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Uninteresting $#!% #7

By jakob187 July 28, 2010 8 Comments

IN THIS BLOG:

Limbo
Alan Wake: The Signal DLC
Updated impressions on UFC Undisputed 2010

Howdy folks! Usually, these blogs are written around 10pm Central Standard Time because that's when free time is available to write them. Today, however, is a special day. I'm opening at work as Universal Pictures was kind enough to send ten passes to a premiere screening for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to my workplace, so I'll be perusing that flick tonight. I'm more than positive that I'll have a review up for that fucker over at Screened.com, as I've yet to write a movie review over there yet. If you're curious, I'd say look for that sometime tonight or tomorrow. In other news, I saw Inception...twice. I'm going a third time next week. I'm going to see it in theatres every week until it's out of theatres. I liked it that much. Great piece of cinema. Anyways, ON TO THE GAMES!!!

Coincidentally, I Went To Limbo...

The word of the year: atmosphere

Brad Shoemaker, I don't know whether to curse you or love you, as the only thought that could come to mind during my entire playthrough of Limbo was "tactile". LOL Every jump, every crate, every movement...all I could hear was Brad saying "tactile". Let's get this out of the way: I stand firmly in the camp of "games are not art". I won't get into that debate, and I hope you won't either. Needless to say, Limbo is a neat little game. There's the stark nature of ambience and a lack of narrative that make that game exactly what it needs to be: an experience. It's a platformer with environmental puzzles, and throughout the playtime, memories started washing up from Out of This World and Heart of Darkness that warmed my heart a little bit. At the same time, it's been a while since a game really got a reaction out of me like Limbo. Every single death you experience is kind of gruesome, and it hits pretty well when it happens. You'll have plenty of "AHH" or "COME ON" moments with the game, but despite that, the playthrough is completely worth it. The only issue I have with the game: the pricing. I'm not going to say Limbo isn't worth $15, as the experience is unlike most things you see nowadays. However, this game could've easily been $10 had it not been an incredibly indie studio pushing the game out. The only reason that I bring up the pricing is because I also played The Signal, which is three times the size of Limbo and half the price. Other than that, I'd say "play Limbo". I'll also say that Limbo makes the most convincing argument I've yet seen about "games being art". We'll save that for another time, however.

Coincidentally, I Followed The Signal...

Walking in the night, he saw possessed cars and he JIZZED...IN...HIS PANTS!

I loved Alan Wake, so knowing that I had a free token for the first DLC was killing me. I needed more of that game's narrative, and luckily, Remedy delivers big with The Signal. I'm putting up a spoiler warning right now, as I don't know whether I'll accidentally spoil anything or not...so you've been warned. The Signal starts up right after the base game's ending. Alan is still trapped in "The Dark Place" and he's trying to find a way out. Thomas Zane tells him early on to follow the signal, and Alan doesn't necessarily understand what the hell he's talking about. Here's where one small issue comes up for me: the signal...is LITERALLY...the GPS on a Verizon-branded phone. That's right - the narrative of this story is driven by Verizon. Mind...fucking...blown! Either way, you'll work your way through a dark version of Bright Falls, retracing some steps in familiar areas from the base game. This DLC plays with the gameplay mechanics a little bit, as you won't be able to get ammo and such unless you use your flashlight on words that are popping up all around the world. This plays hardcore into the DLC in general, even going so far as to having you wade through a mindfield of words that will spawn up tons of enemies and such. Needless to say, it's interesting how they play with the dynamic of light. The Signal is also generally tougher than anything you'll find in the base game, throwing hordes of enemies at you and really pushing an idea of "survival horror" at you. The ending sets up for more DLC very nicely, and it's got me craving the next piece...like now. Overall, the experience was great, the narrative was driving, and it retains enough of what made Alan Wake such a great game to be good DLC. For $7, it's more than a worthwhile purchase, and if you bought the game new, then you are getting it for free...which makes The Signal a pretty fantastic reward for directly supporting the developers.

Knocked The Fuggout

Also...this game is FUCKING VICIOUS!

I finished the career mode on Undisputed 2010 yesterday, and while I still hold by my original impressions from Uninteresting $#!% #6, I generally like the game more now. While delving into the other gameplay modes has taken a backseat to all these other things to play, the gameplay mechanics in place for 2010 really show off a stronger game in terms of pure gameplay. I found myself finally getting into the timing of sways, counters, and trying to perfect my game more than I ever did with 2009. I still feel like more could've been done to make the career mode feel a bit organic rather than forced. Eventually, you get to the point where you've heard every single dialogue option for the post-match interviews, and it becomes droning. I wish I could've skipped them, but to no avail, I had to listen to Joe Rogen jabber on. Kudos to THQ and Yuke's, however, for allowing a massive list of preset names that really offer a nice personal touch to the game. It was great hearing my own name being spoken during match commentary, and it's something that far more people could learn from in the sports and fighting genres. Overall, though, my concrete impressions are this: UFC Undisputed 2010 is a flawed game, but not nearly as flawed as 2009. It's worth a buy if you are a hardcore UFC fan, and even if you want a game that offers a robust amount of complexity in its mechanics. However, it's still got some hurdles to leap before being truly outstanding.
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That's it for this week. We have Starcraft II up at work now as of last night, so I'll be checking that out steadily over the course of the week. As someone who never got into Starcraft and has issues with the way that Blizzard has made RTS games ever since Warcraft II, I'm going into SC2 with a mixture of enthusiasm in possibly loving the game and resentment as I know it's Starcraft all over again. Here's to hoping I really enjoy the shit out of that game, but I have my doubts.

Until next time, piece.

P.S. - getting SOOOOOO close to breaking 60k gamerscore now!!! Really wish that Blockbuster would have a copy of Singularity in at some point!

P.P.S - Remind me to never write before 6:00pm again. LOL

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