Alright! Now it's time to tackle the Shadow campaign. I know I could go ahead and play Silver, but I'll save that fun for later. Anyway, I actually like Shadow more than Sonic or Silver. Yeah, yeah, the games overload his angst a bit. Still, he's a bit deeper of a character than Sonic. (At least, in my opinion.)
One nice thing about Shadow is that there are no mach speed sections. Instead, Shadow's story has a lot of vehicular sections. Oddly enough, I enjoyed some of them. The glider was a bit fun! However, the land buggy thing was way too sensitive, and I found myself jumping out of it early to escape the annoyance. I can't say much about the water vehicle. It was OK.
Unlike Sonic, Shadow has a kick technique that he does after a homing attack. Most of the times, I avoided using the attack as getting out of it was annoying and slowed my pace down. Similar to Sonic, aiming a homing attack incorrectly would send my flying, often off random ledges into the abyss. And there was another Silver fight. (I dread Silver's story because of that; he fights Sonic and Shadow... Ugggghghghg.)
Playing as Rouge was just annoying. She has to stop whenever she attacks. Walking, flying, whatever. At least Tails could fly and throw at the same time. Anyhow, that didn't compare to the E-123 Omega sections. (I won't go into how they totally changed his voice, that's a different issue entirely.) His attacks were weird, and I couldn't just attack enemies. I had to be above them. Supposedly he had a target-lock system (a la E-102 in Sonic Adventure) but I never got the hang of it.
As I feared, the Silver fight was horrible. Out of the five Game Overs I got in that play session, three of them were from Silver. I eventually figured out a trick to beating him (using the passing cargo containers by kicking on top of them. It wasn't perfect, but it helped.) Shadow's final boss fight, with Mephiles, was also annoying. I wasted 11 minutes in one failed attempt because the dodgy homing-attack aiming didn't let me climb the fake Mephiles to get the final hit on the real one.
Starting out, I was ambivalent. However, by the time I got to 80% and higher, I just wanted to be done with Shadow. I just couldn't *wait* to get to Silver's story. Just one full campaign left, and I'll be finally done. I hope.
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Retrogaming - A Couple of Ironies?
The exact definition of irony aside, I would like to discuss two ... how shall we say, interesting situations? Throughout the course of video game history, many times a company would ignore an opportunity and later come to rue that decision. This is not limited only to the small companies or the larger ones, the software programmers or the hardware manufacturers. Two instances hold in my mind and have immense significance to the entire industry. The companies who were at fault are first Atari, then later Nintendo.
The year is 1983. Atari has a veritable corner on the market, both in software and hardware. Despite the events of the year, the company is still holding strong. A popular company from Japan wants to enter the market in the US. They approach Atari about licensing their first ROM cartridge based console. A deal is reached between the two companies, at the Consumer Electronic Show of 1983. Unfortunately, some controversy concerning a game, the two companies, and the Coleco Adam computer cause the demise of the deal. Later, the company released the console on their own. The company was Nintendo, and the console was the Nintendo Famicom, released in the US a couple of years later as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Atari would regret this decision in the intervening years, as the video game crash of 1983 debilitated them. Nintendo goes on to sweep the market away from Atari, and achieve such a high position that the name Nintendo becomes synonymous with video game.
After this turn of events, you would think that Nintendo would do well after this. In fact, they did. However, they would soon make a similar mistake to the one Atari made.
The year is not important. (It's the beginning of the 1990s.) Nintendo is riding on its success from the NES and popular game franchises like the Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda. Previously, they had shown interest in and started up negotiations with another company for a CD add-on for the Super NES, successor of the NES. Unfortunately, Nintendo decides that the previous contract with the first company is not acceptable and changes to be allied with another company, Philips. Therefore, the Nintendo Play Station never comes to be. Later, the slighted company would rework the prototype and release it for themselves as the Sony Playstation. Other nasty side effects occurred too. Philips was able to release some games of the Mario and Zelda franchises for one of their systems - and from all I've read, they are horrible games. Nintendo here loses its first opportunity to enter into CD based consoles, and continues with cartridges in their next system, the Nintendo 64. Finally, a new rival is put into the market of Nintendo, Sega and the dying Atari.
The important thing to take away is this: Both Atari and Nintendo made a mistake. They underestimated the potential of the companies with whom they dealt. The author feels that it would be amusing if the same thing were to happen to Sony. A small company goes to them with a console idea, but are turned away for whatever reason. They then go on to sweep the market. However, that is but a dream. The industry now seems locked in a three company system. However, to conclude, I merely remind you to never underestimate the competition encountered: it might come back and haunt you one day.
The year is 1983. Atari has a veritable corner on the market, both in software and hardware. Despite the events of the year, the company is still holding strong. A popular company from Japan wants to enter the market in the US. They approach Atari about licensing their first ROM cartridge based console. A deal is reached between the two companies, at the Consumer Electronic Show of 1983. Unfortunately, some controversy concerning a game, the two companies, and the Coleco Adam computer cause the demise of the deal. Later, the company released the console on their own. The company was Nintendo, and the console was the Nintendo Famicom, released in the US a couple of years later as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Atari would regret this decision in the intervening years, as the video game crash of 1983 debilitated them. Nintendo goes on to sweep the market away from Atari, and achieve such a high position that the name Nintendo becomes synonymous with video game.
After this turn of events, you would think that Nintendo would do well after this. In fact, they did. However, they would soon make a similar mistake to the one Atari made.
The year is not important. (It's the beginning of the 1990s.) Nintendo is riding on its success from the NES and popular game franchises like the Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda. Previously, they had shown interest in and started up negotiations with another company for a CD add-on for the Super NES, successor of the NES. Unfortunately, Nintendo decides that the previous contract with the first company is not acceptable and changes to be allied with another company, Philips. Therefore, the Nintendo Play Station never comes to be. Later, the slighted company would rework the prototype and release it for themselves as the Sony Playstation. Other nasty side effects occurred too. Philips was able to release some games of the Mario and Zelda franchises for one of their systems - and from all I've read, they are horrible games. Nintendo here loses its first opportunity to enter into CD based consoles, and continues with cartridges in their next system, the Nintendo 64. Finally, a new rival is put into the market of Nintendo, Sega and the dying Atari.
The important thing to take away is this: Both Atari and Nintendo made a mistake. They underestimated the potential of the companies with whom they dealt. The author feels that it would be amusing if the same thing were to happen to Sony. A small company goes to them with a console idea, but are turned away for whatever reason. They then go on to sweep the market. However, that is but a dream. The industry now seems locked in a three company system. However, to conclude, I merely remind you to never underestimate the competition encountered: it might come back and haunt you one day.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Retrogaming - A Follow-up Discourse
Unwittingly, in my previous entry, I caused a calamitous controversy that needs to be sorted out. I admit, thought, in being remiss in not fully developing my support. For those of you just joining us, in my previous entry, I discussed the highlights of retrogaming as a hobby. Upon checking my Facebook link to the page, I discover that two readers had engaged in a heated debate over what "retro" is, and whether or not old things are automatically "retro." I will attempt to address some of the comments now.
One of the combatants in the argument requested that I list specific reasons for the quality of "retrogames." One major factor is that of the fan following. It can positively or negatively affect others' perception of the games, the game makers and even the game itself. An analogous situation in the film industry occurred for the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Angry fans protested and influenced later additions to the movie itself, and also influence the basic premise of the next movie, The Search for Spock. Similarly, fans of the Capcom game series Megaman also seem to have influenced their chosen game's makers equally. Conscience of the appreciation of the second game in the series, Capcom designed two entries into the series, the ninth and tenth, to have the "classic" look given by 8-bit graphics.
Another series that has a strong following and supports another point of retrogaming is Pokémon. In its refusal to "die away" like other things considered fads in the 90s, Pokémon shows that another aspect of the quality of retrogaming is the presence of strong fan followings. Many of the fans have taken to denigrating any generation of the Pokémon series besides the original. While this is unfortunate, it points out the intense emotions that only time can give to a game. Having broken past the point of mere hype, Pokémon now draws much of its support from its established name.
Hype generated around the release of a new game causes many to buy the game, and say they like it, based solely on what they've heard about it. Games based on movies often receive much hype, only to turn out to be horrible games.
Related to hype is the issue of what I call the "expiring game." Many sports games fall into this category. A sports game will often carry a title like NBA '05, and sell well during that year. When late 2005 and 2006 come, however, the game will be immediately put into the discount bin, supplanted by the next year's title. The games have a proven quality, but few of the games are ever considered true retrogames.
Another issue, especially highlighted by the advent of high definition television sets and increasing graphical development, is the struggle between gameplay and visuals. Many times, I've heard offhand remarks made about the perceived lack of quality in less graphically developed games. They then turn around and praise a game for being visually impressive. Comments like, "Those graphics suck!" and "This game is great, the graphics are awesome!" point out the discrepancy in their views. I can't help but think back to my experiences with my dad and his guitar collection. Over the years, he has owned many different types of guitars, with names of which I can only remember a few. The relevant point I make with his guitars is that even the prettiest guitar can sound horrible; in a similar fashion, many games looks spectacular from the screenshots, only to receive 2s and 3s in their game reviews later on.
Before I go, I would like to comment on an aspect of which I am unsure at the moment. (I am uncertain because it is speculation on things that have not yet occurred.) It occurs to me that the first and second generation of gamers is getting older, and that they will still hold a fond place in their hearts for their first video games. I venture to say that part of the growing retrogaming culture is a result of the coming adulthood and parenthood of gamers. One only needs to look at the number of Atari anthologies and collections to see that the industry is already capitalizing on this fact. As the generations go out and are forced to pay for their own things, they see a need to be frugal with any spending. Any games purchased, therefore, must be of great quality but cost less. Retrogames seem to fit this category perfectly.
One of the combatants in the argument requested that I list specific reasons for the quality of "retrogames." One major factor is that of the fan following. It can positively or negatively affect others' perception of the games, the game makers and even the game itself. An analogous situation in the film industry occurred for the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Angry fans protested and influenced later additions to the movie itself, and also influence the basic premise of the next movie, The Search for Spock. Similarly, fans of the Capcom game series Megaman also seem to have influenced their chosen game's makers equally. Conscience of the appreciation of the second game in the series, Capcom designed two entries into the series, the ninth and tenth, to have the "classic" look given by 8-bit graphics.
Another series that has a strong following and supports another point of retrogaming is Pokémon. In its refusal to "die away" like other things considered fads in the 90s, Pokémon shows that another aspect of the quality of retrogaming is the presence of strong fan followings. Many of the fans have taken to denigrating any generation of the Pokémon series besides the original. While this is unfortunate, it points out the intense emotions that only time can give to a game. Having broken past the point of mere hype, Pokémon now draws much of its support from its established name.
Hype generated around the release of a new game causes many to buy the game, and say they like it, based solely on what they've heard about it. Games based on movies often receive much hype, only to turn out to be horrible games.
Related to hype is the issue of what I call the "expiring game." Many sports games fall into this category. A sports game will often carry a title like NBA '05, and sell well during that year. When late 2005 and 2006 come, however, the game will be immediately put into the discount bin, supplanted by the next year's title. The games have a proven quality, but few of the games are ever considered true retrogames.
Another issue, especially highlighted by the advent of high definition television sets and increasing graphical development, is the struggle between gameplay and visuals. Many times, I've heard offhand remarks made about the perceived lack of quality in less graphically developed games. They then turn around and praise a game for being visually impressive. Comments like, "Those graphics suck!" and "This game is great, the graphics are awesome!" point out the discrepancy in their views. I can't help but think back to my experiences with my dad and his guitar collection. Over the years, he has owned many different types of guitars, with names of which I can only remember a few. The relevant point I make with his guitars is that even the prettiest guitar can sound horrible; in a similar fashion, many games looks spectacular from the screenshots, only to receive 2s and 3s in their game reviews later on.
Before I go, I would like to comment on an aspect of which I am unsure at the moment. (I am uncertain because it is speculation on things that have not yet occurred.) It occurs to me that the first and second generation of gamers is getting older, and that they will still hold a fond place in their hearts for their first video games. I venture to say that part of the growing retrogaming culture is a result of the coming adulthood and parenthood of gamers. One only needs to look at the number of Atari anthologies and collections to see that the industry is already capitalizing on this fact. As the generations go out and are forced to pay for their own things, they see a need to be frugal with any spending. Any games purchased, therefore, must be of great quality but cost less. Retrogames seem to fit this category perfectly.
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