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Ethos Video Game Reviews
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
4.8 out of 5
Now Playing: World of Warcraft (2004)
Topic: PC

     Warcraft has been around for many years, and has taken many different forms. Undeniably the post popular branch of Blizzard's Warcraft, is the World of Warcraft. With each passing day, thousands upon thousands of people enlist to take part of one the most extensive MMOs of all time. Its been 5 years since its initial release, and World of Warcraft has wracked up nearly 16 million registered users. You don't get that kind of popularity by being a mediocre game, and as far as World of Warcraft goes its one of the best titles offered on the PC platform.

  I have been a proud WoWer since the game's release, and World of Warcraft was my first experience into the world of MMO game play. Needless to say, the game did not disappoint. World of Warcraft is a true RPG, in every sense of the genre. Right off the bat, each player will create their own character and unique identity to your new home of Azeroth and there is no shortage of variety to World of Warcraft. Players will pick which faction they want to be allied with, either the Alliance or Horde, and whichever faction you choose comes with its own set of races. These races include anything from humans, dwarfs, and gnomes, to things like Orcs, Trolls, and Undead just to name a few. Each race also comes with its own set of sub classes for the player to choose from, like warriors or stealthy rogues. There are many more, and some races have classes unique only to them. Each race and class has their own unique set of perks, and fill a vital role in completing a group. No one combo can do it all, forcing the aspect of being a social game.

  After you've created your in game identity, you start off a level 1 in a unique starting area depending on which race you decided to play as. It is in this starting area you will learn how World of Warcraft is played, well at least the main mechanics of the game. Reading the manual that comes with the game is highly recommended, but for those who just want to jump right in there are some tutorials to pop up and guide you on your merry way. The game play itself isn't overly complicated to begin with. Player's will use a tool bar that contains their attacks, and will either use the related hot key, or mouse click to activate the action they have chosen to use. This tool bar is easy enough to use at the start of the gaming being each new character only starts off with a few actions to choose from, but as a player levels higher and higher new actions will become available after speaking to a class specific trainer. This will continually add more actions to the tool bar making the player even more powerful, and learning what actions work best at the right time is a skill that is crucial to master. Players will also be able to specialize their skills by using talent points that are earned from level 10-60. These points allow the player to customize how they would like to play the game, whether it be PvP (player vs. player), or dungeon crawl. Talents points are a hot topic of debate between hardcore Warcrafters, and many in game strategies are formed around the talent trees alone. In the end, I suggest that each player finds what works best for them and don't let anyone try to sway you otherwise. Once you enter the World of Warcraft, your in game experience becomes your own unique to how you wish to play it. As each player progresses through the game, earning money is every beginner's nightmare. Azeroth's currency is broken down into copper, silver, and ultimately gold. 100 pieces of copper make 1 silver piece, 100 silver pieces makes 1 gold piece...sounds easy enough. World of Warcraft is unique to the fact that questing isn't really the way to riches in this game. Sure you can make some money continuously questing, but the player will ultimately be strapped for cash. World of Warcraft is designed around an actual in game economy. Players will have to learn one of the many trades, like blacksmithing for example, and put their skills to good use. Players have to pay one another for particular services, and unwanted items can be sold over a server wide auction house. Some higher level characters even offer themselves as mercenaries, running low levels through dungeons for a fee. Nothing is handed out in the World of Warcraft, if you want to make your way to riches, you have to get creative.

  There are three distinctive play styles to World of Warcraft. The game is broken down into Player Vs. Player aspects, where people engage in large battle grounds where each faction dukes it out for victory, or go on large raids to devastate a rival faction's main city. PvP is where people can flex their internet muscles, and is a rewarding experience. The hardcore fans of WoW however prefer to dungeon crawl, or what's known in game as Player vs. Environment (PvE). Each player is free to choose how he or she prefers to play, and there are dedicated servers just for PvP, or PvE. Players who want to experience all aspects of WoW are sent to a Normal Server, where the majority of Warcrafters play. Blizzard, World of Warcraft developer, is also keen to the fact many people drawn to this RPG style of game play want to nerd it up with some role playing and have developed special realms specifically for that purpose. These RP servers strictly enforce the fact players must remain in their character at all time, its very nerdy even by my standards...but to each is own.

  Almost every aspect of World of Warcraft encourages the fact that WoW is a social game. Players must rely on other players to advance through dungeons, work as a team in battle grounds, even to earn their riches as I stated previously. As a game World of Warcraft itself is great, but the social networking is the major draw. Players are free to make a name for themselves on their server, make in game friends and enemies, which only deepens the RPG style of game play. The social networking is also a double edged sword however. As great as it can be, it can be as equally bad. There are plenty of jerks in the world, and some of the worst are angry nerds which Warcraft draws in great numbers. It isn't uncommon for the nerd rage to start flowing through the chat channels, which can really make for an unpleasant gaming experience. All I can say for people that might be turned off about that is, World of Warcraft is a game that is well worth putting up with some rage once and awhile. The game features an Ignore list...so you can at least silence a few gamers you wouldn't prefer to play with. For those who are considering jumping into Warcraft, try to keep this in mind. World of Warcraft has players of all race and age groups. The night elf you're about to tear apart might just be a 10 year old that doesn't know any better. We play games to have fun, take the good with the bad, and remember its only a game.

  I could continue for hours writing about World of Warcraft, and in this review only scratched a small surface of what this game truly offers. World of Warcraft isn't a game for everyone, but anyone who is willing to give it an honest chance its well worth the monthly fee. Few games can transport players into another world, and keep them literally addicted for years. It is a game that's constantly evolving, and ultimately rewarding. World of Warcraft is unlike any other game out on the market.

Written by RB

Over and Out

________________________________________________________


Posted by ethosreviews at 4:14 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:27 PM EST
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Tuesday, 8 December 2009
4.7 out of 5.0
Now Playing: Super Castlevania IV (1991)
Topic: Super Nintendo (SNES)

    

     It is 1991 and the Super Nintendo was in its inaugural year on the U.S. market, following up the tremendous success of its predecessor, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was battling head to head with the Sega Genesis and its new mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, and this on-going competition was known as the "console wars." While the Genesis had a unique sort of appeal and attitude, Nintendo on the other hand, had a certain brand of quality that was unrivaled in the business. Furthermore, Nintendo had a full arsenal of renowned, established franchises. Super Mario World launched the SNES into the stratosphere, and soon to follow was another classic franchise getting the 16-bit touch, making its leap into a higher echelon of gaming. Super Castlevania IV continued the classic trilogy of Castlevania games on the NES and this new endeavor onto the 16-bit powerhouse system was more of a re-telling of the original Castlevania made in 1986.

     Super Castlevania IV, or SC IV for short, re-tells the tale of famed vampire killer Simon Belmont, the young fearless warrior of the legendary Belmont clan, on his quest to thwart Count Dracula and his insidious followers from haunting the land. It's a classic story re-told to perfection here in SC IV, however, with that said, it is not really a "sequel", or rather a continuation of the series, as the title implies.

     If you interpret the title literally, and go by the opening cinematic where it states that Dracula "comes alive every 100 years," then you could hypothesize that it is another chapter in Simon's never-ending battle to slay Dracula - as to say he is possibly cursed, or fated and forever linked to such a destiny. However, there isn't any indication that Simon is immortal, or can live for such a lengthy span, or even be resurrected as Dracula can, so it must mean that this is a re-telling. Also, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse for the NES tells the story of Trevor Belmont a few centuries prior to the original story, thus adding to the fact that Dracula does indeed rise from his grave every one hundred years.

     Now that we have settled that hash of a telling and re-telling, let me say that what a re-telling it is! SC IV elaborates on the original tale so greatly; it expanded it from the usual location of Dracula's castle to having the first few levels in graveyards, rivers, caves, and other underground tunnels. The levels leading up to the castle itself are just plain awesome as Simon works his way up from an alternate route into the castle, and come through the bottom up, from the underground as it were. This game also features one of the best and most engaging opening levels in gaming history. The music accompanying the first level is the iconic "Simon's theme" and it is wholly memorable. And it is that word, "iconic," that describes many of the moments in this game. From the opening level, to the unforgettable bosses, to the swinging chandelier sequence, to the dimension-shifting room, to the 3-D background-spinning tunnel room, this game oozes with one iconic moment after another.

     The gameplay itself is dramatically improved over its 8-bit counterpart, as you can now jump with far better accuracy and control. Simon can also whip in eight different directions endowing the player with a much better advantage and strategy for defeating the varying enemies. The frustration of being blown backwards or forwards by enemies remains (perhaps as a homage to the original), but it is not nearly as inhibiting. In fact, the difficulty itself is more manageable as a whole, but that isn't to say this game it easy; the game does provide a strong, yet viable challenge. Additionally, a password system enables the player to continue his/her game at will. It is this flexibility, and the other enhancements mentioned that make this game so accessible and ultimately re-playable all these years later.

     Super Castlevania IV is one of the best SNES games ever made and it at least deserves a notable-mention when discussing some of the greatest games ever made of its kind. It defines classic from its supreme level design and attention to detail, utterly gorgeous graphics, finely composed music, and iconic sequences. It is a game that much be played, or rather, it must be owned! Track down an SNES cartridge, or get it for the Wii's Virtual Console.

     In a nutshell, Super Castlevania IV is the greatest iteration of a Castlevania game in the franchises lengthy twenty-plus year tenure.

-Kurt L.

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Posted by ethosreviews at 11:12 AM EST
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Monday, 7 December 2009
4.6 out of 5
Now Playing: Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
Topic: XBox 360

     Zombies are no stranger to the gaming universe. They seem to be a staple in many gaming genres, and for good reason. They're scary, ugly, and have a taste for human flesh which makes them one of the best baddies around. No matter how many undead we blast into oblivion, their horrific moans keep us coming back for more. Proof of this is Left 4 Dead 2. Following up on last year's hit, Left 4 Dead 2 continues to tell the tale of four more isolated survivors that need to work together if they want any hope of making it out of a zombie apocalypse alive. Player will have a choice of which character they would like to play as, and take up arms in a FPS that is by no means ground breaking...but ultimately entertaining.

  Before Left 4 Dead 2's release, there was a lot of concern over how the game only took a year to be made. Fortunately, most of those concerns have been laid to rest. Left 4 Dead 2 takes all the great game elements from the original, and has refined them for an even more gore filled experience. Graphics have been slightly improved, there is more weaponry to choose from, more bosses, expanded multiplayer modes, and a smarter A.I. fondly known as the "Director." They overall length of each scenario the survivors will have to overcome to make their way to safety have also been lengthened, which was one complaint many had about the original Left 4 Dead only taking about two and a half hours to complete.

  Aside from the initial upgrades to Left for Dead 2, the game play is essentially the same. You kill thousands of zombies in some intense first person action, with the emphasis on both ranged and melee weapons. With an easy to learn control scheme, players will be popping off headshots in no time. There are loads of weaponry to choose from this time around, in both ranged and melee categories, allowing each player to find a specific weapon that fits their play style. My personal favorite combo is an M16 assault rifle mixed in with dual pistols, but whacking some zombie heads with an electric guitar is also a welcome addition to any arsenal. There is also plenty of ammo drops through out each stage to ensure you'll always be able to find that special weapon you had in mind. Regardless, the blood will continue to flow effectively no matter what weapon you choose, and trust me...there will be blood. Left 4 Dead 2 is incredibly realistic when it comes to the gore level. Zombies react properly as they're being shot, and nothing is sugar coated. Disembowelments, loss of limbs, bodies being literally cut in half are all frequent sights in this game. So players with a weak stomach might want to look elsewhere.

  As a single player experience, Left 4 Dead 2 is a fun game. The artificial intelligence takes control over the 3 other survivors in your party, and does a decent job of watching your back. On occasion, the A.I. will cause a survivor or two to pop into your line of fire, but that isn't uncommon with many FPS. When playing with a computer, its bound to happen from time to time. That's one of the main reason, Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't really start to shine into you look deeper into its multiplayer options. Left 4 Dead 2 is truly optimized for online play with up to 4 friends, and is best played with voice communications. Playing with other people brings a level of fun and excitement as a zombie horde comes rushing out of nowhere few games are able to capture. By working together, the game play becomes much more enjoyable. When playing with less then a full group, the computer will once again take control of the remaining survivors. This is where the A.I. does take a bit of a hit. The CPU controlled survivors seem to get frequently confused of who to follow, or even who to help if both human players get incapacitated by either a smoker's tentacle or a jockey riding on another player's back. This has lead to a few deaths while playing with fellow reviewer Kurt L. when testing out this game. Luckily, that is the only place the A.I. seems to lack in Left 4 Dead 2. With the help of something called the "Director", Left 4 Dead 2's scenarios offer something different every time they are replayed. The A.I. is capable of judging how well a player is doing, and throw new obstacles in their way making every level feel like new. Although the setting may be the same, the variation in the game's challenge guarantee's hours and hours of fun to come. There are also different modes of multiplayer, such as versus mode, scavenger mode, and for those who want some extra challenge there is realism which makes Left 4 Dead 2 incredibly challenging. For those interested in some unlockables, some of Left 4 Dead 2's achievements come with a few customizable options for your Xbox 360 Avatar.

  There is no true story to Left 4 Dead 2. Player's assume the role of a survivor and play through a scenario. Aside from some simple communications between the survivors, that's about it. The lack of plot doesn't exactly take away from the experience either, just gives the player less to focus on as they're hacking away at some mindless undead. Each scenario plays out smoothly, and players won't have a hard time figuring out to go. However there is a bit of a pattern to the game where you'll be running through zombie hordes to turn off triggered alarms, which is possibly the only repetitive aspect to Left for Dead 2.

  If you were a fan of the original Left 4 Dead, adding the sequel is definitely recommended. They're pretty much the same game overall, but Left 4 Dead 2 filled in all the gaps from the original. Left 4 Dead 2 is a better game, but still keeps true to the series. So anyone looking to slaughter some undead with your buddies, hook up that Xbox 360 headset and start playing online. You won't find many games like it.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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Posted by ethosreviews at 5:19 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:28 PM EST
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Friday, 4 December 2009
1.5 out of 5.0
Now Playing: Adventures of Dino Riki (1989)
Topic: Nintendo (NES)

     Anyone who ever owned an Nintendo Entertainment System, more fondly known as the NES, can pretty much testify to the fact that the system has plenty of memorable games and just as many games that were better off left forgotten. One game out of my collection that really shouldn't ever see the light of day again is the Adventures of Dino Riki.

  Like many games in my NES collection, Dino Riki was a hand-me-down. Even at an early age I knew no one wanted this game, but being I didn't have a ton of games at my disposal just yet the Adventures of Dino Riki was a staple in the NES's gaming rotation. Those were very dark times, very dark. But, I digress. As you can probably gather from the game's title, you play as a cave man named Dino Riki. You throw rocks, torches, axes, and boomerangs at things that are supposed to pass as dinosaurs while you hunt for power ups that cause our small cave man to turn into a hulking man beast. Sounds OK right?

  Unfortunately, not so much. The Adventures of Dino Riki is full of annoyances that will make even a season gamer go into a fit of "nerd rage", as the game's mechanics are just...off. One of the biggest flaws to this game is the fact the player has little control over Dino Riki's movements. Like many classic flying games, the game continues to force a player to move forward as the game continuously scrolls upwards. Dino Riki uses these same technique, but fails to pull it off successfully as the game just feels clumsy. With the lack of control of the character's movements, the player is constantly bombarded with attacks from these so called dinosaurs as they shoot pellets at you. At times, these attacks are easy enough to avoid, but the game often throws you a curve ball as countless enemies appear from nowhere. The player's life bar only allows three hits, so good luck avoiding a screen full of those little white pellets of doom. The game will often speed up at certain intersection within a level, these boost of speed also increase those pesky dinosaur's attacks. Advancing to another level doesn't quite bring the enjoyment one would expect either. Each level is essentially just a carbon copy of the original, with minor differences like bosses and backgrounds. The Adventures of Dino Riki quickly becomes repetitive. The only real piece of amusement I was able to get from this game, is the light hearted music, but we don't play games just for the music now do we?

  Despite the Adventures of Dino Riki's difficulty, with a bit of patients the game is beatable. But for a game to be a success, all of its elements must come together in a complete gaming package. No matter how many times I've played this game, it continues to just fall short. Even replaying the Adventures of Dino Riki for review purposes was like pulling teeth. I can say with absolute certainty, this is a game best left in the stone ages.

Written by RB

Over and Out

_______________________________________________________


Posted by ethosreviews at 3:51 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:28 PM EST
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3 out of 5
Now Playing: Mister Mosquito (2002)
Topic: Playstation 2

 

     What do you get when you mix an odd Japanese family, stealth based game play, and a mosquito? The answer is a Playstation 2 game called Mister Mosquito, and it is one heck of a strange gaming experience. Very few people have gotten their hands on this novelty game, and when it comes down to it that's all Mister Mosquito really is. The idea behind Mister Mosquito automatically turns off many gamers, since the player must assume the role of the most annoying blood sucker around as the title states. Overall, that's not an appealing prospect by any means but Mister Mosquito isn't entirely flawed either.

  As soon as the player turns on the game, he or she will be greeted with an extensive opening even before you get the option of hitting "start". This opening cut scene which basically just consists of a birds eye view of a house, as a woman calmly speaks about the family inside and that you are a mosquito. The introduction takes about 15 minutes, and cannot be skipped the first time around. It is a very dull, and annoying way to start off any game. However, the introduction is probably the longest cut scene in the actual game so that's one less thing to worry about I suppose.

  Once you actually get to start the game, you assume the roll of a mosquito that resembles nothing of its real life counterpart, which is probably a good thing. As a brightly colored cartoon version of the pesky critter, its your duty to gather as much blood as you can while not getting caught by the inhabitants of the home you've intruded in. No one likes a mosquito, and its best to keep a low profile as you buzz around the room being wary of insect traps while you try to suck some blood from your victims. Doing this is actually pretty rewarding, as the flight mechanics function well and the stealth elements make for some unique game play. Even the aspect of drawing blood from your victim comes with a little mini game where you have to watch the victims awareness meter, take too long and expect to trigger a fight sequence where you have to hit pressure points to calm your target back down. When you actually think about it, smacking someone in the forehead with your buggy body doesn't exactly sound like an ideal way to calm someone down, but hey for the game it works. A downside to this game is that it does come with a bit of a learning curb. Once you get a handle of the game's controls, and what it is your exactly supposed to be doing, you'll have little problem flying around your large environments, but be warned the controls are a bit awkward for first time players. As you progress through different levels, you will earn different color combinations to customize your mosquito. For how repetitive this game can become, its not exactly incentive for someone to keep playing deeper into the game.

  If your looking for some great story out of Mister Mosquito, this game definitely isn't for you. To be honest, there really is no real story other than the fact you are really starting to get under the skin of the odd Japanese family. They basically just complain that they're getting really itchy, and are accompanied by a strange cut scene of them going about their every day lives. Not really a bad thing, but like the rest of the game does get a bit dull after awhile.

  Now understandably Mister Mosquito isn't a game for everyone, nor would does it come highly recommended. It has its moments of fun game play, but in a complete gaming package really comes up short. If your just looking to expand your Ps2 collection with some novelty games, well Mister Mosquito might be something you'll want to look into. For the rest of the gaming community, perhaps your hard earned cash is better spent elsewhere.

Written by RB

Over and Out

______________________________________________________


Posted by ethosreviews at 1:55 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:30 PM EST
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Thursday, 3 December 2009
2.8 out of 5.0
Now Playing: Sonic Spinball (1993)
Topic: Sega Genesis
     

     Pinball is a very common, timeless, and easily accessible game. It is energetic, kinetic, and known as good old-fashioned clean fun. Pinball machines can be found in restaurants, bars, arcades, or at any other social environment. After being a staple in all sorts of places across the world, it eventually made its leap into the video game world. Slews of pinball and pinball-themed games have been produced for video game systems dating back to the Atari 2600. More specifically, there was one developed by Sega in 1993 that fused together the simplicity and genuine fun of classic pinball with gaming’s newest hot mascot (only 2nd to Mario at the time!) – Sonic the Hedgehog. The concepts collided onto the Sega Genesis, and Sonic Spinball was born.

        If you’re familiar, Sonic was a pretty ideal character to star in a pinball-centric game. He was known as the “blue blur”, and often enough in his own feature games could roll up into a ball and blaze about the greatly designed stages at mind-blowing speeds. Also, by 1993, Sonic was one of the hottest gaming mascots around as he was standing toe to toe with the great Super Mario and the Super Nintendo during the “console wars” of that era. Sonic had tremendous success in his debut game, Sonic The Hedgehog in 1991, and then some more in an even better sequel in 1992. So, of course, there was a call for more Sonic oriented games, and thus Spinball was a perfect diversion. And that is essentially what it is, it is a fun little diversion, not particularly deep, but a curious effort that is worth trying.

        While it may seem as an attempt to capitalize on a guaranteed successful franchise, it isn’t a bad game – however, it certainly has its fair share of issues. The gameplay itself should be faster, and since it isn’t particularly quick, or fluid, it is a tad disappointing considering Sonic and pinball are associated with pure, unadulterated speed. Suffice to say the action isn’t the sharpest, but it still can be fairly entertaining. The sound effects pop and dazzle pretty nicely, and the techno-pop music suits the action well. The controls are also fairly simple, as you control Sonic for a brief time before you jump into the pinball action, but those few moments you control him, are oddly sluggish. In the first level for example, when you fall below the pinball-flippers, you land on a little platform, and you must jump up to evade an angry metallic sea-monster, but the jump is just so slow, which is the very antithesis of Sonic himself and what he represents.

        It is certainly can be a bit more engaging than most pinball games because of its unique take on the established concept. However, that doesn’t make it better than regular pinball or even other pinball video games. While Sega tried to implement different things in this game, they could have used more time in the development stage, fixing up the repetitive action, and really hammering out all of the hiccups. I could envision this game having something of a “remember that one?” factor, but, it is pretty much forgotten by now I’m sure.

        If you ever find a copy of it out there, I’d give it a look. I personally like it, but, it could have been a lot better.

-Kurt L.

__________________________________________________       

 


Posted by ethosreviews at 8:41 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 10 December 2009 9:45 AM EST
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Wednesday, 2 December 2009
4 out of 5
Now Playing: Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode (1988)
Topic: Nintendo (NES)

 

     One of the first games I can remember playing on my NES besides the Super Mario Bros, was a game steeped in espionage, conspiracy, love, and betrayal. No, I'm not talking about Metal Gear, I'm referring to a less known classic called Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode. Most people may be more familiar with the Top Secret Episode's successor, The Mafat Conspiracy which had a greater popularity. That doesn't mean the Top Secret episode is another NES misfire by any means. In fact, its quite the opposite. In many ways, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode was years ahead of its time.

  Going back and replaying the Top Secret Episode specifically for review purposes was a real treat for me. Despite being a huge fan of the vintage game play, I find myself being stuck more in the present instead of trying to recapture the joys of my childhood. However, despite years of playing Golgo 13 as a lad I found myself truly surprised of what this game was actually capable of. Call it the ignorance of youth I suppose. Anyway, that's enough reminiscing for one review. Lets get right down to the point, and talk game play.

  Unlike many games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, as soon as you turn on Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode you will realize this isn't your typical 8 bit adventure. Right off the bat, you'll be greeted by a cut scene, that's right I said cut scene, of a helicopter flying over New York City. As the helicopter passes by the Statue of Liberty, is mysteriously explodes. The only clue to as why this helicopter has met its untimely demise is a shell casing from an M-16 rifle...the favorite weapon of special agent Duke Togo, aka Golgo 13. Now obviously this doesn't have the cinematic prowess of games today, but back in 1988 this is top notch stuff and sets the tone for the game to come. Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode is a very story driven game and cut scenes are prevalent throughout the game, as every time you talk to someone another cut scene begins. These conversations are filled with clues as to where you're to go next, thicken the stories plot, and look pretty darn good for an NES game. Mix in a unique, and non repetitive sound track and you've got a game worthy of any international spy.

  Top Secret Episode's mechanics are a mishmash of different elements, which makes this game so unique. It varies from standard side scrolling action, flying helicopters, to first person perspectives, even sniping missions. That's right sniping missions, where even wind speed and direction play a factor on your shot...mind boggling for an NES game isn't it? Now all these factors make an outstanding experience, but at times aren't executed too well. For example some of the FPS areas of the game, you'll use thermal goggles to expose traps, grenades, all good stuff. But do to the graphical limitations of the NES these parts of the game tend to be a bit on the hard side, as they are filled with annoyances and at times make you want to throw your controller threw your TV. That's a little something we call vintage frustration. I probably shouldn't hold that against the game itself being its from 1988, but hey, it is what it is. Controls are easy enough to pick up, it is an NES game after all, and I doubt players will have to spend any time trying to learn how things work.

  There are countless NES games out on the market, with a good number of them being down right bad. Its unfortunate that Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode has gone largely unnoticed being it was so ahead of its time. For those of you who haven't experienced this game in its hay day, I recommend that you try to track down a copy. Being we live in an age where game remakes are becoming more and more popular, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode certainly merit's a modern rendition. It has all the elements of a top seller.

Written by RB

Over and Out

______________________________________________________


Posted by ethosreviews at 1:57 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:30 PM EST
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Tuesday, 1 December 2009
3.6 out of 5.0
Now Playing: 1943: The Battle of Midway (1988)
Topic: Nintendo (NES)

 

     After a mediocre start to this short series of games with 1942, Capcom, the game’s maker, took the basic foundation of which that game built and created a dramatically improved sequel, 1943: The Battle of Midway. Known otherwise as 1943, this sequel is better than its predecessor in practically every aspect.

     It is essentially the same type of game - a vertical-scrolling shooter where you control an airplane battling oncoming enemy aircraft and naval battleships. In this sequel, the gameplay is quicker and much more responsive. The action is tighter, vibrant, and overall a lot more exciting. There was more depth in the gameplay as well because you can upgrade and strengthen your fighter plane to your liking: make it an offensive machine, or a defensive-savvy one, or a blend of both, amongst other options. It certainly provides a refreshing change with each play through.

     The visuals are far better detailed here. From the ocean landscape, to the intricate cloud patterns, to enemy planes and ships, to your own airplane - all are a significant improvement here in the sequel. The great graphics enhance the presentation ten-fold, and makes for a rather pleasing experience.

     The best upgrade of all was the music. Gone were the horrid squeals from the first game and replaced by actual composed music that Capcom was famously known for. Here they flex their artistic muscle by creating a Mega Man-esque soundtrack which compliments the up-tempo action perfectly. The music also varies throughout, and it even features a different tune when you run low on energy as well. This enhancement to a legitimate soundtrack over any other improvement made makes this game a heck of a whole lot more playable than the original.

     Clearly, 1943: The Battle of Midway, is the better choice of Capcom’s duo of World War II oriented scrolling-shooters. It is an NES classic, and I recommend it.

     Also, a suggestion for those who may play 1943 - use the NES Advantage joystick for a better gameplay experience. It is great for the “turbo” action buttons and the appeal of the joystick only adds to the fun when piloting your fighter plane.

-Kurt L.

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Posted by ethosreviews at 10:43 AM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 1 December 2009 10:56 AM EST
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2.2 out of 5.0
Now Playing: 1942 (1986)
Topic: Nintendo (NES)

     1942 for the NES was a simple game. It was a vertical-scrolling shooter where you take control of an airplane and your objective was to gun down bombarding enemy aircraft - a fairly simply concept. And "simple" is the word to describe this game in a nutshell. Sure, even 1942 is eons more complex and further developed than most Atari games that preceded it, but it doesn't add to it's overall package.    

     The gameplay itself is moderately fun at best due to its odd slowness. I say odd because the game should run on a high tempo, but the airplane you control doesn't swiftly move about the screen but rather drags like molasses, and it can be frustrating when surrounded by enemies.

     The graphics are actually pretty decent for 1986, but also look their age. They effectively convey what they represent without really wowing you. Though, perhaps the worst part of this game is the music - it is atrocious. Capcom, the well-known company that made 1942 and its far superior sequel, 1943, have a vastly impressive resume of NES games that feature some of the best the industry has to offer (I.e. the Mega Man series). However, 1942, the "music" is more like a collection of dissonant bleeps and glitch-like squeals - it is very unpleasant, and unfortunately, repetitive.

     It's not a bad game, but it's not great. Deeply flawed, but certainly playable as it is mediocre at best. Pick it up to add it to your collection, but it's more of a relic. I'd stick to the sequel.

-Kurt L.


Posted by ethosreviews at 10:18 AM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 1 December 2009 10:50 AM EST
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2.0 out of 5.0
Now Playing: NBA 2K8 (2007)
Topic: Playstation 3

    

     To put it bluntly, I’ve never been a fan of 2K sports games. While they are quite popular, there are far better incarnations of simulated sports out there under other franchises.

     NBA 2K8, is the embodiment of the successes and failures in this long running series. As expected with all “next-gen” games, the visuals, from a distance at least in this game, are quite good. Whether you’re playing it on the PS3 or the Xbox 360, 2K8 looks good when playing from the typical “broadcast” perspective. When the camera is close up on players faces and their reactions, the models for the most part look good, with realistic sweat-effects. However, all of the character models have these lifeless looking eyes and it is a major drag on the visual aspect. Look closer, and the players look like zombies.

     Gameplay is a rather mixed bag. It flows nicely, but shooting is awkward and there are far too many missed shots by the user (which is you) - and that is an understatement. Even the simplest of layups or low-post shots are bricks, while the computer has no problem banking and swishing any variety of shots in the hoop. This is very disconcerting when trying to stay competitive against the computer. Even on the easiest difficulty setting (rookie), the user will continuously miss seemingly easy baskets. This is the biggest downfall to the 2K series because the gameplay will often move about the screen with fluidity, but the busted shooting mechanism is stiff and subsequently disappointing because even great jump-shooters will shoot poorly.

     The presentation is also polished here and there but is marred by a terrible menu layout. Anytime you look to cycle through the menu pages, it pops up in this odd over-lay fashion. I found this confusing since this pop-up screen acts as your only main menu, and because of that there is no definitive menu screen to refer to outside of this pop-up. I much prefer a more traditional set-up, like that of EA Sports’ NBA Live franchise.

     In the end, I would avoid the 2K series all together. It may have some good points (and is an improvement over the terrible 2K7), however, its frustrations heavily outweighs its positives. The briefly aforementioned NBA Live franchise is far better, more polished, and while not perfect I suppose, it is a far, far better choice over NBA 2K8.

     Go with NBA Live ‘08, you’ll like it a whole lot more. There’s a lot less hassle and a lot more dazzle.

-Kurt L.

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Posted by ethosreviews at 10:01 AM EST
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