The new Akumajou Dracula / Castlevania game has been announced for the Wii... and it's a fighting game! As reported by GoNintendo, it's apparently known as Castlevania: Judgement in the English version, and confirmed characters so far include Simon, Dracula, Alucard, Maria, and Shanoa. Despite only just being announced, the game has already received plenty of scathing remarks from people, as can be seen in the comments at Kotaku's article about the game's announcement.
Per usual, the fact it's not a normal addition to a series brings forth many cries of how stupid the idea is, how it somehow totally ruins the series, and how apparently making a fighting game is "copying" others. I have to wonder how people can be so quick to judge a game when they've not played it; hell, in this case, the only thing we have is the basic premise and one blurry screenshot. We see this time and again, and it's very annoying.
To be honest, it should come as no real surprise to any fan that the game isn't an action game. Series producer Kouji Igarashi has blatantly stated he is against doing an action game on the Wii, and given the information that was revealed previously about how characters from all over the series would be in, there's no way it would be one of the normal entries in the series.
While I don't necessarily expect this game to be revolutionary or anything, I'm going to withhold judgement (pun not intended, I swear!) until we have something to actually go on.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
People Take Advantage of an Old Man
Naturally as its release is nigh (it's the 12th, you know), I must at least make mention of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the sixth (canonical) entry in Konami's Metal Gear series. After all, along with Final Fantasy XIII, MGS4 is the only huge title the PS3 currently has exclusive rights to (and given that Square-Enix's "Crystal Tools" engine is said to be targeting both the PS3 and Xbox 360, FF13's exclusivity might not even be a sure thing).
In fact, MGS4 is so highly anticipated that there have been multiple reports of people stealing shipments that include the game! I'm sure Solid Snake would be proud of their tactical espionage action skills... if they weren't putting it to such nefarious use. Hopefully everyone who wanted to purchase a copy of the game (and any other game that was in the stolen shipments) will still be able to.
I also hope that when FF13 releases there won't be people trying to steal shipments armed with a gun and sword tied together.
In fact, MGS4 is so highly anticipated that there have been multiple reports of people stealing shipments that include the game! I'm sure Solid Snake would be proud of their tactical espionage action skills... if they weren't putting it to such nefarious use. Hopefully everyone who wanted to purchase a copy of the game (and any other game that was in the stolen shipments) will still be able to.
I also hope that when FF13 releases there won't be people trying to steal shipments armed with a gun and sword tied together.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Dragon Ball Pushes it to the Limit
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit has been out in Japan for a few days (and somehow Europe got it only a day after!?), and it's being released in NA today. If you don't know the Dragon Ball series, get out from under your rock; it's most likely the most popular manga/anime ever, with only One Piece seemingly coming close to it.
Personally, I'm a big fan of the series (the Japanese version, to be exact) and have for the most part enjoyed the videogames they have created for it. I have, however, always thought that they seemed rather... underdeveloped; that they could achieve so much more. I mean, Dragon Ball became basically the sheer definition of the fighting series genre, so you would think that some terrific fighting games could be made. Despite this, the games have not truly captured the essence of the series.
For one, why are almost all of the games 1-on-1? Sure, 1-on-1 is not something horrible or anything, but it would be nice to be able to have more characters. The only fighting game that isn't 1-on-1 that even comes to mind is Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu, in which you can have up to 3 characters in battle at a time that you can switch between. The game is pretty dated now, but this unique feature is one of the reasons that it's still pretty fun to play and gives it a more unique Dragon Ball-like feel rather than being similar to other fighters.
Graphics are not the most important thing for a game, but I feel that they can contribute a lot to the enjoyment and immersion you feel from it. That said, the graphics in the previous 3D Dragon Ball games have ranged from acceptable to downright awful. I still grimace when I see the horribly awkward-looking CGI openings for the Sparking! series (known by the gibberish name "Budokai Tenkaichi" in the West). Thankfully, Burst Limit looks really good. As in it actually looks like Dragon Ball. I suppose it should be expected from the fact it's on Xbox 360 and PS3, but still, it's pretty awesome to finally have a game that you can look at and be proud of the graphics.
In addition, the game features online play, and the story mode seems like it might be a little more developed this time around. The only slightly disappointing thing is that it only features stuff from the Saiyajin arc to the Cell arc (with Broli randomly thrown in), which has been by far the most used part of the series. It's not really surprising though, and I imagine the sequel (you know there'll be one) will expand to feature the Majin Boo arc. Don't get me wrong, I really like Freeza and Cell, but I wish they would feature the parts prior to this in more games, especially the stuff starting with the Piccolo Daimaou arc.
All in all, Burst Limit looks like it might be the best Dragon Ball game yet. I've not actually played the game yet (due to the fact I can't buy games at full price), but if it plays even as well as the recent fighting games, I'll be a happy customer. And from what I've heard and seen, the game does play pretty nicely. I doubt it's the "perfect" Dragon Ball game, but it at least seems to be a step in the right direction.
Finally, for your viewing pleasure, the opening to Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, featuring the original song "Kiseki no Honoo yo, Moeagare!!" by longtime Dragon Ball theme song singer Hironobu Kageyama:
Personally, I'm a big fan of the series (the Japanese version, to be exact) and have for the most part enjoyed the videogames they have created for it. I have, however, always thought that they seemed rather... underdeveloped; that they could achieve so much more. I mean, Dragon Ball became basically the sheer definition of the fighting series genre, so you would think that some terrific fighting games could be made. Despite this, the games have not truly captured the essence of the series.
For one, why are almost all of the games 1-on-1? Sure, 1-on-1 is not something horrible or anything, but it would be nice to be able to have more characters. The only fighting game that isn't 1-on-1 that even comes to mind is Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu, in which you can have up to 3 characters in battle at a time that you can switch between. The game is pretty dated now, but this unique feature is one of the reasons that it's still pretty fun to play and gives it a more unique Dragon Ball-like feel rather than being similar to other fighters.
Graphics are not the most important thing for a game, but I feel that they can contribute a lot to the enjoyment and immersion you feel from it. That said, the graphics in the previous 3D Dragon Ball games have ranged from acceptable to downright awful. I still grimace when I see the horribly awkward-looking CGI openings for the Sparking! series (known by the gibberish name "Budokai Tenkaichi" in the West). Thankfully, Burst Limit looks really good. As in it actually looks like Dragon Ball. I suppose it should be expected from the fact it's on Xbox 360 and PS3, but still, it's pretty awesome to finally have a game that you can look at and be proud of the graphics.
In addition, the game features online play, and the story mode seems like it might be a little more developed this time around. The only slightly disappointing thing is that it only features stuff from the Saiyajin arc to the Cell arc (with Broli randomly thrown in), which has been by far the most used part of the series. It's not really surprising though, and I imagine the sequel (you know there'll be one) will expand to feature the Majin Boo arc. Don't get me wrong, I really like Freeza and Cell, but I wish they would feature the parts prior to this in more games, especially the stuff starting with the Piccolo Daimaou arc.
All in all, Burst Limit looks like it might be the best Dragon Ball game yet. I've not actually played the game yet (due to the fact I can't buy games at full price), but if it plays even as well as the recent fighting games, I'll be a happy customer. And from what I've heard and seen, the game does play pretty nicely. I doubt it's the "perfect" Dragon Ball game, but it at least seems to be a step in the right direction.
Finally, for your viewing pleasure, the opening to Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, featuring the original song "Kiseki no Honoo yo, Moeagare!!" by longtime Dragon Ball theme song singer Hironobu Kageyama:
Monday, June 9, 2008
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe vs. Angry Nerds
As you may know, the upcoming installment of the Mortal Kombat series is a crossover with DC Comics, owner of popular superhero franchises such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. One might think "oh wow, the combination of such a popular fighting game series and comics company will be a hit with everyone!" One who thinks this clearly does not know people.
Very little is known about the game currently (only 4 characters are revealed so far), yet it seems that many people are prejudging the game to be a "failure". Chief among these reasons is the fact that there won't be any killing fatalities in the game, a staple feature of the MK series that was one of its defining features from the start. This is at the request of DC Comics, since they apparently don't want their characters involved in such displays of brutality. To DC, I simply say this:
Now, I don't think the game is actually "ruined" simply due to lack of killing moves, but I do find the whole thing extremely stupid when, as this hilariously appropriate picture shows, DC's characters have engaged in acts just as bad as those from the MK universe. Hell, their star character who supposedly "doesn't kill" has been an outright dick.
But I'm not sure which is worse in this case: DC Comics being hypocritical losers over the whole violence thing, or the legions of fans who really do think the game is absolutely ruined. I've seen so many people think the game is going to suck (or even state it does suck) based on... well, pretty much just DC's restrictions, seeing as how there's so little information out about the game at this point. There is of course the people who just hate the DC characters. I admit I myself am really only a fan of the Batman series, but I'm not going to hate on the game simply because it has some characters I don't particularly like. I think it would do everyone a world of good if people could just have this attitude rather than badmouthing things for no real reason.
Some fans of Super Smash Bros. Brawl could do with being like this too. You know who you are.
Very little is known about the game currently (only 4 characters are revealed so far), yet it seems that many people are prejudging the game to be a "failure". Chief among these reasons is the fact that there won't be any killing fatalities in the game, a staple feature of the MK series that was one of its defining features from the start. This is at the request of DC Comics, since they apparently don't want their characters involved in such displays of brutality. To DC, I simply say this:
Now, I don't think the game is actually "ruined" simply due to lack of killing moves, but I do find the whole thing extremely stupid when, as this hilariously appropriate picture shows, DC's characters have engaged in acts just as bad as those from the MK universe. Hell, their star character who supposedly "doesn't kill" has been an outright dick.
But I'm not sure which is worse in this case: DC Comics being hypocritical losers over the whole violence thing, or the legions of fans who really do think the game is absolutely ruined. I've seen so many people think the game is going to suck (or even state it does suck) based on... well, pretty much just DC's restrictions, seeing as how there's so little information out about the game at this point. There is of course the people who just hate the DC characters. I admit I myself am really only a fan of the Batman series, but I'm not going to hate on the game simply because it has some characters I don't particularly like. I think it would do everyone a world of good if people could just have this attitude rather than badmouthing things for no real reason.
Some fans of Super Smash Bros. Brawl could do with being like this too. You know who you are.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Episode IV: A New Blog
So this is my first post on my new blog. Not sure what to say, since the information about myself makes more sense on my "about" blurb (see to the left) than here. Besides, it probably doesn't matter much, since I don't see why anyone would be reading the very first post of a site since they wouldn't possibly know about the blog's existence in the first place. Unless you're one of those people who go back and read every post of a blog you've found that you like. If this is the case in which you are reading this post, I thank you for liking me enough to read this boring, rambling introduction to my blog. You like me! You really like me!
Er, anyway, I don't plan to update based on a schedule or anything; just basically whenever something comes up that I think is worth a post, or if there's something I want to comment/rant about. Expect most of them to be about videogames, so don't worry too much about having to listen to boring crap about myself that often. (Sorry to any stalkers out there who are disappointed by this news.)
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