DougBuffone

DougBuffone is now at home for Thanksgiving!

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About Me

Welcome to My Blog!

Long time avid gamer, I collect, review, blog, play, and read games. I was a long time user of Gamespot.com and decided to check out what Mr. Gerstmann, Mr. Davis, Mr. Caravella, and Mr. Shoemaker were up to. Looks pretty good, I only wish I had not been working on something similar for six months...

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Displaying 5 of 12 blog posts See all
Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday Deals!
Added by DougBuffone on Nov. 27, 2008 | |

Hope everyone is having a lovely Thanksgiving with their families. Although I did not have a lot of time to do gaming related stuff today, I was able to play some Rock Band (the first one) with my two brother Chris and Alexander. It was a lot of fun, and I really forget how much I miss them sometimes.

I hope everyone had a nice day today and that you were able to give thanks for all the blessings that you had. So here is to good health, good family, good luck, and great games!

 

Also, I did compile a list of GREAT amazon.com deals starting tomorrow at 2:59 AM EST. Some of the games on this list are just absurd as they are relatively new and they are incredibly cheap. Miss out on the Metal Gear Solid games? You can get MGS1-3 for $15! There are so many great deals so take a look.



Xbox 360

  • Friday Only - BioShock - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Friday Only - Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - $17.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Call of Duty: World at War - $49.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Dead Space - $29.95 (Reg. $59.95)
  • Friday Only - Fallout 3 - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Far Cry 2 - $37.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Left 4 Dead - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Madden NFL 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - NASCAR 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Friday Only - NBA Live 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - NCAA Football 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - Saints Row - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Friday Only - Shaun White Snowboarding - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - The Orange Box - $19.95 (Reg. $19.9)
  • Friday Only - Warriors Orochi 2 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Alone in the Dark - $11.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Condemned 2: Bloodshot - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Dragonball Z: Burst Limit - $29.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Golden Axe: Beast Rider - $29.95 (Reg. $59.95)
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle - Xbox 360 - $49.95 (Reg. $99.99)
  • Infinite Undiscovery - $18.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Infinite Undiscovery Includes Gift with Purchase - $19.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • LEGO Batman - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Lost Planet Extreme Condition: Colonies Edition - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Major League Baseball 2K8 - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe Collector's Edition - $49.95 (Reg. $69.99)
  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Pure - $29.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Sega Superstars Tennis - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • The Bigs - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • The Club - $14.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • The Last Remnant - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Too Human - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Top Spin 3 - $39.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Viking: Battle for Asgard - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Hardware Deal: Buy an Xbox 360 Arcade Holiday Bundle and get Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3 with Dance Mat for free


PlayStation 3
  • Friday Only - Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - $17.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Call of Duty: World at War - $49.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Fallout 3 - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - Madden NFL 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Friday Only - NASCAR 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Friday Only - NBA Live 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - NCAA Football 09 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - Soul Calibur IV - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Condemned 2: Bloodshot - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Dragonball Z: Burst Limit - $29.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Far Cry 2 - $37.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Golden Axe: Beast Rider - $29.95 (Reg. $59.95)
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle - $49.95 (Reg. $99.99)
  • Heavenly Sword - $19.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • LEGO Batman - $25.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Major League Baseball 2K8 - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe Collector's Edition - $39.95 (Reg. $69.99)
  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • MotorStorm - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • NBA '09 The Inside - $19.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Blu Wave Remote - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Charge Base 2 - $9.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Charge Link - $4.95 (Reg. $12.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Component AV Cable - $9.95 (Reg. $24.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Component AV Cable & USB Cable - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Playstation 3 Energizer Power & Play Charging System - $9.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Frontman Wireless Guitar - Black - $6.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • PlayStation 3 HDMI Cable - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adaptor - $4.95 (Reg. $14.99)
  • PlayStation 3 Zero Wireless Controller - colors may vary - $4.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Pure - $29.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Resistance: Fall Of Man - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Ridge Racer 7 - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • The Bigs - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • The Club - $14.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Top Spin 3 - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Viking: Battle for Asgard - $14.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Warhawk (No Headset) - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • WWE: Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Collector's Edition - $39.95 (Reg. $79.99)
  • Hardware Deal: Buy a PlayStation 3 80GB console and get Resistance 2 Collector's Edition and a PlayStation 3 Component AV & USB cable free
  • Hardware Deal: Buy a PlayStation 3 80GB console and get Wall-E Blu-ray (2-Disc set) and Disney Sing It! Bundle with Microphone for free



Nintendo Wii
(Wii and Wii Fit will be in stock on Black Friday starting at midnight)
  • Friday Only (Lightning Deal at 12:00PM ET) - Okami - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Friday Only - Boom Blox - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Friday Only - Cooking Mama: Cook Off - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Friday Only - Guitar Hero Aerosmith Wii - $25.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Friday Only - Namco Museum Remix - $15.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Friday Only - Resident Evil 4 - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Friday Only - Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - Wii Fit Energy Pak - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Animal Crossing City Folk and Wii Speak Microphone Bundle - $39.95 (Reg. $69.99)
  • Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader: Make the Grade - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Celebrity Sports Showdown - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • DeBlob - $25.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle - $49.95 (Reg. $89.99)
  • LEGO Batman - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Major League Baseball 2K8 - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - $29.95 (Reg. $49.95)
  • Mercury Meltdown: Revolution - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • MLB Power Pros 2008 - $25.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • MySims Kingdom - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Nights Journey of Dreams - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Official Wii Component Video Cable - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • TAC DSK-BLU Illuminated Drum Sticks - Blue - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • The Bigs - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • Top Spin 3 - $19.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Ultimate Board Game Collection - $9.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Wario Land: Shake It! - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • We Love Golf! - $19.95 (Reg. $39.99)
  • We Ski - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Wii 5-In-1 Fitness Bundle - $39.95 (Reg. $59.99)
  • Wii Charge Station - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Wii Dancing Mat - $9.95 (Reg. $22.99)
  • Wii Fit Balance Board Blue Silicone Sleeve - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Wii Fit Balance Board Glow in the Dark Silicone Sleeve - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Wii Fit Balance Board Mat - $9.95 (Reg. $24.99)
  • Wii Fit Balance Board Pink Silicone Sleeve - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Wii Frontman Wireless Guitar - White - $9.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Wii HD Link Component Cable - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Wii Kama Wireless Controller - $9.95 (Reg. $34.99)
  • Wii Magnum Gun - $7.95 (Reg. $14.99)
  • Wii Micro Wheel - White - $4.95 (Reg. $9.99)
  • Wii Nerf Sports Pack - Black - $9.95 (Reg. $34.99)
  • Wii Net Connect - $7.95 (Reg. $21.99)
  • Wii Nunchuk Cord Free Wireless Adaptor - $7.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Wii Perfect Shot Gun - $7.95 (Reg. $17.99)
  • Wii Power Adaptor - $9.95 (Reg. $24.99)
  • WonderWorld Amusement Park - $15.95 (Reg. $29.99)


PC
  • Friday Only - Fallout 3 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Friday Only - Left 4 Dead - $19.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • BioShock - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Far Cry 2 - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Guild Wars - $9.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Guild Wars: Eye Of The North - Expansion Pack - $9.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Pure - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Spore Creepy and Cute Parts Pack - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Warhammer Online 60 Day Prepaid Game Time Card - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - $19.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Expansion Pack - $25.95 (Reg. $39.99)
PlayStation 2
  • Friday Only (Lightning Deal at 4:00AM ET) - Katamari Damacy - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Alone in the Dark - $6.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Arcana Heart - $19.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • Disney Sing It Bundle with Microphone - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • God of War - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • God of War 2 - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle - PS2 - $49.95 (Reg. $89.99)
  • Jak 3 - $9.95 (Reg. $14.99)
  • Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • MLB Power Pros 2008 - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Persona 3 FES with Soundtrack CD and Artbook - $29.95 (Reg. $49.99)
  • Playstation 2 Cobra TT Wheel - $19.95 (Reg. $34.99)
  • PlayStation 2 Dualshock 2 Analog Controller Satin Silver - $14.95 (Reg. $24.99)
  • Playstation 2 Dualshock Controller Ocean Blue - $9.95 (Reg. $24.99)
  • Playstation 2 Memory Card 8MB 2PK Red/Blue - $14.95 (Reg. $35.99)
  • Sega Superstars Tennis - $14.95 (Reg. $29.99)
  • The Bigs - $9.95 (Reg. $19.99)
  • Hardware Deal: PlayStation 2 Limited Edition LEGO Batman Bundle - $99.95 (Reg. $149.99)

 (NOTE: I couldn't include DS and PSP because of word limits)

Good luck with shopping tomorrow, there are definitely some amazing deals!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Doug Buffone



6 Comments Leave a Comment

Get it Started!
Added by DougBuffone on Nov. 26, 2008 | |

This post relates to: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

Hope everyone is having a lovely start to their Thanksgiving breaks (sorry foreigners). I came home last night and I am really enjoying spending time with my family who I haven't seen since August. It is scary to think how old I am and how little I see my family because of college. 

Anyways, the point of this blog is to share good news with all of you. My first review was posted on TalkXbox. I had a very good time writing it, but I realize now that reviewing for a site is not as much fun as I thought it would be. The reason--my work is heavily edited, and I feel like it made my individual writing sty-le becomes clouded. I want to become a better writer, but I do not appreciate how many of my grammatically correct sentences were changed. No matter though, it is still a good experience. 

Take a look HERE. I would love to hear your opinions. 

Also if you wouldn't mind "Digg"ing it because I get some money...

Something else that is really funny is that it is a listed score on Metacritic. So basically, I have added to the score of the game--thus my score is influential over a larger amount of people. Pretty crazy!

As mentioned before, I would love for you guys to take a look and to Digg it, but I also hope that you have a wonderful holiday and really realize how lucky we all are. 

Thanks as always,

Doug Buffone



8 Comments Leave a Comment

A New Adventure
Added by DougBuffone on Nov. 20, 2008 | |

This post relates to: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

About a week ago I accepted a job as a free lance reviewer for Talk Xbox. Although it does  not pay, I will get games early and for free from the publishers. Regardless of whether or not if it will turn into a career, I believe that this experience is going to make me a much better writer and give me a bit of a taste of what the life of a reviewer is like.

The first game they sent me to review is Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 for the Xbox 360. I have played through the Soviet and Allied campaigns so far and while it is not perfect I love the sty-le that the game has. It does not take itself too seriously ( no baditude) and thus the corny story line and acting is superbly entertaining. 

 

I wanted to include this picture as an homage to someone. If you know what it is feel free to say so in the comments. Hopefully I can write a review that is comparable to this former reviewer's excellence.

-Doug

P.S. The former reviewer is connected two ways to this photo! Start guessing!



11 Comments Leave a Comment

Pierce Brosnan vs. Daniel Craig
Added by DougBuffone on Nov. 17, 2008 | |

This post relates to: Quantum of Solace

LINK

I found this hilarious. It is rather crass, but the editing is done very well.

Hope you enjoy
-Doug

7 Comments Leave a Comment

Chainsaws and Nuka Cola Quantum
Added by DougBuffone on Nov. 9, 2008 | |

This post relates to: Fallout, Fallout 3, Gears of War, Gears of War, Gears of War 2

I thought I would give everyone a bit of an update on what I have been playing for the past week. Although I haven't nearly had as much time as I would like to play the great games taht have come out, I did get enough time to play a good amount of Fallout 3 and Gears of War 2.

As mentioned in a previous blog, I bought the Fallout 3 Survival Pack from amazon.com and although I was dissapointed in the poor quality PipBoy clock, I am extremely impressed with the game. I have not finished the main quest line, but I have been playing I completed all of the sidequests including the extremely long Nuka Cola Quantum quest (you have to find 30 of these special Nuka Colas, of which there are only 90 in the entire game world). I haven't really felt compelled to finish the story because I had a lot of fun leveling up my character to the highest level, the first time I have ever done that in a game.

I was able to get the best armor for my character and also assemble the best items for the house and the best weapons to take into battle. At the beginning of the game I was getting killed by nearly every type of enemy (which was quite frustrating for a while) but now I can take down the Behemoths with little effort. Oh the joys of being a high level character!

One of the things I am mildly dissapointed with in the game is something very picky, but I just wanted it to be there. I am talking about Georgetown, the place where I go to school and the surrounding area. Georgetown is one of the oldest areas in the entire city and it is vastly different from the downtown areas. I was excited to discover the location through the subway but I realized quickly that it was not nearly realistic. First of all, there are no subway stations in Georgetown, a move that was made to keep homeless people out of the wealthy area (most diplomats, congressmen and embassies are in the area). Second, the area looked like the rest of Washington which was a bit of a let down. It is still cool to go around the DC area and see some of the more memorable and realistic areas.


Secondly I have been playing Gears of War 2. With the number of great games coming out in the past couple of weeks, I was not really thinking about getting the game until about two days before. However, I was not able to get it on the release date because the only place to buy it in Georgetown was out of the collector's edition which I really wanted. My friend Pascaul and I went to Pentagon City in Virginia on Saturday where we we went to the Best Buy and were able to each pick up a copy.

I am through the first four acts of the game (playing co-op with Pascaul) and I am really enjoying it. There is enough gameplay changes to really freshen up the experience and the new environments are exciting and memorable. Last night I played a bit of multiplayer with the old gang, Denis, Talor, Mike, Art, Ish, Jimbo, etc. which was a lot of fun.

I have a couple of midterms this week which is really going to be tough (especially international economics) but I can just try my hardest and hope for the best. I will try to get a blog or two in this week, so until then!

-Doug Buffone

6 Comments Leave a Comment

My Lists
Displaying lists

1. Favorites

A list of 4 items by DougBuffone last updated on July 26, 2008

DougBuffone: Favorites


2. Favorite Developers

A list of 3 items by DougBuffone last updated on Aug. 2, 2008

I love these developers work, I usually play and enjoy every game they make


3. Favorite Franchises

A list of 3 items by DougBuffone last updated on July 27, 2008

These series of games are my favorites. I usually can't choose one!


Top Contributions

Chrono Trigger
4923 Points

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
2511 Points

Gears of War
1924 Points

Final Fantasy VII
1406 Points

Cloud Strife
1166 Points

Final Fantasy X
1042 Points

Super Mario Bros.
801 Points

Left 4 Dead
681 Points

My Reviews
Displaying 10 of 23 reviews See all
Reviewed by DougBuffone
Sept. 24, 2008
Promised the ultimate experience, but falls short


The Star Wars universe is one of the most expansive in modern fiction and allows for the creation of games that explore the initial success of the films. The lucrative franchise has given birth to some of the most impressive games but also shows how such a popular entity can be misrepresented and misconstrued.

 From its initial announcement, The Force Unleashed has been advertized as the ultimate Star Wars experience. An experience which will not only let the player control Darth Vader’s omnipotent apprentice, but guarantees that the “force will blow your mind”. This promise is seemingly fulfilled at several points in the game because of the engaging storyline and the beautiful level design, but it is diluted by unabashedly annoying enemy design and interruptive technical glitches.

Although fans of the Star Wars saga may find it particularly predictable, the story is still intriguing and fills in the largest gap in the canon. The main focus is on the secret apprentice of Darth Vader, but his own journey sheds light on the dissolution of the remnants of the republic while explaining the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the Rebel Alliance.

While the story unfolds, you will travel to some beautiful locales. Both new planets and familiar places are among the bright and vivid worlds the apprentice explores as he attempts to complete his master’s bidding. Many of the levels are made up of wide open spaces that show phenomenal art direction and allow the apprentice to use his full repertoire of force powers. Yet often times the apprentice is contained—both literally and figuratively—in dark small corridors of space stations.

In addition to the story and the level design, the game does a number of things right, particularly at the beginning. Before you take control of the main protagonist, the player has the ability to fight as Darth Vader on the Wookiee planet of Kashyyk.  The game gives an enticing preview of what an all-powerful Sith lord has at his disposal as Vader can force grip, choke hold, and throw his lightsaber among other deadly moves. The prologue level is one of the best parts of the game as you are in a vivid world, able to use all the force powers, and technical glitches do not hamper the experience as they do in later parts of the game.

It is the initial success of the game that makes the shortcomings of the later levels all the more unacceptable. Almost immediately after taking control of the apprentice (aptly named Starkiller as homage to the original name of Luke Skywalker) it becomes apparent that like in so many other games, the player must accumulate all of the force powers and powerful combos.

The prologue’s ease is completely reversed as the apprentice has problems mastering even the most basic skills of lightsaber combat—reflecting laser fire. At the same time, the apprentice has the ability to lift things with the force as monolithic as Tie Fighters but the power is often times rendered obsolete because of the horrid targeting system. In most games where there is an automatic locking system, the way the camera is facing will determine which enemies are targeted. In one of the biggest design flaws, the targeting system in The Force Unleashed is based upon what Starkiller is looking at. This makes beautiful level design burdensome as the confines of small corridors further illuminate problems with the camera.

In an ironic turn, once the player gains experience and chooses which force powers to power up, the enemy design makes the use of force powers less effective. Throughout the game, the player gains force spheres by gaining levels and finding holocrons which allows player to strengthen force powers, force skills, and force combos. However, once the player attains these powerful upgrades, the enemies become less threatened by the force. Some gain force shields and others can block lightsaber blows with ease, therefore making the most simple of enemies a difficult and frustrating affair. Adding to the frustration, many times enemies will glitch, either not having a health bar or simply stuttering around. This coupled with the fact that the player can only load from specific checkpoints (many times placed before unskippable   cutscenes) makes many harder sections of the game simply not fun.

When Starkiller faces off against Jedi masters, the force powers become almost useless. Many of the fights will feel like they are more based on getting lucky hits with a lightsaber than any sort of skill or strategy.  Lightsaber battles, a staple of the Star Wars experience, are never epic---rather the game relies heavily on the archaic God of War button press mini-game to dispose of bosses as well as the larger enemies such as Rancors and AT-STs.

The gameplay tends to lose most elements of fun and every sense of being fair due to the drastic changes in character design and the unoriginal boss battle mechanics. Yet there are still sections of the game that will prove awe inspiring to fans and non fans alike. As mentioned before, what really saves the game experience is the overall presentation and intriguing story. The game has incredibly imaginative and beautiful worlds and likeable characters which create a Star Wars film experience. One can argue that some characters mirror those in the films and that some take away from established themes, but they are crafted well and combined with John Williams rousing score,  add emotional weight to the story.

The Force Unleashed is a Star Wars fan service—filling in holes in the canon and allowing players to have control of mystical force powers. It was promised to give the ultimate Star Wars experience and was hyped to be one of the best games of the year. While the game has impressive elements, unpolished and uninspired gameplay mechanics and frustrating enemies do not allow The Force Unleashed to achieve greatness.

 


0 Comments Leave a Comment


Reviewed by DougBuffone
July 21, 2008
An Unforgettable Game


Despite the title of Metal Gear Solid, Snake Eater is a very different game than previous installments in the series. After Metal Gear Solid 2 received criticism for its complex story, Kojima Productions created a narrative that was more fluid, yet includes the great plot twists that we have come to expect from the series. While the player does not control the namesake character of the series, Solid Snake, we are put in control of an close-to-complete carbon copy. It will be easy for those who have not followed the story arc to not understand that they are not controlling Solid Snake but are actually controlling Naked Snake, the man who becomes Big Boss.

The mission takes place during the tumultuous 1960s during the peak of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States and the possible nuclear holocaust that could occur with any confrontation. The delicate balance of peace between the Soviet Union and the United States is threatened by the rogue Colonel Volgin who feels betrayed by what he perceives as the weakness of the Soviet leaders during times of stress. Volgin plans to take over the USSR after promoting a conflict between the two powers by capturing key scientists and creating a nuclear weapons delivery system. One of these scientists, Sokolov, defected to the United States but is recaptured by Volgin and is forced to create Shagohold, the mobile nuclear tank that threatens the United States from any position in the world.

The CIA drops Naked Snake into the thick Soviet jungle so as to rescue Sokolov and therefore disrupt Colonel Volgin's plans. The game creates a sense of survival through the implementation of the stamina bar and the injury treatment system, as Naked Snake is all by himself with no hope of rescue if something wrong occurs.

Keeping with the 1960s time period, Naked Snake is also unable to employ the same high tech gadgetry that is used in previous installments of the series rather he must utilize weapons and gadgets which would be high tech at the time. Even though the aforementioned gadgets can be used, Snake must use the jungle environment to his advantage. He must capture local fauna and flora to eat in order to keep his stamina up and will also need to adjust his stealth strategy due to the large number of environment variations. In order to not alert enemy soldiers, players will need to adjust Snake's appearances, whether it be different camo patters and face paints or donning a complete disguise.

As there is no hope of evacuation when Snake gets injured, he must perform surgery on himself when he gets injured and administer medication if he gets sick. This new element to the gameplay adds tremendously to the idea that Snake is all alone in the jungle and provides for a small mini-game. However, it is important to note that the injury treatment system does get tedious towards the end of the game, especially when many injuries occur during boss battles.

Unless you are a very skilled Metal Gear Solid player, Snake will be detected and will have to either hide or fight his way out of the situation. The good news is that the implementation of a free moving camera now allows players to scan for enemies in the vicinity more easily which will allow for less unwanted encounters with the enemy. During sections of the game where fighting is necessary, Snake now has a more balancing fighting repertoire due to the inclusion of the "close-quarter-combat" system. Players now have the ability to neutralize their foes when they get too close while not alerting other enemies.

One of the staples of the gameplay in the Metal Gear Solid series are the boss battles. Snake Eater includes some of the most diverse and satisfying boss encounters that one will come across in video games. Not only are boss' appearances and personalities different, but they also have different fighting techniques which are used to take advantage of the wide range of locations in which the battles take place. One particularly memorable fight is the sniper battle between Naked Snake and The End, which proves to be one of the hardest and longest boss battles you will ever participate in, but more importantly, one of the most satisfying.

The great combat and stealth sections really highlight the overall presentation of the game. When moving around the world, the attention to detail really comes into the forefront of your mind. The complexity and detailed world called for the creation of a new game engine and pushes the Playstation 2 to its technical limits. The amount of creatures and enemies in a world that includes cycling weather patterns and diverse areas of the jungle create one of the most realistic environments seen on this generation. More importantly, the game's frame rate holds up nicely while their are no noticeable technical glitches--quite an achievement due to the ambitious presentation.

In addition to the graphical presentation, the voice work and musical score are very memorable. David Hayter, the voice of Solid Snake, performs the voice of Naked Snake and proves why he is one of the best voice actors in the industry. However, the one bad element of the voice acting seems to be that of Ocelot's character. The actor seemed to put stress on the wrong words while delivering lines that really detract from the cinematic experience that is seemingly perfected by Hayter's voice work and Kojima's cut scene direction. The musical score, on the other hand, is flawless and thus very memorable, especially the title song "Snake Eater". Performed in a very James Bond-like manner, the lyrics were written by Hideo Kojima and capture the themes and ideas behind the game, while the actual singer gives a powerful performance that add to the emotion of Naked Snake's odyssey .

All of these elements combined together creates one of the most ambitious Playstation 2 titles, but more importantly, one of the best. The criticisms of the complex story in MGS2 are eradicated in Snake Eater, but nonetheless include plot twists that one has come to expect in the series. Frustrating camera and close combat control are eradicated and thus no longer detract from the overall experience, while the presentation causes player to really admire the environment that was created. Some of the final missions in the game seem to drag on too long, but one's enthusiasm and enjoyment is never belittled due to the unsurpassed voice work and cut scene direction. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is simply unforgettable.

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Reviewed by DougBuffone
July 21, 2008
A Return to Form, While Reinvigorating the Classic Franchise


Some people cried foul after the Wii launched without a Mario game. However, after the mediocre reception Super Mario Sunshine received, Shigeru Miyamoto and the team at Nintendo promised to reinvigorate the franchise. Luckily, Nintendo has kept its promise and brought a new Mario game that is completely fresh---whether it be control scheme, musical score or artistic design. The game keeps with the traditional Mario game structure while the change of setting allows for an unprecedented imaginative world. While the Wii has preached to the casual gamer, this is one of the first titles that really crosses into both casual and hardcore gaming realms because it includes something that will appreciated by all.

Mario games are not known for their story--something still apparent from the moment you begin to play the game. Much like Super Mario 64, Princess Peach calls for Mario to come to her castle because she has a gift to give to him. Upon his approach to the castle, Bowser, Mario's longtime nemesis, attacks the Princess, Mario, and the ever present Toads with Peter Pan-like flying galleons. Before Mario can catch up, Bowser and his minions jet away into space.

Mario comes into a contact with a cute star named Luna who then introduces him to the leader of a flying observatory, Rosalina. Mario is filled in on the problems which have plagued the inhabitants of the observatory and is promptly asked to assist in recovering the power stars that power their spacecraft. Bowser has once again stolen the power stars and spread them through a variety of galaxies so as to slow down his pursuers. Mario's principle mission is to recover enough power stars to re-initiate the observatory's power. This task that seems to be daunting even for the famous Italian plumber, and thus Rosalina instructs Luna to assist him during his quest.

The collection of power stars is nothing new, and could seem very unexciting to a veteran Mario player. But then again, who plays Mario for the story? It is the brilliant efforts by the team at Nintendo to redesign every world that Mario journeys to that makes the game really special. One hardly has anytime to think about the repetitive nature of the storyline as the player is almost immediately thrown into an amazing galaxy.

Every galaxy is made up into several planets, all of which have their own individual parts and none of which you will see repeated. The level design in the game is one of the most, if not the most, impressive ever seen in a video game. Once you think that you have seen it all, Mario will land on a planet where he travels into the inside or travels into more traditional sidescroller with freshening elements like changing gravity pads. These new elements make the gameplay more challenging and thus really make the overall experience that much richer to any Mario veteran.

The way Mario travels between the planets is also unique and utilizes the motion sensing technology in the Wii remote. Sometimes planets will be connected by a series of blue stars with which the player can point the cursor at and then pull Mario along. This movement style is also worked into several challenges at the end of the game that prove to be exhilarating. In addition to the blue stars, Mario will often times find one of Luna friends who is desperately hungry and requires star bits to transform into a launch pad to another planet. Star bits are another collectible in the game in addition to the traditional coins. Whereas coins replenish Mario's depleted health, star bits can be used to feed Luna's friends but can also be used to attack enemies. Luna's primary function in the story is to serve as the pointer on the screen with which players can use to pick up star bits and to aim star bit attacks. Of course she is also there to provide the much needed moral guidance and explanation of puzzles.

One comes to appreciate the different level design through the exploration of the various galaxies. Whereas in other games, players find that the search for the same item every level can be tedious, in Super Mario Galaxy the design of the planets is so intriguing that players will find that they explore every nook and cranny to discover every hidden area.

To create even more diversity within the level design, Mario also is able to don different costumes that will give him different powers. At his repertoire is the ability to change into a bee, springman or a boo, the ability to throw fireballs, and the ability to turn into the ice man who freezes any water that he walks upon. All of the different costumes add even more ways to explore the already impressive worlds. However, some of the costumes evince some of the problems in the game.

One such problem is the camera. The player has very limited control of the camera as it is usually fixed through the entirety of the adventure. This proves to be a problem in some of the later stages when precise jumping is necessary, especially when trying to get several challenge stars or when Mario turns into springman. It is noticeable at first when Mario runs on the underside of a planet as the controls quickly switch and make circumnavigating a planet challenging. The camera also makes the bee parts of the game unnecessarily difficult because it is often times hard to judge whether Mario is above or close enough to a honeycomb to land. Luckily this is really the only time the camera becomes a major issue in the gameplay and thus does not really make a large impact on the overall experience.


Even if the camera sometimes proves to be difficult, the tight controls based off of the genre defining Mario 64 setup are near perfect. Controlling Mario will be of no real challenge to experienced players but is simple enough for the most casual of gamers to pick up and enjoy. The Wii remote functionality is limited, something that proves to be beneficial. It is used for the aforementioned traveling between planets and picking up star bits, but it is also utilized nicely into the combat. By shaking the Wii remote, the player has the ability to do a spin attack which proves to be essential in several boss battles and causes enemies to drop different items than through the traditional jump-on-the-head method.

More importantly, the motion control functionality is used intermittently with various mini games and thus do not become tiresome. When many Wii games go wrong with their inclusion of motion control for every basic action, Super Mario Galaxy gets it right--only using it for certain elements that enhance, not detract, from the gameplay.

Combined with the gameplay and tight controls, the audio and graphical presentation really make Super Mario Galaxy stand out from any other game available on the Wii. The game is simply the best looking game from a graphical and an artistic standpoint as all of the worlds are intriguing while made all the more interesting through the vibrant color pallet. Like the graphics, the audio is one of the best found on the platform. The mix of classic and new sounds is a symmetry that is phenomenal. Players will not only hear the classic Mario songs and their remixes, but also hear fully orchestrated tracks that are memorable.

Super Mario Galaxy can be summed up by stating that it is a return to form. Not a form in the sense of structure, but rather of feel. While playing this game one will surely notice that it is fun and more importantly, different that everything else. The game includes many of the elements that made previous Mario games so memorable while almost completely reinventing the experience due to the new control scheme and the sensational level design. Nintendo's mascot has never been better, and this adventure is not something anyone can afford to miss.

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Date Joined: July 21, 2008
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Tru3_Blu3
on Nov. 22, 2008
The cake looks alright. I mean, GREY FROSTING?!
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on Oct. 26, 2008
Wanna review Red Alert 3 for TX?
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on Oct. 22, 2008
Not quite everyone Doug. See comment.
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on Oct. 21, 2008
Thanks, man.
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Hi, Doug.
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lol yep...Oh crap was my reaction as well. If this were my site, I wouldn't have released the name, but I think steve just wanted to get the name out there. He made one mistake, he trusted humanity to not screw him over. Big mistake.
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I wouldn't call it a scandal, someone put up a review of an old game for a few hours and then it was taken down :/
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PLUG MY FUCKING PODCAST
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I'm definitely nearing the 100 mark...I have no idea how many I'll have by the end x.x
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Pwned? Very mature Player 1.
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Haven't seen you on Skype lately - where'd you go? It's like you fell off the face of the planet. Lemme know if you wanna' chat or something.
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