Games I Would Love
So every year it seems like the gaming industry is inundated with games like this:
Not really much to say about this. It's a pretty crappy rendition of carnival games. And there's no real point to them. You win virtual prizes that really don't do anything besides looking pretty in the game (at least that's what I assume, because come on, what is a carnival game without prizes?)
It's a crappy game, designed to be "family-friendly" and a "party game." Not really your top of the line game. And it doesn't claim to be.
The problem with these games is that they come out in droves. There are lots of them. Crappy games that no one really cares about but companies still somehow make money off of them. How, I have no idea, but somehow it happens. (I blame grandma. No I did not want to have "Bass Champion Hunter III") They make enough money to continue their dastardly plan of creating crappy games for different consoles.
However, the Wii, and in some respects the PS3 and the X-Box 360 have seen more games like this:
A liberal use of a licence of a once beloved character.
I grew up on Sonic and Mario. And while the latter has aged well and even seen some of the most groundbreaking games in video game history, the former has had some pretty poor games in the last decade.
Up until Sonic Heroes, the sonic games were actually halfway decent. Sonic 1, 2, and 3 were all amazing. Sonic and Knuckles brought a whole new dynamic with the introduction of Knuckles. Sonic Adventure, while an adventure into the world of 3-D did not sell as well as it's Nintendo counterpart, and went on to live in mediocrity.
Sonic Heroes was Sega's attempt at getting back into the platforming realm and ended up being pretty awful. And it's been downhill from there. No real game has captured the true spirit of Sonic until Sonic Colors, and that was even a stretch.
And let me say, before I move on, recently some of the Sonic games have been referring to Dr. Robotinik as "Dr. Eggman." No. He is not Dr. Eggman. He will always be Dr. Robotinik. I don't care what Sonic Team is referring to him nowadays. He is Dr. Robotinik. I fought Dr. Robotinik as a kid, and I will forever remember him as that name. Period. (And now back to our regularily scheduled rant).
No what I want in my video games is something more. Something new. Something daring. Something that pushes the envelope when it comes to innovation. Games like "Skyward Sword," and " Borderlands," and this one:
Batman: Arkham City was brilliant, and I daresay the best licenced game ever. It was a beautiful use of the Batman licence and really put the gamer in the seat of what it would be like to be Batman.
I spent countless hours fluttering past villains, punching their lackeys, and deciphering various riddles that the Riddler put up for me all over Arkham City. It was a Batman-dream come to life.
The combat system, while not flawless, was very easy to understand, and difficult to master (as of yet, I still have to master it). Moves flow freely as Batman moves from one goon to the next, smashing the jaw of one then kneeing the next in the stomach.
However, what really makes Batman: Arkham City incredible is the use of "detective vision." It allows Batman to see goons through walls via heat signatures, paints them orange if they have a projectile weapon, and have wavy lines over the goon's heads if they notice the Bat. Detective vision also allows Batman to search for different clues that lead him on his journey through Arkham City. Batman isn't called the "World's Greatest Detective" for nothing.
Arkham City is exactly what I want in a game. Cutting-edge visuals combined with tight gameplay. And while it has a few minor issues, none are large enough to cause any major frustration with the game itself and prevent me from enjoying my foray as Batman.
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| Yes, this is an actual Wii game. |
It's a crappy game, designed to be "family-friendly" and a "party game." Not really your top of the line game. And it doesn't claim to be.
The problem with these games is that they come out in droves. There are lots of them. Crappy games that no one really cares about but companies still somehow make money off of them. How, I have no idea, but somehow it happens. (I blame grandma. No I did not want to have "Bass Champion Hunter III") They make enough money to continue their dastardly plan of creating crappy games for different consoles.
However, the Wii, and in some respects the PS3 and the X-Box 360 have seen more games like this:
 |
| This game was a crappy use of the Sonic licence. |
A liberal use of a licence of a once beloved character.
I grew up on Sonic and Mario. And while the latter has aged well and even seen some of the most groundbreaking games in video game history, the former has had some pretty poor games in the last decade.
Up until Sonic Heroes, the sonic games were actually halfway decent. Sonic 1, 2, and 3 were all amazing. Sonic and Knuckles brought a whole new dynamic with the introduction of Knuckles. Sonic Adventure, while an adventure into the world of 3-D did not sell as well as it's Nintendo counterpart, and went on to live in mediocrity.
Sonic Heroes was Sega's attempt at getting back into the platforming realm and ended up being pretty awful. And it's been downhill from there. No real game has captured the true spirit of Sonic until Sonic Colors, and that was even a stretch.
And let me say, before I move on, recently some of the Sonic games have been referring to Dr. Robotinik as "Dr. Eggman." No. He is not Dr. Eggman. He will always be Dr. Robotinik. I don't care what Sonic Team is referring to him nowadays. He is Dr. Robotinik. I fought Dr. Robotinik as a kid, and I will forever remember him as that name. Period. (And now back to our regularily scheduled rant).
No what I want in my video games is something more. Something new. Something daring. Something that pushes the envelope when it comes to innovation. Games like "Skyward Sword," and " Borderlands," and this one:
 |
| Beautiful both in gamplay and visuals. |
I spent countless hours fluttering past villains, punching their lackeys, and deciphering various riddles that the Riddler put up for me all over Arkham City. It was a Batman-dream come to life.
The combat system, while not flawless, was very easy to understand, and difficult to master (as of yet, I still have to master it). Moves flow freely as Batman moves from one goon to the next, smashing the jaw of one then kneeing the next in the stomach.
However, what really makes Batman: Arkham City incredible is the use of "detective vision." It allows Batman to see goons through walls via heat signatures, paints them orange if they have a projectile weapon, and have wavy lines over the goon's heads if they notice the Bat. Detective vision also allows Batman to search for different clues that lead him on his journey through Arkham City. Batman isn't called the "World's Greatest Detective" for nothing.
Arkham City is exactly what I want in a game. Cutting-edge visuals combined with tight gameplay. And while it has a few minor issues, none are large enough to cause any major frustration with the game itself and prevent me from enjoying my foray as Batman.
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