Stefan Gagne (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} twoflower) wrote,@ 2008-04-30 08:52:00 |
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Games! Other Than Fishing
Finally, some new content to post about! Yesterday was a pretty big gaming day for me. Here's my first impressions of various things. (not 'reviews' since, well, 1-2 hours of hands on experience is not a review.)
Zero for Rock Band - Being a 90s wunderkid and old time Smashing Pumpkins fan, seeing Zero on the hacked playlist of upcoming Rock Band tracks was a joy to behold. Playing the song itself, not QUITE as joyful, but nonetheless fun. Problem is that while I know every tone and inflection of that song inside and out, I can't seem to make my voice do what the game wants me to do to reproduce the lyrics. I don't fail out, of course, but I was hoping to have maybe 1-2 combo breakers, not 4-5. I may need to practice this one more.
Double Dragon - It's on Wii's Virtual Console, and I have fond memories of this as a kid. Problem is, I've become somewhat of a brawler connoisseur since then, and it's clear this game is a pretty crappy brawler. The "levelling up" mechanism's not bad, but punches are nearly useless since the other guys get just as many licks in on you as you get on them -- there's no defense mechanism and the chances of them hitting you midcombo seem to be random. When you finally get an over the shoulder throw, a key crowd control technique in a brawler game, you can't actually throw people AT other people. Weapons are vastly overpowered, to the point where the obligatory punker girl enemy type is a joke... knock down the first one, take the whip they always come with, and just keep hitting A. Etc, etc. (I should write an entry about brawlers at some point.) Still, it's got some value as a nostalgia title, and the music still rocks.
Mario Kart Wii - It's Mario Kart! ... and that's it. Kinda bare-bones, no frills. Which is fine, since I never owned it on my SNES, and I never owned an N64/Gamecube, so this is all new to me. Problem is controls. I like the FEEL of the wheel but my hands are just too small to use it properly; in order to launch a weapon I have to reposition my left hand, then I can't move it back to the drift button easily. Same goes for the classic controller, where I need to reach up for the mushy L trigger and then shift back. I'm going to try wiimote only -- I think without the thick wheel frame in the way that might work pretty well for me. Until then I reserve judgement and REALLY wish developers would let us remap the damn controls in their game. (And I know one or two of you guys read this blog, so pass that up the food chain, mmkay? Disabled gamers are gamers too!)
Team Fortress 2 Gold Rush - AWESOME MAP. So chaotic, so wonderous, and actually quite balanced as far as we can tell with a zillion medics running around. There's plenty of pyro routes (although too often I have no way to get there without crossing vast open terrain) and spy hidey holes. Being an engy is harder since any good sentry position will get steamrolled quickly, but hey. This one's got promise, way more than scout/soldier dominated Badlands does. ("Let's make points 2/4 be inaccessible to any class other than the jumpers! Yeah!")
Grand Theft Auto 4 - Actually, I didn't buy this. I'm worried about control issues. I can't do tactical shooters on Xbox controls; I fumble around trying to move my hands between triggers and twin sticks and generally muck it up. I'm going to wait until I can rent this and test it out before I drop coin on it. Also, like past GTAs, odds are it'll be initially fun until I hit a mission I can't complete because I lack skillz -- Bomb Da Base type missions. If there's a PC version I have a chance at getting a trainer/cheat in place AND proper controls, but so far none's announced. Guess we'll wait and see.
Feels good to finally have something new to talk about other than SL. Huzzah!
Finally, some new content to post about! Yesterday was a pretty big gaming day for me. Here's my first impressions of various things. (not 'reviews' since, well, 1-2 hours of hands on experience is not a review.)
Zero for Rock Band - Being a 90s wunderkid and old time Smashing Pumpkins fan, seeing Zero on the hacked playlist of upcoming Rock Band tracks was a joy to behold. Playing the song itself, not QUITE as joyful, but nonetheless fun. Problem is that while I know every tone and inflection of that song inside and out, I can't seem to make my voice do what the game wants me to do to reproduce the lyrics. I don't fail out, of course, but I was hoping to have maybe 1-2 combo breakers, not 4-5. I may need to practice this one more.
Double Dragon - It's on Wii's Virtual Console, and I have fond memories of this as a kid. Problem is, I've become somewhat of a brawler connoisseur since then, and it's clear this game is a pretty crappy brawler. The "levelling up" mechanism's not bad, but punches are nearly useless since the other guys get just as many licks in on you as you get on them -- there's no defense mechanism and the chances of them hitting you midcombo seem to be random. When you finally get an over the shoulder throw, a key crowd control technique in a brawler game, you can't actually throw people AT other people. Weapons are vastly overpowered, to the point where the obligatory punker girl enemy type is a joke... knock down the first one, take the whip they always come with, and just keep hitting A. Etc, etc. (I should write an entry about brawlers at some point.) Still, it's got some value as a nostalgia title, and the music still rocks.
Mario Kart Wii - It's Mario Kart! ... and that's it. Kinda bare-bones, no frills. Which is fine, since I never owned it on my SNES, and I never owned an N64/Gamecube, so this is all new to me. Problem is controls. I like the FEEL of the wheel but my hands are just too small to use it properly; in order to launch a weapon I have to reposition my left hand, then I can't move it back to the drift button easily. Same goes for the classic controller, where I need to reach up for the mushy L trigger and then shift back. I'm going to try wiimote only -- I think without the thick wheel frame in the way that might work pretty well for me. Until then I reserve judgement and REALLY wish developers would let us remap the damn controls in their game. (And I know one or two of you guys read this blog, so pass that up the food chain, mmkay? Disabled gamers are gamers too!)
Team Fortress 2 Gold Rush - AWESOME MAP. So chaotic, so wonderous, and actually quite balanced as far as we can tell with a zillion medics running around. There's plenty of pyro routes (although too often I have no way to get there without crossing vast open terrain) and spy hidey holes. Being an engy is harder since any good sentry position will get steamrolled quickly, but hey. This one's got promise, way more than scout/soldier dominated Badlands does. ("Let's make points 2/4 be inaccessible to any class other than the jumpers! Yeah!")
Grand Theft Auto 4 - Actually, I didn't buy this. I'm worried about control issues. I can't do tactical shooters on Xbox controls; I fumble around trying to move my hands between triggers and twin sticks and generally muck it up. I'm going to wait until I can rent this and test it out before I drop coin on it. Also, like past GTAs, odds are it'll be initially fun until I hit a mission I can't complete because I lack skillz -- Bomb Da Base type missions. If there's a PC version I have a chance at getting a trainer/cheat in place AND proper controls, but so far none's announced. Guess we'll wait and see.
Feels good to finally have something new to talk about other than SL. Huzzah!
