be exclusively for talking about video games, whether it is video game culture, reviews, rumors or anything else gaming. I will give my thoughts on EVERYTHING gaming in this space.

That said, I would really like some input on good websites to link to regarding video games. Right now I am probably going to link to:
Attack of the Blog
IGN
Gamespy
Gamefaqs

Today's topic is a statement by Peter Moore of Microsoft in a keynote address at the X05 conference in Amsterdam in which he said the following:

As we stand here, on the very cusp of launch, it is my sincere opinion that we
have the best game lineup in the history of video games.

(This is a direct transcription from footage shown on G4's Attack of the Show.)

Keeping in mind the hubris shown by Microsoft overall and in the console wars already, and also noting that this is a trade show, this still seems to be taking it a bit far. For a moment, let us presume that he is comparing like with like, in the sense that he is comparing his launch titles with those of other systems, and not comparing the few games that have been revealed so far to those on the best systems of all time, although I do not think it a stretch to think that he would do so. That said, the following are the launch titles that I have per IGN (launch titles for me would normally be strictly those that are available in the first week the system is out, but I am being generous and including all games that are listed in the November and December of this year.)

Quake 4
Frame City Killer
Call of Duty 2
Dead or Alive 4
Full Auto
Kameo: Elements of Power
King Kong
Madden NFL 06
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Neon
Perfect Dark Zero
Project Gotham Racing 3
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Gun
Ridge Racer 6
Test Drive Unlimited
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Mutant Storm
[eM] -eNCHANT arM-
BioWare RPG (Untitled Project)
FIFA 06
NBA 2K6
NBA Live 06
NHL 06
NHL 2K6
SSX 4
War Devil - Unleash the Beast Within

Now, I am being VERY generous with how I define a launch, but this does not seem to be a spectacular launch by any stretch of the imagination. What immediately stands out to me is that there is ABSOLUTELY nothing revolutionary about any one of these titles. If I were to win an XBox360, the only games that I might buy from this list, and this is based purely on what we have seen so far, are Kameo (high potential for this game to fall on its face), Full Auto, Dead or Alive 4 (which I would immediately be disappointed in, just like with all of the other DOA games... Just a bad series.), Condemned (only if the reviews love it), Tony Hawk (I have skipped the last few, so it would be nice to get reacquainted with the series), and NBA 2K6, which in my opinion is the best current sports series. That is a grand total of 6 launch games, and honestly, Full Auto is the only one I would choose over other games on other systems being released at the same time. (And in case you are wondering, 6 iffy games is nowhere near what I would consider a great launch.)

How many of these games are available on other systems, and more importantly, does anyone feel that they actually any more than a slightly superficial improvement over games on other platforms? Also, I have my own opinions on the subject, but does anyone else have any opinions about better system launch lineups? If this is the best lineup of games in history, I think I may need to reevaluate my choice of hobbies...