Hey there, friends! Long time, no see, eh? Sorry about the delay in columns over the past two weeks, but sadly, my interview with Jason Mewes for the SCARFACE game fell through. To top it all off, I still haven’t even received a reviewable copy of the game yet. Still, I have some stuff for you this week, including a couple of handheld titles. Let’s check ‘em out…
HAVE GUN SHOWDOWN, WILL TRAVEL
One of my favorite games from last year finally gets the handheld treatment this year with GUN SHOWDOWN hitting the PSP. Taking the core gameplay and spicing things up a bit with mini games and wireless multiplayer, the developers attempt to breathe new life into what is normally a short title, as well as expanding on the story in the main missions for fans of the original to have something fresh to play.
Sadly, control will keep most of those fans away. Due to the PSP’s constant thorn-in-side of it’s lack of a second analog stick, control is done with the analog stick for movement, and the face buttons for aiming and camera. The d-pad acts as an alternate set of buttons, used for quick draw, mounting horses, refilling health and the like. Aiming is now more of a chore due to this, and it seems that the targeting reticule is actually much less forgiving than the home console version (wherein you could just get part of your enemy lined up in the sights and still be able to take them out). Here, you must be more precise, and it’s difficult to achieve good shots thanks to the clunky button aiming.
Also, due to the lack of buttons, some have dual features depending on if you press or hold the button down. Numerous times I’ve been riding through the canyons, trying to spur my horse on, only to just make him jump, making chases exasperating. And riding while shooting? Forget about it. Your thumbs will scream in anger.
It’s not all bad, however. The graphics actually do a remarkable job of capturing the look of the console big brother, and the audio work is top notch. There’s actually a few new story missions, taken out of the home version (though I’m not sure why) to keep the play time up (and to fill time with some sections removed from the game, like the cannon sequence on the ferryboat at the beginning). There’s even a selection of mini games outside the main game, such as quail hunting or Texas Hold ‘Em.The multiplayer aspect is admirable, but only for those who really want to fiddle with the awkward button aiming for deathmatches. Still, for those that dare to venture, it’s still a good bit of fun, and that’s what really matters, right?
For me, though, the main reason to play is the extra story stuff. I was a big fan of the original game on the home console, and the story is one of its strongest points. Thankfully, the original voice cast (including Tom Jane as hero Colton White) all return for the game, even in the new sequences. Beyond that, though, if you’ve already played the game, there’s not a whole lot new here to warrant another purchase for the handheld version. The graphics are sharp and the story is good, but the controls will drive most fans away, much as most shooters do for this console. It worked for GOLDENEYE on N64, but nowadays, most gamers won’t put up with it anymore.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
WHAT A BOMB
Okay, by now, I’m sure many of you have read about BOMBERMAN ACT: ZERO and how MOST fans of the series are angered by it. How the game’s style has been changed, taking away the cute cartoon character and setting him in a futuristic cyber inspired setting and removing most of the advances the multiplayer games have made. And I can understand that. And while the game does have its faults (for some, there are many) it does have at least one thing going for it: good multiplayer.
But, let’s go over the list of faults first. Fault number one: in the single player game, there is no save system. At all. None. There are 99 levels in the single player game. If you die in level 98, you’ll have to start all over again at the beginning. That sucks.
Fault number two: many of the game’s better power-ups (such as the Glove and the Boot) are gone. You can’t kick bombs away and you can’t pick them up and throw them. Sure there is block-through and bomb-through, allowing you to pass through the dangers unharmed, but the removal of those first two power-ups seems like a step backwards.
Fault number three: the futuristic setting is just lame. Bomberman is a cute little dude with a helmet who just happens to plant deadly bombs in a puzzle room. He is not some cyborg in a prison doomed to fight his way to a dystopian surface world.
Fault number four: and this is the most glaring fault-there is NO SINGLE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER. For a game that ids widely known as a party game, this is inexcusable. Sure, there’s multiplayer on Xbox Live, but what about actually, I don’t know, having friends over and playing? Are they that afraid of human contact nowadays?
Beyond these four things, the game is actually kind of enjoyable in a weird way. There’re the single player missions, which I mentioned, but there’s actually a good bit of strategy needed to continue on. With single player you can choose to play it in standard traditional top down mode, or a new (and challenging, but honestly unneeded) mode called FPB (which I can only assume stands for First Person Bomberman). Here the camera is positioned behind BM’s shoulder and you can swing the camera around to see your surroundings and those around you bombing like mad. One saving grace for this mode is the health bar, since one hit kills in this mode would just make games cheap and annoying.The multiplayer is the game’s strongest point and the only argument for owning the title, however. With a good deal of options for making room (pressure blocks falling after a timer counts down, FPB mode, battle royal, etc) it’s the best and most fun way to play the game. Again, why there’s no version of this for single console multiplayer play is beyond me (sure, I guess FPB mode wouldn’t work on one console unless you did split screen…but hey, why not that?). What’s found on Xbox Live (that is, if you can find someone who actually owns this game) however is still what makes BOMBERMAN great: good multiplayer action full of surprises and strategy.
Fans of the series are understandably disappointed with this release. However, past the cosmetic changes and a ridiculous no save feature, there still is a little bit to enjoy. Whether or not it’s for you is up to you to decide.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
QUICKSHOT OF THE WEEK
DS fans are starting to get a good deal more RPGs for the system, and old school genre fans will have something to enjoy this week once CONTACT is released. With a style reminiscent of EARTHBOUND for NES, the game takes a leisurely pace through islands and worlds as you help guide a boy in his quest to get a scientist back to the future (among other oddball revelations). The player actually plays an active role in the story too, even so far as being addressed outside of the main game, breaking the fourth wall between gamer and game, making the title essentially about three characters: the boy, the scientist and you. Combat is a unique hybrid between turn based and real time that includes steady attacks and real time movement and even includes mid-fight leveling. It’s a interesting title to be sure, and one that old school RPG fans should really check out.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
CRAPTACULAR GAME OF THE WEEK
Sadly, the same cannot be said for RENGOKU II: STAIRWAY TO H.E.A.V.E.N. on PSP. Usually most sequels, especially ones in which the original did not do well, try to improve on the ideas and gameplay styles of the original. Not this one. Everything is the same, from the clunky control, to the horribly ugly randomized backgrounds. For those not familiar with the original (and count yourselves lucky) you are a battle cyborg trapped in a tower who must fight other creations like you. When you win, you obtain their weapons, which you attach to either your arms, head or back to augment your fighting powers. Each room and level of the game is completely randomly generated, making multiple playthroughs the aim. Sadly, when each background looks as dull and crummy as this, it doesn’t matter that they’re randomized. The combat is also horrible, with sloppy lock on and just bad tiny animations. I gave the first game a chance, but this one, which should have at least improved something in someway, is just more of the same crap.
One Gamer’s Opinion:
Well, on that note, we bring this week’s column to an end. Next week, we have some big time releases, just in time for the holiday rush, including BULLY, SPLINTER CELL: DOUBLE AGENT, GOD HAND and maybe, just maybe, SCARFACE. ‘Til then, gamers…
THE GAME ON! RATING SYSTEM
Kick-Ass, Right On, Okay, Eh, and Stinker (or Craptacular)
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