Video Games

Here we will review video games.
Action? Adventure? Killing lots of bad guys? Yes, please.
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9/4/08: Rearmed!

Nathan "Radd" Spencer - popped collar, check, Wayfarers, check, 'tude, double check

Bionic Commando was one of the first games I had for the NES and I loved it, I could not get past the first few stage (I was very young, yeah, thats it), but I love the style, music and gameplay. And a few months ago I got Capcom Classics Mini-Mix just for BC, and found it was still difficult, but still loved it. Now Bionic Commando: Rearmed is released on the PSN, XboxLive, and soon on the PC all in an attempt to bring attention to the new BC, Bionic Commando: Dredlocks. But seriously, BC:RA is "RADD" (like that). Totally eighties, totally fun. The game follows Nathan "Radd" Spencer on his way to save Super Joe from the Imperials, all along the way grapplin', swinggin' and shootin'.

Gameplay is smooth, and just looks great/fun.

Not only is the game totally redone in 3d but the game can be played on easy to actually help players complete the game, it also includes extra time trial/ training levels and multiplayer as well but does not change the story of the game, more levels would have been nice, but it was great to just play a classic with cool graphics. Also the soundtrack is incredible (bought it on itunes), it is better than some real groups out now. For $9.99 I would definitly recommend it, and if that is not enough, it looks great using remote play on the PSP-PS3, a little delay but looks jawsome!

-RedTinFox

Bionic Commando
Remote play
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8/03/08: Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

UPDATED! Yah, its been a while. Here you go!

I'll Save you! From boredom!

First, I never played the first Trauma Center for the DS, but I am currently trying to get my hands on one. However, I have played the one for the Wii, and that was fun, but very frustrating at times. In my opinion, this game was great. The surgery started out easier and worked its way up to very difficult, in a good way. The touch controls were responsive and worked well pretty much all of the time. There were a few times if I was stressing out that I noticed you have to be exact when doing some procedures (like using the forceps to remove shards of glass, or to place a bone back together). The story was intersting at first, but I got tired of reading and ended up just skipping most of the cut scenes (no animation, just reading) and went straight for the surgery. If you read all of the story, you will be playing this game for a long time, but if you just do the surgery, you could knock it out in a day. The replay value is pretty high because I wanted to go back and try to get "Super Surgeon" instead of "Rookie Doctor" which I got in some of the harder surgeries.

Awww... isn't surgery so cute?!

Overall, the game was good and I enjoyed playing it. The story was too long and I wish they would have explained more clearly the directions before starting surgeries, but the surgeries were a lot of fun and almost addicting. As soon as I finished one, I wanted to do another.

Final Analysis: 3.5 out of 5
-Starfire

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MGS4 serious spoilers below:You have been warned

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7/4/08: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Mount-Snake-More

Developer: Kojima Productions Publisher: Konami
Release Date: 06/12/08
Rating: M for Mature

Laughing octopus' octo-camo What's in the box? With out her suit, oh yeah

! This is really only my opinion, because if you wanted the game, you would have picked it up by now but in case you haven't and want to know why you should get it, I will point out some things, but you have been warned this does contain major spoilers. sorry for the length but its two reviews for the price of one, free!

Man-size MK.II "Call me johnny" Haven Trooper action figure

What does this game have for a gamer new to the series? Well in terms of value, it's a
great buy with an original story, excellent gameplay (more than 20 hours worth), and an online starter pack included. It always amazes me how an excellent game like this comes out at the same price as lets say "Ironman the Game", they are really not on the same level but that's a different story. The story is explained very well, (as well as can be for MGS) and the flash backs add to the understanding as well, so You will not feel like "what/who/when/where/why the hell?" for most of the game... most of it. You can definitely tell that this game is made for the PS3, there is no lag even when there are 20 soldiers on the screen battling it out, and there are small downloads before each chapter (there are 5 chapters total) each only lasting only 3 minutes instead of the usual mandatory 20 minute install before a game (nothing worse than getting a game, excited to start playing, then you have to wait 20 minutes just to start it).

Snake sign in Europe? Sneaky Dwarf-Gecko Ghost in Shadow Moses

Metal Gear Online starter pack is included with MGS4, but is a real game in it's self, not just the regular game with other people online playing the game (I'm looking at you DarkSector), but there is one gameplay mode which pits the highest point character to be Old Snake (the second highest is the MK.II if there are enough players)and everyone else is fighting each other while Snake tries to get players dogtags. Other gameplay modes include death match, team death match, base, rescue/protect, capture and sneaking (with snake) and four maps to start with new rulesets and maps coming (in fact a new ruleset and gameplay mode were released today for free!). If you get the limited edition, it is even more of a bonus with "Hideo Kojimas Gene" (a behind the scenes of Kojima Productions), a "making of" consisting of 8 chapters plus the opening cinematics by Logan (advertising) all on a real Bluray disc( I hate getting a LE Bluray movie and the extra disc is all sd crappy dvd, so passe), not to mention the 16 song original soundtrack as well. So is this game worth your time and money? I think so,and if you end up enjoying it you will then have a whole series to experience (conviently in one boxset which we reviewed earlier).

Crying Wolf hatch open Liquid's Hind-D Snake in front of the com. tower

What does this game offer to veteran MGS players? Well I have played and beat all of the "solid series" and recently played the MG and MG:SS included with the limited edition of MGS3:subsistence; and in my opinion gameplay wise, this game is a definite upgrade and has the best mechanics in the series. I especially love the new focus on CQC as it's own weapon (specifically the CQC throw, you feel it when an enemy slams to the ground). Thought the story explains every loose end it feels as thought "hey you made it to this point in the game now let me tell you about this", almost like a monologue. More importantly there were no surprises, every thing that was "revealed" was mostly a conformation of what we already expected like Eva being Snake's "surrogate" mother, Big Boss showing up (after playing two games with him), Ocelot turning out to be a good guy all along among many others.But hey, what was up with Johnny (Akiba) taking off his mask to reveal he looks too much like Snake to be by coincidence; I mean I guess it was so that Meryl would fall for him at first sight(so she never saw him without his mask? what is that about? And the marriage?). Anyways...

Buddies Forever Bionic arm Digital Cemetary

I didn't feel the same shock that I felt when I discovered Snake was liquids brother and Big boss' clone, or when I found out that Raiden was the lead character of MGS2 and that the whole thing was just a simulation of sorts! But I could be just living in the past, but after seeing all the trailers to the game I figured there was still some surprises to be discovered (especially the Young Snake thing, you got me Kojima!) but the game turned out to be very, very straight forward. Maybe if just a few things were left secret like Raiden being the cyborg ninja, going back to Shadow Moses Island, Eva being "Big Mama", any one of those would have made me gasp, but I understand that in order to sell the game that had been heavily invested in, it had to entice new and old gamers alike with juicy information.

The End? Raiden and son, John CQC hug, no really

All in all it is truly an amazing game and after having played through it 3 times (in a row, I've never done that), each on a different experience level (playing now on "The
Boss Extreme"), I realize it is genuinely a fun game worthy of playing more than once a
year. But if its not to much to ask, a MGS1 remake please? I mean its already a quarter
done already. J/k. Seriously though I'm ready for a new MG game. ha. If you look at the
track record every even numbered game (MG:SS, MGS2, MGS4) have been hyped out of
control, and every odd numbered game (MG, MGS1, MGS3:SE) was hyped but turned out to be a surprise so MG5 might be here sooner than we think, eh? But Seriously Job well done Kojima Productions and everyone else involved, great game. Awesome game, Great job!

The man who started it. The man who fought it. The man who ended it.

-RedTinFox

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6/12/08: Sneak Out!

There are no spoilers here just un-boxing of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition and the Limited Edition Guide/Art book that We picked at our local GameStop.

Limited guide and game

Back of limited guide and game

Limited box opened

Game, extra disc and soundtrack

Limited Edition Guide

Install screen, snake moves very realistic!

-RedTinFox
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Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

Developer: Traveller's Tales
Release Date: 06/03/08
Rating: E10+

3 1/2 out of 5 bananas

After completely loving Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (for the PS3), my expectations were high for Indiana Jones. Overall, the game is pretty fun, but it seems to be lacking a certain something that Star Wars had. Personally, I am more familiar with the Indiana Jones story than I was with Star Wars, and to me it seems that while Lego Star Wars told the story, in Indiana Jones, your just playing a game that is similar to the story. For example, in the third portion, The Last Crusade part, the whole beginning of the movie where young Indy finds the treasure hunters and then takes them on a whirlwind chase involving horses and trains is left out of the game. This part would have been great as a game, and while re-watching the movie, I was thinking about all the things my little Lego Indy could be doing. I was disappointed to say the least. Overall, the game play is great. I like how the characters can hold different objects and use them for multiple things and I also like how some characters have their own special abilities. Also, the camera angles can get annoying sometimes. We spent almost half and hour trying to jump across one place just because we couldn't aim properly because the landing spot was only half visible on the screen. To me, this game was more a game modeled after the Indiana Jones movies, not one based on them. While its fun running around smashing things with shovels and cracking things with a whip, unlike Lego Star Wars, I can't play 4 or 5 levels in a row and feel satisfied; after two I feel the need to stop because I get a little bored.

Not to keep comparing the two, but in Lego Star Wars, there were some many characters you could play as, even if you only saw them for a second, they were playable. Not so much in Indiana Jones. Also, it is only half the length of Star Wars, as there are three sections with six levels, and in Star Wars there are six sections with six levels each. I know the Star Wars games was originally two games, but still, you can't give me $1, then give me $0.75 and tell me to spend the same. I think they could have easily extended the sections to include more levels, which would probably help the flow of the game. Granted, these levels seem longer, but its your choice if you want quantity over quality. Also, with the new movie and such, why didn't they include that? Maybe they want to wait for the next trilogy and then release another, but will Lego games still be relevant then? Who knows.
-Starfire (e-mail me)

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5/13/08: GTA IV: Quick Opinion

Niko kicking some asssss! Cheesy Fa-ji-tas!

Well as expected, GTA 4 delivers with pure fun gameplay. This time around you have more control as in choices, get some life from a prostitute or from a hotdog (you can get your money back from the prostitute). I have played the game on both the PS3 and XBox 360 and really it's a choice of preference when really they are the same graphics which are great for both games, I mean they are probably better on something like Gears of War or MGS4 but in scope of things, being you can go basically anywhere in the game with no load times and very very minor lag is amazing in its self. It always amazes me how a game like GTA 4 with its 30 plus hours of just straight gameplay (not including online gameplay, or side missions, dates, friends, and just joy riding) and a game like Pirates are the same price upon release. With downloadable content coming soon, it seems like you could play this game all year long waiting in between other game releases. In fact I am going to go play right now.

-StarFire
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Metal Gear Solid: The Essentials Collection

Developer: Konami
Release Date: 03/18/08
Rating: Mature

3 out of 5 bananas

For $29.99 you really cannot go wrong to get this this Metal Gear Solid box set; if your a big fan of the series, you need it to complete your collection and if you never played them it is a good idea to get caught up before MGS4:GOTP comes out and you get confused about what is going on (trust me you will still be confused). I am a huge fan of the series and already have each game, twice, now three times (including special editions and what nots). Each game is a 5 banana rating but the box set is a 3 bananas because it is a great value but weak packaging (the back is just plain) and the worst part is they seemed to scour the earth to find a playstation 1 black disc to put the game on, two to be exact and each game a just a copy of the original no extras.I know they want the game to be in its purest form artistically but could the game be put on one ps2 dvd and tweak the graphics a little, maybe put the original and port "The Twin Snakes" on one dvd disc. The major problem is if you play MGS1 on a PS2, you still need a PS1 memory card. In short the games are awesome and if you don't feel like looking online or in your local used game shop for an original version of the game then get this but be prepared to go back in time, it's cool for a minute until you find out you need a memory card that is not made anymore. Coming soon Metal Gear Online review.
-RedTinFox (e-mail me)

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Devil May Cry 4: PS3: Collector Edition

Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 02/05/08
Rating: M for Mature

4 Bananas out of 5

This is a long overdue review of DMC4. I am a very big fan of the series and I have all of them and have played them multiple times so my expectations were somewhat high for this new game. To get down and dirty I was doubtful of playing the game a Nero but after the second run through I found the game fun and enjoyable, however, I was disappointed that there were only 5 major bosses in which you fight 4 of them twice and three of them three times which is a "little" overkill and boring to say the least. Also, the game was quite easy, even on "Son of Sparda". The graphics were amazing and the voice acting was great, but the story was a little disappointing in that it wasn't really related to the other games in meaningful way, probably because Dante wasn't the main character, showing a day in the life of Dante the Devil Hunter from the perspective of Nero. Confused? Well, this game is a prequel, the order is 3, 1, 4, then 2, and I think "fans" of the series were expecting a huge comeback after playing the disappointing DMC 2, and then prequel DMC 3 (which was amazing). I personally wanted to continue Dante's bad-assery but this side story to some stupid island to see some stupid kid was a little awesome? Well, after my first grumpy play-through I actually ended up liking the game. But no Vergil?! No weird family connections?!

The Collectors Edition came with a dvd of the first 4 episodes of the anime. There were ok, I'm a big fan, but I probably won't buy the series because they were a little weird, added un-related, un-necessary characters and were kinda boring. It also came with another dvd with special content with making-off features and wallpapers for the computer and music. The CE also came with a "Art of DMC" book from GameStop and the game came in a cool metal case. Overall, compared to other games in general, the game is a 4 out of 5, only mussing a point because of the story and the monotony of gameplay and boss battles. Adios, Amigo.

-RedTinFox (e-mail me)

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