Animal Crossing: Lets Go To The City

Animal Crossing: Lets Go To The City (Wii)

"Feel free to browse, but not to carouse! Ho ho!" – Tom Nook

Today’s review is from our guest reviewer, Gemma!

As soon as my finance (Gary) bought me a Wii for Christmas I was searching for what kind of games I would like to play - I have not really played a games console properly since my Sega Mega Drive back in the mid 90’s… I did not really know what kind of game I would like to play, after reading IGN I decided I liked the look of Animal Crossing: Let’s go to the city.

Let's go the City begins in the same way as previous games in the series have (so I have been told) you start the game by travelling on a bus to your new town of residence. You talk to an animal called Rover who asks you some questions which enable you to name your character and town you also get to pick you gender. Once you have picked you town name you then leave the bus with some tips on who to speak to in your town.

You first need to visit the Town Hall, there you will meet the mayor, he will then ask you if you wish to buy a house, four houses available to pick you can go to each house and have a look inside and decided which one you like the look of, none of them are big in fact they are all the same size, they are just in different locations on the map, I decided to pick my house near the river. You don't have any money to begin with, you will need to go and work for Tom Nook to earn some cash in order to pay you mortgage you can pay it back over the course of your time in town, there is no deadline. Working in Tom Nooks learns you a few basics (like writing letters and notes, how to deliver things to your fellow people within your town), you only work for Tom for a short period of time then it is up to you to raise money to pay off your mortgage. 

Your first house has a mortgage of around 20,000 bells, the best way of making bells ( this is the form of money the game uses ) is to catch fish, insects and apples, as soon as you have 500 bells buy a fishing rob, I find this the most fastest way of making bells. House renovations and extensions cost more money, once you may off your initial mortgage you can extend.

The main aim of animal crossing is to make bells and improve your house (wells that’s what I am doing at the moment) I am not really into all the events that take place on a monthly basis… there are fishing tournaments etc 

Overall I think Animal Crossing: Let’s go to the city is a fun game and can be quite addictive in the beginning but this will ware off after a few weeks… I think it is a fun game that does not use too much gaming skill. 

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

PS3 / XBox 360

"I am no longer amused by your amateurish display of mediocrity" Dr Doom.

Its 1996, I’m 12 years old and my addiction to comic books has begun. The Sega Mega Drive (the console I was playing at the time) was dead. It was time to move on. That summer I saw X-Men: Children of the Atom at an arcade. A 2D beat ‘em up from Capcom starring my (then) favourite superheroes.

Christmas 1996, I’m the average kid and I beg my parents for a video games console from the new generation. The fact that X-Men:COTA is only out on the Sega Saturn (it was later released on the Sony Playstation), swings my vote.

Jump to the year 2000. The Sega Saturn is dead and I’m looking for a new console. Marvel Vs Capcom and Marvel Vs Capcom 2(then a Dreamcast exclusive, later out on X-Box and PS2/PS3) are both out for the Sega Dreamcast. Guess which console I went for?

Its 2011, this time I’m on the PS3 and Capcom have released Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Of course, Fate of Two Worlds abbreviates to FTW (For The Win!) but has Capcom scored again or has the likes of Super Street Fighter 4 and Blaz Blue kept MvsC3 for the top?

MvsC3 has 36 (down from MvsC2’s 50+) characters to play from, Capcom have tried to stop “character duplication” by limiting how many characters of the same type appear. For example, no War Machine as he is just a palette change of Iron Man. No Ken, as he is a palette change of Ryu. However, it does feel that the game is missing out on characters that can dominate the screen (i.e. Thanos, Juggernaut). At first 36 characters seems like a good amount, however the player chooses 3 players for their team and combinations quickly whittle down.

Some of the character choices also seem a little…strange (She-Hulk in particular, as she plays a lot like Rogue). Maybe it is just me however I miss Cammy, Psylocke, Colossus, and Zangief. Capcom could correct this in future with downloadable content, as they have already announced Jill Valentine and Shuma Gorath will be available soon.

The character animations are top notch, and I don’t think I’ve seen the Darkstalker ladies looking so good. Hypercombos can light up the whole screen, with flashing graphics showing off the full potential of a characters power. The backgrounds also look fantastic, whether it’s the NYC parade or Asgard. The lack of variety though (8 stages in total) is very poor.

Gameplay style, the major changes come in with the “simple” control method options. Fighting games generally have complex controls with multiple buttons/directions needing to be inputted for a character to pull of a move/special move. This can be a little daunting for new players. Capcom have removed the majority of this barrier with a control method called “simple, which allows players to pull combos with one button, it does however limit the players move set.

The single player mode of MvsC3 is short and very limited. Unlike MvsC2, there are only 4 unlockable characters and the character endings are very poor (a few screen pictures and some text). If you are looking at this as single player game, forget it. The single player mode can be completed in 20/30 minutes.

The online mode is currently having a few *issues*, where it is unable to find hosts and disconnects players back to the main menu.

Multiplayer is definitely where it is at in MvsC3. The control methods bring experts and beginners to a closer level. There is lots of fun in unleashing a full team hyper combo and watching your opponent go flying across the screen. The confusion and enjoyment of a 3 vs 3 team is something that other fighters (e.g. Street Fighter 4) are unable to replicate. Trying to learn another players fighting style, whilst alternating characters brings some strategy into the game.

With 10 years between Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Marvel vs Capcom 3, I may have built up my expectations. I do feel let down by the limited character roster/scene choices, the poor character endings and the constant “updating player card” delays that occur when moving between modes. I think Capcom could have added more rewards for players other than the art that has been shown online for months. MvsC3 is brilliant for multiplayer madness, and I’d recommend its multiplayer experience over any other fighting game. But for single players….skip it.

Activision Says Good Bye To Guitar Hero

“God gave Rock n’ Roll to you” KISS

During this week, Activision declared that they were disbanding any further development of the Guitar Hero franchise. The same Activision once claimed that Guitar Hero was the 3rd largest game franchise ever, and that Guitar Hero 3 (Legends of Rock) was the 1st single video game to exceed $1 billion in sales. That’s quite a feat.

My first experience with Guitar Hero (GH) was with GH3: Legends of Rock, a game I still own today, back in 2007. In fact, I still play guitar based games with the guitar that came with GH3, personalised with stickers in a way only rock or gaming geeks could appreciate. I admit I’m not a musically talented person. I enjoy listening to rock music; however I’m useless with a real guitar. GH allowed me to play a video game, listen to rock music and let me feel a (very little) bit of the guitar playing experience.

GH started out back in 2005, when Red Octane and Harmonix came together (and made sweet sweet music). GH2 quickly followed in 2006, and that same year Activision purchased Red Octane (and the GH franchise). Harmonix would join with MTV Games to produce Rock Band. Activision and Red Octane would produce GH3: Legends of Rock, GH4: World Tour and several spin off dedicated themed games (Aerosmith and Metallica).

Then in 2009 they decided to “expand” (or flood) the market. Guitar Hero 5 featured “less rock” and more generalised music, along with a slightly amended logo. The same year Activision released Band Hero, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, Guitar Hero: Van Halen and DJ Hero. It was an edgy move in the hope to get more music fans to become gamers. 

Sadly, none of the games sold as well as expected. Activision continued to show support for the genre and in 2010 released a “back to its roots” Guitar Hero 6: Warriors of Rock and DJ Hero 2.  Again, both games did not reach their respected levels of sales. In fact, both fell very short. 

Are the sales the effect of the global recession? Competition from Rock Band? A general decline in interest in the genre?

It’s a little hard to say, however how many gamers want to be buy the same game on a yearly basis with little content change? And how much music is suited to the GH genre? The online store for GH will still exist, however after February 2011 no new tracks will be added. 

I still enjoy putting GH on and enjoying a quick jam session every now and then, there is nothing like venting on “Devil Goes To Georgia” (GH3). Every so often I’ll try and see if I’ll ever be able to 100% “Spirit of the Radio” (Rush, GH5). That feeling as my fingers move in a blur across several buttons, straining to react fast enough will never fade…but I don’t think I’ll mope or be upset about the end of GH.

It is just a shame the series has not gone out on a rock inspired ending, with flames shooting from the ground and a gothic looking rock chick riding a motorbike whilst smashing a guitar across a devil’s face. Instead the end of GH comes about via a corporate press release, but then again maybe that symbolises all that became wrong with GH….

X-Men

X-Men

PS3 / X-Box 360 – via the appropriate consoles store…or go retro and find the arcade cabinet

“The time for subtlety is passing. Now is the time for change” – Magneto (New Mutants Vol.1 Issue 38)

Originally launched as an arcade game in 1992 by Konami, X-Men has been re-released on the current generation of home consoles. I remember spending quite a bit of my summer time and money playing the 4-player cabinet version of X-Men in an arcade in Bispham, near Blackpool.

The arcade cabinet for X-Men had a 4-player and a 6-player version, allowing up to 6 players to gather round and play as an X-Man (or X-Woman). Thankfully the re-release of X-Men includes options to play with up to 6 players, so those early 90’s button bashing mad mutant moments can be recaptured / experienced. The re-release also includes both the U.S. and the Japanese versions of the game.

Before I continue, I think some historical information is needed. Launched in the 1960’s, and telling the story of mutants (people born with powers), X-Men originally did not sell too well. During the 1980’s the X-Men (thanks to a re-launch with a new team of mutants) rose to become comic superstars, becoming so popular that Marvel had several comic titles revolving around mutants. In 1989, an animation was produced as a pilot in an effort to launch an X-Men animated series. This episode was called “X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men”, and saw Kitty Pryde meeting the X-Men. Konami based the X-Men arcade game on this animation (not directly on the comics).

Around the launch of the X-Men arcade game, Marvel Comics would launch more X-Men related titles and the X-Men eventually received a successful animated series.

Back to the game, players can choose from 6 X-Men characters (Colossus, Cyclops, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine), all with their own unique power and dressed in their 1980’s costumes. X-Men plays like a 90’s side scrolling beat’em up, as that is exactly what it is. Imagine Golden Axe or Streets of Rage, but with eye beams, tornados and Sentinels filling the screen. Players have energy to use for their mutant power, which expires after a few shots and is replenished after dying.

However, unlike the original arcade version (where lives equalled credits, and credits cost money), this version of X-Men has unlimited continues. This means players can die on purpose to restock their mutant powers. I’m unsure if that’s a good or a bad thing, I’m guessing it comes down to an individuals gaming style.

The game does feel rather short, and can be played through in less than 25 minutes, however I feel X-Men isn’t about gaming length but about fun. Multiplayer sessions yield so much potential and fun.

Graphically, X-Men is showing its age. Backbone Entertainment may have ported the game across to 1080p HD but the sprites definitely show their age. Don’t get me wrong though, the game still looks good, but good in a 90’s way.

Amusingly the games voice script has been maintained, including its infamous lines, such as “I am Magneto, master of magnet” and “Welcome to die”. There is nothing like broken English in a 90’s video game.

All in all, X-Men is still a great game and well worth the £6 (or so) that it costs from the store. The graphics may have aged but the fun antics and mutant mayhem are still there, now with added trophy/achievements support.

EA Sports Active 2

EA Sports Active 2

PS3/X-Box 360/Wii

“Train, don’t strain” - Arthur Lydiard (Runner)

During 2010 I let my exercise routines drop due to other commitments and, like most people after the Christmas indulgence period, I need to start working out more. So I’ve decided to give EA Sports Active 2 (EASA2) a chance.

EASA2 has been released across all 3 consoles and utilises a different control method on each, I’m using the PS3 version. The PS3 version comes with 3 sensor straps, one for each arm and one for the right leg. The left arm sensor also acts as a heart monitor. Setting up the sensors is easy, load the game, insert the USB dongle and turn the sensors on.

EASA2 starts off lightly with avatar creation, choosing a virtual coach and then picking a starting work out. Thankfully the game has 2 workouts pre-programmed; a short one and a long one, and both programs have 3 difficulty levels. Great for those of us which are getting back into excises, those that generally don’t exercise and those that are fitness fanatics. If 2 work out programs are not enough for you, there are also options to create your own workouts or have your coach create you a personalised workout from the exercises available in EASA2.

I am currently working through the shorter “Cardio” work out to break back into an exercise routine. This workout sees me exercising for around 20mins a day, 4 times a week. The games diary keeps track of my workout routines, with optional tracking of diet and exercises out side of the game. I was originally a little apprehensive of how much good 20 mins of exercise would do me, but it made me sweat and left my muscles aching the next day – so I’m taking it as good exercise.

EASA2 mixes the exercises up with mini game type routines, where the player saves goals in football, shoots baskets in basketball and rides down mountains on a mountain bike.

To help work out, EASA2 gives players the option to customise the games soundtrack. I found this to be a great feature, as I prefer to workout to rock music.

Graphically, EASA2 doesn’t push the PS3’s abilities but it gets the job done. Textures are smooth and people look like people, what more could you want from an exercise game?

My partner and I have hit a few issues with the sensors, where they seem to forget where the player is when squatting, but it is only a small hiccup that doesn’t occur regularly. The other issue with EASA2 is that multiplayer is currently not possible without buying to copies of the game (so that player 2 can have sensors as well). Hopefully this is something that EA will resolve in the future.

EASA2 also has the option for downloadable content, so if the player does somehow get bored of the exercises, more should be available in the future.

Should EASA2 replace gym visits? Probably not, but using it to aid exercise regimes can help your fitness. Think of EASA2 as a big step up from the horrid exercise DVDs that c-list celebs pump out when their careers are dying.

And readers, please remember, exercising only helps if you are eating healthy in the first place

 

Sony NGP Announcement

On January 27^th 2011, in Japan, Sony announced its follow up the PSP (Play Station Portable). This new device is going under the codename “NGP” (Next Generation Portable) and is looking to be the rival/competition to the Nintendo 3DS.

So what is looking to change from the PSP to the NGP? Well, for starters, the UMD (Universal Media Disc) drive is gone. Sony’s1000 to 3000 series of PSP’s utilised the UMD to play games and movies; however they removed it from the Go series of PSP. It has also gone from the NGP. In its place, games will be stored on a flash based media card.

The next big change is the controls. The PSP suffered from a poor unresponsive d-pad, which Sony tried to improve in the 2000/3000/Go models, and only having one analog stick. The NGP has the d-pad (hopefully more responsive), dual analog sticks (making it feel more like a Playstation controller), however the changes do not stop there. The NGP features a touch pad on the back, an OLED touch screen on the front, and gyroscope and accelerometer controls. Sony is hoping all these control functions can help gamers be part of the game more.

On the connectivity front, the NGP will boast 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity. The NGP will also be able to connect to the Playstation Network, and will support trophies (a feature missing the PSP).

Graphically, Sony are hoping to deliver “near” PS3 level graphics on the NGP. This will be an impressive feat on a portable gaming device, but with the PS3 nearing 5 years old (it was launched in 2006) it should be possible.

The NGP’s user interface is currently going by the name “LiveArea”, and it replaces the PSP’s “XMB” interface (which is also used on the PS3).

The NGP will be backwards compatible with the PSOne titles currently available on the PSN Store…but it’s the launch titles that gamers want to read about/see in action. Sony have showed a trailer showing the following titles; Killzone, Little Big Planet, Wipeout, Resistance and Uncharted. That’s a lot of PS3 heavy hitters heading to the NGP.

So when is the NGP going to be released and how much will it cost? The NGP will have a 2011 release in Japan but for the rest of the world Sony kept both of these key pieces of information tightly under their belt.

The full on tech specs are:

CPU:
ARM Corte-A9 core (4 core)
GPU:
SGX543MP4+
External Dimensions:
Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest projection)
Screen:
(Touch screen) 5 inches (16:9), 960 x 544, Approx. 16 million colors, OLED Multi touch screen (capacitive type)
Rear touch pad:
Multi touch pad (capacitive type)
Cameras:
Front camera, Rear camera
Sound:
Built-in stereo speakers, built-in microphone
Sensors:
Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)
Three-axis electronic compass
Location
Built-in GPS
Wi-Fi location service support
Keys/Switches:
PS button
Power button
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
Right stick, Left stick
START button, SELECT button
Volume buttons (+/-)
Wireless Communications:
Mobile network connectivity (3G)
IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1x1)
(Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP)

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

PS3 / X-Box 360 / Wii

“What's the point of owning a race car if you can't drive it?” Tony Stark (Iron Man 2 – The Movie)

2008 put Iron Man into the general publics mind with an excellent film. Sadly, the game of the film followed the typical “cash-in” game rule and was a bag of rubbish. 2010 saw Iron Man return to the big screen (with Iron Man 2) and a chance for Sega to “make it right” with another Iron Man game (aptly named Iron Man 2).

This time around there is the chance to play as two different characters, Iron Man (agile) or War Machine (brute force) and comic scribe Matt Faction has been pulled in to weave a storyline. Weirdly, said storyline happens after the films plot…and if you’ve not seen the film it may ruin a few plot lines for you.

This time around comic villains Crimson Dynamo (think Russian Iron Man) and Ultimo make appearances, which is an improvement over the mafia level villains from the last game. Sadly, the repetitive “helicopter/tank” enemies have been retained.

The games controls have slightly improved from Iron Man (2008), but are still troublesome and most players will probably find themselves just pelting the trigger buttons rather than trying to get to grips with melee combat. Speaking of things that are hard to grasp, could Sega have made the “module/weapon” upgrade section any more complicated? The option to choose classic Iron Man armours is great, but to then have to outfit each one with weapon selections, then ammo selections and ammo modifications is just too much.

Graphically…Sega what the heck are you playing at? This is something the original Playstation could probably have pulled of. Scarlett Johansson probably sued after seeing a square version of Black Widow that looked blockier than 1994’s Virtua Fighter models. Even the cut scenes look horrible. When you’ve got games like God of War III, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Star Wars Force Unleashed propelling the story through cinema level cinematics…well, lets just say they make Iron Man 2 look like a poor VHS pirated copy of the film, when a nice Blu-Ray edition is available.

Then there is the camera. The camera that decides that hiding behind walls, turning to face away from enemies and just generally being a pain in the bum, is a good idea. In other words, the camera work is shoddy.

Finally, there are the glitches. The main one being a major flaw in the final fight that sees the game restart the whole PS3. My control nearly went through the TV.

If you can put up with complicated flying controls, poor camera and bad graphics, give Iron Man 2 a chance (it should be very cheap by now). If you’re after seeing impressive armour, Scarlett Johansson looking like a woman (and not a butch man) and great camera work, then watch Iron Man 2 (the movie).