Tag: video games

Blogs, Shaun, Video Games2 Comments

In Further Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3

Shaun

That’s right, another post about Mass Effect 3. I promise it will be my last one. Probably.

Yesterday, it was announced that Bioware would be releasing their answer to the fan outcry due to Mass Effect 3’s much maligned ending. This answer is the form of an extended cut DLC package that will offer additional cinematic and epilogue scenes. Some fans will still be disappointed because, unless some miracle happens, the additional scenes will expand off of the controversial ending that came blindsided players out of nowhere and will surely ignore the “indoctrination theory” that most fans (including myself) were hoping for most. Continue reading “In Further Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3”

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Review: Tales of Graces f

Chris

Tales of Graces f review: The latest “Tales” doesn’t disappoint

NOTE: This is a review of a game in progress. Chris and Co. have put in around 35 hours into the game, which means they’re probably at the halfway point or so. Still, if major media outlets can review the game without finishing it, then so can we!

I’ve made no secret of my love of the Tales series on this site in the past. So you might think that this review is going to be a five-star endeavor, full of glowing praise and endless superlatives about the quintessential RPG of our generation.

You would be wrong.

That’s not to say that it’s Graces’ fault. The game suffers from many of the same problems that other Tales games have: a sometimes too-wordy story, typical anime tropes, lackluster music. But like many other offerings in the series, the battle system comes through in a big way.

In fact, I’ll go a little further: Tales of Graces features the best battle system of any RPG ever made.

How’s that for an opening argument? Continue reading “Review: Tales of Graces f”

Blogs, Chris, Video Games2 Comments

Music to My Ears: Chrono Trigger

Chris

NOTE: “Music to My Ears” is a recurring installment based on Chris’s (not so) secret obsession: the music of video games. His Tales of Graces review will be up next week.

In my review for Street Fighter x Tekken, I mentioned how Street Fighter II was one of the big introductions to the world of video game music for me. Ryu’s stage music in particular was one of the driving forces in doing things like getting homework done. And since computers were not a mainstream thing when I was 8 (not to mention mp3 players, iTunes and YouTube), the only way to listen to it was to toss in the cartridge, head to the Sound Test menu and let it rip.

Those foundations laid the groundwork for other tunes that I loved as a kid, like the Castle theme from Super Mario World or Mute City from F-Zero. But the next big landmark was in high school, when I finally got to play what some would call the best RPG of all-time. Continue reading “Music to My Ears: Chrono Trigger”

Blogs, Jason, Video Games1 Comment

Legal action against Mass Effect 3 ending?

Jason

**I’m sure everyone has heard their fair share about Mass Effect 3 this month, and while I’d love to move on to better things I felt this particular piece of news warranted a discussion. Hopefully you’ll agree. Obviously, since this topic deals with the ending of the game, this article contains spoilers.**

Yep, you read that right. It would appear that someone (a Bioware forumite by the name of “El_Spiko”) is actually bringing a case to the Federal Trade Commission claiming that the ending of Mass Effect 3 isn’t just bad, but full out false advertising. Of course the idea of bringing a video game to the Federal Trade Commission over it’s ending is pretty ridiculous. I mean, people don’t exactly press charge every time they go and see a horrible movie (if you could, I’m sure Gary would have by now). But then again El_Spiko isn’t bringing up the claim because of his dislike of the ending, but because he feels the game’s ending (and therefore the product as a whole) was advertised to him and fellow consumer’s falsely. The question is, is he right?

I’d argue that he is. And here’s why… Continue reading “Legal action against Mass Effect 3 ending?”

Blogs, Shaun, Video Games7 Comments

In Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3 (Spoilers)

Shaun

It’s almost a complete consensus: the ending to Mass Effect 3 was a disappointment. No resolution. No meaningful buildup. No closure. By all accounts, a failure on every front. However, after pondering a little more and thinking a little deeper, my question is: is it a bad ending? Or is it potentially the most epically epic ending ever?

Don’t get me wrong; as it stands, it’s a pretty subpar ending. It’s full of inexplicable plotholes. It ends a series built on dynamic choices by shoving three rigid choices down the players throat that have nothing to do with the thousands of preceeding choices to that point. It spends no more than seconds explaining what happens to the characters we have invested hours cultivating meaningful relationships with and getting to know.

So, yeah; by all qualifications, this ending is pretty mediocre, and I can agree with that. Fans aren’t even clamoring for a happier ending, necessarily, just one that doesn’t directly contradict the freedom and tone the entire series spent establishing. That’s like changing the ending of Harry Potter 7 to a black-and-white noir thematic style, where Harry removes his glasses in dramatic fashion and rips the head off Voldemort. Cool, maybe, but it defies everything the series stood for.

How can this ending be anything but a failure? Only if there are events going on that are a little deeper than how they first appeared.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Continue reading “In Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3 (Spoilers)”

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Review: Street Fighter x Tekken

Chris

There’s never been much of a debate between 2D and 3D fighting games for me. I was a Street Fighter kid from the start.

My grandparents had an NES when I was little, so I got some playing time in with Mario 3, Dr. Mario, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Metroid and all the classics. But when the Super Nintendo came out and my dad picked one up, Street Fighter II was the first game I had for it — not Super Mario World like 95% of the rest of America.

SF II was interesting for a few reasons. It’s what got me started on the chess-like nature of fighting games. It was also the genesis (see what I did there?) for my love of video game music, as I would let some of the great stage themes play in the background while I worked on other things. Ryu, Ken, Guile and later Cammy’s stages became the accompanying soundtrack for life.

Why does all of this matter? Because Street Fighter x Tekken incorporates a long-standing 3D franchise into my 2D wheelhouse, and that’s just the way I like it. Continue reading “Review: Street Fighter x Tekken”

Blogs, Jason, Video Games3 Comments

Review: Mass Effect 3

Jason

**Well, I did it, folks: I beat Mass Effect 3 in time to get you all a review. I feel I should preface this by mentioning that a certain aspect of Mass Effect 3 deserves a more detailed discussion than can be done without spoiling that part of the game. So if you have yet to beat the game, then be sure to skip the section clearly marked with a spoiler warning.**

Earth is going to need some help...

OK everyone, the time is finally upon us! Mass Effect 3 is here and marks the end of Bioware’s epic space trilogy. Earth has come under attack and it’s up to you, in the shoes of the one and only Commander Shepard, to rally the diverse factions of the galaxy together and save Earth (and the galaxy) from destruction. While I won’t reveal much about Mass Effect 3’s narative, I will say that those of you hoping for a galaxy spanning story where you meet up with old friends (and enemies!) in an attempt to unite them will not be disappointed. The Krogan and the Genophage? Yep, you’ll deal with that. The Quarian and the Geth? Yep, them too. Of course, that won’t come as a surprise to those of you who have played the previous Mass Effect games; and rest assured that your choices in the previous two games will come back to help (or haunt) you.

Continue reading “Review: Mass Effect 3”

Blogs, Chris, Video Games1 Comment

Tales of Countdown

Chris

Once every four years or so, a new Tales game comes around. For fans of the series, you understand the excitement. For non-fans, well … go play Mass Effect 3 or something.

As mentioned on this blog before, the Tales series is one of my favorites. Part of the added anticipation is the waiting game Namco Bandai puts fans through for each and every release. Will it make it to the States? Will it ever be localized? How long could it possibly take to translate everything into English? Why does four years seem unreasonable?

But once a release date is finally locked down, that’s when the true countdown can begin. And for me, the countdown is down to exactly one week. Continue reading “Tales of Countdown”

Blogs, David, Video Games2 Comments

Breaking Up with Video Games

David

Part three of “Getting Older Sucks”

What do most people do in their free time? Watch TV? Talk to friends? Cook? Clean? Play video games? For me, I used to play video games a lot in my spare time. I would find the newest sports title and just play it until I could win every game by calling the same play. Or I would get a new platform game, and obsessively play it through once til I beat it and found most of the hidden goodies.

Nowadays…they’re just not that important to me. Continue reading “Breaking Up with Video Games”

Blogs, Chris, Video Games2 Comments

DLC You Later

Chris

Mass Effect 3 is due out on March 6, and some recent news has gamers on edge. Specifically, that Bioware will release DLC on the game’s launch date.

DLC has become something of a running joke in the gaming industry. When executed right, it can be both effective and fun. Left 4 Dead added a couple of campaigns that were well worth the money. Rock Band has one of the most successful models around with a huge collection of music from a variety of artists. Red Dead Redemption added an entire new chapter to the game, bringing John Marston into a world of zombies.

But when companies put together a DLC plan with only their own interests in mind, that’s when the whole thing starts to go downhill. Continue reading “DLC You Later”