by Nick - 11.27.09
Ahhhh, a nice long holiday break. Time to play those neglected games. Actually, all of my poor games have been neglected as of late, but still. Over this break I have committed myself to play (and maybe beating?) a bunch of the underground classics. I’m talking Wario Land: Shake It!, MadWorld, Zak & Wiki, No More Heroes and some Yoshi’s Island thrown in for good measure.
Read on for my brief thoughts on each game and let us know what you are playing during the Thanksgiving break.
Let’s start with No More Heroes. If Quentin Tarantino was a gaming fanatic instead of a movie geek, this is the type of game he would create. Luckily we have a guy like that, and his name is Suda51. Everything you’ve read about this game is true. It’s crazy. It makes fun of, and laughs with, classic gaming moments, cliches, sterotypes, etc. The characters are great. The battles are great. The overworld driving portion is horrible. But as one reviewer said, just think of it as the worlds most inefficient level select and you’ll be fine. I’d have to say that out of the bunch of games I’m playing this weekend, this is my least favorite, but it’s just so damn quirky and gorgeous to look at and play, that it’s at least worth a play through and a spot in your library. Especially for gaming geeks who have been around as long as I have.
I know, I know. I heard the hype for this game. And shame on me for waiting until it was $20 before I bought it. Having sunk about 5 hours into it so far, I really should have paid $50 for it. This game is amazing. The production value alone is incredible. I don’t know why I thought this was going to feel like a budget title, but it’s anything but.
Obviously the graphics look great from an asthetic point of view, but seeing them in motion is even more of treat. The music and sound effects are equally as awesome (and equally as gross). And the gameplay? Bloody fantastic fun. This really is the beat-em-up of a new generation. And yes, the Wii controls make it a lot more fun.
If Frank Miller had been convinced to put his name on this game, which he should have as it not only shares its looks with Sin City, but its attitude and violence, then this game would have sold like it should have. So cool.
I actually bought this game a long long time ago, but never really took the time to let it sink in. For some reason playing the whole opening scene turned me off. Wow, I’m an idiot. Having now cleared two worlds, I can say that this is one of the best point and click adventures I’ve played. Really truly smart gaming here. And even if you don’t like the graphical style, trust me, it will grow on you. The attention to detail and all the little goodies make it all come to life. This is a game that I’m going to dole out in small doses. I can see playing one level every night after work.
Ahhhhh, smell that? That’s the smell of good old fashioned classic platforming action. This is what I hoped plaftorm games would become. Stunningly animated visuals, super tight controls, great level designs. This game has it all. And the Wii controls are just damn fun. Oh, and did I mention that the boss battles are some of the best I’ve ever played? Great stuff. I haven’t had this much fun with a game since Jungle Beat, and you all remember how much I loved that game. Go buy this game now.
Yoshi’s Island. Best game ever. Nuff said. Get some awesome screencap wallpapers here.
The live play-by-play in MadWorld really pushed the game from “excellent” to “awesome” for me. Good picks to spend some time with this weekend!
Shaun Hatton - 11.27.09 2:13 pm
I really am blown away by the quality of MadWorld. It surprises me at every turn. I hear it gets ridiculously hard later on though… so I’m a little scared that I will stop playing and not get to see it all the way through.
Nick - 11.27.09 2:35 pm
Four fantastic games and Wario’s dud adventure.
BudDudandSlash - 11.27.09 4:09 pm
Oh Yoshi’s Island! How I miss thee. I spent weekends trying to do all of the collecting and trying to commit them to memory. It was the game that made me think that graphics in video games could be art. I still hold that dear to my heart.
I agree that MadWorld is something that should be played and seen.
Eddard Stark - 11.27.09 4:18 pm
I haven’t tried MadWorld, but I’m inclined to agree with Buddudandslash: Wario Land: Shake It was a dud. I bought it and played through a bit, but it never really hooked me, and after putting it down for a while I never came back to it. Sure, it looks nice, but the loading times are too long and the levels never really have that Mario je ne sais quoi.
Carl - 11.27.09 5:14 pm
I guess Im judging it more on previous Wario games. The aspect of a timed run back through the levels. The game is just short bits of candy for me. Tight platforming, some clever hidden goodies due to level layout, good music. Maybe not most peoples cup of tea, but I really enjoy it.
Nick - 11.27.09 6:46 pm
Now you’ve made me want to spend my entire weekend binge-gaming. Thanks.
N Rumas - 11.27.09 11:37 pm
Binge-gaming is my new favorite past-time.
Nick - 11.28.09 12:19 am
To add to the mix I should mention that I downloaded and am loving Excitebike World Rally and also playing a bit of Super Paper Mario. Oh, and Mother 3 before bed.
Nick - 11.28.09 12:19 am
I gotta say, as a huge fan of classic adventure games, Zak and Wiki didn’t do it for me at all. I was crazy psyched for this game and picked it up on launch day, but the puzzles displayed all of the worst qualities of adventure games. All the non-sensical puzzles, punishing level design that gives you no telegraphing of when it’s going to punish you (this bridge you thought was safe? Don’t you DARE cross it a third time. It will kill you.) and thinking that illogical puzzles are the same thing as difficult puzzles. I haven’t played Wario Land (would like to) but I would single out Zak and Wiki as the dud on this list. Just because we all want it to be good so badly doesn’t mean it is.
To me, it is the Killzone 2 of the Wii. A passable game that people who support the console have tricked themselves into believing is the best the genre can offer. They need it to be good because if it isn’t, they have nothing to point to when those who don’t own the system question why they should bother. It’s ok, but it has a lot of huge flaws. How many proponents of this game have actually finished it?
Miffy495 - 11.28.09 12:53 am
Hmm, maybe I just haven’t gotten that far into Zak & Wiki yet. So far all of the puzzles have made sense and been delightfully fun. And there are multiple ways to solve some of the problems. Maybe as I get further in I will see the frustrating ones.
Nick - 11.28.09 1:28 am
Oh boy “Feel Good”, just start making the 7 Wario Land game already,we need more Captain Syrup and this time,have Waluigi in it,he needs to be put to some good use now.
IronROB - 11.28.09 1:53 am
RT: Nick
Yeah, I’ll agree that the first two worlds or so were amazing. I forget which part was all covered in ice, but the flaws started to make themselves apparent there. I thought/hoped that the iffy design decisions might be isolated there, dismissed them, and kept going, The further I got into the game though, the more it became apparent that not only were they not isolated to that section, but those things that frustrated me there were actually the least egregious examples of bad adventure design. If only they’d kept it in the vein of the earlier levels, while getting more complex but not necessarily more punishing, it could really have been a masterpiece. Kind of sad, looking back.
miffy495 - 11.28.09 6:23 am
I liked Zak & Wiki, I really did, but it wasn’t really a true adventure game. It was closer to the Gobliiins games - they’re puzzle games first, adventure games second. Z&W relies too much, later on, on punishing, illogical puzzles. By the time you reach the last world, you’re not playing because it’s fun anymore, you’re playing because, after all this pain and punishment, you at least want to see the end, you need a payoff, and it better be worth it. It’s not so much about fun anymore, it’s about who’s gonna win : the game, or the player. True adventure games rely more on plot and exploration - the good ones have puzzles that are well integrated, but the plot always comes first.
Jean F - 11.28.09 11:23 am
Own and have finished all 5 games.
As for the weekend gaming, I’ve played Prototype until the half way point and demos for Brütal Legend, Trash Panic, Crystal Defenders, Wet and Up (a surprisingly fun platformer similar to the Lego games… go figure). I just got a PS3 last weekend so that is why I’ll be doing mainly PS3 playing. Still, I squeeze a little New Super Mario Bros Wii here and there, oh and Viking Invasion and Lunar: Dragon Song on DS and DSiware respectively as well.
EdEN - 11.28.09 12:42 pm
Jean F:
Yeah, I wouldn’t really call it an Adventure game either, but people seem so intent on it that I let it ride. The thing is, when a game becomes punishing to the point that “it’s not so much about fun, it’s about who’s gonna win: the game, or the player,” I’m happy to let the game win. I’m ok if the game is no longer fun but is emotionally engaging or compelling for other reasons, but if playing it becomes an endurance test than the game has failed it’s primary goal of being entertainment. A challenging book can be entertainment. A challenging game can be as well. Zak and Wiki failed to be a challenging game and ended up just being an illogical one, which is a big difference.
Miffy495 - 11.29.09 7:54 pm