I've been meaning to do a review of Sonic Generations for a while now, since I picked the game up a few weeks ago. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting much out of it. I enjoyed both Unleashed and Colors, so I didn't have low expectations just because it was a Sonic game. It's just that I was really unimpressed by what we were shown just before its release. I'd heard some pretty nasty things about Classic Sonic's gameplay, plus I was pissed that almost none of the stages I wanted to see were included in the game. So, I had a rather pessimistic attitude for a while.
Much to my surprise, though, Generations turned out a lot better than I thought it would. It's still got its share of flaws, and there are a number of things I would've done differently if I'd been the one in charge; but it's a truly solid experience and it's quickly become one of my favorite entries in the series.
November 17, 2011
October 28, 2011
Thunder, rain and lightning
I was reading IGN's review of Generations and I found this video of Sonic battling Perfect Chaos.
It's really cool how this boss fight draws from the battle against Chaos in the original Sonic Adventure, yet mixes things up a bit. I'm impressed by how they added platforming segments in addition to the parts where you just dash forward to inflict damage. Visually, this looks incredible.
I'm still not entirely sold on the gameplay or the story. However, I ordered a copy of the game today and I intend to try it out myself. Hopefully I enjoy it because I do not take money lightly.
It's really cool how this boss fight draws from the battle against Chaos in the original Sonic Adventure, yet mixes things up a bit. I'm impressed by how they added platforming segments in addition to the parts where you just dash forward to inflict damage. Visually, this looks incredible.
I'm still not entirely sold on the gameplay or the story. However, I ordered a copy of the game today and I intend to try it out myself. Hopefully I enjoy it because I do not take money lightly.
I wasn't expecting you to spoil THAT much!
I'm a glutton for punishment. I said I wasn't going to watch any new Skyward Sword footage, but I went an did it anyway when I found out that GameTrailers released another video.
I take back what I said about the Lyre Trailer. This is my favorite piece of footage for this game. To be honest, I kind of regret watching it; it spoiled the creation of the Master Sword. Yes, I know, we all knew that this game would detail the origin of the sword since it was announced, but the trailer actually showed it happening. I think that was too big a spoiler to just release to the public like that. It's like showing Midna's Fused Shadow form in a teaser for Twilight Princess.
Aside from that, the trailer just got me more excited for the game. It showed a little of the Fire Sanctuary, where we caught a glimpse of a fiery, red, serpentine creature swimming in the lava. I don't wanna jump to conclusions right off the bat, but... Volvalgia, perhaps? I mean, Ocarina of Time did state that the dragon had been alive since ancient times, and that Ganondorf merely revived it. I'm really keen on the idea that Volvalgia will return as a boss for this game.
I always praise this game's visuals, but the footage we got here just blew me away. Everything about the aesthetics is amazing in my opinion. I had to pause a few times just to admire the colors and the lighting. The Fire Sanctuary scenes stood out especially well. I just love the atmosphere. This game's art style really looks like a blend of OoT and the 2D games, honestly. I'll never understand the people who say it's a mix of Wind Waker and TP.
We saw the Sheikah woman again, but there was nothing really new on that front. Just some extra context added to clips we've already seen. I'm still fully convinced she's Impa, and if I turn out to be wrong them I'll be sorely disappointed. I'm already miffed that my theory about Skyloft being Ordon Village was disproved. And then there was another character in the trailer--an elderly woman. Not sure about her, but I don't think I can handle any more spoilers anyway. I'll probably just wait and see. For real this time. Maybe.
Another glimpse of the flying eyeball whale, too. Lots of people think it's the Wind Fish, but I dunno. Looks a bit too evil.
Faron annoys me. I'm hoping he isn't intended to be the same Faron from TP, because they're nothing alike. Giant glowing ghost lemur = terrifying water dragon? I'm guessing they just share a name and nothing else.
Well, that's about all I've got to say. Oh, one more thing--I noticed that there seemed to be a pixel motif at several points in the video. Kinda like that of the Twilight Realm. Just thought I'd point that out.
I take back what I said about the Lyre Trailer. This is my favorite piece of footage for this game. To be honest, I kind of regret watching it; it spoiled the creation of the Master Sword. Yes, I know, we all knew that this game would detail the origin of the sword since it was announced, but the trailer actually showed it happening. I think that was too big a spoiler to just release to the public like that. It's like showing Midna's Fused Shadow form in a teaser for Twilight Princess.
Aside from that, the trailer just got me more excited for the game. It showed a little of the Fire Sanctuary, where we caught a glimpse of a fiery, red, serpentine creature swimming in the lava. I don't wanna jump to conclusions right off the bat, but... Volvalgia, perhaps? I mean, Ocarina of Time did state that the dragon had been alive since ancient times, and that Ganondorf merely revived it. I'm really keen on the idea that Volvalgia will return as a boss for this game.
I always praise this game's visuals, but the footage we got here just blew me away. Everything about the aesthetics is amazing in my opinion. I had to pause a few times just to admire the colors and the lighting. The Fire Sanctuary scenes stood out especially well. I just love the atmosphere. This game's art style really looks like a blend of OoT and the 2D games, honestly. I'll never understand the people who say it's a mix of Wind Waker and TP.
We saw the Sheikah woman again, but there was nothing really new on that front. Just some extra context added to clips we've already seen. I'm still fully convinced she's Impa, and if I turn out to be wrong them I'll be sorely disappointed. I'm already miffed that my theory about Skyloft being Ordon Village was disproved. And then there was another character in the trailer--an elderly woman. Not sure about her, but I don't think I can handle any more spoilers anyway. I'll probably just wait and see. For real this time. Maybe.
Another glimpse of the flying eyeball whale, too. Lots of people think it's the Wind Fish, but I dunno. Looks a bit too evil.
Faron annoys me. I'm hoping he isn't intended to be the same Faron from TP, because they're nothing alike. Giant glowing ghost lemur = terrifying water dragon? I'm guessing they just share a name and nothing else.
Well, that's about all I've got to say. Oh, one more thing--I noticed that there seemed to be a pixel motif at several points in the video. Kinda like that of the Twilight Realm. Just thought I'd point that out.
October 27, 2011
It's like a psychoactive drug, man...
Even more new Skyward Sword footage has recently been released. This time, we get more footage of the Silent Realm, as well as a closer look at the Imprisoned--the mouthy black monster that I like to call Francine, in honor of Martha's mom from Doctor Who.
Now, at first, I was skeptical about the Silent Realm. When I originally heard about it, it sounded like a lame knockoff of the Twilight Realm, only with less interesting scenery--while I often criticize Twilight Princess, I could never deny that the Twilight Realm was beautiful and hypnotic. It initially seemed like the Silent Realm would just be the normal overworld with a boring blue filter. However, this footage has somewhat changed my opinion of it. This was my first time hearing the music (which I heard sounded like something out of Silent Hill), and it really does do a great job of giving the Silent Realm a spooky, haunting sort of atmosphere. And I love the way everything turns orange when you're spotted by a Siren Sentry.
By the way, will they even be called Siren Sentries in the English release? I'm pretty sure the Silent Realm is called the Siren World in the Japanese version, so here it would make more sense to call them Silent Sentries or something. Eh.
Franc--I mean, the Imprisoned is kind of derpy-looking if you ask me. If it's truly the sealed form of Ghirahim's master as people have been speculating, I would expect a more... intimidating appearance. Its legs sort of remind me of, well... Barney's. Buuut that's just me nitpicking. Apparently, you will fight the Imprisoned several times over the course of the story. I'm guessing it'll take more than one form throughout the game.
On that note, I forgot to comment on the Ancient Cistern footage that was shown a short while back.
This definitely looks like my favorite of the dungeons we've seen so far. Normally, no one likes water dungeons in Zelda--the dreaded Water Temple of Ocarina of Time comes to mind--but the Ancient Cistern just looks incredibly gorgeous. I can't really comment on how fun it looks, but looks like it has some of the best visuals in the game. The water in Skyward Sword is beautifully rendered, and I can't get over how vibrant and golden the whole place looks. The Buddhist (or Hindu, as my boyfriend insists) theme is a breath of fresh air. The dungeon seems to feature Kargorocs as enemies, and it looks like they've been redesigned to look more like Chinese phoenixes, which is an excellent touch.
Man, I can't stop gawking at how pretty those pillars of water are.
Another thing that looks cool is how the Ancient Cistern seems to double as this game's shadow-themed dungeon, what with the zombie Bokoblin and the darker atmosphere seen later in the video. The purple is rather nice to look at. But it's kinda weird how in Zelda, wells are always haunted.
I really should avoid spoilers from now on, since the game is literally weeks away and I don't want to ruin it for myself. But I'm finding it pretty hard to look away. Everything seems to be coming together awesomely so far, and I'm really eager to get my hands on it.
Now, at first, I was skeptical about the Silent Realm. When I originally heard about it, it sounded like a lame knockoff of the Twilight Realm, only with less interesting scenery--while I often criticize Twilight Princess, I could never deny that the Twilight Realm was beautiful and hypnotic. It initially seemed like the Silent Realm would just be the normal overworld with a boring blue filter. However, this footage has somewhat changed my opinion of it. This was my first time hearing the music (which I heard sounded like something out of Silent Hill), and it really does do a great job of giving the Silent Realm a spooky, haunting sort of atmosphere. And I love the way everything turns orange when you're spotted by a Siren Sentry.
By the way, will they even be called Siren Sentries in the English release? I'm pretty sure the Silent Realm is called the Siren World in the Japanese version, so here it would make more sense to call them Silent Sentries or something. Eh.
Franc--I mean, the Imprisoned is kind of derpy-looking if you ask me. If it's truly the sealed form of Ghirahim's master as people have been speculating, I would expect a more... intimidating appearance. Its legs sort of remind me of, well... Barney's. Buuut that's just me nitpicking. Apparently, you will fight the Imprisoned several times over the course of the story. I'm guessing it'll take more than one form throughout the game.
On that note, I forgot to comment on the Ancient Cistern footage that was shown a short while back.
This definitely looks like my favorite of the dungeons we've seen so far. Normally, no one likes water dungeons in Zelda--the dreaded Water Temple of Ocarina of Time comes to mind--but the Ancient Cistern just looks incredibly gorgeous. I can't really comment on how fun it looks, but looks like it has some of the best visuals in the game. The water in Skyward Sword is beautifully rendered, and I can't get over how vibrant and golden the whole place looks. The Buddhist (or Hindu, as my boyfriend insists) theme is a breath of fresh air. The dungeon seems to feature Kargorocs as enemies, and it looks like they've been redesigned to look more like Chinese phoenixes, which is an excellent touch.
Man, I can't stop gawking at how pretty those pillars of water are.
Another thing that looks cool is how the Ancient Cistern seems to double as this game's shadow-themed dungeon, what with the zombie Bokoblin and the darker atmosphere seen later in the video. The purple is rather nice to look at. But it's kinda weird how in Zelda, wells are always haunted.
I really should avoid spoilers from now on, since the game is literally weeks away and I don't want to ruin it for myself. But I'm finding it pretty hard to look away. Everything seems to be coming together awesomely so far, and I'm really eager to get my hands on it.
October 21, 2011
Nintendo, you're hellbent on spoiling this game, aren't you?
I don't know whether to be excited, worried or both, but it seems that Nintendo has been unveiling a lot of Skyward Sword footage lately. No doubt, this is to make up for the lack of information about the game following its announcement. I just hope the trailers we've been shown aren't necessarily huge spoilers.
This is without a doubt my favorite trailer so far. A couple of things to talk about here.
First, we have Link meeting Zelda at what appears to be some kind of shrine. It's the same area shown at the press conference a few weeks ago, with that strange purple cog. I'm not sure how far into the game this scene occurs, but I'm guessing it's somewhere near the middle because we see Zelda giving the lyre to Link. Most likely it's her first reappearance after she falls from Skyloft. For a split-second, when Ghirahim bursts in on the scene, you can see a person standing at her side--presumably the Sheikah woman who's appeared in several trailers and screenshots. The "servant of the goddess" who saved Zelda from Ghirahim's first attempt to capture her.
From what we've been shown, I think this woman is Impa. She's clearly a member of the Sheikah tribe, as evidenced by the style, color scheme and teary-eyed motif of her costume. And as we know, over the centuries, Zelda's caretaker has always been a Sheikah woman named Impa. I think this will explain how the Sheikah originally came to serve the royal family.
I'm wondering what Zelda's significance is, though. In this trailer, we see her wearing a white gown, along with purple bracelets and hair decorations. The gear she seems to be guarding in the trailer has the symbols of the goddesses and there is also a statue of Hyrule's crest, featuring the Triforce (unlike the crest of Skyloft, which has only the bird). I'm thinking she's some sort of priestess or medium; perhaps a conduit through which the Sacred Realm can be accessed.
As an aside, I can't get over how the ends of her hair look like giant fingers.
We're also treated to shots of Fi dancing for some reason. She's... really into it, isn't she? Not sure if this has any actual significance or not. But she was sprinkling rainbow glitter all over Link's face, so... I dunno.
One of the most interesting things in the trailer is the strange altar Link and Fi are seen standing on. It has the Skyloft crest, a circle of lights and what looks like a mirror (or a giant magnifying glass?). Link seems to be "activating" it by playing the lyre. My first thought was "OH GOD, IT'S THE MIRROR OF TWILIGHT!" but I quickly realized how dumb that sounded. But I'm still interested in finding out what it might be.
My excitement for this game has just skyrocketed, I swear. Less than a month to wait!
This is without a doubt my favorite trailer so far. A couple of things to talk about here.
First, we have Link meeting Zelda at what appears to be some kind of shrine. It's the same area shown at the press conference a few weeks ago, with that strange purple cog. I'm not sure how far into the game this scene occurs, but I'm guessing it's somewhere near the middle because we see Zelda giving the lyre to Link. Most likely it's her first reappearance after she falls from Skyloft. For a split-second, when Ghirahim bursts in on the scene, you can see a person standing at her side--presumably the Sheikah woman who's appeared in several trailers and screenshots. The "servant of the goddess" who saved Zelda from Ghirahim's first attempt to capture her.
From what we've been shown, I think this woman is Impa. She's clearly a member of the Sheikah tribe, as evidenced by the style, color scheme and teary-eyed motif of her costume. And as we know, over the centuries, Zelda's caretaker has always been a Sheikah woman named Impa. I think this will explain how the Sheikah originally came to serve the royal family.
I'm wondering what Zelda's significance is, though. In this trailer, we see her wearing a white gown, along with purple bracelets and hair decorations. The gear she seems to be guarding in the trailer has the symbols of the goddesses and there is also a statue of Hyrule's crest, featuring the Triforce (unlike the crest of Skyloft, which has only the bird). I'm thinking she's some sort of priestess or medium; perhaps a conduit through which the Sacred Realm can be accessed.
As an aside, I can't get over how the ends of her hair look like giant fingers.
We're also treated to shots of Fi dancing for some reason. She's... really into it, isn't she? Not sure if this has any actual significance or not. But she was sprinkling rainbow glitter all over Link's face, so... I dunno.
One of the most interesting things in the trailer is the strange altar Link and Fi are seen standing on. It has the Skyloft crest, a circle of lights and what looks like a mirror (or a giant magnifying glass?). Link seems to be "activating" it by playing the lyre. My first thought was "OH GOD, IT'S THE MIRROR OF TWILIGHT!" but I quickly realized how dumb that sounded. But I'm still interested in finding out what it might be.
My excitement for this game has just skyrocketed, I swear. Less than a month to wait!
That was an anticlimax...
That 3DS press conference was actually pretty weird. Most of the stuff they showcased were strange-looking eShop titles. Though I must admit, The Rolling Western looked pretty cool. I might give that a try, since I hear it's being localized. There was also a samurai game that I'm not sure if I want or not.
There was a lot of stuff we've already seen, like the Super Mario 3D Land footage that was spliced together from previous trailers. But that doesn't mean there wasn't anything new to speak of--as expected, they talked a lot about Mario Kart 7. Apparently, you can have up to eight players with little to no slowdown. That game is definitely going on my list of must-haves, but that was already a given.
We got some new-ish footage of Dream Drop Distance, featuring Neku telling Sora about the Game. I've never played a Kingdom Hearts game, but I think I'll try this one out if for no other reason than the fact that Neku's in it.
The biggest reveal was probably the confirmation that, yes, the upcoming 3DS update will allow for video recording. You can take up to 15 minutes of 3D footage, and there's also a feature that enables stop-motion animation. OK, to be honest, while I was hoping for a video recorder... who's actually going to use their 3DS to make stop-motion films? Seems kind of silly to me, but whatever. The update will also allow users to transfer software from one 3DS to another. Unfortunately, though, it seems the previous announcement that the update would be available on November 4 was incorrect. Huge bummer.
Anyway, aside from those things, we got some Monster Hunter footage, the announcement of some new horror game and... Shin-chan. A Shin-chan game. Not sure if want.
There was a lot of stuff we've already seen, like the Super Mario 3D Land footage that was spliced together from previous trailers. But that doesn't mean there wasn't anything new to speak of--as expected, they talked a lot about Mario Kart 7. Apparently, you can have up to eight players with little to no slowdown. That game is definitely going on my list of must-haves, but that was already a given.
We got some new-ish footage of Dream Drop Distance, featuring Neku telling Sora about the Game. I've never played a Kingdom Hearts game, but I think I'll try this one out if for no other reason than the fact that Neku's in it.
The biggest reveal was probably the confirmation that, yes, the upcoming 3DS update will allow for video recording. You can take up to 15 minutes of 3D footage, and there's also a feature that enables stop-motion animation. OK, to be honest, while I was hoping for a video recorder... who's actually going to use their 3DS to make stop-motion films? Seems kind of silly to me, but whatever. The update will also allow users to transfer software from one 3DS to another. Unfortunately, though, it seems the previous announcement that the update would be available on November 4 was incorrect. Huge bummer.
Anyway, aside from those things, we got some Monster Hunter footage, the announcement of some new horror game and... Shin-chan. A Shin-chan game. Not sure if want.
October 20, 2011
Dat Boomerang Flower
Found these two new videos via My Nintendo News. They show off more of Super Mario 3D Land's gameplay.
I'm very excited about this game, because it seems to draw heavily from previous games in the franchise. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up with Mario--I was mostly just exposed to Sony when I was a kid, and didn't really get into Nintendo until middle school. However, I'm still an absolute sucker for throwbacks to retro games. That side-scrolling bit with the original World 1-1 backdrop made me grin from ear to ear.
Speaking of side-scrolling, another thing I like is how this game features a mix between 2D platforming and the Super Mario 64-style 3D gameplay we've been getting lately. 2D Mario platformers are still incredibly popular if their sales are anything to go by, but I think the 3D games are all amazing as well (yes, even Sunshine). So in my opinion, giving players a little of both was probably the best decision.
I'm also looking forward to seeing how the 3D affects the gameplay. We've already seen at least one puzzle where 3D and perspective come into play, so I trust that there'll be a lot more spread throughout the game. While many might consider it an unnecessary gimmick, I believe that the handheld's 3D brings a number of new possibilities to the table. The game looks like pure, concentrated fun as it is, so the addition of a new dimension can only improve things, as far as I'm concerned.
Finally, I'd like to say that I find the setting to be a rather pleasant breath of fresh air. I mean, the last two big Mario platformers have both been set in space. Not that I don't adore the Galaxy games, but it's nice to see another Mario title that's set simply in the Mushroom Kingdom. It's a very back-to-basics sort of thing.
I hope I'll be able to afford buying it once it's released. So far, my 3DS library consists solely of Ocarina of Time, so I've gotta fix that.
I'm very excited about this game, because it seems to draw heavily from previous games in the franchise. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up with Mario--I was mostly just exposed to Sony when I was a kid, and didn't really get into Nintendo until middle school. However, I'm still an absolute sucker for throwbacks to retro games. That side-scrolling bit with the original World 1-1 backdrop made me grin from ear to ear.
Speaking of side-scrolling, another thing I like is how this game features a mix between 2D platforming and the Super Mario 64-style 3D gameplay we've been getting lately. 2D Mario platformers are still incredibly popular if their sales are anything to go by, but I think the 3D games are all amazing as well (yes, even Sunshine). So in my opinion, giving players a little of both was probably the best decision.
I'm also looking forward to seeing how the 3D affects the gameplay. We've already seen at least one puzzle where 3D and perspective come into play, so I trust that there'll be a lot more spread throughout the game. While many might consider it an unnecessary gimmick, I believe that the handheld's 3D brings a number of new possibilities to the table. The game looks like pure, concentrated fun as it is, so the addition of a new dimension can only improve things, as far as I'm concerned.
Finally, I'd like to say that I find the setting to be a rather pleasant breath of fresh air. I mean, the last two big Mario platformers have both been set in space. Not that I don't adore the Galaxy games, but it's nice to see another Mario title that's set simply in the Mushroom Kingdom. It's a very back-to-basics sort of thing.
I hope I'll be able to afford buying it once it's released. So far, my 3DS library consists solely of Ocarina of Time, so I've gotta fix that.
October 19, 2011
3DS firmwear update
There's been talk of an update for the Nintendo 3DS for a few weeks now. Today, at an event in Munich, Nintendo of Europe announced that the update would be available for download as early as November 4.
Apparently, this update is going include 3D video recording. Which is neat, because when I got my 3DS a couple weeks ago, one of my first thoughts was that it should really have a video recording feature. Seems Nintendo is going all-out in loading their handheld with features.
The firmware update will also feature a new StreetPass game, as well as improvements to the Mii Plaza and eShop. Definitely looking forward to it.
Apparently, this update is going include 3D video recording. Which is neat, because when I got my 3DS a couple weeks ago, one of my first thoughts was that it should really have a video recording feature. Seems Nintendo is going all-out in loading their handheld with features.
The firmware update will also feature a new StreetPass game, as well as improvements to the Mii Plaza and eShop. Definitely looking forward to it.
3DS press conference on Friday
Looks like Nintendo's going to be holding another 3DS press conference this Friday. As most people know, there was a conference just a few weeks ago, where Miyamoto showed off some new footage of Skyward Sword. I didn't watch the whole thing, so I don't remember everything that was covered. However, there was some awesome new gameplay footage of Luigi's Mansion 2--a game which, in my opinion, is an absolute godsend--as well as Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.
The specifics of Friday's conference are currently unknown, so I'm interested in seeing what kind of juicy new info is unveiled. Iwata's supposed to be revealing a few things that he didn't talk about at the previous conference, and there's going to be some Mario Kart 7 coverage as well. With the recent Pokemon Gray website registration (by Melbourne IT Digital Brand services, who made the original Black and White website), I'm hoping there'll be some stuff about that as well.
I'll be covering the conference here after I watch it. Here's hoping they finally announce a sequel to The World Ends with You.Fat chance.
The specifics of Friday's conference are currently unknown, so I'm interested in seeing what kind of juicy new info is unveiled. Iwata's supposed to be revealing a few things that he didn't talk about at the previous conference, and there's going to be some Mario Kart 7 coverage as well. With the recent Pokemon Gray website registration (by Melbourne IT Digital Brand services, who made the original Black and White website), I'm hoping there'll be some stuff about that as well.
I'll be covering the conference here after I watch it. Here's hoping they finally announce a sequel to The World Ends with You.
October 18, 2011
Talk about a crappy day...
Since I'm such a freaking perfectionist, I've spent three or four days trying to make my resume/portfolio's format look PERFECT. Anything less would be a FAILURE.
So naturally when the document refused to convert into a clean-looking PDF, I was enraged. Spent all of last night and this afternoon trying to fix that, but to no avail. So I decided to just give up and post the portfolio directly onto the blog. It looks less fancy now but whatever.
Anyway, now that I'm done with that, I can focus on adding actual content to this blog.
So naturally when the document refused to convert into a clean-looking PDF, I was enraged. Spent all of last night and this afternoon trying to fix that, but to no avail. So I decided to just give up and post the portfolio directly onto the blog. It looks less fancy now but whatever.
Anyway, now that I'm done with that, I can focus on adding actual content to this blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)