Demo Review: Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge was a game I’ve kind of had my eye on since buying the PlayStation 3. It was also a game that I was really iffy about. A lot of people may swarm out to buy this game, but I will quietly rent it. And the reason is because this, to me, looks like a hit-or-miss kind of game. What it does I haven’t really seen in any video game before but on the downside, what I see looks like it’s all that I’m getting.
New trailers don’t do it for me because it’s still the same thing. you’re running around jumping from building to building, building to element, element to building. Now, when I saw the first trailer I was impressed but all the new trailers don’t do it for me because it’s showcasing the same thing off.
But, I was thrilled at the idea that a demo was coming to the PSN. I think demos are a great way to rope in people. A lot of times it’ll give you just enough to think, “Hm, maybe I should give it a shot,” where others, like Lego Batman for the PSP gives me enough of an experience to realize that I probably wouldn’t like it. So, when Thursday came around I kept checking the PSN to see the demo and finally saw it near the end of the day. I went to download it, told the PS3 to shut itself off after it downloads and installs and went to bed.
Following a really rough day, I sat down and played the demo.
Oh no … more Wii shortages …
During the first year, I could understand it. During the second year … maybe it could be true. But the third year? Don’t think so. Nintendo is reporting once more that there will be Wii shortages again during the holiday season.
One thing I’m not a big fan of, is when companies pull strategies like this. Sure, it’s smart to limit supply to increase demand, but it sure as hell is a pretty cheap maneuver to help with their sales. And after the jump I have – at least what I think is – some pretty hurtful evidence that Nintendo is the one behind all this, twirling their Mario-esque mustache.
The problem with Rock Band-type games
In my last post I commented on how addictive and fun Rock Band and Rock Band 2 was. And in the first paragraph I also commented on how pathetic it was. And in (not so) great cliffhanger methods, I teased how it was pathetic on my next post.
And here’s why it’s pathetic … because we’re playing plastic versions of real instruments. People who are so addicted to these kind of games should maybe, I don’t know, go out and buy the actual instrument? I’m kind of guilty on this although I have had experience with guitars and drums back in my youth/college years. Okay, I’m really guilty of this. But it’s amazing how much you can get into the game but then realize you’re just holding a plastic instrument that uses five buttons to play an entire song.
First Impressions: Rock Band 2
While I’d love to say that I’ve been busy with other things that have prevented me from posting more topics – like finding out how to spend the millions of dollars I won, or joyriding in a new car that we bought I instead have fallen victim to a game whose whole premise is something that is both addicting and … kind of pathetic at the same time. Yes, folks, I bought Rock Band and Rock Band 2.
Now some may ask … why in the hell did you do that? Well, by doing the math I realized that I’d get more by spending $150 for the original Rock Band and peripherals, then paying another $60 alone for the sequel. This way, I have double the songs and the actual CD’s instead of just renting a copy of Rock Band and then trying to copy the music over – which is an option for those who own the original Rock Band.
Review: Uncharted, Drake’s Fortune
That’s right – out of nowhere comes a new review. No first impressions – nothing. This was actually a rental and I was able to clear it in a weekend. I had always had my eye on this game and the fact that they offered trophies kind of sealed the deal for me. Don’t get me wrong, I was going to rent the game one day anyways but because I wanted to see how the trophy system worked it got bumped to the top of the list.
Now, in my opinion, jungle-themed games are kind of overdone. While I can’t think of many, oddly enough, I can’t help but think of Tomb Raider, Pitfall and Donkey Kong Country right off the bat. Remember, I said jungle-THEMED. So, I was kind of curious if this was going to be a re-hash of Tomb Raider or Pitfall and I’m glad to say it wasn’t and that I really enjoyed this game.
I love PS3/PSP System Updates!
If there’s one thing I like, it’s a nice clean user interface. I don’t like a lot of clutter and I like things to be out-of-sight-out-of-mind. I’ve been able to experience both the Wii and the 360s interface, but I think I like Sony’s most of all. I sure am sounding like a fanboy of Sony, lately – but the truth is I thought it was pretty neat even when I was pretty disgusted with Sony.
But that’s not really the point of my post – the point is that not only do I love their XMB, but I love their updates as well. Having owned a Wii, there would be a lot of times that I had an update waiting in the morning only to install it and find that it’s just a quick patch or something. But when I got word that both the PS3 and PSP’s system are getting updates I can’t help but compliment Sony on their constant attention towards making their system run better.
I fear the new WoW Expansion Pack
I’m worried about the new expansion pack. I really am. I’m fine now, but I’m worried that a week or so after it comes out I’m gonna’ get that itch. I’m gonna’ get that twitch again. Just one month. Buy it, play it for just one month. Experience it and then be done with it.
Boy, I wish it were that easy.
New X-Box Experience is a hidden screwjob
So the new X-Box Live Experience is coming out pretty soon. From what I’ve read it’s a complete revamp of their online system.
Now, I don’t own a 360. I came close many times to getting one but strayed from it. And really, I’m not too fond of the fact that they offer three different X-Box versions. Sure, they say it gives everyone an option for those who may not want online features and a hard drive but to me it’s a cheap way to nab customers. My main example is that if John Doe gets a X-Box Arcade but realizes he wants to use his system for online downloads and more of a media hub, he’s screwed because he didn’t pay for a better system and the solution is either buy a new hard drive or a new X-Box.
Review: Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom was the second game I bought for the PlayStation Portable. I had bought this without doing a review because a friend of mine had the second game and really liked it. And for the most part we agree on game genres – we both think Final Fantasy 6 was the best Final Fantasy of the series – so for the most part when he likes a game it’s assumed I’d like it too.
But unfortunately, it wasn’t the case with this game. And with this game it’s not that the game was bad – although there were quite a few things that irritated me – the main problem I had was the amount of time it took to do simple tasks. And it’s the kind of game that I think is only appreciated by a select audience. I get what Capcom did with this series, however I just couldn’t do it. And if you care to know what I’m talking about, read on.
Rumor: PS4 to be like the PS3?
Perhaps the PS3 was a bit too ahead of its time. The console was almost absurdly expensive when it launched — and not just for consumers. In spite of an initial $600 price tag, Sony lost hundreds of dollars on every system manufactured. The combination of Blu-ray drive and Cell processor made the PS3 a bit too bleeding edge, perhaps. A report from respectable Japanese site PC Watch suggests that Sony may be considering a cheaper alternative for the next-generation PS4.
Nintendo found great success (and profitability) with Wii by releasing hardware that was only marginally more powerful than the Gamecube. Sony may mimic that trend by having PS4 hardware based on the same Cell architecture as the PS3. Keeping the same architecture will help developers, many which have only recently come to grips with the complex processes of Sony’s proprietary system.
However, one particular note in the report has us quite worried: according to PC Watch, the Sony wants to launch a new system, before the competition — eyeing a 2011 release. With the PS3 still so relatively young, we’d hate to see Sony raise a white flag and move on to something new, especially when they’ve harped about the “10 year life cycle” so often. Too soon of a hardware release could be seen as a betrayal by many, and could result in a serious backlash. For us, we’d love to get more time out of the significant investments we’ve made in our PS3 hardware.
Okay, this rumor looks tasty, so I’ll bite. If the PS4 is basically going to be a PS3 … then why would you plan on releasing a PS4. Sony is boasting a 10-year life span for the PS3 … so if this rumor is true – why in the hell are they going to pull the plug about six years before they originally planned on shelving it?
