MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That is the sound of my cackling as I write this post. It has nothing to do with gaming but who cares. I said I would update this whenever and here is another long overdue update. Again I fell into various traps in thinking that my blog had to have a certain "accepted" format but that is complete bollocks. This will be more a thought cloud on games. Anything goes from now on. I imagine any reviews will range from an in depth analysis to a 2 sentence write off or summing up.

Either way. 2010 is now over (I had to check that up because time scale means very little in the universe of Churchy) and it is time for me to tell you about what I feel were the best games from last year. Although gaming is getting more clogged up with more crap than you'd find in a gorilla's toilet (they don't make good plumbers you see) 2010 was actually a good year. Today gaming is now being run for the purpose of solely making money (Yes I'm looking at you THQ and Activision) rather than making anything that could be within the following categories:

- Making something that is imaginative
- Making something that is individual and fun
- Something that is creative
- Something that does something new with the medium or furthers it
- Something that is intelligent and makes you think
- Something that furthers the way a story can be told in a game (Braid is the perfect example of this)
- Something that is fun spirited
- Something that is different
- Something that wallows in it's own arsekickery
- Something that is artistic
- An experience where the studio goes further than just developing the game


Any good game should fall into at least 3 or 4 of these categories to be even be considered anywhere near good. Of course some these conditions are subjective but it is still my criteria.

Here is my overview of games released in 2010 that were actually great with a snippet review of each!

Super Meat Boy



Wow. One of the best platformers I have ever played. Yes it is up there with all the greats you care to mention. What's even better is it is independent, created only by 2 awesome dudes of virtue true. The characters are interesting and fun, taking in the cream of the indie scene's crop, featuring characters like Tim from Braid and the Alien Hominoid. The levels are imaginative and varied. The music by Danny Baranowsky is untouchable and this is all topped off with a great sense of humour and heart which is rare in gaming nowadays. Get it now. It has become one of my favourites of all time. It takes a lot for me to say that.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn



Anyone who knows me knew I have been waiting for this for a long time. I'd always say that Golden Sun should make a revival. How does it measure up. Quite simply, it's fantastic, building upon what we all knew and loved from the original games but still branching out to create a whole new experience and improving the whole game system even further, unafraid to cover new ground. One of my favourite RPG series of all time has shown that you can find an experience on a handheld that can easily rival the big power consoles.

Last Window: The Secret Of Cape West



Unfortunately, this is the last game ever from Developers, Cing. They were one of my favourite recent developers because they were never afraid to try something different. Whether they always succeeded in creating something great doesn't matter, for they made some unsung classics in their time. Most notably, Hotel Dusk which precedes this game. Again in the shoes of grumpy but oh so lovable ex detective Kyle Hyde, this game tells a new story which makes you feel closer to the characters to before and is just as an enthralling as Hotel Dusk. The puzzles are back, more backstory is elaborated upon and the simple charm of Cing shines through once more. These guys have really gone out on not just a great note, but a beautiful symphony of a game.

Red Dead Redemption



These days, most bigger titles tend to be a poor effortless money making attempt. *cough* Activision *cough* But Red Dead Redemption is worthy of all the praise it gets. It really is that good. I would go so far as to say that this is Rockstar's masterpiece and I'm not sure they'll ever top it. Everything about this game is fantastic. The story is just sublime, the characters are well defined and they go into huge depth. You actually care about them and it's interesting to see where their lives turn next. The thing I applaud the most is that things don't end up all peachy and lovely for everyone. There is angst, reams of subtext and canned emotion. But the fun gameplay and satirical edge of Rockstar still threads itself in seamlessly. Looking at this and all the Grand Theft Auto series, I actually prefer this over all of them. The GTA series dipped with 4 especially but all of the games feel like a footnote for this game. It is fantastic and well worth playing. However, Rockstar's future now looks a little less bright, with titles that don't look nearly as impressive as this.

Alan Wake



Unfortunately, this was released in the same week as Red Dead Redemption. I imagine whoever conceived that idea is now sleeping with the fishes (Remedy are a vengeful bunch, just ask Max Payne). The successor to Mr Payne's antics takes a differently deranged turn. Sam Lake is back in the position of writer for the story of ironically, a writer whose memories and sense of the world is turned inside out in what is correctly described as "a psychological thriller". There are elements of horror here but it is nowhere near the fear levels of the Project Zero or early Silent Hill games. However, the writing of the game is ridiculously intelligent that's impossible not to get sucked in from the get go. I will say no more as I don't wish to spoil it but it is an underrated gem that everyone should play.

Games that are new for me, but were not released this year, but are still great anyway:

Braid



This game is just wow. Completely left field, indpendent and simply breathtaking. A game I would happily say is pure art. I will actually write a full review of this because it really deserves it. This is one of the best video games ever made.

Machinarium



A point and click game that reminds you of the likes of Broken Sword in it's mechanics and Beneath The Steel Sky in it's setting. The story takes place in a desolate waste world populated only by robots. The art is jaw dropping and the story is remarkable as not a single word is uttered. This is a great game that revisits an old genre that really shouldn't have fallen off at all! It is a wonderfully imaginative game.

Here is a list of overhyped shit:
- Call Of Duty (insert subheading here)
- THQ's Wrestling Game O' Fun (insert yearly subheading here)
- Limbo (to be fair this game was okay in my humble opinion, it's just that everyone went batshit crazy over it)

As per usual. Here is another fantastic piece of music from a video game soundtrack. Today it is from the more obscure horror game Haunting Ground for the PS2.



Until next time friends, keep on gaming!

Future History

Greetings all.

It has been a very busy period for all staff at Churchy's Gaming Corner (the team comprising only of myself!) but here is a little explanation that could prove to be an exciting one. Also some more views and focused looks on games will be coming with some more great gaming music.

New Ideas That Lay Underneath

The future. Yes. I know. A galling thing for any living entity. But at the minute I have been thinking about my own. Now as a younger boy with both the stomach and the imagination to prove I played a lot of video games, I also wanted to make them. Today the stomach has gone but the imagination remains. For a long time I dreamed of being involved in video games development but my strength is mainly in the conception of ideas and writing. It was only brought to my attention recently whilst searching for courses at universities that there are ones which give a more general approach and look much more into the artistic area of video games design, supporting the best prospect of all: writing video game scripts and stories. This is something I hadn't considered before but the more I thought about it made sense. All of my favourite games all have a story, however simple and complex, which gave birth to what I saw in the screen in front of me. The likes of Max Payne and Alan Wake written by Sam Lake or Shenmue written by Yu Suzuki are just two examples of games that would have required great and lengthy scripting. If I could get into such a position, it is something I would love to do.

Of course I would need to brush up my drawing and learn how to program properly but that is something I have an interest in anyway. It has just always seemed slightly out of reach. I often think that video games have taken a slight down turn over the last few years (although 2010 has been better I must admit!) and what better way than to be involved in that change or help that change come about?

Of course a video games course isn't the only way to do that. I have been looking at writing courses that aren't full of close minded people. I've been looking at courses which welcome all medium for which writing is a crucial part of. There are writing courses which look at video games scripts. Of course if I were writing professionally, there are many things I could write for on the side, but the thought of ideas I've created for games being put into script form is immensely exciting. About most things I write multiple paragraphs but for some reason this different. It seems so exciting vast and new but so simple and obvious at the same time.

This isn't a definite future plan or even a declaration that if I were to go on such a course or learn about video games in more depth, that it is the only thing I would do. But it is just another exciting avenue of life that I wanted to share with you. Also if you yourself are thinking about wanting to write for video games or looking to do a more artistic video games course, then please comment or contact me and I'll share with you what I know.

Expect to hear more about this. If I do go down this road, I imagine this blog will become an insider's diary of sorts.


New and Improved

As I'm playing a lot of games and there is so much to get stuck into, I've decide to invent what I call Snippet Reviews. These are reviews which are concise, to the point but which give you a good description of the game I'm reviewing. Sometimes I think it's nice to read a shorter review too! Anyway here are the first couple of Snippet Reviews.

Snippet Reviews:

In my snippet reviews I haven't played anything that bad recently. Don't worry I can go into the past for that but I'm sure something that is new will raise it's ugly head for me to blast it off in rage.

Hydrophobia.
A great game that was as exciting and fun as I had originally hoped in my preview earlier on in the year. Some wonderful and original ideas are brought into the game whilst also showing influence in video games of old. A lovely mix of action, platforming and sci-fi all topped off with interesting characters and some nice subtle humour. It's nice to see a new developer coming up with new and exciting ideas. (something a lot of big devs forget about these days!)The only downfall. The map is ridiculously hard to navigate and get used to. But it never ruins the overall experience. The best thing is, we're guaranteed two more episodes of it so hopefully the niggles will be ironed out with the next release. If you haven't got it already, then get it now. You won't regret it. Give me this over Call Of Duty Black Ops anyday!

Dead Rising 2
There are very few games where the sequel betters the original. Dead Rising 2 does it superbly. It feels as though the concept is now fully realised here. All of the things that plagued the first Dead Rising are now gone. The text is now readable (shock horror!), survivors will stay where they are after cut scenes and are not just zombie fodder when they're not by your side. Not to mention everything feels smoother with better graphics and gameplay. The game can handle so much more. More zombies, more weapons, more of the lovely blood and guts. The addition of combo weapons is pure genius, making for some inventive and downright hilarious options. My favourite still has to the ultra powerful guitar which makes zombies heads explode! Also the story in Dead Rising 2 is better and Chuck Greene is a more entertaining and likable character than Frank West. I have nothing against Frank but Chuck brings the attitude and heart in spades. The only problem is I wouldn't describe the location as a city. It it is more a much larger mall so don't expect going around the streets like in Case: Zero. If you haven't played the original. You don't really need to. This is the much better game and if you're a newcomer then you won't get lost at all. If you have a 360 I recommend downloading Case: Zero along with it as a great introduction too. Again this is a must have for this year.

Goldeneye 007 (Wii Remake)

Hmm...interesting. With development and remake hell for several years we all expected Mr Bond to die. It's had great scores and reviews but are they on the money...penny (No, I am not apologising for that joke!) or are they are just a load of old Oddjob?

*rotten tomatoes are hurled*

Thank you! I'll be here all week!
Check back in the next couple of days to find out (I mean it this time!)

For this week's music we are going back to the old school and obscure:

This is the start up to a brilliant game which never got the praise it deserved. Hired Guns for the Commodore Amiga 600. The music here is fantastic like the game itself and a review will be coming very shortly!

Please try to refrain your laughter when you read that this was run best with a machine with 2MB of graphic memory. It was a lot at one point!

Exploding My Way Back! Explodemon Preview

After a long break it's time for some investigative and informational journalism. Well come to think of it, journalism's the wrong word as I have neither the skill or professionalism to call it that. How about I have lots of cool stuff to tell you? Yeah that's a bit better! Now that's sorted let's crack on.

Last weekend I went to my biggest geeky convention. The MCM London Expo. A magical place where geeks of anime, manga, video games, comics, table top games, cosplay and other hobbies unite! Now it's mostly geared towards anime (Japanese animation for those who really like their home of rocks and sand) which I went for in the first place. But there was also a gaming village with some of the biggest gaming names including Nintendo, Sega, Capcom alongside new and smaller studios. Over this week I shall give my insights into the games that I played there which have either never been seen before or have not yet been released here in the UK.

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to check out everything due to my anime, japan, comic and cosplay fandom but I did get to play quite a few interesting new games. Before I went to the convention I was most interested in the smaller developers as you can often find things that aren't largely reported and they usually have a more honest approach towards gaming. One stand I was interested in belonged to UK developer, Curve Studios, who were premiering a brand new game that I knew nothing about. Explodemon. All I knew was that it was a brand new game that hadn't been shown before the public eye. Until now.



What's it all about?

Explodemon (pronounced explode-a-mon) is a 2.5D action platforming game made by a small developer called Curve Studios. The story is set in the kingdom of Nibia during an attack from evil alien robotic forces. All of Nibia's guardians are no more except for one, Explodemon. However in the humourous opening cutscene (cutscenes are presented in lovely colourful comic book fashion) the king of Nibia is much happier to admit defeat and surrender to these evil overlords. The reason? Explodemon is apparently "unstable" and there have been incidents in the past involving his powers.

However, Explodemon's resting place of slumber is shattered open, leaving him free to do what he does best: explode these guys into next year and restore Nibia back to it's former glory.

What's Invovled?

Explodemon isn't like other platformers. The main character's power is what you have already guessed. He explodes but doesn't die. But thanks to the folks at Curve Studios, it s far more than just that.

The intruiging thing about Explodemon is that for the powers that explodemon has, a lot comes out of it. Firstly exploding can be used to destroy near-by baddies but with one explosion being used at a time, it means you have to think more carefully about how you battle enemies as they won't die in just one simple hit. Whenever you explode you have to wait a couple of second for a meter to refill so you can do it again!

You can use explosions to battle enemies in different ways. If you run towards and enemy and then explode, you will start to dash at fast speed and bash right through them. This is a great tactic for fighting multiple enemies.

Even then, there are still more possibilities. Often there will be other objects such as boxes that you can send flying straight into the face of an adversary for a satisfying kill.

Even with all this, there is still more depth to the gameplay. On the left is a dual purpose meter from top to bottom which measures how in tune you are into the game play as well as acting as a life gauge. The more enemies you destroy the more the meter will fill, leveling you up temporarily. There are 3 levels and when you reach the top, Explodemon will become more powerful. Keeping this at full and not taking damage is just another thing for skilled players to achieve. There is also a more permanant levelling up system in place too. When collecting inverted triangle shapes, they can be used as currency to purchase more permanant upgrades to keep Explodemon at his exploding best. I would guess that some secrets or sections of levels will be accessible once obtaining certain power-ups.

But the gameplay mechanics don't end there! Explodemon is a platformer with a puzzling side. Explodemon can use his exploding for solving puzzles and interact with the level itself. For example, there maybe hard to reach areas or points where you are blocked off by walls and other obstructions. You can explode through the wall and repel items to go onto switches, go through laser doors or even blow up other items!

The level design is looking great. The levels are not simple A to B routes but feature a variety of secret areas and passages that veer off the path of the level itself. A lot of these secrets will require you to think and search at every step because if you screw with items in the level, you may not be able to access extra areas. These bonus paths also have in store many treasures and collectibles as a reward for finding them too. Completionists will certainly be kept more than busy here. But for those less confident in their skills, there are many tutorial points in the level which you can choose to read should you get stuck.

Explodemon has a great futuristic city look to it all and it harks back to an age when games used to use something called colour, instead of the usual browns and blacks we see too often in games today. The graphics are lovely with a polished and simple flair.

Some seasoned gamers will compare this to Splosion Man, a download game for the Xbox360 released last year. However, any similarities are coincidental. Curve Studios have been working on this game long before Splosion Man even existed! The first version of the game was played by the press long before 'Splosion Man was even announced. Just thought I'd get that out of the way.

Let Us See It!

Here is an official trailer of Explodemon from Curve Studios' youtube channel. I'm particularly fond of the music heard! I've even allowed it room to cover my banners on the right!



Anything Else We Need To Know?

There will be 12 levels in the full game. Now 12 might not sound like a lot but these levels are nice and lengthy trust me. It's good to see because in many games today the levels are over before they've even begun! I must've spent at least 20 minutes playing.

It will be exclusive to Playstion 3's Playstation Network to download. I don't know how much it will cost but I'll be sure to let you know when the time comes. Although having said that, part of the team commented elsewhere it'll "DEFINATELY" be under £10.

There isn't a specific release date yet but it's coming out before the end of the year. That much I do know.

What Do You Reckon Churchy?

Well it's probably obvious from the way I've written this but here goes:

All I knew before going to the MCM Expo was that some smaller developers like Curve Studios were present and that Explodemon was making it's first public appearance at there. I always like to give the smaller developers a try and was intruiged. I was not disappointed.

The controls are done exceptionally well. They are the type of controls that are extremely easy, simple to use. You take to them almost immediately, so the learning process is a doddle. This allows you to sink into the atmosphere of the game instantly and feel in control. My only bit of critical feedback I would give is that I would like to see more walljumping implemented combined with explosions. But seeing as how there is more of the game beyond what I've played, it could very well be there. Either that or I was just a bit rubbish.

Although there was the influence of Megaman in the main hero's character design (I think it looked more like Protoman to be honest), it still seemed nice and fresh. Megaman is a robot designed to do good and is controlled within his own power. Explodemon is an action thirsty guardian who wants to blow up as much as possible and for that reason he is a character who is much more fun!

What was great is that while I sunk into the game I was left with a real fun spirit that I hadn't felt in a long time. Although there is a influence of the old Mega Man games, I was taken back to the days of platforming on the first playstation, when 3D games where hitting the scene. The spirit of Crash Bandicoot, Spyro and Ape Escape was here. Not because the game felt like them in terms of mechanics or style but it was made by people who care and who wanted to create a spirit of fun.

I was kindly greeted by a woman who works at Curve but unfortunately I can't remember her name or her job title, so if you are reading this I am dreadfully sorry. Please tell me who you are and I will edit this straight away! I told you I wasn't professional!

However, she was really nice and we got a picture together on the main display screen.



I think what impressed me the most was the Studio's attitude. Today a lot of big gaming companies are soulless and have lost the reason for their original creation: To create games that are either fun, express a view or do something new that hasn't been done before. Curve studios are passionate about what they do. Although they have mainly just programmed the Buzz titles until now, you can tell that they were just making their way up the ladder. Watch Curve Studios, download Explodemon the second it comes out and support them. They more than deserve it.

Explodemon was easy and interesting to play but more importantly it is a hell of a lot of fun.

To get more info on Curve Studios go to their website:

www.curve-studios.com

follow them on twitter:
http://twitter.com/curvestudios

on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curve-Studios/364770057937

or send them an email:
hello@curve-studios.com

Oh and for today's piece of gaming music. It is from the underrated action game WET!
A highly underrated game with a grimy rock n roll soundtrack!
Happy gaming guys and girls!

Featured In NGamer!

Okay today the Churchy Excite-O-Meter is off the charts! I have been featured in NGamer magazine. It appears to be broken so we'll just put up a picture of Bruce Lee. He's been in a few games so it's okay!

BRUCE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!



"NGamer has not offended my family or the Shaolin Temple. So all is well."

Thanks Bruce!

Anyway the reason I am excited is because about a month or two ago I sent a letter to NGamer regarding the 3DS and I how thought that instead of using 3D purely for looks it could also be used as a control scheme (perhaps using the switch for it to turn illusions on and off etc) and yesterday I got my subscriber's copy of this months NGamer. MY LETTER HAS BEEN FEATURED. Today a letter in NGamer, tomorrow the world MWHA MWHA!

*puts on evil cape and twiddles false mustache*

But seriously it's great to have some acknowledgement from the only games mag I buy. Grab issue 54 of NGamer now. You should be able to buy it from all good newsagents (if they don't have it then they might not be as good as previously suspected) Check it out and read my letter! Also get the mag anyway as it's awesome!

I will have more soon featuring the release of Dead Rising 2. Also my thoughts on publisher's attacking the 2nd hand market of video games. Yes, some really are thinking that at the minute!

Today's Gaming Track
Daytona USA Theme: Let's Go Away

An awesome piece of gaming music that is so bad it's good. If you were ever in an arcade in the 90's you will know this song just from it playing in the background. A brilliant racing game. This theme for the game is so fun and it shouldn't be good but it is!



Anyway keep gaming guys and peace out!

If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On

I've decided to follow up on my post about gaming soundtracks and their composers. Because today I will run you through some of the series and games that are among my favourite gaming soundtracks. I'm a fan of instrumental music anyway and some of these albums and pieces rank up there with some of my favourite music of all time. Here are some of the best soundtracks ever made. Unfortunately some gaming soundtracks cannot be bought because they were never printed officially and some are incredibly hard to track down or are sold at extortinate prices. If you can't buy them...get them through other methods. I might be able to help if you ask nicely!

Anyway here are some of the best soundtracks ever made in gaming. This does not necessarily mean they are brilliant games (although most of them are). These are just the ones with the best music. There are many more beyond this as many of the series featured have great ones spanning all games. (Disclaimer: I am only including original works so no Guitar Hero or Rockband or Triangle Hero or whatever the hell they've released now!)

Silent Hill 2 by Akira Yamaoka

This soundtrack is a masterpiece. I'm not kidding. It amps the terror and horror of Silent Hill 2 perfectly. Expresses the themes of the characters, plot and setting through music perfectly but the music is great in it's own right. I think what impresses me most about this soundtrack is that it has a collection of pieces that you can listen to in different moods and feel something different every time. Very few pieces of music I find, have that quality.

Here is one of my favourite songs from the soundtrack:



Pokemon Colosseum by Tsukasa Tawada

Pokemon Colosseum is actually a pretty good game overall. But to be honest the soundtrack is the standout point of the game for me. I think the best thing about it is that it's varied. There are some really nice peaceful and quiet pieces here that you can definately relax to. Also it has the best pokemon battle music theme ever (which is sadly underused in the game!)



Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and Zelda: The Wind Waker by Koji Kondo

Zelda had to feature somewhere. These two soundtracks are so great, that I can't compare them. The sheer number of pieces here is astounding and pretty mcuh all of them are wonderful to listen to and evoke some serious imagination and mood. Luckily both of these are not too hard to find but they may not come cheap!

Here's one from Ocarina Of Time by Koji Kondo



Here's one from Wind Waker by composers:Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Toru Minegishi and Koji Kondo



Golden Sun by Motoi Sakuraba

This mention is a bit bittersweet. Now this game in itself is amazing but the soundtrack even more so. It is some testament when a Gameboy Advance game has a sountrack that can stand up to home consoles with better soundchips. The composer did a fantastic job with this and so did the developers to get the sound out of the GBA. Unfortunately you can't buy this and the only way to get the songs is to rip the audio from youtube videos but I have a better suggestion that I reveal next time. Find people who have re-arranged the songs already or perform them with groups. But that is something I will cover next time.




Enjoy these soundtracks and please feel free to comment on what some of your favourites are! Could also just be video game songs or themes!

Peace out guys!

Music To My Ears

Lets throw a few names around:

- Koji Kondo
- Akira Yamaoka
- Jesper Kyd
- Yoko Shimamura
- Harry Gregson-Williams

If you listen to gaming music or know a bit about it, you will know at least a few of the names on this list. These people are video game composers and they play a more vital role than you might imagine.

One thing that can make or break a game is the music. Would a horror game really be as scary without some great music to accompany it? Or would an balls to the wall action game seem as epic without the fitting soundtrack? No. In fact music slips into the background and people remember it even though they don't make a conscious note of it. So you're still telling me you don't make a note of the music? Okay then.

Let's do a little test:

STEP 1

Hum the Mario theme...Spot on.

STEP 2

Hum the Zelda theme...Again, you've got it.

STEP 3

Hum the theme of your favourite game.

Instantly recogniseable am I right? You can recall it and re-create it quicker than any visual part of the game. Even sound effects are ingrained into our brain. Hell for some the Acheievement Unlocked sound effect is more important than a doorbell!

Well I'm a little different. I often like to pick out a game's soundtrack. It is something which is often worked on just as hard as the game itself. I often find that I can listen to game soundtracks on their own. Even the old 8-bit soundtracks are fun to listen to. Usually because they're so well written or just so catchy, you can't help but love them. Sometimes videogames are slightly spoiled by their soundtrack or a feeling is lacking because of it. Sometimes the reverse is true. You get a well made soundtrack and not such a well made game. If you ever get both. Then it's pure magic.

One great example of how a soundtrack makes a game is the Silent Hill series where the music is composed by Akira Yamaoka. Some fans identify his music as being one of the scariest parts of the experience! But with him having left konami who knows what he will score next?!

Live performances of game music involving whole orchestras even take place. Although they used to most commonly happen in Japan, other fans composers and collections of musical people put are spreading it around the globe. There is even Video Games Live (a touring production that performs a range of some of gaming's best musical numbers to everywhere around the world) Next time they're in London I suggest you go!

Visit the site:
http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=home


Even Beethoven would be proud of gaming's finest composers!

From time to time I will put up some great gaming songs from a variety of soundtracks. Eventually I will do through whole soundtracks and even do a top 20 list.

Here is a song from a slightly dissapointing game with a varied soundtrack. Some of it great, some of it not so. The game is Tekken 6. While though I enjoy the arcade mode to a point. It doesn't make me scream with excitement. But there is one song on the soundtrack that is amazing and is hardly used (Only during a small section of near the end of the horrible Scenario Campaign Mode!).



If Tekken could capture the power and energy that this song had and put it into the arcade mode without the extra crap. Then it could have been challenged Tekken 2 for my favourite series. Don't agree with me? Watch this trailer that used it! That is what the game should have felt like and this trailer should have been the opening for the game in my humble opinion!



But nevertheless I salute you composers for you have made some truly beautiful music. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Playing Is Believing - Vanquish Preview

VANQUISH

Lets see what the Churchy Excite-O-Meter has to say:



Losing my shit is the reading I see on this one. Now without further ado:

DOWNLOAD THIS FUCKING DEMO NOW!!

Okay after that rabid statement all I can ask you to do is just that.

Okay...calming down now...

*takes calming pills and a very deep breath, several in fact*

Okay. Okay. I'm alright now. Right now on the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network is a demo for a game which is probably the most insane thing I've ever played. Of course in this sense insane is the best compliment I can give. It is one of the most awesome demos I've played in a long time. As you know I've been saying that the last two years of gaming have been a bit lacking compared to other times. I will go more into this in my next post but Vanquish is one of those titles that's reigniting my excitement from just playing the demo. But enough of me needing a new pair of trousers. What the hell is Vanquish and why have I had such a violent reaction to it?

Vanquish is a 3rd person shooter made by Platinum Games (proving themsleves to be an awesome developer with such games as Infinite Space and Bayonetta). The director is Shinji Mikami (known for creating the Resident Evil series on working on such games as Viewtiful Joe and Devil May Cry) and the game is a sci-fi action game but that's something of an undertstatement as it is far more than that.

Essentially you are a soldier in an ultra high powered suit with it's own energy supply. The suit has all sorts of powers, the first of which is a rocket boosters using to slide and dash along the floor at fast speeds. But it gets better, you can dash and shoot at the same time. But it's not as linear as that. You can steer as you dash, dash towards the screen and away from enemies whilst shooting them over you shoulder, while finding cover. That's just the beginning of what you can do.

The game engine has it's roots in the Gears of War system but if anything it's taken a sapling and grown a fucking forest on top of it. There is a one button system for cover. Also you can dive around forwards, backwards and side to side. But unlike gears where the actions are mostly separate, you can link moves together. For example, you could be dashing towards an enemy, then suddenly a giant mechanic walker shoots a rocket at you. You can instant just dodge out of the way, get cover and link moves together. All of the movement controls seamlessly go from one function to another. There are also Melee attacks which are ridiculously powerful (you smash your way through steel doors in the tutorial!). But that's still not everything to do with movement! When you get low on health you will automatically enter a critical state where a bullet time mechanic comes into play. But there is only a certain amount of time you have to use it off your enemies. In this bullet time mode you also get reticules making it clearer where you targets are and where best to hit them. But this mode isn't just limited to when you're in a spot of bother, you can also trigger this with full health. But don't all these powers make the game sound a bit easy? It would be but there is limit on it. As the suit is run on energy you have a bar at the bottom. All of the boosting, time-slowing and monster melee attacks use up energy on the bar. The bar refills whenever you're not using up energy but should you run it all the way down, you have a period of time where you cannot use any of your special attacks (just your guns which we will get too next) for awhile while the suit starts emitting electric static and takes time to recharger back to full.

Okay, deep breath.

Now after all that we only just get to the weapons. The weapons take no energy to use. Like Gears of War, you select which weapon to use with the D-Pad and can only have 3 weapons held at one time, with an extra slot for grenades. But of course this is sci-fi and the guns are futuristic versions of what we know and love: assualt rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers. But there are also some new weapons available such as a Disc Launcher which fires a disc to chop up the nasties! But again evolutions have been put in place to a system which many people know. The gun change is far quicker and also you don't have to switch between guns and grenades. You have a dedicated button for Grenades so you can fire your gun and through grenades without much interruption to your burst of fire. The D-Pad is used to switch between the types of grenades. The Grenades available are the usual frag grenades, a slightly longer timed frag grenade but also an EMP emitter which will disable enemies for a short period of time. But again we're still not finished. You also find power-ups and upgrades to guns (for example on I picked up increased my ammo capacity by 25%!) which introduces slight RPG elements to the proceedings. Will you be able to level up your suit in the full game? I'm not sure.

Now that alone was the mechanics and it might sound ridiculously complicated but weirdly enough, it isn't. Just make sure you play through the tutorial first and you'll have no problems. Everything brilliant connects and you can go from action to action without to much effort or hardwork. The mechanics are programmed brilliantly. It feels really fluid, fast, impressive and is suprisingly easy to pick up. Also it is far faster than the Gears Of War gameplay with much more going on.

Now we get to the actual gameplay. I'm not going to ruin it but you are with a team of other soldiers in sci-fi settings which feel original but also familiar with what we know. There are so many different types of enemies shooting you with all sorts of different weapons. To put it bluntly, it is insane, the amount of stuff going on is absolutely incredible with so many different enemies and projectiles all looking to destroy you. It rivals and betters some of Treasure's games (a developer known for throwing everything at you at once) and I think Platinum Games may actually take the prize for how much is taking place on screen. Treasure have to watch out. Not only that but the graphics look utterly fantastic and although there is the usual sci-fi metal sheen to the proceedings, there is plently of colour mixed in with it. Mostly coming from explosions of an electric nature. When you defeat the first boss it really is a wonder to behold.

Vanquish is only a single player game but to be honest it's best that way. Platinum Games said they wanted to make it that way so they could get the best experience possible and I believe they've done what they set out to do and more. It's obvious they've taken influence from other game engines but they've evolved it to a level that is superior and has it's own style and identity.

If you want to compare it to another game think of it like this. Take Max Payne, any Treasure shooter, WET, Gears Of War, Mecha Anime, add some LSD and you're somewhere close. This is really a game you have to see to believe and then playing it is an experience in itself. Before the demo starts up there is health warning about how the game might give you seizures. Download the demo on PS3 and Xbox 360 now and await the release in the UK on October 22nd. This is one hell of game that we're going to see. I don't get excited about many games these days but this is one of them and if the demo is anything to go by, dare I say it, this could be a game of the year on our hands!

PLAY IT NOW! Go on and lose your eye sight. It'll be worth it!

Keep The Gravy Train Rolling

Hello all.

Stay tuned as in the next week there will be a lot of posts, news and random tidbits for you to enjoy.

I still am finding what I want to write about and focus on within gaming and I think what I will try and do is just scattershot everything and go for all sorts of things to write about and show you guys.

Hydrophobia News

Anyway after days of my Hydrophobia preview there is now an official release date:

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Write it down in your diaries and have 1200 Microsoft points at the ready if you want to get to playing it.

Your Dreams Are No Longer Castaways

Also for Sonic fans, the dreamcast classic Sonic Adventure will be released on Xbox Live arcade on September 15 for 800 Microsoft Points. It is also going to be released for the PSN but exact details haven't been given yet!

You'll Get What's Coming To Ya!

Also there will be more from me in the next week and a half which I can actually guarantee:
- The 2 round and finish of movie based games vs book based games (expect it in the next couple of days!)
- My thoughts on publishers trying to clamp down on the second hand market (it ain't going to be pretty!)
- Flashbacks to some old games (Amiga 600 here we come!)
- Possibly some reviews
- A weekly post delving into my experience of one of my favourite horror series
- The return of Churchy's "Excite-o-meter"

Stay tuned to find out more soon.

SAME CHURCHY TIME! SAME CHURCHY CHANNEL!

Film Based Games Vs Book Based Games (Round 1)

First off lets start with a currently playing list:

At the moment I am currently playing:

- Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance (Gamecube)
- Advance Wars: Dual Strike (DS)
- Red Dead Redemption (360)
- Project Zero/Fatal Frame (PS2)

Anyway today's post is inspired by Christian's comments (the main commentor on my blog) about games being based on books turning out better than games based upon films. Now obviously there are exceptions to this rule but I agree. Games that are based on books are usually far better than than games based upon films.

Christian asked me a simple but important question. Why?

Well just from my own knowledge I think there are a few different reasons for this. You'll soon see that these issues overlap and relate quite closely to each other.

Making a quick buck

Most games that are based off of movies are usually released at the same time as the film in question is. It is made purely to sell. No more, no less. Publishers know that a game based on a popular license or movie series will sell so they get a rubbish developer or hire people who really don't care about what they're doing to make the game. Basically just to rip us off. For example they would know that a game based on James Cameron's Avatar or the animated show Avatar will sell like hotcakes but no matter how much you like the game it'll still be pretty bad. This is legalised extortion at it's worst.

It's the final countdown! Duh duh duh duh. duh duh duh duh duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...excuse me
Studios are often given ridiculous deadlines to finish the game. This is to coincide with the film it's based on to gain the highest sales possible. A studio or a team is hired to make the game and given very little direction as to what to do (sometimes teams are assembled just for that game specifically) so they really have no idea where to go or what aspect to base the game on. The most notorious example of this is the game made of E.T. for the Atari 2600. It is said to be one of the worst games ever made. The main designer was given 6 weeks to come up with a game. (God I've hardly managed much on my blog so far - let alone a fucking video game!)

Sometimes this overlaps and combines with making a quick buck. When this combination happens then you get the worst results possible!

I can't do it captain! I don't have the power!

This kind of links in with the first point but sometimes a game is to be made and the movie it's supposed to be based on, simply isn't game material due to narrative structure, lack of action or that the actions carried out in the film just don't qualify as game material. Again E.T. like so many others falls prey to this. I can't imagine how you would make a game base on ET, make it fun, creative or even making it last.

For example I can't imagine a game based on Eraserhead can you?

Which brings me onto my next point. Time frame. A film has a finite time of running. So there is only a certain amount of material from which a game can take from. It's very hard to pad out what is already there. Your average film lasts about 90-120 mins and a game usually has a much longer playtime than that. With a book it depends on what kind of reader you are. You may re-read sections or you may spend longer on certain sections to get a better idea in your mind's eye of what's going or to further examine a plotpoint.

Also everything is shown to you on screen in a film. Thus everyone has similar expectations of how a game based on a film will look due to the visual style already being dictated in film format. This doesn't happen with a book. Although a description of a location in words never changes, people partly create the location in their mind for themselves. Little details maybe different and people will come up with their own interpretations of how it looks and there can be more possibilities.

Or sometimes the movie the game is based on is a pile of shit and the game is doomed from day one. I can't imagine Shigeru Miyamoto being able to make a good game out of say Epic Movie. Actually...lets not give anyone any ideas! Don't blame me if it happens!


We can find a better place in this twilight

So after all of these portents of doom you would think that all games based on movies should be avoided right? No actually for there are a few which break the mold and show that if you go about it the right way you can get a great game for both fans of the films and for gamers in general.

Here are some of the best in my opinion:

- The Super Star Wars Trilogy (SNES)


Now there have been many games based off of the Star Wars universe, many of which are great games. But out of the ones that take their story directly from the films, this trilogy of games is brilliant. But beware the difficulty can get a bit tough in these games. I would include the lego star wars games too but I'm sticking to just one franchise at a time!

- Goldeneye 007 (N64)


Not just one of the best video games based on a movie ever made. But one of the best video games ever made. I know people who don't care about the movie or James Bond but they love this game. It was the game that every FPS afterwards tried to emulate.

- Spiderman 2 (Gamecube, PS2, Xbox, PC)


This game let you do what makes spiderman awesome, swinging through a big city with web powers exploring the sights with nothing to stop you. And you got to play out the story from the film which is hailed as a great comic book movie. Need I say more?

- The Warriors (PS2, Xbox)


Based off of the late 70's film. This game is essentially a beat em up which features so much of the Warrior's universe (I use that term loosely as there was one film to my knowledge) in terms of character. There are plenty of missions to play through and also the story of the film is covered too. Add in co-op and you have a fun beat em up game which is definately worth playing

Other Recommendations (I haven't played them but they have a good reputation)

- Toy Story 2 (N64, Playstation, Dreamcast)
- Batman (NES)
- The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (Xbox, PC)

If there are any you like then share it in the comments section. There may be some I haven't played or missed out altogether!

Well that's the first round in the fight between film based games vs book based games. Stay tuned when I shall return with an examination of book based games and also bring another twist to the discussion. Thanks again to Christian who inspired this!

See you soon!

Oh and upon doing research into some of these games. I found out a video game of The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas really exists only in Europe. I think I may have to track it down to see how bad it is!

Quick Plays

Hey there all. This will be a very short post about what I have played ahead of schedule thus far and what I can tell you about a couple of games.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

Now the demo is released on UK Xbox Live Arcade in a few days but I have managed to play the Japanese version already (I won't explain how but it isn't by illegal means). Here's a lowdown of what to expect from the demo and possibly from the finished game.

- The demo runs in both English and Japanese (I was surprised to find English on the demo!)

- The Xbox version features less clean graphics than the PS3 version. There are a few jagged edges compared to the PS3 outing (but since the first game was exclusive to PS3 it hardly comes as a surprise)

- The controls are quite different to the other Naruto games on the 360. Basically one button to attack and combinations of the four main buttons (most pressed simultaneously rather than in succession) to perform:
- Chakra Dashes
- Throw Chakra Shuriken
- Charge Chakra

- You also get different ninja items to use quickly with the D-pad such as ninja paper bombs and floating kunai (tied to balloons)

So far it's shaping up to be a fun experience and I will have a preview for this soon along with my next game.

Metroid: Other M

I was lucky enough to be able to play this at the London Film and Comic Con about a month back. Nintendo where there with it and I playtested the half hour beta demo which in short was a great play and the story is looking like a big part of the game. My only reservation with the game was the motion controls in the first person sections. Expect a preview within the week. Trust me!

Also we talked to some of the Nintendo employees about what they knew about the 3DS. One said they didn't know but a second one we asked gave us the same answer but after a chat and more questions they changed it to "Maybe this year". So could it be we found out the vauge time period of when the 3DS will be released.

More to come in the week.

As always feel free to comment on anything blog or gaming related. If you want me to cover something inparticular, do top 10's or any other ideas, then let me know and I'll get back to you!