this point of view

Fable II - review gets a 9 out of 10

Oct 21

admingames fable, fable II, II, microsoft, xbox 360 1 Comment

Fable II will be released today exclusively on the Xbox 360 from Lionhead Studios.  Microsoft has been building this product up and I’ve been waiting for Fable II to come out for a while now.  As soon as a good fable II walkthrough is available, i will post a link here.  This game was built up to be a pretty amazing game and judging by the reviews, I think this game will deliver.  I cannot wait to get off work to go home and pop in the disc and re-enter the world of Albion.  

The premise of the game is amazing.  The choices you make define who you are.  Will you be a Hero or Villain.  Will people love you or fear you.  How will you decide on these choices.  My goal is to play through the game at least twice.  Obviously once following the “right” good choices and another making the wrong choices.  I can’t wait to see how the NPC’s react to the choices I make.  

The good news is thate overall, metacritic has given this game very favorable reviews.  I’ll give you guys an update as soon as I get to playing.

Breaking: Google to buy Valve - enter video game sector - FALSE

Sep 17

admingames google, steam, valve, video games 1 Comment

::UPDATE::  This has been confirmed as complete RUMOR.  If details change, I will update you.

I apologize for any misinformation

According to “great sources,” Google is set to purchase the game publisher and distribution company Valve.  The rumors suggest that Google’s main reason for wanting to do this acquisition is the Steam platform the game publisher has created.   

What is steam?

Steam is a distribution system designed by Valve that lets you purchase and download Full games and play them through the Steam system without needing to purchase an actual disc.  Right now, Steam actually has over 800 games for download ranging from Half-life 2 to an 18 wheeler racing game.  

There has been a lot of focus on online distribution methods over the past couple of years.  Steam is the pinnacle of these efforts.  Google must see the value of this product probably within gaming and other software distribution.  

It will be interesting to see how quickly this purchase goes through, but I for one think it is a fantastic idea and a great addition to the plethora of additions Google has recently made.

Here’s the article 

75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros. 2 (S(NES)

Sep 11

admingames, retrospective Mario, nintendo, SMB2, Super Mario 2 3 Comments

I’m continuing along with my quest to beat every Mario in order. I’ve reached my 3rd installment in the series - Super Mario Bros. 2. Technically, this is the third game in the series, but it was the second game released in the United States. This little gem of a game was released on October 10, 1988 in America. For the sake of entertainment value, I played this game on the All-Stars package. Like the lost levels, the game feels much less dated when playing it in all of its 16-bit goodness.

This game is less like any other game in the Mario series because it originally wasn’t even a Mario game. It was a game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (DDP). in Japan. Those clever executives at Nintendo thought us Americans couldnt handle the challenge of the lost levels.  They were probably right, seeing as the true sequel was a pain in the ass, but this game became a classic in it’s own right.

Unlike the other games in the series, before each level you get to choose one of four characters.  You get to play as either Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess.  Each character has their own individual strengths and weaknesses depending on what level you’re playing.

The premise of the game, and excuse for the variation, is that Mario has entered a ‘dream world.’ and is under a curse from the evil toad king Wart.  In order to wake up, Mario (or the other three characters) must play through the seven different worlds.  

Overall, this is a pretty fun game, but gets repetitive fairly quickly.  It was reminiscent to play through this game one final time.  I enjoyed the ice levels, hated the desert levels, and was pretty indifferent about the other levels.  

Playing through this game brought back a lot of childhood memories, specifically when I reached Mouser.  I remember watching the cartoons as a kid and hating this character more than anything.  It was nice, though brief, to relive kicking his ass one more time. 

I say one more time because although playing through this game was relatively enjoyable, I don’t really see myself taking the plunge into this particular adventure again.  It was always my least favorite game in the franchise and so far.

I’ve finally gotten past my least favorite games in the series.  I have a feeling things are about to start speeding up on this here blog!

Should Mario Retire?

Aug 26

admingames Mario, nintendo, retirement No Comments

My response to an article on MSNBC

While I’m in the middle of my journey through the past stories of Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom, I find it funny to read a this new story suggesting it is time for Mario to retire.  Yes, Mario has been around forever and is by far the best known face in conjunction with gaming. It is true that he has been in countless other games including Mario Party 1 through 1,000,000, and God knows how many other spin-offs.  But at it’s core, every single MARIO game (even super mario sunshine) has become a classic.  Each adventure primarily based around this hero has been a piece of art, created and handled with the utmost attention and care.

I may agree that Mario should stop the spin offs, in order to keep the brand from becoming diluted, but the idea of completely retiring Mario all together is completely ridiculous… on one condition.  The games continue to innovate and push the envelope.  If all Nintendo can do in the future is re-hash old mario adventures, then maybe it will be time to retire the red hat.  But for now, I think the plumber has enough in the take for a few more adventures.

There is nothing more i’d love than to be able to play a brand new Mario adventure with one of my kids.  I hope that will be an option.

75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros: Lost Levels ((S)NES)

Aug 26

admingames, retrospective Lost Levels, Mario, SMB 5 Comments

I beat the first mario, but it was a pain in the butt.  The graphics were dated and it was over all just a miserable experience.  But seeing as I put it on the 75 things i need to do before I die, I had to continue. 

Here’s my experience with The Lost Levels

I never knew playing through every mario would already be so difficult.. and I’m only through the second one.  I need to start off by saying that playing The Lost Levels via Super Mario All-Stars was a great idea.  Granted, I don’t have the original cartridge, but the updated graphics relative to my play through Super Mario Bros. was huge.  I may go back and try to play the original via All-Stars just because it is so much more enjoyable.  the 16-bit era truly did usher in a new era of videogame development.  In Fact, I will play the rest of the games through All-Stars that are available (SMB2 and SMB3).

Back to the game, The Lost Levelsis a freaking difficult game.  It is much harder than the original, dont let anyone tell you otherwise.  From the wind on the clifftops, to the poison mushrooms, and REVERSE WARPS, this game took the original and amped up the pain in your ass difficulty.  But, I had a lot of fun.  I don’t know why I had such a better time with this mario than the original.  Was it the updated graphics alone?  I don’t think so.  I think the game was just too damn difficult for me in my youth.  I would die quickly and lose patience and interest. Now that I am older and wiser, I think I have more tolerance for the monstrosity that is The Lost Levels. 

Touching on my ‘memories’ of playing this game as a kid, the only memory I really have of this game is what a bitch it really was.  I hated this game more than anything, so it was nice to come back and give it a big F-U.

I really am glad I stuck with this idea and went back and took the time to appreciate this very difficult, yet satisfying game in the lore of the Mario Universe.

Two down!!

75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros (NES)

Aug 19

admingames, retrospective games, Mario, retro 3 Comments

As part of my blog, I am coming up with 75 things that I want to do before I die. I think everyone should try doing this. It’s a good tool to help you find out what you really want to do with the little time we all have on this blue planet. I know its lame, but one of the things I wanted to do is beat every Mario game in order.  I assumed it would be a lot of fun and would also trigger some childhood memories I had while playing these games years before. 

Obviously, I had to start at the beginning, Super Mario Bros. (Super Mario Bros. Wiki). 

Now a little about this game.  It came out in the United States on October 18th, 1985.  I was three years old.  I am now 26!  To say that this game is dated is an understatement.  I know some Fanboys will still argue that the original Super Mario Bros.is the best game of all time.  I have to disagree wholeheartedly.  While I understand the impact the original Mario game had on the entire video game industry, the evolution past the original is pleasant and necessary.  Don’t get me wrong.  When I first booted up the game and stomped my first goomba, I felt a little piece of my childhood come to the forefront of my emotions, but the nostalgia soon faded and the primitive aspects of the game were all I could focus on.

I suppose if I had played the game through Super Mario All-Stars (SNES).  It may have been more bearable, I may try it out for a few minutes tonight and see if it can keep my interest. 

I did play through the game, but the only fond memories I had were during level 1-1 and 1-2.  I wanted to attempt to get through the game without using any of the warps, but by the end of 1-2 I was ready to speed my way through the rest of the game.  By the time I reached the warp zone in 4-2, I was having to convince myself not to just turn off the game.  I really was truly sad that the game that brought me so much joy as a child had dated so bad.  I guess playing through New Super Mario Bros. (DS) last year didn’t help the aging of this classic game.

While I am glad I took the time to play through the original on my journey through the mushroom kingdom, I am glad that I finally passed the most primitive game in the series.  The future looks bright as I continue my adventure through these Classic Mario games.

One down!

75 things to do before you die - 8 - Beat every Mario in order

Aug 14

admin75 things, games 75 things, Mario, video games 1 Comment

8.  Beat every Mario video game in order.

Mario is the quintessential Video Game of all time.  There were games before him, but when the plump little plumber with a red hat jumped on his first goomba, the video game world changed.  Mario is the video game industry.  Anyone who knows what a video game is will undoubtedly reference Mario. 

Now, dont get me wrong, I have played every Mario game already.  I’ve beaten most of them too.  But I think it would be an interesting to go through each MAJORMario game and beat them in order.  Each level or situation has always jogged memories of my childhood in different ways.  Whether its a memory of a friend I use to know, or playing the sky level in Super Mario 3 at my Grandparents house, I think it will be interesting to experience to use these video games as a tool to reminisce on my life.

It will also be interesting to experience the changes in graphics and the engines first hand one after the other.

If I’m not too lazy, after beating each game I will post a little blog with some of my  memories from my childhood that I thought about while playing.

My plan is to play through every major Super Mario release (not including the Gameboy games).  I will go in chronological order based on intended release.

Here’s the list:

• Super Mario Brothers (NES)
• Super Mario Brothers - Lost Levels ((S)NES)
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
• Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES)
• Super Mario World (SNES)
• Super Mario World 2 (SNES)
• Super Mario 64 (N64)
• Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube)
• New Super Mario Brothers (DS)
• Super Mario Galaxy

The reason i’m leaving the Gameboy games off is because the first one IMHO really sucked, and I never played any of the later ones.  As a retrospective it would be pointless to think about games I dont remember.

Who really knows how this is going to go?  I just think it will be fun to play the games again and maybe get to know myself a little better.

I plan to start playing through the Mario games this weekend. Hell I may play Super Mario Brothers tonight.

Chrono Trigger - DS

Jul 02

admingames chrono trigger, games, Square 6 Comments

Well, this morning I came to work with a pleasant surprise online. Chrono Trigger DS has been officially announced.  I am not sure if it is going to be a remake or if it is just a 2D port. Either way, this is awesome.  Chrono Trigger is one of my favorite video games of all time.  The 90’s were the pinnacle of JRPG’s and this game is in everyone’s top 3 lists.  Personally, it is my favorite RPG of all time. I mean what other game feature 13 different endings, integrated plot, and a ton of memorable characters and music?  The only other game that comes to mind (minus the endings) is FF6.  Anyway, im sure with Square-Enix’s success with the ports of final fantasy III and IV, they will definitely find the same success with the chrono trigger port.  I am thoroughly excited and cannot wait. Here is the official American Teaser Page for Chrono Trigger

The game will be released in the U.S. this holiday season