Music by Masato Nakamura, bassist for Dreams Come True and home to some of the best little brother/girlfriend co-op available. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the Sonic game I would point to start with. It has it's problems, but almost all of them come from the right place (outside of Metropolis Zone being made of 3 acts.) Tails is invincible and if he does die, he just comes back in a few seconds. If you've never sat down and played through the whole game, DO IT.
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
Virtual Console certainly has it. There are PSN and XBLA ports, but they are done by Backbone and have bad sound emulation. It's also on just about every Genesis collection ever made.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
5. Persona 4 (PS2)
Persona 4 is one of the few games that actually justifies it's 100 hours of game time. If the game grabs you in the first 10 hours by the end of 100 you will actually be debating playing it again. That's a powerful conclusion and I am not alone in feeling it. Persona 4 is video games as novels. It perfectly balances the line of being a dungeon crawler with a not at all bad battle system and a high school life sim that actually raises your abilities in the dungeon crawl section. It also features some of the most well rounded and likable characters anywhere.
Hearing the Japanese VA for Teddie made me ultra glad I didn't play it in Japanese.
And don't go for the Band girl, join the Drama Club.
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
Do you own a PS2? The console with probably the greatest collection of games anywhere? Well I guess You should get on that!
Hearing the Japanese VA for Teddie made me ultra glad I didn't play it in Japanese.
And don't go for the Band girl, join the Drama Club.
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
Do you own a PS2? The console with probably the greatest collection of games anywhere? Well I guess You should get on that!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
4. Gunstar Heroes (Genesis, PS3)
Fuck Yeah Gunstar Heroes! The game is honestly a little easier than it should be, and as a result starts to get a little bit boring if you are playing by yourself. It has such exuberance and energy though. You never need to use your full moveset but it's there.
It's also where Treasure got their start. As one of the best Genesis/Megadrive games, that's a pretty damn good start. No one else pushed the hardware like Treasure did. I feel stupid talking about it because it's quality should be evident to anyone that plays it. I guess I'll describe it a bit though.
Player One is Red. Player Two is Blue. Yellow is your back up. Green is your traitorous brother. You need to shoot and throw everything in sight to fight a tremendous string of bosses. Stage 5 is DESTROY THEM ALL.
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
Yes sir! It's on Virtual Console and PSN. I can't speak for the quality of the PSN download because I also have the fantastic Gunstar Heroes Collection (Japanese PS2). That includes the adequate Master System/Game Gear port, Alien Soldier, and Dynamite Heady. It has pretty much the best emulation that you have to pay for you can buy.
It's also where Treasure got their start. As one of the best Genesis/Megadrive games, that's a pretty damn good start. No one else pushed the hardware like Treasure did. I feel stupid talking about it because it's quality should be evident to anyone that plays it. I guess I'll describe it a bit though.
Player One is Red. Player Two is Blue. Yellow is your back up. Green is your traitorous brother. You need to shoot and throw everything in sight to fight a tremendous string of bosses. Stage 5 is DESTROY THEM ALL.
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
Yes sir! It's on Virtual Console and PSN. I can't speak for the quality of the PSN download because I also have the fantastic Gunstar Heroes Collection (Japanese PS2). That includes the adequate Master System/Game Gear port, Alien Soldier, and Dynamite Heady. It has pretty much the best emulation
Thursday, February 3, 2011
3. Virtua Tennis (Dreamcast, PSP, PS3, X360)
While people like to argue what the first video game is, a lot of them say Pong. Pong sucks though. It's really basic, and probably a good thing to try and program yourself if you were learning a programing language. I will not recommend you ever play Pong because Virtua Tennis exists.
As is common with the previous two entries, Virtua Tennis has physics and is for the most part incredibly easy to learn. I say for the most part because I want to say the newer versions have added more buttons. In the Dreamcast version you have two buttons: hit and lob. Hit hits the ball back to your opponent (here I am assuming you are at least familiar with the idea of tennis) and lob launches the ball in to the air. The Dreamcast version has a good chance of having the ball go out of bounds if you lob. I still recommend it because even using one button the game plays very fluidly. "This must be what it feels like to play tennis well."
Having each player return the other's shot for more than 3 hits with the racket has the game become a meta-game where you somewhat want your opponent to keep the rhythm of hitting your shots. Asuka 120% Burning Fest (the probably first obscure game on this list (number to be determined)) has a similar feeling with it's parrying system.
For more video game elements, the game features a World Tour mode in which you need to rest, buy clothes, and participate in silly minigames to level up your tennis player. This can be keeping 3 balls at once in play, knocking over bowling pins, or well, here are the new ones for Virtua Tennis 2009.
and the returning ones (Ones I would be familar with!)
Watching those videos makes me want to play it! But not the wii version! If I wanted to do the motions of playing tennis, shouldn't I just play tennis?
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
You'll need to go to a store, but yes I'm sure you can find a copy for the PS3 or the X360. I assume the newer versions have updated rosters and did not screw up with the wonderful physics. I have Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3), and play a couple of rounds of it every month.
As is common with the previous two entries, Virtua Tennis has physics and is for the most part incredibly easy to learn. I say for the most part because I want to say the newer versions have added more buttons. In the Dreamcast version you have two buttons: hit and lob. Hit hits the ball back to your opponent (here I am assuming you are at least familiar with the idea of tennis) and lob launches the ball in to the air. The Dreamcast version has a good chance of having the ball go out of bounds if you lob. I still recommend it because even using one button the game plays very fluidly. "This must be what it feels like to play tennis well."
Having each player return the other's shot for more than 3 hits with the racket has the game become a meta-game where you somewhat want your opponent to keep the rhythm of hitting your shots. Asuka 120% Burning Fest (the probably first obscure game on this list (number to be determined)) has a similar feeling with it's parrying system.
For more video game elements, the game features a World Tour mode in which you need to rest, buy clothes, and participate in silly minigames to level up your tennis player. This can be keeping 3 balls at once in play, knocking over bowling pins, or well, here are the new ones for Virtua Tennis 2009.
and the returning ones (Ones I would be familar with!)
Watching those videos makes me want to play it! But not the wii version! If I wanted to do the motions of playing tennis, shouldn't I just play tennis?
CAN I PLAY THIS NOW?
You'll need to go to a store, but yes I'm sure you can find a copy for the PS3 or the X360. I assume the newer versions have updated rosters and did not screw up with the wonderful physics. I have Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3), and play a couple of rounds of it every month.
2. Ice Hockey (NES)
You've got skinny guy, normal guy, and fat guy. You've got several different countries that only determine your team colors. It's still more fun than just about every other sports game I've ever played.
It's hockey, a game you kind of know sometimes involves fights. Which are wonderful stop and move affairs that involve you and hopefully your friend hitting buttons as fast as possible hoping you win and the other guy gets sent the penalty box, giving you a temporary advantage.
Your fat guy is good at fighting, but the skinny guy can dash around him with ease. Normal guy is average at everything. The fat guy has a hell of a shot though. Like Super Mario Bros you know everything you need to know almost immediately, and there is still mastery to be had.
The intermission music and zambonzis put a smile to a face like the Duck Hunt dog puts anger to anyone elses.
CAN I PLAY THIS RIGHT NOW?
Shit yeah! Virtual Console!
It's hockey, a game you kind of know sometimes involves fights. Which are wonderful stop and move affairs that involve you and hopefully your friend hitting buttons as fast as possible hoping you win and the other guy gets sent the penalty box, giving you a temporary advantage.
Your fat guy is good at fighting, but the skinny guy can dash around him with ease. Normal guy is average at everything. The fat guy has a hell of a shot though. Like Super Mario Bros you know everything you need to know almost immediately, and there is still mastery to be had.
The intermission music and zambonzis put a smile to a face like the Duck Hunt dog puts anger to anyone elses.
CAN I PLAY THIS RIGHT NOW?
Shit yeah! Virtual Console!
1. Super Mario Bros (NES, SNES)
For now I'm going to number these, even if I have no intention of the number being important.
When I was young, SMB was fun. As an adult it's fun and amazingly impeccably designed. Mario is facing right. You use the cross shaped button to move him left or right. You stop at the edge of the screen if you go left, if you continue right the screen follows you. coming towards you is a mushroom. If you touch the mushroom you die. One of the buttons on the controller allows you to jump. You can jump over the mushroom, or if you land on it, it pops out of existence and you get points.
I'm not going to continue with that. I'm certain I've read something similar on action button . What I will say, and what so many games before and since SMB have gotten wrong, is that it is fun to control Mario. He has physics and friction. You hold the button to determine the height of his jump. you keep your thumb held on the other button to make him run. The little pixel animation at just tapping the d-pad is excellent. The fact that he slides just a little bit if you start running and let go.
So many other games, games that are praised, are not fun to control. Monster World IV is depressing to move around in. You can run, but it doesn't have an effect on your jump. It's predecessors, the Adventure Island series, takes the SMB format in such a weird direction.
Playing it now, I'm amazed how tightly design it is, and how Super Mario Bros 2 (FC, SNES) subverts that design and tightens it even more. Watching someone blaze through either game is entertaining. While Castlevania is fun, I'm certain watching someone play it well would be.
If you're going to start learning about video games as a medium, as entertainment, Super Mario Bros seems like the perfect place to start. In the 25+ years since it's release, video games have rarely been better or as tightly designed.
Confession: I've never beaten SMB or SMB2. I've seen them both beaten (not the ultra end of SMB2 however) . If I have five minutes to spare somewhere, it is not unheard of me to play the first stage of Super Mario Bros in a frenzy. I've played it between rounds of Counter-Strike.
I use Super Mario Bros as the basis for video games entertaining me. While their are other video games I would rather play, SMB works as a grading scale for excellence.
CAN I PLAY THIS RIGHT NOW?
Dude, of course you can. Virtual Console. Also, I am surprised you are reading this blog and have never played this game.
When I was young, SMB was fun. As an adult it's fun and amazingly impeccably designed. Mario is facing right. You use the cross shaped button to move him left or right. You stop at the edge of the screen if you go left, if you continue right the screen follows you. coming towards you is a mushroom. If you touch the mushroom you die. One of the buttons on the controller allows you to jump. You can jump over the mushroom, or if you land on it, it pops out of existence and you get points.
I'm not going to continue with that. I'm certain I've read something similar on action button . What I will say, and what so many games before and since SMB have gotten wrong, is that it is fun to control Mario. He has physics and friction. You hold the button to determine the height of his jump. you keep your thumb held on the other button to make him run. The little pixel animation at just tapping the d-pad is excellent. The fact that he slides just a little bit if you start running and let go.
So many other games, games that are praised, are not fun to control. Monster World IV is depressing to move around in. You can run, but it doesn't have an effect on your jump. It's predecessors, the Adventure Island series, takes the SMB format in such a weird direction.
Playing it now, I'm amazed how tightly design it is, and how Super Mario Bros 2 (FC, SNES) subverts that design and tightens it even more. Watching someone blaze through either game is entertaining. While Castlevania is fun, I'm certain watching someone play it well would be.
If you're going to start learning about video games as a medium, as entertainment, Super Mario Bros seems like the perfect place to start. In the 25+ years since it's release, video games have rarely been better or as tightly designed.
Confession: I've never beaten SMB or SMB2. I've seen them both beaten (not the ultra end of SMB2 however) . If I have five minutes to spare somewhere, it is not unheard of me to play the first stage of Super Mario Bros in a frenzy. I've played it between rounds of Counter-Strike.
I use Super Mario Bros as the basis for video games entertaining me. While their are other video games I would rather play, SMB works as a grading scale for excellence.
CAN I PLAY THIS RIGHT NOW?
Dude, of course you can. Virtual Console. Also, I am surprised you are reading this blog and have never played this game.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Alan Wake and Introduction
A quote from Steven King along the lines of, "The horror you don't know is the horror people keep thinking about," starts off Alan Wake. Then it better not explain shit that's going on. Immediately, deep down, I knew the game wasn't going to follow it's own setup.
What follows is 10 minutes of blistering running from darkness, shooting the fuck out of dark dudes and it was all a dream. In reality Alan Wake is a prick and having recently played Deadly Premonition and Mass Effect 2 made it not worth my time. If I am going to playing someone for another ten hours I better like listening to him talk. The voice actor was given no direction so every line Alan Wake is said with a forceful don't bother me tone. A man says, "Oh I know your work and if I could have an interview on my radio show..." "Hey don't tell anyone I'm on this island."
He then proceeds to walk into a dinner that has a cardboard stand cutout of him by the door. Why does a diner in the middle of nowhere have a cardboard stand of a writer who came to the island to get away from his writer's block? I don't know! I quit the game and decided to go play Deathsmiles! Alan Wake is sitting in my mailbox waiting to be sent back.
Then I started this blog! Inbetween games I'm actually playing I'm going to start making a list of games I think you should play. Who is you? Anyone that is playing video games. It's going to be a mix of historically important games, incredibly fun video games, and video games that man, get you thinking. I think video games are still an incredibly immature medium and that we truly haven't had a great video game yet. I'm not sure I can explain that thought more. I will say Silent Hill 2 is the closest we've gotten.
This list is partially made because I would be interested in a list like this. Or a series of articles as such. I'll try not to stick a game out there without writing some words about it. My original plan was going to be to have pre-written 5 articles before I started this blog. But it's 6:30AM I haven't slept and Alan Wake's writing was terrible. Unless the point was to be playing a fucking asshole.
Game idea: Alan Wake, but instead of his wife disappearing, it's him. Then you have control of the wife and get to decide whether to look for him or not. Game ends when you decide to leave the island.
Right I've got my instant coffee over here, it's tasteless. I'm going to click publish on this post and then set back and think if I'm going to start making this list.
What follows is 10 minutes of blistering running from darkness, shooting the fuck out of dark dudes and it was all a dream. In reality Alan Wake is a prick and having recently played Deadly Premonition and Mass Effect 2 made it not worth my time. If I am going to playing someone for another ten hours I better like listening to him talk. The voice actor was given no direction so every line Alan Wake is said with a forceful don't bother me tone. A man says, "Oh I know your work and if I could have an interview on my radio show..." "Hey don't tell anyone I'm on this island."
He then proceeds to walk into a dinner that has a cardboard stand cutout of him by the door. Why does a diner in the middle of nowhere have a cardboard stand of a writer who came to the island to get away from his writer's block? I don't know! I quit the game and decided to go play Deathsmiles! Alan Wake is sitting in my mailbox waiting to be sent back.
Then I started this blog! Inbetween games I'm actually playing I'm going to start making a list of games I think you should play. Who is you? Anyone that is playing video games. It's going to be a mix of historically important games, incredibly fun video games, and video games that man, get you thinking. I think video games are still an incredibly immature medium and that we truly haven't had a great video game yet. I'm not sure I can explain that thought more. I will say Silent Hill 2 is the closest we've gotten.
This list is partially made because I would be interested in a list like this. Or a series of articles as such. I'll try not to stick a game out there without writing some words about it. My original plan was going to be to have pre-written 5 articles before I started this blog. But it's 6:30AM I haven't slept and Alan Wake's writing was terrible. Unless the point was to be playing a fucking asshole.
Game idea: Alan Wake, but instead of his wife disappearing, it's him. Then you have control of the wife and get to decide whether to look for him or not. Game ends when you decide to leave the island.
Right I've got my instant coffee over here, it's tasteless. I'm going to click publish on this post and then set back and think if I'm going to start making this list.
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