So how about that SimCity?

First off, I would like to apologize to anybody who saw me hype SimCity and made a decision to purchase the game because of my actions. Now that I've got that out of the way, I would like to express my thoughts on said game.

My SimCity history goes back a long way, from staring at Will Wright's green hair in the SNES version to obsessing about SimCity 4 to the point where other video games didn't matter to me. I have always had nothing but positive things to say about SimCity in general, but SimCity (SimCity 5, SimCity '13) has done nothing but disappoint me and probably you, too. I can rant for ages about the lack of an offline mode and being at the mercy of EA's 3 or 4 servers for the first few days, but that's been talked to death already. Now this may be hard to believe, but I actually was able to play SimCity at various times the past few days despite EA's attempts to sabotage my cities. What I played had potential, but there are issues outside of internet stability that have me concerned.

And my opinions on the "game" portion of SimCity were cemented in place when I popped in SimCity 4 while the servers shit their pants. After a 6 hour session, I realized that SimCity 4 was the superior game, not this newfangled version. Despite all the fancy graphics, statistical output and building flexibility, SimCity feels small and constricted due to the city size and lack of customized regions. So here are a list of thoughts that popped in my head during my sessions.

• I want to build a city as big as New York, but I can only build Hoboken.
• In fact, that 3 city region should be the city itself.
• Square cities are for squares.
• These pre-made regions suck ass. I wanna make my own, dammit.
• And this empty space makes everything look weird.
• And would it kill these "neighborhoods" to have more than one access point?
• Look at that data layer. Hmm... they should make another Mirror's Edge.
• It does look pretty, but I don't see these layers being that practical for me. I could use more numbers.
• I should check out the color filters because I'm such a hipster.
• I need a new PC. This game is slow as frozen shit, even at low settings.
• Herding llamas... cute.
• I can't access my cities because they're stuck in Ocean Quigley's beard.
• I can draw roads in the shape of a penis, but I refuse to.
• Some poor fuck wants me to build Brandenburg Gate for no reason. I'll get on that, sir.
• They're pushing some of this "green" bullshit a little too much.
• Fuck that, I've got coal to mine.
• Should I revisit Cities XL? I kinda liked that game.
• My city seems to be doing just fi... a fucking earthquake? Really?
• That one fire truck is going to really busy for a while while my city burns to ashes.
• There is a great game in here somewhere, but it will probably cost me about $100 EA DLC bucks.
• I think an indie developer could make a great city building sim.
• Wait, they want $250K? Good luck with that.
• Fuck this, I'll play SimCity 4.
• Wow, SimCity 4 is still awesome.

The smoke coming from my ears still hasn't dissipated from all the thinking.

SimCity is the first game in the series (SimCity Societies doesn't count) to take several steps backwards in some areas in order to move a few steps ahead in other areas. Simulating cities down to the individual schlub sounds like a great idea on paper, but if that compromises the overall size and scope of the game, then it's failed on a fundamental level. Like I stated above, people want to build megalopolises like New York, but the size limit forces us to build Hoboken, or maybe the East Village. Even when I see the option to build a university, there are actually universities that are the size of the plot of land given to you in SimCity.

But it's not all about size.

What disappoints me more about SimCity is what's not in SimCity. The elimination of subways and the inability to build your own highways are a major blow to some virtual urban planners, but I expect a new SimCity game to have more transportation and building options. For example, where are the mixed-use buildings? Where are my prisons? No courthouses? No natural gas? Where did the amusement parks go? What about zoos? Are there even museums in SimCity? And what's with the lack of farms? In fairness to Maxis, some of these issues are alleviated with the option to upgrade existing buildings and the addition of brand new buildings like oil refineries and bus terminals. What this tells me is that EA is going to go microtransaction crazy a la The Sims 3. EA could follow the Sims model easily by adding expansions and building packs to squeeze more money out of us. At least vanilla versions of The Sims feel finished and could be all you really need if you haven't dug too deep into expansion hell. SimCity never relied heavily on expansions, but more on the community to enhance the experience. And even SimCity 4 sans Rush Hour felt complete. SimCity 2013 just feels like a game that might have needed a few more months of development just dedicating to adding as much stuff as possible. At least arcologies are back, right?

I always hated arcologies.

As I'm typing this, I'm wondering if Giant Bomb needed another negative SimCity rant to clog up the site? And my answer is yes, yes it does. Despite EA's best efforts, there may be hope for the future. SimCity's existence is putting the city building simulation genre back on the map so that's a plus. If EA or another company wishes to revisit the genre, they know there is an audience of wannabe urban planners who would stab their own mother to get a hold of a new SimCity or a competent SimCity clone. Cities XL came surprisingly close, but that game had its own issues, one of them being an uninspired MMO portion that was scrapped after just a few months after the initial launch. Some SimCity fans might be a bit demanding, but what we ultimately want is lots of customization, as many building types/styles as possible and enough space to build the city of our wildest dreams. Sadly, I don't think SimCity does any of that.

On the other hand, it's kinda fun?

You may have heard of a new Nintendo console that sounds very similar to their last console. They call it the Wii U and it's taking America by storm, I think. Anyway, I got one of those things and the Wii U is actually a landmark moment in my video game life as it is the first console I ever brought home at launch. So here's what I think of this oversized DS for your living room.

Yeah: The Miiverse is actually brilliant!

I think we all know Nintendo's history with the internet. They either ignored it the past several years or didn't know how jack shit about the internet. I think the Miiverse is a gigantic step forward for Nintendo and they found a way to make it interesting and fun. The Miiverse is like this weird amalgamation of Xbox Live, Steam and that Nintendo magic. Friend Codes are gone (Yeah!) and the Miis have meaning again. (Fuck Yeah!) The Miiverse experience is mostly a giant bulletin board separated by game or app so yes, there is a Nintendo Land community and a TANK! TANK! TANK! community. Some have been hijacked by the insane like the Funky Barn and Rabbids Land communities (fucking Jim Sterling) and some are clusterfucks due to their popularity and game-specific Miiverse features (Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U) and yet it's one of the coolest online features on any console. What makes it so awesome is the option to go all Mario Paint and draw a picture or write something by hand. Oh, and there are a lot of artists in the Miiverse. Seriously, there are lots of talented artists in the Miiverse which makes for some impressive imagery despite its limitations.

The Miiverse is pure Nintendo in all the right ways.

Yeah: The eShop is actually user-friendly!

The Wii Shop was (and is) still a chore to navigate. It's even more of a chore now that there's an extra step or two to go to Wii mode. I think Nintendo learned a few things along the way and finding and buying games are much easier in every way possible. I just wish you can access the Virtual Console and WiiWare games from the current eShop. It's nice to see Nintendo adding day one downloads for full retail games, but I will stick with discs for now since it's not the standard.

Unyeah: Not everything works or works right.

On day one, the Wii U was missing a few things like YouTube, Amazon, Hulu and Nintendo TVii. Today, Nintendo TVii is still unavailable and the YouTube app is a mess. If the Miiverse is to be believed (and in this case it is), YouTube on the Internet browser is much better. The browser itself is serviceable, but it's not perfect. Giant Bomb works alright, but not everything will work properly. It's a bummer, but I never expected the Wii U to replace my laptop or my phone in that department.

Unyeah: And it took a lot of time to get shit to work!

That first night with the Wii U was spent setting up the internet connection, transfarring my Wii info to the Wii U and that dastardly update. That update was a fucker! It was until a good night's sleep later that I finally got to try some games. First world problems, I know. I guess if there's any consolation, I found out that Pikmin lived in my Wii the whole time.

Yeah: The Gamepad is a pretty sweet device.

I never expected to be playing games on the Wii U with the TV off, but I've been doing just that fairly often. It's not the best-looking screen I've seen, but the games still look great and the lag is not even noticeable. It's much lighter than I had anticipated and it's comfortable, just not Xbox controller comfortable. Then again, would I expect that level of comfort with a controller housing a 6" screen? Anyway, I see tons of potential with this device and hopefully 3rd party publishers can find cool ways to use the extra screen.

Yeah: The games, yo!

Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land is trying to become the next Wii Sports and it does in some respects, not so in others. First things first, motion controls and camera controls don't mix. It's more distracting than fun. Now that the big unyeah is out of the way, the games i have played are pretty neat. The personal favorite has been Animal Crossing: Sweet Day followed by Donkey Kong: Crash Course. As expected, Nintendo Land is better with friends, but some of the single player experiences are worth trying out. Nintendo Land is a decent package that gives newcomers the basics on how the system works and in that sense, it could be the next Wii Sports. It's also a decent minigame for us "experts" who eat, sleep and breathe Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Pikmin, pretty much anything Nintendo. However, I don't see grandma warming up to Nintendo Land like they did Wii Sports.

New Super Mario Bros. U

It's a Mario game. There's no big surprise or innovation this time, it's just a well-made Mario game where you have to save the Princess from Bowser. Stomp on bosses three times, drop down pipes, don't fall into pits, the usual. If you hate Mario, this game won't persuade you. If you love Mario, you're in for another great Mario experience. The most ironic thing about New Super Mario Bros. U is that the Gamepad doesn't add much to the experience. The game states that you can use a Wii Remote to play and the only reason to use the Gamepad is if you're either too lazy to turn on the TV or everybody else wants to watch Honey Boo Boo. Oddly enough, I haven't tried the multiplayer yet, but I can say it's chaotic based on the previous game.

Little Inferno

I fucking love World of Goo. I don't fucking love Little Inferno, but I do like Little Inferno despite not really being a game in the traditional sense. To be honest, it's more of a fireplace simulator with a weird story attached to it. The objective is to burn things together to create combos which makes you more money to buy more stuff to burn. Lather, rinse, repeat until you finish the game. While I am disappointed that Little Inferno didn't move me like World of Goo did, it ended up being pretty addictive, humorous, dark and even a bit emotional at times. I have no problems recommending Little Inferno, but keep the expectations down a little.

The verdict!

It's impossible to say if the Wii U will be a massive flop or the second coming of the Wii, but I think Nintendo has something here that can be amazing if they don't screw it up. I don't see that killer app just yet, but don't ever count Nintendo out... that's what they're expecting. What the Wii U has now is a good launch lineup with a handful of games worth researching to find out if they're right for you. Yeah, there are some unnecessary ports like Mass Effect 3 and Batman: Arkham City, but people are enjoying ZombiU and Scribblenauts Unlimited and even the often ridiculed Funky Barn is getting some positive feedback. Maybe the Wii U is destined for great things? Wii will see.

600.

2012 has not been a good year for video games so far. It doesn't bother me that much since I have several games I can fall back on... yet I don't. So that's why I'm looking ahead at the games of the 2nd half of 2012 and early 2013. I won't bore you with the obvious ones (SimCity, Bioshock Infinite, Borderlands 2, Watch Dogs, Mario Bros. University) so I can tell you about some that haven't received much attention. Here we go!

3. Bit.Trip Runner 2

WiiWare had a few solid games, many of them are part of the Bit.Trip series. They were all great games and I include Bit.Trip Runner as one of the greats, but goddamn it's hard. It is not an easy game when you lack rhythm. So why Bit.Trip Runner 2? I'm hoping there's hope for me yet. I can still give Runner a chance now that I have both the Wii and PC (thanks Steam sale) versions. I'm also positive the game will be on the affordable side so I can skip Taco Bell for a day. For the benefit of my colon.

2. Retro City Rampage

I'm a sucker for faux 8-bit nostalgia, something Retro City Rampage is all about. Take your favorite NES games, add some Grand Theft Auto, and you've won me over. Now all it needs is to be released. I've been waiting for quite some time now and patience is wearing thin.

1. Little Inferno

Any group of people which includes one of the dudes who made World of Goo is okay in my book. If they want to make a game, go for it. And apparently that's happening. There's also some Henry Hatsworth dude and... another guy who did some stuff. It doesn't matter, the game looks promising, even if it's about a fireplace.

And that trailer. Fucking dark.

So excited for these and more. Video games.

• The glowing reviews from critics and fans who praised Xenoblade Chronicles?
• The grassroots organization known as Operation Rainfall who began pushing the release of Japan-only Wii games last year?
• The lack of anything worthwhile on the Wii in 2012?
• The hope of a JRPG that maybe I might like?
• Hailinel?

The part of the blog where I explain why Xenoblade Chronicles is awesome.

But Dalai, did Xenoblade Chronicles change your opinion on Japanese role-playing games?

Speaking of Operation Rainfall, Dalai, did it change your opinion on petitions?

Coming soon to Dalai's blog! 
 

• Dalai talks about what the fuck he's been doing while not blogging. Mostly looking at pornography, but I'm sure I'll think of something else I did.
• Dalai looks back at the 100 hours of Xenoblade Chronicles he has endured and wonders why he never finished it yet.
• Dalai reminisces about the Steam sale that ended recently and the games he may or may never install.
• And finally, Dalai looks ahead to the latter half of 2012 and all those games he is looking forward to not completing.

For those who follow me like a dirty stalker, you might know that I am a connoisseur of city-building strategy games, particularly SimCity. I am not ashamed to admit to the hundreds (okay, thousands) of hours spent between the 4 main games... and the two SimCity 2000 spinoffs. Remember Streets of SimCity and SimCopter? Not the greatest bearers of the Sim name, but it was the late 90s. Anyway, the last few years have been all quiet on the SimCity front as I expanded my horizons with other games. Then about a month ago, this happened.

My procrastination has come to an end! I am here to because I still need to talk 2011... although I am the last to do so. It's not so bad finishing last, really. Nice guys finish there according to the quote, "Nice guys finish last."

Before you all think I've been drinking, let me move on and give you my top 3 games of 2011. And let me warn you now.

Spoilers ahoy!

3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a Zelda game. And although Skyward Sword does play it safe sticking to what worked for Zelda in the last 25 years, it also makes some strides in other areas that make Skyward Sword stand out among the crowd this year. The most noticeable change I saw in Skyward Sword was the combat and its major overhaul to fit the underutilized MotionPlus technology. Right now, Skyward Sword makes a very strong case for the use of motion controls in the future of gaming with the some of the most immersive controls on the Wii. We're not quite at 1:1 controls yet, but controlling Link's sword and weaponry just feels more natural and more gratifying than a simple button press. Not everyone has had success with the controls, but somehow I was able to swing the Wii Remote accurately with very few hiccups. I will admit some of the motion controls might fare just as well without the MotionPlus. Bomb rolling feels like I'm back playing Wii Sports, the hookshot is just like in Twilight Princess, and gaining altitude on your giant bird is a waggling mess, but other than the flying parts, they pretty much nailed the controls.

Skyward Sword might also be Nintendo's best effort in storytelling in their history. Skyward Sword is a more cinematic experience than previous games, and it tells a great story of how Link, Zelda, and Ganon are intertwined in this never-ending battle for the Triforce... despite the lack of voice acting. Actually, this might be the last time I will forgive Nintendo for not adding dialogue to its secondary characters.

I guess what people expect the most out of a Zelda game is the actual adventuring, the clever puzzles, and epic boss battles, right? Well Skyward Sword retains what made the previous games so great in those fields and adds a little bit of spin to the structure. Not every boss battle follows the rule of three, the surface world where most of the fighting happens feels like 20 dungeons glued together, and some of the puzzles are among the best I've seen in the series. And no torch puzzles... not a one. There's still block pushing and arrows to the knee eye, but I loved how the game was able to utilize all of Link's gadgets in a meaningful way, and not just in that one dungeon where you found the item. Hell, the flying beetle might be the best thing to happen to Link's inventory since the hookshot. Even many of the bosses were great to battle... but not The Imprisoned! Sorry, but fighting the same boss three times was a chore.

Skyward Sword is not perfect and like Jeff Gerstmann said in his infamous Twilight Princess review, some of the game feels stuck in the past. I would like to see the next Zelda make a left turn like Majora's Mask or add those modern touches like voice acting, CGI cutscenes, HD visuals, and towns with more than a few signs of life, but Skyward Sword was able to make an impact without all the shininess we see on other consoles.

2. Terraria

I understood why Minecraft was so popular, but it was never a game that interested me in the least. And I am a fan of building shit. When I first heard of Terraria, it was just beginning to gain some buzz among the indie gaming crowd so for $9.99, it was worth a look. 150+ hours later, I can safely say that Terraria is a game about building shit... and mining, exploring, fighting monsters, PvP arena battles, and teamwork. I think what makes Terraria one of my favorite games of 2011 is how it combines what I love about games into a total package of awesome. 16-bit graphics? Check. Constructing structures to my specifications? Check. Epic boss fights? Check. Exploring strange, new worlds? Check.

If you're unaware of what Terraria is, it's an open-ended game where you explore a randomly-generated world filled with riches and evil. The ultimate goal is to kill every boss and search through as much of the world as humanly possible... and depending of the size of the world, it can takes dozens and dozens of hours to see it all. Finding all the goodies underground is great, but I find that building an underground fortress or a castle made of gold is just as much fun. If you've been to the Terraria community site or the defunct Giant Bomb server, you saw the extraordinary things people have built. And yeah, that includes giant dicks.

And Level 1-1. Look it up.

Terraria is a game where you make your own fun, plain and simple. And the tools given to you make damn sure you'll have fun.

1. Portal 2

I knew within the first hour that Portal 2 was going to be in the running this year. I came to that conclusion after I was introduced to Wheatley and his neurotic personality. After a few more hours, I knew Portal 2 was going to be tough to top after Nolan North's performance as the growing collection of hilariously broken defective turrets. A little while later, I was introduced to Cave Johnson and that pretty much sealed the deal for me. So Portal 2 is my game of the year, but it's not all because of combustible lemons and potato humor.

Portal 2 is my game of the year because it expands the original Portal while not adding cheap laughs and unnecessary filler. Spreading out one of my favorite games of the generation into a larger sequel was a little risky, but in the end, Portal 2 ended up becoming one of the funniest, best written games I have ever played and one of the rare games that made me feel both stupid and brilliant without making me frustrated in anger.

There's rarely a dull moment in Portal 2 as long as they keep throwing science at you. They added a few gels that add an extra layer of thinking to several of the puzzles, and the traditional tests are just as devilish as ever, yet all are solvable and very satisfying when passed. And if you remember the latter half of Portal when you escaped the test chambers and saw the gritty behind the scenes work of Aperture Science, well that's back, but it occurs periodically throughout the game and you're bouncing between the "outside world" and the test chambers. Some of the best parts are the more dramatic parts where you're running along catwalks while science is being made around you.

But it's Portal 2's story and sense of humor that places it over the top among the games of 2011. There are more memorable characters in Portal 2 than in any other game combined this year. GLaDOS is as lovely as ever, but it's the combination of Wheatley, Cave Johnson, and Nolan North that made me laugh out loud on more than several occasions while playing. There are so many hilarious moments that listing them all would take too long. And if the humor isn't enough, they expanded on the history of Aperture Science and you get a great history lesson of the company. Not only is it entertaining, but educational.

Finally, the ending. That beautiful ending. When that bright moon was exposed in front of my eyes, my thought pretty much went like, "You gotta be shitting me!" I'm not sure why, but that moment just came out of nowhere and threw me for a loop. That moment was just icing on the... cake. However Still Alive is the better song. Nice try anyway, Mr. Coulton.

And I barely touched the co-op, but what I've played was wonderful... and I'm not a big fan of co-op.

Portal 2 is another near-flawless game from Valve that I will fondly remember for many years to come. It's everything I could have hoped for in a sequel and more.

Now I'm ready for 2012. Bring me Bioshock Infinite!

I have played Mega Man 2. Several times. Usually I've played Mega Man 2 alone with the TV turned up so all my neighbors can listen and say to themselves, "He's playing Mega Man 2 again. Awesome!" Never once have I had my session of Mega Man 2 accompanied by a band. This guy has done it.

MAGFest is an annual event that combines the world of video games with the world of music. When these worlds collide, you get the cosmic greatness above. Excellent job, Bit Brigade. You've destroyed us all... and it's glorious.

And thumbs up to the player for not dying and being super-efficient.

2012 is here and everybody has reflected on 2011 in some fashion. It was a year of Charlie Sheen, Rebecca Black, smelly protesters, and that homeless guy with the awesome voice. In games, it was the year of the number 3, dragons, and SPAAAAAACCE! I can't say I enjoyed 2011 as much as previous years, but despite the numerous sequels, lack of originality, and overall fatigue of this generation of games as a whole, there was plenty for me to like. And with that, here's my 2011 in review.

Just as a fair warning, I did not play a whole lot of new games this year so I had to dig into the past... just like I do every year.

Pre-2011 Games

Aquaria

I did not play nearly as much Aquaria as I should have, but it makes my list this year because Aquaria was able to make an entire game set underwater good. Perhaps the other reason why I like Aquaria is its exploration and open-world feeling... like Super Metroid and Castlevania. I call it Metroidvania. Anyway, Aquaria separates itself from other Metroidvania games with its oceanic theme, colorful graphics, and amnesia. Another standout feature is the narration which is similar to how Bastion treated narration... except it's narrated by the character and she doesn't talk nearly as often. Unfortunately, it didn't grab my attention as much this year so hopefully 2012 is the year I finally get to sit down and get more acquainted with Naija and the surrounding world.

Chrono Trigger

If I were giving out awards, Chrono Trigger would win the "Best RPG of 1995 That Isn't Earthbound." I started playing Chrono Trigger just before Ryan and Patrick started their Endurance Run, but 16 years after its initial SNES release... but better late than never. I think you all know enough about Chrono Trigger now that the Endurance Run is nearing the end, but I can say that the classic gameplay still holds up well today. From the unique cast of characters to the wide range of settings, Chrono Trigger remains one of the high points in JRPG design and execution.

Indigo Prophecy

Or Fahrenheit if you will. Indigo Prophecy plays like no other game I've ever played. It's part point-and-click adventure, part Simon. However, the "action" is not what makes the game in this case. Indigo Prophecy is built around the story more than anything else so liking the game depends almost solely on whether the story and dialogue is well done. And... yeah, the story of Lucas Kane is an interesting one to put it lightly. It starts off with Lucas in a trance-like state murdering a guy in a diner and somehow ends with him being Keanu Reeves. Even though the Mayan connection and the Lucas/Carla attraction came out of left field, Indigo Prophecy was a one-of-a-kind game at the time and fans of adventure games who want something different should give it a try.

Limbo

Of all the games I've played this year, Limbo has to be the darkest, most emo of the bunch. As a platformer, it ranks high among the best this generation. As soon as the game begins, you find yourself in a dark forest running through the dank trying to survive. You're just a boy... no superpowers, no background, no nothing. The goal is to traverse the landscape avoiding giant spiders, man-made traps, and the environment. As a puzzle game, it's brilliant and makes you think before you proceed, although trial-and-error can be used to pass through the game as well because Limbo is forgiving with its many checkpoints. Artistically, the lack of color and the silhouettes might seem lazy to people who like some color, but it works to the game's advantage making Limbo scarier than it would be if it were in full color. Overall, Limbo is an excellent game that... I still need to finish. Damn, I suck at completing games. It's my fault because Limbo is not a long game.

Mass Effect

Many of you have witnessed the tale of Commander Shepard and the gang through two games and are looking forward to the 3rd entry later this year, but I'm late to the BioWare party. Although the game came out back in 2007, I was still amazed by the scale of Mass Effect in both the size of the game's universe and the detailed history given to just about everything. It doesn't do everything perfectly, but the few issues didn't hamper my experience one bit.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade

Here's a game listed in my best of 2009 blog so... why bring it back? Because I spent more than a few hours with the game this time. However, I stand by my approval for Muramasa and its lovely style and action.

Plants vs. Zombies

Tower defense was never this good, but the premise makes zero sense. Why are plants fighting zombies? More accurately, why is Crazy Dave using plants to fight zombies? Because he's hardcore? Whatever the reason is, Plants vs. Zombies is surprisingly complex for a cutesy, casual game.

Now for this year's games.

2011 Honorable/Slightly Less Honorable Mentions

Bastion

Of the 2011 games I played, Bastion ranks last in the amount of time spent. 20 minutes, actually. So expect Bastion on my 2012 list, but those 20 minutes of Bastion made me realize why people have been praising the game the past several months. Damn if that narrator is the James Earl Jones of video games! I must make room for Bastion this year.

Bulletstorm

Somehow I was hoping Bulletstorm was going to be the game to break the mold and make shooters exciting again. That didn't happen, but it's not like Bulletstorm is a bad game. It's a shooter that doesn't quite take itself that seriously and the dialogue pretty much proves that. It put dicktits on the map, but for most of us, that's the game's legacy. I do have to give People Can Fly and Epic Games some kudos for developing a solid game with some great set pieces and dozens of different ways to kill. If you were hesitant about Bulletstorm, just get it for cheap and strap it on. Seriously, though. Dicktits?

Dicktits.

de Blob 2

I will come out and say that I really like de Blob and getting the sequel was a no-brainer to me. I fully expected de Blob 2 to be a great game on par with the original, but sadly it wasn't the case in my opinion. De Blob 2 was a familiar game that brought very little that was new to the table and the biggest change (the 2D platforming sections) felt sluggish. I still believe de Blob 2 is a good platformer that stays true to the original with an underrated soundtrack and loads of gooey charm.

The Binding of Isaac

The Binding of Isaac can be best described as fucked up. You mainly play as Isaac, a scared naked fetus boy who is trying to escape his overly-religious mother because she's trying to kill him. It's a classic Old Testament story... right? Anyway, The Binding of Isaac is my first true experience with this weird roguelike genre and the randomness has kept me from discounting this game. The design almost mirrors The Legend of Zelda (the first one) so a hint of nostalgia lingers despite the blood, ooze, and creepy enemies that want Isaac's flesh. The Binding of Isaac might take bit and pieces from older games, but it's a departure from pretty much anything out there and because of that, it stands out.

I have a top 3 which I will dig into later, but chew on this for a while.

As a side note, Dead Island will likely be on next year's list. I sneaked a few hours of that game on New Year's Eve and if I had played it earlier, it would be among the games above, jank and all.

So here's the deal. I wasn't really interested in Dead Island until about a week or two ago. Like many of you, I wanted no part in any games that showcase the latest in zombie technology. I've had my fill of Left 4 Dead a few years back and I was happy leaving the zombies behind. Then the Steam sale came along and Christmas. Combine the two and I get a nice gift from my brother, that gift being Dead Island. The game was chosen by me so I am to blame if I hated its take on the apocalypse by zombie infection. But I just said I was sick of zombie games... well... Dead Island actually looked pretty neat. It seemed like my type of zombie game. Little gunplay, sharp objects, blunt objects, and a strangely original setting on the fictional island of Banoi, originally called Hanoi until Ryan Davis thought swapping the H for a B would be hilarious. The pieces were there, but would it be any good?

Believe it or not, the answer might be yes. I'm not sure why because there are aspects of the game that I simply don't like. For example, everybody is either depressed or scared. I understand zombies are serious business, but most of the people on the island are either downers or cowards. They want me to do everything, selfish fucks. Speaking of me, I'm cursing a lot in the game. I figured I chose the white male douche because they make for the best fighters in zombie apocalypses, but tone the shit down, game. What else... Dead Island is fucking hard! I'm opting for the single player because playing with other people just ain't my thing unless it's a deathmatch or competitive scenario. I'm not sure if that makes a difference, but how am I supposed to fend off 7 or 8 walkers at once? Luckily the game doesn't exactly punish people hard for not living so balance? And oh, the jank. And the shitty driving. And the occasional mission where you have to fetch bottles of Jack Daniels.

So do I like anything about Dead Island? Well, the entire package works despite the issues. Think about it, it's a zombie infestation! People should be fearful and afraid to go outside. There should be large groups of zombies together to make the apocalypse almost impossible to survive. There should be fetch quests for booze because alcohol is cool and tastes great.

Several hours in, I find myself enjoying parts of Dead Island to the point that I will sometimes forget about the rough edges. For starters, killing zombies is fun because it's all about the melee. Shooting zombies is boring, right? Chopping off the head of a walker with a sickle or an axe is much more gratifying than just pulling out the gun and trying to pull off a headshot. Continuing onto the next point, Banoi is a lovely place for a zombie attack. It's like Sandals or Beaches, but without the kids running around bugging you for attention. The actual city I found myself in later in the game looks less inviting, though. I swear that city is actually a lost Call of Duty multiplayer map. But hey, zombies.

I can attempt to go on, but the bottom line is that I like Dead Island. It ain't perfect, but it's really great if you can live with the jank.

On an unrelated note, where is my 2011 in review? I have a Game of the Year to announce. No it's not Dead Island, silly.