Courtesy of systech: the little bug sprite in the lower leftRecently, something has upset me. Upon checking out TokyoChicken's latest blog, I noticed that systech has created a pretty awesome promotional poster-like thing for Bomb Should Have A Face. As you can see, it's a bit like a patchwork quilt, made using the icons of all the most popular and iconic regulars on Giant Bomb. A quick glance over the collage threw up some familiar faces. For example, the Notorious BoG can be seen in the bottom right of the image. The trademark dragonfly associated with Rowr is somewhere in the middle of the picture. I even spotted veteran blogger turned secret agentSweep's infamous burger loitering down in the bottom left corner. After the excitement of recognising so many fellow Giant Bombers, I scanned the whole sheet looking for my icon. I couldn't see it. I backed up and checked again, to see if I'd stupidly missed it. Nothing. I then remembered I change my icon fairly regularly, so I analysed the image for a third time to see if one of my old icons had been used. Nope.
I'll be honest - it upset me a little bit. It's fairly trivial, I know, but it gets to me nonetheless. I'd like to think I'm a fairly well-known Giant Bomb user, and not being included on this majestic piece of art makes me feel a little sad. After thinking about it for a little while, I came to the conclusion that this could be because I don't have an icon that defines me as a user. Looking round, all the other regulars have instantly recognisable icons that have become synonymous with them. BiggerBomb has his famous MS Paint faces, Hamz has stuck with the Shinra Electric Power Company logo, and Disgaeamad is instantly recognisable thanks to the guitar-playing rodent in his icon. Because I've been changing my icon to represent what I've been playing recently, there is no one image that represents me as a user.
...Or perhaps this?Maybe this?...The point of this little story/rant is that I'm thinking of getting myself a permanent icon, one that can instantly be attributed to me. I'm not sure exactly what just yet, but I've got a couple of ideas which you can see on the right. All I know right now is that it has to be something distinctive, unique, and personal to me. I don't want it to be game-related, because even though this is a site about games, I'd like my icon to represent me personally. Again, it seems like a trivial thing, but I'd like to be recognised on some level within the community by somebody other than just SuperMooseman (who himself has an awesome Sam & Max icon). Obviously, the other side of this is that I'll have to make my presence felt a little more within the community too, something I've been working on anyway.
No other way of putting it - TR: Underworld is frickin' gorgeousIn games-related news, my foray into the mass of new releases from the past couple of months has been only very slight. Being a Uni student, I can't afford to keep splashing out on new releases, knowing I'd only be able to afford one or two. To be sociable, I decided to get hold of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (as anybody who read my last blog will probably know) and it's gone down a storm in my flat. The big downside of this, though, is that it's affecting everybody's ability to concentrate on their work. With assignments due in over the next couple of weeks before we break up for the Christmas holidays, I think it's best that I lock it away for a while so people can get on with their essays. I also bought Tomb Raider: Underworld last week while I was in town. A bit of a shocking choice, considering the other high profile games that have been released recently like Gears of War 2 and Fallout 3. I haven't played it much, but I really enjoyed Legend and Anniversary, and from what I've seen so far, Underworld maintains the same standards. My only concern is that it feels like it's going to be pretty short, so I'm hoping there's plenty of unlockable stuff to be getting on with after I finish it. I'm also playing the original Saints Row. I decided to order it after watching my flatmate playing the sequel, and I have to admit it's pretty fun. It's impossible to take seriously, mind, and there's no way I could see anybody getting attached to the story or characters in the way made possible by Grand Theft Auto. Nonetheless, it's a nice distraction.
I think that just about wraps this blog up. Thanks for reading, and see you around.
DanK
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Currently playing - Tomb Raider: Underworld (X360) 14 Comments
Me. Being bitten. Uni is awesome!It's been almost a month since my last blog post, when I proudly stated that I was officially "back on the Bomb". Being at Uni, however, I have a lot of other stuff to be getting on with. There are assignments to be written, pints to be consumed, and a girl who's both captivated and annoyed me. Still, despite all these hold-ups, this is (from a literal standpoint at least) very true. I've been checking in on Giant Bomb pretty much daily to read the latest editorial content, check out the advancements made on some of the Wiki pages and pick up the latest instalments of the best blog on the Bomb. I've read all the awesome reviews (as well as the not-so-awesome ones), seen all the quality videos and listened to all the Bombcasts. In that respect, it's like I've never been away.
So I am definitely back on the Bomb, there's no doubt about that. What I've failed to do, though, is to get back in the Bomb. Reading all the reviews and features is all well and good, but I haven't re-integrated myself into the excellent Giant Bomb community. After five weeks away from the goings-on of the forums and the IRC, I have no idea what I've missed. Was there a massive user rebellion against the mods? Have I missed any golden Godhand moments? Is SuperMooseman still watching The Real Hustle? It's pretty upsetting that I don't know the answers to any of these questions (although it's probably safe to assume that Moose is still watching The Real Hustle). So I've developed a plan. I'm going to devote around an hour of each evening to re-establishing myself within this brilliant online community. I'm going to get back in the IRC, make myself known again on the forums, make some much-needed Wiki edits and catch up with all those unheard episodes of BSHAF clogging up my iTunes. In summary, expect to see a bit more of me from now on.
Thank you for listening and making it betterIn terms of games, I haven't really played a lot since I've been here. There are a couple of gamers in the flat, which is nice because it means I have people to talk to about what's going on in the gaming world. There are a few casual players too, which is cool. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, four of the girls in my flat bundled into my room to play the original Crash Bandicoot, which was a great laugh (plus it means I get to tell people I had four girls in my room the other night). Personally, I've been getting to grips with the 360 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and I'm already much more impressed by it than I was by last year's effort. Naturally, it has some issues (the computer-assisted pressing feels broken, to name but one), but on the whole it's a big leap forward for the next-gen iterations of the franchise. I'm particularly impressed by the off-the-ball movement of players, which was definitely lacking in PES 2008. Aesthetically it's a major improvement, with some sweet looking players and stadia, a much nicer menu system and a distinct lack of God-awful J-Pop in the soundtrack.
I've also had a little look at Saints Row 2, which one of my flatmates bought last week. I really enjoyed Grand Theft Auto IV and the emphasis it placed on story, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the excess and craziness of Vice City and San Andreas. Now that it's been established that both franchises are going in very different directions, it seems a lot more viable to check out the alternative. Unfortunately, I can't afford the new game on my ridiculously limited student budget, so I've ordered myself a cheap copy of the original Saints Row to check it out.
I think that about sums it up. Thanks for reading. I hope to see you guys around on the IRC soon.
DanK
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Currently Playing - Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (X360) 2 Comments
Hey guys! After a week away from the forums, the IRC and the site, I'm back. I've got a few things I want to say and I don't have a huge amount of time to say them in, but I'll do my best to squeeze in as much as I can.
My new home. Pretty nice place, if I do say so myselfAs you may be able to tell from the title of this blog, the reason I haven't been active on Giant Bomb recently is because I came to University a week ago. I'm studying English Language & Literature at the University of Essex, in Colchester, and really enjoying it so far. The first couple of days were really daunting, but now I've settled in I can offer some opinions on the place. I'm living on campus, in student accommodation with fifteen other people, all of whom are friendly and easy to get on with. The campus itself is pretty big, and offers everything from teaching and studying facilities and libraries through to on-site clubs and bars. The only thing it's missing is a place to play darts (something I'm very annoyed about, being an avid player). I'm not much of a club person, so I've spent most of Freshers' Week checking out the bars with a couple of new friends. We've seen some live bands, played some pool and had plenty to drink. Today I have my first lecture and class, so I need to shift back to an academic mindset and prepare myself for the year ahead.
I may be the only person on the planet who hasn't played this yetOf course, being wrapped up in Freshers' Week means I haven't done much besides eat, drink and socialise. Thus, although I brought a PS2 and an Xbox 360, I haven't really had any time to play anything besides a very short stint on Sonic Mega Collection Plus. I intend to put that right this week, but I'm not sure exactly how. I have Oblivion with me, which I've been meaning to start up ever since I bought it three months ago. I've also got a few PS2 games I own but have never played, among which are Devil May Cry 3, Canis Canem Edit and Killzone. If anyone has a suggestion then please leave a comment. I'm terrible when it comes to making choices about what to play, so any input is greatly appreciated.
Please be better than last year's game. That's all I askThere are a couple of new games I'm interested in picking up before the year's out, although my student budget doesn't really allow me to indulge in such purchases. The first one is Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. I wasn't impressed by last year's effort, but what I've seen of this year's instalment has restored some of my faith. I'll probably wait and see what the game is like before I buy it, though (one of my flatmates is definitely picking it up, so I'll see how his copy holds up before I make the investment). The other game I'm interested in is Gears of War 2. Although I never played the original due to not owning a 360 at the time, I've been sort-of-following the pre-release build up and it does look awesome. If Gears 2 proves to be too expensive for my pitiful budget, at least after its release I'll be able to pick up a cheap copy of the original game.
As a final note, I'd like to say thanks to the people who've viewed my now-finished Jak 3 guide and rated it so highly. It's a huge boost to know that people value the work I put into that guide. Hopefully Version 2.00 of the guide will be coming fairly soon, introducing helpful maps and screenshots for checkpoint missions and the like. As soon as the update hits, this blog will be the first place you'll hear about it. See you all around.
DanK
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Currently playing - Sonic Mega Collection Plus (PS2) 2 Comments
Since the whole community drive started, I've been trying to get involved with other users a lot more. Last week, my influence within the Giant Bomb community didn't stretch any further than a few posts in the forums and reading the occasional blog post. Now I'm using the Giant Bomb IRC, participating in the Let's Play events, listening to the community podcast and just generally trying to have more of a community presence both on and off the site. I've been at Giant Bomb since the beginning, and it's been really interesting watching it grow into this community, filled with interesting users. It's also been great to see new site content springing up, and last night marked probably the biggest change since launch back in July.
I approve of these editsLast night, I stayed up til around 2am waiting for the new content to go live. I knew what to expect - a white skin for the site, a new homepage design, and the long-awaited guide function. Thanks go out to all the guys in the IRC last night who helped me to stay awake, especially Jeff for his unofficial BradFeed. I've got to admit, it was well worth the wait to see the new stuff. I'll break down my opinions in more detail below. What really excites me, though, is that apparently this is only the tip of the iceberg. If the inclusion of the Guide function is just a taste of what's to come, then I daren't even hazard a guess as to what's coming in the future.
MY EYES!!!!So, on to the new content, and I'll start with the white skin. I had a brief session with it last night, and I don't think I'll be having another. It's just not for me. That being said, I think it's great that other users who wanted a white version now have it. The new homepage, on the other hand, sits very nicely with me. The new layout is great, and the wiki section near the top is awesome (try hovering over the different categories, if you haven't already!). It seems to offer about ten times as much information as the old homepage but in the same amount of space, without looking cluttered.
Then there's the guides. Giant Bomb's guide system is phenomenal, I really can't put it in any other way. It makes you wonder why GameFAQs has rested on its laurels and treated the wall-of-text FAQ format as if it's the pinnacle of online guide creation. Giant Bomb's guide function is all about pushing the boundaries. Images, videos and tables can be effortlessly included, allowing for guides that cater for everybody's needs. The ability for multiple users to work on a guide is also a brilliant idea, which I foresee will only serve to further enhance the community-driven nature of this site. To sum it up, it makes GameFAQs look incredibly outdated, and as soon as guides start pouring in it'll only further assert Giant Bomb's place as the definitive online gaming encyclopedia.
Time to check out this new Guides function...Right now (literally, right now) I'm playing some Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. I'm nine and a half hours in and still enjoying the mindless slaughter of fantastical creatures as much as I was a week ago. I'm also playing Pokémon Gold, which I'm eight hours and four badges into. I'm going to do a blog write-up on it soon, but it won't be the conventional Discovering Gaming Greatness kind, so keep an eye out for that one. Then there's Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, which I'm still plodding on through, and I've restarted Jak 3 with the intention of writing a guide for it. If anybody wants to get involved in the creation of a Jak 3 guide, leave a comment or PM me and I'll get back to you. It'd be nice to work with somebody else, seeing as I don't have enough time to get a guide done quickly by myself. I've already laid out an outline for the guide, and I'll be gradually working on it over the coming months.
DanK
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Currently playing - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2) 5 Comments
Greetings to my readers. I thought I'd just offer up an update for anybody who cares what the situation is right now. I'm off to the University of Essex in a few weeks to start an English Language and Literature course. I can't believe how quickly it's come around, and I'm starting to get anxious about it. That's not to say I'm not looking forward to it. Quite the opposite, actually, I'm really looking forward to going, meeting new people and gaining a little more independence. I'll probably be moving down there on Sunday 28th September, so I really need to think about getting all my gear together, ready for when the time comes. Of course, I'll still be gaming. I intend to take my PS2, my PSP and my DS with me, which will hopefully be plenty to keep me busy. My 360 will be staying behind, though. Naturally, I'll still be frequenting Giant Bomb, updating this blog and listening to the Bombcast to keep up with all the important news.
General rule: If it moves, kill itOn the subject of games, I'm playing a few things at the moment. Currently in my PS2 is Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. It's a hack-n-slash action RPG with an emphasis on dungeon crawling, recommended to me by fellow Giant Bomb user Kush. I'm about five hours in and, despite a pretty slow start, I'm really getting into it now. The combat is simple but satisfying, with some interesting boss battles thrown in. There's also something really compelling about hoarding loot, warping out of a dungeon to sell it in town, and purchasing a bad-ass Morning Star of Disruption +1 before warping back to the dungeon and continuing the endless slaughter. If I have to criticise it at all, I'd have to say it lacks any real depth, but more the most part it's a lot of mindless fun and the perfect way to unwind.
CYNDAQUIL pwned enemy PIDGEYI've also dusted off my old GameBoy Pocket to get acquainted with Pokémon Gold. It's actually nice to be able to say that without feeling ashamed, as I've come to embrace the Pokémon franchise as a series of great RPGs in their own right. I have it on good authority that it's the best generation of the franchise, and from what I've played so far it's certainly superior to Pokémon Blue, which I wasted hours on as a ten-year-old fanatic. On the other hand, there's Diamond, which is graphically superior to Gold and also has a pretty good story as far as the series goes. I'm only two badges into the main quest of Gold and I'm already addicted to the simple formula. I won't go into too much detail about it, as I anticipate writing a Discovering Gaming Greatness entry for it when I'm finished with it.
RPGs are pretty much the order of the day right now, considering the vast number of them I own but haven't yet finished. I'm still grinding through Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PSP, and still loving every single second. Given my DS has been neglected recently, I've decided to get stuck into Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. I'm a huge fan of Final Fantasy, and Square Enix games in general, but I honestly wasn't expecting too much from Ring of Fates when I slotted the cartridge into my DS and turned on the power. The first half an hour was an almost intolerable series of sequences featuring annoying kids, a Lilty who talks like an annoying kid, and a smattering of clichés (how many times must games tell us "You can do anything if you just believe"?). I was very, very tempted to give up on it there and then, but I decided to grin and bear it, and I'm very glad I did.
Ring of Fates has an involving battle system that's a lot of funFrom the first dungeon onwards, I forgot all about the terrible set-up, and after a couple of hours I didn't have to worry about anything like that (except the annoying Lilty. Sadly, that doesn't change). The reason I cast all my apprehension aside is because of the gameplay. Ring of Fates takes everything that was great about Crystal Chronicles on the GameCube and adds more depth and more fun to it. At its core, you could argue that the combat isn't too dissimilar to games like the aforementioned Dark Alliance: you can just hit the A button and wait for things to die. However, you can do a lot more besides just swing your sword. You can jump onto enemies and stomp on them, pick them up and throw them at walls, cling onto flying enemies and damage them with punches... there's a lot more going on here than it may initially seem. There's a magic system, too, which is just as important in puzzle-solving as it is in battle. You can also switch between characters on the fly by tapping the touch-screen, and each character has their own race-specific set of skills only they can use. It makes for some really deep, really fun tactical combat, and completely goes against the cutesy image given by the game's opening.
So there you have it. That's what's going on, what I'm playing and what I think about it. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for a War of the Lions-related Discovering Gaming Greatness, and my thoughts on Uni life.
DanK
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Currently playing - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (DS) 1 Comments
Resident Evil 4 caught me off-guard in more ways than oneIt's been a couple of weeks since my last Discovering Gaming Greatness blog, and I had a funny feeling I'd be writing one today. Just over a week ago, with the help of some forum-goers, I decided to give Capcom's Resident Evil 4 a shot. Originally released for the GameCube in 2005, I picked up a preowned copy of the PS2 port in late 2006 or early 2007 for the cheerful price of £14.97. I know this because when I pulled the box off the shelf, it was still bearing the price sticker from when I bought it. That's right, until a few days ago I'd never even entertained the thought of actually playing RE4, probably because of my lack of appreciation for the firstthreegames in the series. Regardless, I took the advice of my fellow Giant Bombers and decided to try it out. After dusting off the case and peeling off the stickers, I popped the disc in my PS2 and turned on the power. Over the past week I've dedicated a couple of hours a day to it, and now that I've finished the game I can safely say it's one of the most exhilarating and intense action games I've ever played.
As usual, I won't go into too much detail about the game's story. The player takes control of Leon Kennedy, an ex-cop turned bodyguard who's been sent to a secluded Spanish village to rescue the President's kidnapped daughter. Naturally, it won't be easy (we wouldn't have much of a game if it was). The village folk have been turned into mindless slaves by a parasitic lifeform known as Las Plagas, and they're hell-bent on stopping Leon by any means necessary. It's a pretty good set-up for a plot, and for the most part it's well executed. However, like a lot of Japanese action games, there are a lot of moments that are just plain weird. Without entering spoiler territory, there's an incident about halfway through the game that should be shocking and sad, but it's so clichéd I just ended up laughing hysterically. Leon aside, there's not a great deal of character development, and you'll probably leave the experience feeling pretty indifferent about the game's cast. I know I did.
Controlling Leon takes some getting used toThe first thing that hit me when I started playing Resident Evil 4 was the game's awkward control scheme. Perhaps it's because I've been playing so many first-person shooters lately, but when I first took control of Leon all I could think was "what the hell is going on here?". The game utilises a single analog stick control method, so all movement and aiming is assigned to the left analog stick, while the right gives you limited control of the over-the-shoulder camera. It feels unnecessarily clunky at first, and it took me about an hour before I felt fully comfortable controlling Leon. After settling down with the game, you'll start to realise what the developers were going for with the control scheme. The limited movement adds a lot of tension to the game's atmosphere and really helps to emphasise the claustrophobic feel of the game's environments.
Where did I put that shotgun...Now I've got that little gripe out of the way, I can focus on what I really liked about RE4: the combat. Resident Evil 4 features some of the most engaging and intense gunplay I've ever seen in an action game. The enclosed environments and fearsome enemies allow for some really heated gun fights, especially during the later stages of the game. A lot of this is attributable to the arsenal of weapons you'll pick up as you play, all of which will be of varying use depending on the situation you're in. For example, if you're up against a lone, slowly advancing Ganado, a basic handgun will suffice. If you've been cornered by several enemies, a shotgun would be a better choice. All of your weapons can be upgraded by the Merchant at various points in the game, which adds a light RPG element to the game and ensures you're not overwhelmed during the closing stages. Learning to effectively manage your weapons and conserve ammunition is key to success in RE4, and helps to keep the gameplay dynamic and interesting.
Another thing I love about Resident Evil 4 is its difficulty. I've heard somewhere that the game's difficulty level adapts to the player, thus providing an appropriate level of challenge based on their skill level. If this is true, then it's incredibly well implemented. In an age where most action games are content to hold the player's hand and guide them through the adventure from beginning to end with tutorials and such, RE4 simply sets the player down in a hostile environment and challenges them to survive. I died a lot while playing through the game (53 times, according to the counter on the "The End" screen), but I never got frustrated. When a game is challenging without becoming annoying, you know the developers are doing something right, and Capcom are masters at it (just look at Devil May Cry). Resident Evil 4 is the most difficult game I've played in some time, and I think that definitely works in its favour.
You won't soon forget the bosses in Resident Evil 4The last thing I want to praise Resident Evil 4 for is its boss battles, all of which are nothing short of memorable. From the confrontation against Del Lago in the middle of a lake, to the battles against Mendez and Salazar, right through to the final climactic showdown against Saddler, RE4 features numerous battles against increasingly more deadly, more resilient and more visually disturbing monsters. I'm not exaggerating when I say most of the bosses in the game caused my jaw to drop, either because of their presentation, their execution, or both. All these boss battles are highly tactical affairs, and you'll invariably have to exploit a weak point before launching a full-scale attack on the boss itself. Work the game's fulfilling combat into the equation, and Resident Evil 4's bosses become some of the best moments in any action game of its generation.
I wasn't expecting a lot from Resident Evil 4, which makes the fact I really enjoyed it even more satisfying. The only thing I regret about the experience is that it took me so long to get round to it. Now that the experience is over I'll be looking for something else to play. Feel free to check out my list of games I haven't finished yet and recommend something from it. After the experience I had from my last recommendation, I'll be sure to take all future suggestions into account.
DanK
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Currently playing - Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2) 2 Comments
Author's Note: Before I begin this countdown, I'd like to take this opportunity to warn all readers of this blog that it contains a lot of pretty major spoilers. Usually, I abhor spoilers and I like to avoid them at all costs. However, when dealing with a game's most moving scenarios, it's unavoidable. Therefore, I'm suggesting that if you haven't finished any of the games on this list and don't want them ruined for you, stop reading. The games are listed below, in alphabetical order:
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy X
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Shadow of the Colossus
You have been warned!
So, now that little disclaimer is out of the way, let's progress.
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I finished Half-Life 2: Episode Two this morning. The ending was incredibly saddening, and reminded me of the power of games as an entertainment medium. It also got me thinking about other moments in games that have moved me in the same way. After giving it a little thought, I came up with this: My Top Five Moving Moments In Games. Bear in mind these are my personal top five. If you don't agree, that's cool. I'd love to hear about other people's moving moments too, so feel free to leave a comment with your own favourites.
5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - The Final Boss
Metal Gear Solid 3 is one of the most cinematic games I've ever played. Admittedly, it suffers from the same problems as its predecessors; the cut-scene-heavy format, the clichéd and often awkward scriptwriting, and the insufferable attempts at making jokes. Despite all this, though, MGS3 tells an interesting and captivating story, and one of the most interesting threads in that story is the relationship between Snake and The Boss. The set up is pretty clichéd: The Boss, Snake's former mentor, betrays both her country and her protegé by defecting to the Soviet Union. Shortly afterwards, Snake is given the task of stopping her. Thus, the expected inner conflict begins.
It's no secret that Snake is going to have to fight and kill The Boss. It's set up as a mission objective right from the start of Operation Snake Eater. Still, that doesn't stop you, the player, from hoping that things will change before the end of the game. When Snake finally does take on The Boss in a field of white flowers, the battle that ensues is almost as memorable as the scene that follows it. To really cap it off, though, there's the incredible and unforeseen plot twist in the game's closing scenes. After learning of The Boss' true mission, Snake (now known as Big Boss) stands over her grave and cries. The relationship between Snake and The Boss is a highlight of MGS3, and a springboard for one of the series' most moving moments.
4. Shadow of the Colossus - Everything
Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that in my mind everybody should experience. The main reason for this is the emotional attachment that develops between the game and the player, despite the lack of storyline. The game's plot is almost non-existent; you are Wander, and accompanied by your horse Agro it is your task to slay the Colossi that roam the gameworld in an attempt to revive the fallen Mono. It's a simple set-up, granted, but the player can't help but be drawn into Wander's plight.
The game does a fantastic job of creating a vast gameworld for the player to traverse on horseback. One notable thing about the gameworld is its emptiness, which really emphasises Wander's isolation in this foreign land. Then there are the Colossi themselves: each one is huge, and appears to be a living entity. After slaying each Colossus and watching it fall to the ground, you can't help but be sucked in, both awe-struck and guilt-ridden by your deeds. The big moment, though, is Agro's death. After spending so long in the game, with only Agro for company, losing him at such a late stage is a major emotional blow. Team ICO have a knack for drawing out the emotions of the player. and Shadow of the Colossus is a great example.
3. Final Fantasy VII - Aerith's Death
The calm before the stormYou all knew it was coming, didn't you? Final Fantasy VII is a landmark RPG title, being the first 3D game in the series and the first instalment to make it to the UK. Despite the grandeur and epic nature of the game, one of its biggest and most poignant moments was the death of one of its main characters. Aerith is the first person we see after booting up the game for the first time; she is our introduction to the world of Gaia, the city of Midgar, and the story of protagonist Cloud Strife. As said story progresses, the characters' lives and emotions become deeply intertwined. Early signs of blossoming love become apparent as Cloud, Aerith and the rest of the AVALANCHE team continue their journey to stop Sephiroth.
Then comes the deathblow. After 25-30 hours of this blossoming romance, we witness a scene where Cloud tries to kill Aerith. Beyond that initial feeling of "what the fuck?!", the player is still trying to work out what's going on when Sephiroth falls from the sky and plunges his sword into Aerith's back. Then, the emotions begin to flow. Anger, sadness, disbelief, confusion, everything Cloud is feeling as he cradles Aerith in her dying moments. It's a deeply moving sequence, and directly affects Cloud's actions throughout the rest of the game.
2. Half-Life 2: Episode Two - Eli's Death
It's not prettyEpisode Two revealed a lot more in terms of story than any other Half-Life game. We start to learn more about the G-Man, and his influence over other people and events going right back to the original Half-Life. There's also further development of the relationship between Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance, and more insight into the bond between Alyx and her father, Eli. All these parts of the story start to become connected after the G-Man uses his influence over Alyx to convey a message to Eli. It turns out Eli has a thing or two to tell Gordon about their "mutual friend", and promises to tell him more after he and Alyx return from the Borealis.
Except, he doesn't. Right at the end of Episode Two, Gordon, Alyx and Eli are attacked by two Combine Advisors. Control is relinquished, and Gordon and Alyx can only watch helplessly as one of the Advisors kills Eli. The closing scene of the game shows Alyx crying over her father's lifeless body, whispering through her tears, "Don't leave me". The fact that the scene is so moving is a testament to the developers at Valve for making Alyx such a believable character.
1. Final Fantasy X - Tidus' Vanishing
Why couldn't it be like this?Top of my list is another scenario similar to MGS3. We knew the end was coming. We just didn't want to believe it was coming. Final Fantasy X was the first instalment in the series to make use of the PS2's capabilities, and the developers at Square used it to draw us even further into the plights of the characters. About two thirds of the way in, we learned that the main character Tidus was a dream of The Fayth, and that once Summoner Yuna completed her quest to defeat Sin, he would disappear. It seemed like a cop-out at first, and many players, myself included, chose to ignore it.
Boy, I wish I hadn't. The game's closing scene revealed the grim truth, and Tidus began to vanish. The moment when Yuna runs towards him and passes straight through him, before whispering "I love you", is the most moving moment I've ever witnessed in a game. I know this because, to date, it's the only time I've cried at a game. After over 120 hours of gameplay, 120 hours of growing attached to these characters, and a large portion of those 120 hours hoping Tidus and Yuna would end up together at the game's close, Tidus' vanishing was enough to move me to tears. That's why it sits at the top of this list.
DanK
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Currently playing - Resident Evil 4 (PS2) 2 Comments
It's a nice place to beWell, I'm there. It's taken just over a month of minor edits, full write-ups and screenshot assignments, but a few minutes ago I finally broke the 1000 point barrier with a fairly major edit on the Grand Theft Auto: The Classics Collection page. I'm really chuffed that I've made it to the four-digit mark. It makes me feel like I've really made a significant contribution to the Giant Bomb community, a community I've been getting more involved in since I became more active on the forums over the last few days. I'm also glad I've gained the ability to live-edit, as it means I can instantly correct any glaring errors on the wikis without having to wait for approval. I'm not going to push for 5000 points any time soon, as I'm not keen on the idea of being able to add pages willy-nilly, although there are some pages I'd like to change the main images for. I'll just take things easy and if the 5000 comes, it'll come naturally.
I'm a sucker for turn-based isometric strategyIn other (game-related) news, I've been grinding my way through Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PSP and I'm really enjoying it. I never got to experience it on the original PlayStation as it didn't come out in the UK, but I loved Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the GBA and the original game in the spin-off series holds up really well. The storyline has me hooked, and I have to say it's probably the best game story I've experienced in some time (and yes, I have played and finished GTAIV). The battle system is fantastically executed, too. It's a lot harder and less forgiving than its GBA successor, but I think that works in its favour. If you're a hardcore strategy RPG fan and haven't played this yet (that must be a very small group of people), I highly recommend it. I'll almost certainly do a Discovering Gaming Greatness post on it soon.
I'm also playing The Orange Box on my X360. More specifically, I'm working my way back through Half-Life 2 (I recently played it on Xbox), getting re-acquainted with it and snatching up some achievements before I get stuck into Episodes One and Two. I'm pretty close to finishing it now, and when I do I'll move straight on to the episodic content. I've also been dabbling with Portal's advanced maps, and I intend to play through the main game again with Developers' Commentary at some point. Since joining Giant Bomb, I've gone from barely knowing who Valve are to having a lot of respect for them.
Shoot zombies or climb colossi? Cast your votes!Finally, in a very unusual twist of events, my PS2 has been empty since I finished Splinter Cell. I feel very bad for neglecting it, and I'm going to get some use out of it. However, I'm not sure whether to return to Shadow of the Colossus, which I've not played for around eighteen months now, or to play through Resident Evil 4 for the first time (it's yet another one of those games I bought on impulse and never really played). So, I'm going to open it up to whoever reads this blog to decide: SotC, or RE4?
DanK
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Currently playing - Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)
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UPDATE (29th August 2008): I've decided, with the help of some forum-goers, to give Resident Evil 4 a shot. I'm about 4 hours in and really enjoying it so far. Expect a Discovering Gaming Greatness on it at some point in the next couple of weeks. 1 Comments
Prepare to lose a few hours of your life, several times overAs anybody who read my last blog entry will know, I picked up The Orange Box a couple of days ago. To be honest, I didn't think I'd be writing another Discovering Gaming Greatness blog for a little while. After all, I've already written one about Half-Life, and writing one about Half-Life 2 or either of its episodes would probably just end up being more of the same. Of course, I thought that before I'd played the piece of genius that is Portal. The experience I had with the game was so unlike anything else I've ever played, it definitely warrants its own blog. It throws all conventions and rules out of the window, and has inspired me to do the same.
Portal initially comes off as the runt of The Orange Box's litter. Sandwiched between the Half-Life 2 games and Team Fortress 2, both of which are established franchises in their own right, there doesn't seem much to Portal at first glance. Nonetheless, having already played HL2 and not being able to play TF2 (I really need to get my 360 online at some point), I decided to try it out first. What followed this whimsical decision was just over four hours of the most fun I've had with any game in a long while. After starting Portal at around midnight, I finally tore myself away from the screen at 4:15am, and the only reason for that was because the game came to an all-too-abrupt ending. I'd like to clarify something: I have never stayed up til quarter past four in the morning to play a game. It didn't happen with Final Fantasy VII, it didn't happen with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and it didn't even happen with Grand Theft Auto IV. The fact that it happened with Portal is a testament to just how much fun it is.
Try and work this one outPortal is, essentially, a first-person puzzle game. Using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, you have to create portals to solve puzzles and progress through the game's test chambers. There are nineteen test-chambers and although none of them are particularly long, each one will require a bit of lateral thinking to solve. The puzzles get more complex as you progress, and some of the later chambers are likely to mess with your head a little. There aren't any real enemies to contend with, and certainly no shooting. There's not a huge amount of backstory, nor is there any real aim to work towards (besides the promise of cake, of course). All you know is that you're being asked to move through the game's test chambers by a cynical AI named GLaDOS, and you don't seem to have much choice other than to follow its orders.
This stripped-down premise really works in Portal's favour, because it turns the brilliant gameplay into the main focus. Using portals, you can move cubes from one location to another, re-route energy orbs to open doors and much more. The portal mechanic makes for some truly awesome moments, all of which you'll have to experience to truly appreciate. You won't soon forget the first time you walk through a portal and end up at the other end of the room. It also means you'll really have to think about where you place your portals, which is where a lot of the challenge stems from. The later chambers really do demand some thought, but the answer is never impossible to figure out. It never gets frustrating to the point where it will make you want to smash your controller, simply because the game's fun factor refuses to let that happen. Portal doesn't feature any real combat, but the final boss battle is one of the best in recent times and rivals a lot of Zelda bosses in terms of application of thought.
R.I.P, Weighted Companion CubeThe other thing that makes Portal so endearing is its brilliant sense of humour, most of which is provided through GLaDOS' announcements. The cynical robotic tone delivers plenty of genuinely funny jokes, particularly during the game's last stages (the test chamber with the Weighted Companion Cube is a great example). There's the ongoing "cake" joke, too, which extends beyond the game's test chambers into the closing scene and even the theme song. Some of the humour is more subtle, and can be found written on walls in the game's final stages. Despite the dark tone presiding over the game's scantily detailed plot, there are a lot of moments that will make you laugh out loud as you play.
Portal doesn't have many shortcomings, and the ones present don't detract from the experience while you're playing. In fact, it's only after you finish the game that you'll realise its biggest flaw; clocking in at around four hours on the first playthrough, Portal is criminally short. This is forgiveable, because what there is of it is fantastic. It also offers some more difficult challenges as an extra incentive to play it again (not that you'll need an incentive). The main problem I have with Portal, and it's not a major one, is that it feels a bit like an experiment; something Valve wanted to put out there and test the water before incorporating the Portal mechanics into something much bigger and even more ambitious. I guess we'll just have to wait for Portal 2 and see what happens.
Given the diverse variety of game genres, as well as people's varying tastes, I don't usually recommend games universally. However, Portal is a game that everybody should try. It's charming, funny, challenging and engaging in equal parts, and stands out from today's sequel-based crowd as something completely unique. I'll certainly be returning to it more than once in the very near future.
DanK
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Currently playing - The Orange Box (X360) 3 Comments
Coming soon to an Xbox 360 near me!This morning, I made the tough decision of trading in my copy of GRID at my local GAME store. With the £22 store credit I got, I finally managed to pick up The Orange Box. I can't wait to get stuck into Half-Life 2 again, experience the episodic content and also sample the apparently-excellent Portal. However, I've decided to hold off before I load up The Orange Box on my 360 and focus on finishing Splinter Cell first. It's a decision I feel a little disappointed about, considering the ride I've had with Sam Fisher and co. over the last couple of weeks. It's been frustrating, confusing and maddening, but ultimately rewarding, I think.
Without any further digression, let's move on to the matter at hand; my mini-analysis of Splinter Cell. It's the first game in UbiSoft's popular stealth franchise, and follows the exploits of Third Echelon agent Sam Fisher. The plot revolves around a threat posed by a renegade Georgian president. It's Sam's job to neutralise that threat and avert World War III. The game is endorsed by Tom Clancy, and the plot pretty much follows Clancy conventions. There's a lot of political intrigue, plenty of twists and turns and the enemies are (surprise surprise!) the Russians and the Chinese.
Splinter Cell is annoying and rewarding in equal partsI first tried to play Splinter Cell around eight months ago, after picking it up along with sequels Pandora Tomorrow and Chaos Theory for the tasty collective sum of £9. I got about half an hour in, got bored and gave up, choosing to play Vice City Stories instead. After eight months, my interest in the game has been reignited by this Giant Bomb blog, and so I decided to dust it off and try to play it again.
For the first few minutes, and indeed for the first couple of missions, the game seemed to be doing everything in its power to irritate me, to the point where I considered abandoning it yet again (see my last blog entry for details). Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I really liked about Splinter Cell, both times I played through the opening stages. The pacing is excellent, the atmosphere is well-crafted and the use of light, darkness and shadows as an important gameplay mechanic marks a huge step in the right direction for stealth games in general. The inventory interface is slick and easy to use, and the gadgetry is varied and, for the most part, useful. The graphics are some of the best I've seen on PS2 (I understand it looks better on Xbox, but the PS2 version is impressive considering it's five years old), and Michael Ironside is the perfect voice for Fisher. The game has an incredible amount going for it.
But, at the same time, there are a lot of things about it that made me want to tear my hair out. For starters, the game is very unforgiving. A mistake is likely to send you to a load screen, because the soldiers you're up against won't think twice about pointing their gun at you and holding the trigger. Of course, this is great in theory; stealth games rely on that feeling you're outnumbered and overpowered, otherwise there would be no incentive to use stealth to progress. However, Splinter Cell's controls make the whole experience far too clunky. It's difficult to get behind an opponent and take them out, because you're just as likely to run into their legs. The guns are awkward to use, due to all control being put on the shoulder buttons. This means shooting an oblivious guard is unnecessarily difficult, and taking down a rifle-wielding soldier is near-impossible. You'll die a lot in Splinter Cell, more often than not because the gameplay conspires against you.
Splinter Cell has some pretty impressive lighting effectsThe other big issue I have with the game is its rigidity. The way the game pans out, it seems to offer you a lot of choice in the actions you take; you have the option to sneak by, incapacitate enemies at close or long range with melee combat and weapons, distract stationary guards by throwing objects... the list seemingly goes on. I say seemingly because actually, Splinter Cell is one of the most linear, scripted games you'll ever play. Not only is the level design linear, making it obvious what path you have to take, but there's usually only one scripted way of dealing with each of the game's numerous "set-pieces", especially those involving two or more enemies in an area. This, coupled with its unforgiving nature, means the game often descends into annoying trial-and-error. You'll die several times in every situation as you try each possibility before finally discovering the only one that will work. It's annoying and not really much fun.
However, Splinter Cell is still an excellent game. It really seemed to pick up after the first couple of missions, although I'm not entirely sure how or why. Perhaps it's the flashy new gun you get in the fourth mission that opens up several new combat possibilities. Perhaps the first couple of missions are poorly designed and not as much fun. Or perhaps I just became accustomed to the game and thus started dying less. Whatever the reason, I found the last three quarters of the game to be immersive, atmospheric and full of awesome gaming moments. Splinter Cell requires significantly more patience and perseverance than most games, even other stealth games like Metal Gear Solid. If you're willing to persevere, though, you'll be duly rewarded. Now, I'm off to complete it, so I can get stuck into The Orange Box.
DanK
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Currently playing - Splinter Cell (PS2) 4 Comments
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