Condemned: Criminal Origins
To preface I'd like to say I generally don't play horror/scary games (then again until about 3 years ago I didn't play much anything aside from RPGs) but I've been branching out and this gave me a great taste of some more gritty and visceral game presentation which I found to really enjoy. By the time I got to halfway or so through the game I couldn't put it down and spent almost my whole day finishing it.
Graphically the game is pretty impressive, it was a launch title for the 360 even! The lighting is fantastic since it's honestly all about the light and dark, mostly dark and then your tiny pew-pew flashlight. Everything ran smoothly for me but then again I've never been an afficionado when considering graphic performance or textures etc. Gameplay in Condemned is pretty straightforward, I have seen some say the combat is rather simple because of the emphasis on melee but I found that a great reason to force the player to get up close and personal with so much of the environment. Also the addition of the taser and variety of melee weapons (each is wielded with a subtle difference) can really add variety to the occasional scuffle. Enemy AI also really factors into making each encounter it's own unique experience. The storyline was pretty damn compelling, the primary suspect being very well thought out. The hints at direction towards the paranormal towards the end dispelled the eerie ties realism but still made it interesting. The main protagonist and his friend in the FBI lab were voiced very well and made very likeable and relatable. Overall I found it a great play, there is definitely room for the more collective minded to go through and find all the optional birds and metal or just perform better with the kill/accuracy stats at the end of each chapter. The length of the game even makes it doable for multiple playthroughs but not too short. Definitely a solid starting point for a series that leaves great mechanics to be tinkered with and made even better, it's a great game that stays with you after playing it. There were a lot of memorable moments.
Devil May Cry 4
I played the first DMC when it first came out on PS2 (back in the day when I actually rented games) and I was stunned at how much I actually enjoyed the game (my primary diet was still RPGs...and MGS since playstation was my main console). After that though the series dropped off my radar until over a year ago while I was playing through SMT: Nocturne I realized how much of a badass Dante was and how much fun he was to have in my party. Thus begun my re-immergence into the DMC franchise. Last summer I picked up the collection of all 3 previous games (I wanted DMC3 SE without the red "greatest hits" logo hah) and powered through them with a renewed appreciation for the over-the-top franchise...then I got to DMC2. Ok that game blew, I got through it for the sake of knowing what happens when a game goes wrong. While it isn't actually a horrible game...well yes it is. When it comes down to it you have to compare a sequel to the original and this was just such a huge step back. After that though DMC3 was like "whoa buddy strap in", but that was after the ride already started and you're hangin on for dear life. A true return to form that was a great evolution of the game in a good direction. Now pumped for a possible sequel the coming of DMC4 made the fact I did not have a 360 or PS3 a heart-rending fact. I waited and bid my time, and finally I tasted the goods.
First off, it looks amazing and I don't recall ever having any slowdown in the hectic fight scenes. One thing I have to say though is that it feels slower than the previous titles. The controls have a bit more weight to them in the execution, granted this makes it easier to react to things but still the action seemed slower than before. This is slightly countered by the fact that Nero (new guy) has a grab move that allows you to immediately grab the next dude you wanna fondle from afar after you're done with your current toy. The fact you are able to so quickly move onto the next enemy even if he is a distance away was a great feeling, also combat can be truly taken to the air due to this mechanic. Returning to control Dante in his given part of the game is fantastic, the loss devil trigger forms from DMC left me a little sad, but keeping DMC3's system still works in it's own way. The difficulty overall seemed easier than previous titles (DMC2 doesn't count as being a part of the family) and that was on the harder of the two difficulty levels available out the gate. It doesn't disappoint though with many many more options available to be unlocked, I personally look forward to heaven or hell (one shot kill for everything including you).
One criticism I see all the time for DMC games is the "horrible voice acting", This always leaves me confused. The whole point of the game is to be absolutely ridiculous, the action is absolutely unbelievable in cutscenes and they say horribly cheesy and corny lines for a reason. It's fucking hilarious, the same kind of hilarious a well done B-movie has in that it isn't taking itself seriously. If you're looking for epic storyline with passion and heartache look elsewhere cause the story is cheese and the gameplay is fucking on point. While some fans of the more hardcore direction DMC3 took may be disappointed, I found DMC4 to still be an enjoyable new addition to the franchise. The extras and optional Bloody Palace mode as well as unlockable difficulty levels (there are like 6 or 7 difficulty options total) make it have great replay value and the skill customization give nice options based on your playstyle. Easier to get into than the third installment due to the easier curve on the standard difficulty but retains the franchise's trademark quirks and addictive combat for a fantastic experience.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
I'll be short with this since multiplatform games that span every platform just kinda exist and you either dig it or you don't. I found it rather enjoyable, think Gauntlet Legends with comic book flair and a fair bit of character customization. Hero skills which you can choose based on how you wanna play, distribute points to powerup skills and spend money to adjust costume stats. As a good evolution of that mindless beat-em-up game with friends, I feel the game brought a bit more of the "mindless" part out of the genre since you get to plan how you want your character to grow. The story is the same old corny badguy threatens the world that most marvel super heroes contained in the game experience quite often. You do get a good shot of nostalgia from possibly watching any of the cartoons as a kid, overall a decent length game which surpassed my expectations (I thought it would be slightly better than rubbish). I think it'd be doubly as fun with a great set of friends to muck around with. Good fun, streamlined for easy pick up for those friends that haven't touched the title and despite derivative "super hero-bad guy" storyline still compelled me to play.
Ninja Gaiden 2
I am about halfway through the game, it just went from being '"hard but bearable" to that well known reputation of "utter destruction of my ass". I don't see why people say it visually looks dated, I mean it looks fine to me (pretty damn good actually) but maybe I just have no graphic quality standards (hah). I have to agree the camera is horrendous, especially since half the time you're in narrow corridors and going around corners in narrow corridors...but I kinda get used to it and suck it up. The combat takes place at such breakneck speeds you either are managing to get by or are slaughtered mercilessly. Until I get any good at the game there is no other way to describe the various encounters I partake in. Overall I am absolutely enjoying the game in the same way pain from erging can be a delight. I am a glutton for games that punish you and this is one of them. Story? who comes to a ninja gaiden game asking for deep story? the purpose is to prove how much you can master the combat system and try to perceive what you are doing at the speeds the game moves at. In a day and age where games are attempting to simplify things more and more to reach a broader and broader audience I always approve of a game that slaps the user in line until the adjust to the control scheme/difficulty level/interface within reason. This game presents a challenge to those that are so inclined and anyone that appreciates the challenging part of DMC, or GoW, or Godhand will appreciate the unyielding gameplay of Ninja Gaiden 2. I don't claim to be any good at this game or those mentioned games at all, I just enjoy having a game make me feel like shit and absolutely useless.
Also Itagaki is hilarious and I really don't care or necessarily agree with all the stuff he spouts, but he's entertaining and the games he made were definitely above decent. Also he said Okami was lame, I think Okami did something very noble and cool and was a great game but I would also agree that game is hella long bordering on too long/boring and some gameplay parts of it definitely came off as second thoughts. All great games have minor flaws, I'm just saying his criticism of that particular game I saw as warranted.
Back on track from that random tangent, great game for fans of the series or people who are down with tough as nails action games. It's not going to be ushering in a new wave of fans that are unfamiliar with the title and aren't ready to be smacked around and really have their hands dirtied.
Ok here we go, some shots of my collection of games for PS2, Gamecube, Wii, Playstation, Xbox, 360, DS, PSP, and a DC game (no I do not own a DC hah).
I have a good assortment of GBA/SNES/64 titles as well but basically if you guys want a review or opinion of any games here then I'd be glad to give one. I don't know why I did the soundtracks as well at the end, I figured why not.
As a final random note I generally don't pay much attention to news about upcoming games since I am generally busy playing stuff I still have but I can't help but get excited about a new SMT game or this revival of schmups. XBLA already has Geometry wars 1 and 2, Ikaruga HD, and it has a new Galaga title coming as well as Raiden IV among others. Also a new entry into the Devil Summoner mini-series in the SMT franchise has me wetting my pants since they're re-introducing the demon conversation system (sorely lacking in Persona 3 *GLARE*) and refining the action elements of Raidou Kuzunoha ps2 entry in 2006.
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