The variety of available modes is one of the first standout features of Alpha 3. With the difficulty on the higher settings, the main “arcade” experience can be brutally hard, as it should be in the wishes of any Street Fighter fan. The two-player experience is extremely fun, as players new to the Alpha series can choose different fighting modes, one of which (X-ism) is more aligned with classic Street Fighter 2 balancing. Other fighting styles include A-ism, the Alpha standard, and V-ism, a mode that enhances a player’s ability to chain standard and special moves together for lethal damage.

Alpha 3 also introduced an incredible World Tour mode, enabling players to tour the world (if you will) fighting various characters under various conditions. These tasks may be as simple as defeating an opponent to as complex as defeating three opponents with only super combo moves whilst the player’s character is low on health. Completing these objectives unlock abilities that can be linked to that character, such as automatic blocking, infinite guard, and more. On top of that, characters built up during World Tour mode are playable in other many of the other modes.

The other gameplay modes include training, boss battle, survival, and more. Two-player battles can also accommodate multiple player characters, in both versus and cooperative (ie P1 and P2 vs C1 and C2, or P1 and P1 vs P2 and P2). Two-player back in the days of SSF2:Turbo was the only way to play, but Alpha 3 dramatically increased the available options for single players. These lend towards the game’s long life, as one player can play in various modes ranging from standard arcade style to fighting bosses to survival mode. In a time before online matches, these offerings meant a lot.

As is the case with many other Street Fighter titles, Alpha 3 is finely-balanced. Each character moves and attacks in a fashion that feels tight and cohesive. Ken and Ryu fans were given plenty of love with characters like Akuma, Dan, Sakura, Shin Akuma, and Evil Ryu. Many of the newer characters (and console-exclusive characters) were built with a specific player type in mind (heavy/strong, light/agile, acrobatic, and so on), and their particular tweaks and balances ensured they could still go toe-to-toe with some of the more popular and more agile fighters.

Alpha 3 is also the most impressive visually of Capcom’s strictly 2D Street Fighter offerings. The stages and backgrounds offered a surprising step up from Alpha 2, and not only did the character models themselves become smoother, their motion became noticeably more fluid. The soundtrack also upped the ante so far as sound quality. Though not mind-blowing by any means, many of the fan favorite tunes return in all their rad butt-rock glory.

In essence, Street Fighter Alpha 3 defines fighting games of the Playstation era. It is a smooth balance of speed and strategy. Though the graphics are dated by today’s standards, two-dimensional games tend to age gracefully, and this game is no exception. Street Fighter fans owe it to themselves to own a copy of Alpha 3, if not to check a popular franchise’s history, then to own the best Street Fighter game ever made.

Title: Street Fighter Alpha 3 Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Platform(s): PSX, PS2, PSP, GBA, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Arcade Release Date: May 5, 1999 (PSX)

.

Share On

This week’s discussion? Video game twins. No, not Palom and Porom. Sure, they’re twins, but we’re talking about something a little different — a character in a video game that you can relate to. Surely there’s been a member of a game narrative you’ve felt a deep connection with; one you saw yourself in…your video game twin. Are you a bombshell like Bayonetta? Do you have balls of steel like Duke? Maybe you just have an abnormally long ponytail like Yuna.

For me? I can draw quite a few similarities between Mordin Solus, the Salarian professor in your epic party in Mass Effect 2, and myself. His quick-talking, erratic style of communication is very much like my own. I can hardly stay on one topic long enough to complete a cohesive thought! Oh, speaking of thoughts, did you know…wait. Back on track. Must finish writing post. Ready to go up for loyal readers. Yes. Time to continue. I’ve not yet seen a character in prior games mirror my thought processes so precisely. I’m sure it’s hard to hold a conversation with me due to my tendency to jump all over the place! Although, I’m sure my personality can be correlated with quite a few different characters. Just need to dig deep to find them! If you’re not familiar with Mordin, you can check out the video below for Shepard’s first meeting with the neurotic Salarian.

Do you agree that I’m like Mordin? What about your video game twin? Do you relate members of the Spawn Kill staff to certain characters? Don’t be shy and leave your thoughts in the comments section. All week, we’ll be mingling with you guys and commenting with responses to what you think. We’re always sharing our opinions. It’s time to let yours shine.

So what are you waiting for? Get to commenting! Bring a friend. Bring a couple thousand friends. We’re waiting with open ears…and nimble fingers.

Share On

Utilizing the core premise of the previous two entries to the series, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos once again put players in charge of a very basic set of troops. Initially, the player is tasked with creating a town focused around a central stronghold. Once the base of the town has been established, basic units are allocated to gather various resources. The resources are then used to build further structures, create new solider-type units, purchase upgrades, and so on.

Warcraft III differed from its brethren by the scope and premise of performing such tasks. It’s true that most of the missions followed this guideline, but there were others that did not. In many of the campaign-based missions, players didn’t have to create a base of operations – their main goal was to survive or to ensure the survival of others. Sometimes a player would have to defend a city or character for a set amount of time.

Also new to Warcraft III were the heroes. Though stronger characters of specific classes were available in Warcraft II, WCIII gave these entities names and particular powers. Heroes could gain levels by slaying enemies and the newly-added creeps, creatures that attack any players they encounter. The addition of heroes allowed Warcraft III to have a more character-driven focus, both by giving the player a central role to occupy most of their time and efforts with as well as giving the plot a logical narrative point-of-view.

The plot is essentially the one area where Warcraft III got a significant overhaul. The previous two entries had a plot, no doubt, but their presentation was limited to a few still-shot scenes with scrolling text and a handful of prerendered cutscenes. Warcraft III finally inserted cutscenes directly into the gameplay, with the plot elements often playing out in real-time before, between, and after player action.

Warcraft III is also the first game in the series to break the mold of having only Humans and Orcs as playable units. Though both Humans and Orcs have their distinct campaigns, Undead and Night Elves became available also with their own storylines. During the course of the game, allegiances between Heroes from various factions switch allegiances, conquer foes, and rise through their respective ranks.

The world and story created for Reign of Chaos proved to be a huge success for Blizzard Entertainment. Gaining a 92 on Metacritic and several Game of the Year awards, the game became a commercial and financial success. An expansion pack was later revealed, titled The Frozen Throne (with which many variants to the standard online play were created, most notably Defense of the Ancients), and not too long later, the Warcraft III Battle Chest was released, including Reign of Chaos, The Frozen Throne, a bonus DVD, soundtrack, art book, and more. The Warcraft III Battle Chest is still available at many game retailers today, giving the game a nearly eight-year shelf life (so far).

Of course, one of the biggest draws to Warcraft III today is its tie to World of Warcraft, the enormously popular MMORPG. The world of Warcraft III literally became the World of Warcraft, both through the general design of both games, the characters and classes available, as well as obvious plot elements.

The success of this series as a whole cannot be denied. Each game to be released under the Warcraft umbrella has been wholly worthwhile. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos has proved to be one of the most popular real-time strategy games of all time, and it is most certainly not undeserving.

Title: Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment Developer: Blizzard Entertainment Platform(s): PC Release Date: July 3, 2002

Share On

But Lost Odyssey was supposed to be something different.  Here we had a visually gorgeous RPG on a next-gen system with realistic graphics straight from the man who established Final Fantasy as the RPG series (he produced 1-5, and then 9).  People had high hopes for Lost Odyssey; probably too high.  The game didn’t fall short of any realistic marks, but it wasn’t the second coming of Cecil people had hoped it would be.

Of course, at the time I had no idea if it was worthy or not.  I bought the game at release, let a friend play it, and then never touched it until a couple weeks ago.  I quickly sunk almost nearly 80 hours into it and it has been one of the finest RPG experiences I can remember.  I was ready to declare it one of the best RPG experiences I’d ever had before finishing it, and the suberb ending only served to strengthen that conviction.  It’s also the first truly next-gen JRPG that I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with.  Japanese developers for the past few years have been obsessed with cranking out DS titles, and we lovers of pretty cut scenes have been left to the sharks.

The game certainly is not without its flaws.  The battle’s load times are ridiculous.  It suffers from random encounters.  It has dream sequences, that while beautifully written, should not have been presented in pretty text form.  As cut scenes, even in a comic book-style form, they would have been amazing.  The villain is boring for the most part.  Some of the women tend to be objectified in disappointing ways (though this is nearly balanced out by the awesomeness of Seth).  The game’s also not particularly challenging.

But for its few faults, it has strengths aplenty.  As mentioned, it’s beautiful.  The characters are fantastically rendered, stylish, and convey a personality that’s difficult not to grow attached to.  The story is also moving and emotional, and while it can be a slow burn at first, it doesn’t take long to become invested in it and actually care about the outcome.  It rings with themes of time, love, family, and heroism of the grandest kind.

Kaim, the cover protagonist, is a cold hero, and might seem stereotypical at first, but as the game progresses, his memories return and he is joined by those he’s loved and those he will love.  The transformation in him, while not overt, is noticeable and meaningful.  His is a quest of 1000 years, a deathless existence alone and truly lost at times.  To see him come full circle from his solitary, self-imposed prison into basically the head of an extended family is heart-warming, even to those with the mere shreds of a heart.  And his is just one story among many.  The others may not be as fleshed out, but they nevertheless keep tugging on those heartstrings, and it’s difficult to keep up that wall between player and characters.

I don’t know that I will ever go back and replay Lost Odyssey.  I played it to near 100% completion right down to collecting 90% or so of the achievements.  I completed every side quest, defeated every optional boss, and even slashed my way down the DLC dungeon.  This might have readers thinking that it couldn’t possibly be a favorite if I’m unwilling to replay it.  That’s not true.  That’s not even a little true.  Sometimes the best experiences we can have aren’t those that we can replay over and over.  Sometimes the best games are those we can sit down with for one long week and fall head over heels for.  The initial experience is so strong that replaying would only diminish the memory we formed from that first trip across the land.  That’s what makes Lost Odyssey one of my favorites.  It may only take that one journey, but it’s one I won’t be forgetting no matter how many different lands I visit through the years.  And yeah, it’s not Final Fantasy, but it sure feels like it.

Title: Lost Odyssey Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Developer: Mistwalker Platform(s): Xbox 360 Release Date: February 12, 2008

Share On

Starting off the game, players are able to choose between two different characters. One is a young man named Rue with a confusing past. Apparently, Rue was actually created in order to serve a master. One day he wakes up, remembering only scraps of his creation and former life, and is taken in by a lady named Claire. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when a vicious fiend attempts to assassinate Rue. Jumping in to save the hero, Claire is slain, and Rue sets out to find the only known relic powerful enough to return her to the realm of the living.

The other character is Mint – a feisty, vivacious young princess of the kingdom at hand. Mint is quite full of herself and prone to violence, and in a bid to give the throne of the realm a rightful (and much less dangerous) heir, Mint’s sister was chosen as the successor. In order to prove her worth, Mint seeks out the relic to usurp her sister’s position and show herself the most powerful member of the royal family.

The two story lines for the game meet up with each other at several instances, with Rue and Mint forming a unique relationship amongst themselves. While both are going after their same goal, bonds are formed between the two, and in the end (and somewhat determined by which character was chosen) a mutual respect is found. One interesting element is the how the protagonists interact with the large cast of the game. There are several people who are mostly in the sidelines, including two Squaresoft-standard mismatched ne’er-do-wells, and most everyone from one side of the game comes into contact with the other side.

By completing the game with both characters, the player is able to see all of those characters from an outside perspective. Afterwards, upon consideration, gamers may (like the many denizens of the game including the protagonists) wind up mulling over the idea of fate versus choice. It’s an odd shift from the quirky and colorful nature of the game, but Squaresoft clearly saw it fit to introduce some heavy drama into the title; this is one of the reasons why Threads of Fate is as memorable as it is.

The gameplay in Threads of Fate follows a rather simple action/RPG formula. Most of the exploration and battles take place on a two- or three-dimensional plane. Rue attacks enemies with a rounded axe called the Arc Edge, and is able to transform into various beasts he encounters in his journeys. Mint has two hollow, round blades called the Dual Halos that she uses in attacks, and she is also able to cast a variety of different magic spells.

Though only being able to spend a small amount of time in-game (both character’s parts of the game are packed onto a single CD-ROM,) gamers are shown a wonderfully stylized world. Using polygons almost exclusively, the visual style of Threads of Fate looks much akin to Final Fantasy VII sans the pre-rendered backgrounds. The score of the game was composed by Junya Nakano, who went on to work with Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu on the Final Fantasy X soundtrack, as well as perform additional work on the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII.

Though a far cry from the blockbuster games released around a similar time frame, Threads of Fate provides an easygoing adventure that is simple and lighthearted enough for younger gamers, yet interesting enough for older players. Threads of Fate is very much worth the small amount of time it takes to complete, and will surely have a lasting impression on all those who experience it.

Title: Threads of Fate Publisher: Square Electronic Arts Developer: Squaresoft Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: July 18, 2000

Share On

For those of you who have yet to live through the madness of Andrew Ryan’s utopia, there’s the following guide designed to get you up to speed. Straight from the city’s defunct welcoming committee themselves, I give to you A Newcomer’s Guide to Rapture.

Welcome, weary travelers! Welcome to Rapture. Rest. Kick off your shoes. You’re in a safe place now. Why, under Andrew Ryan’s iron fist, we’ve become a smart, industrious city. Life is great.

At least, it was. You actually came at a slightly inconvenient time. Things aren’t so hot right now. Some say the end’s coming, what with Ryan’s death and all…

Wait, how did you get here in the first place? The bathyspheres are…well, never mind. We aren’t so keen on newcomers, but you’re here, so we’ll grant you the very same amount of hospitality we would any other precious visitor.

Watch out for the Splicers. Here. Have a glass of Arcadia. With my help, you’ll know who’s who in this city faster than plasmids lead a man down a spiraling path to hell. Did I say hell? I meant happiness, of course. Sit a spell. As long as you’ve got the ADAM, we’ve got the time.

So you somehow made your way here. You’re in awe, I can tell. She’s a beaut, ain’t she? Rapture is the brainchild of Andrew Ryan, our city’s glorious founder. This massive underwater utopia was constructed by Ryan in order to escape the “parasites” crawling around the world on the surface. In a post-World War II world, Ryan needed an escape; a place where man could thrive through the merits of the individual, the “sweat of his brow.”

We thrive on capitalism here. Religion and government are nonexistent. We are governed solely by our own ideals. Only the worthy are allowed free reign of the city. And the rest of the pigs on the surface? They can rot as far as we’re concerned.

Businesses, healthcare practices, and retailers are privately owned, so if you can’t afford it, then you might as well take a trip back up top. Living here is a privilege. Pick up a plasmid (a genetic upgrade) from our various vendors to augment the body you were born with. Hobnob with some of our finest citizens. But watch out for the trash we have roaming the streets. Plasmids have begun to degrade some of my fellow Rapturians’…quality. And there are some strange little girls roaming around that you won’t want to mess with. But we’ll get to that later.

Just look at this dashing fellow. Andrew Ryan. Some might call him the king of Rapture, and they wouldn’t be too far off. During his lifetime, this man was a legend. Without his hard work and dedication, we’d be nowhere. Born Andrei Rianofski, Ryan was born in Russia. Living in a communistic country taught him the values of a man’s hard work and all that it can accomplish.

After making his way to America to escape Russian’s economic collapse, he soon found that not all corners of the world shared his views. With the dissipation of the myth that America was the land of opportunity, Ryan needed his own escape. Thus, Rapture was born.

There are those causing unrest (poor schmucks who can’t hold down a job, no doubt), thinking Ryan was leading us down a path to ruin. That he was a pompous, elitist nutjob with unrealizable ideals. But you know what I say to that? Nothing can come together without the will of the people. Ryan was no criminal. Just look around you. Take in the stunning Art Deco-styled architecture, the gorgeous yet functional transportation known as Bathyspheres, and the various works of art around the city. Could all of this have come to fruition at the hands of an incompetent fool? Certainly not. Stay a while, and you’ll see. Everyone will see…everyone that’s left, anyway. It’s such a shame that Ryan’s own son took him out. But I suppose that’s all due to that crazy  Fontaine’s schemes. Either way, we’ll never forget what Ryan contributed to our lovely (but dilapidated) home. His life. His LIFE, do you hear me?

If Ryan was the king of Rapture, then Fontaine was the king of cons. Smuggling rings, contraband items, you name it. As an “entrepreneur,” he employed the gorgeous Brigid Tenenbaum (we’ll get to her in a bit) to create one of our most precious commodities, ADAM. In fact, he hired Tenenbaum and founded the Little Sister’s Orphanage deep in the heart of Rapture, pretending it was because he’s just that nice of a guy. In reality, he just wanted to get his grubby paws on the coveted element, making beaucoup bucks off the unsuspecting citizens of Rapture. In staunch opposition to Ryan, Fontaine made a respectable — well, you can’t really call it that — living for himself.

Ryan was none too pleased about the nature of Fontaine’s ways, and increasingly scared of the power that he was gaining over Rapture’s citizens. So he saw to it that Fontaine got what was coming to him. Officially, he “died” in a shootout with some of Ryan’s men, but the suspicious rise of the everyman Atlas (Fontaine’s freedom fighter alter ego) riled a few feathers. During his stint under the guise of Atlas, Fontaine set into motion a plan that would allow an illegitimate child to become a tool of his rise to power once more…

This wily son of a gun is much more important of a man than you’d think. The illegitimate child of Andrew Ryan and voluptuous mistress Jasmine Jolene, Jack spent most of his adult life and his most infamous trip through Rapture under the control of another — Fontaine, masquerading as the everyman hero Atlas. Groomed to respond to commands prefaced by the innocent phrase “Would you kindly,” Jack found himself to be the instrument of another man’s desire to rise to power. On his journey through Rapture, Jack uncovered some very unfortunate truths about himself, as well as our underwater utopia. What’s he up to now after destroying his father and making a break for it? Well, that’s all up to you, if you know what I mean.

And these charming little lassies? You don’t want to have a run-in with them. These seemingly innocent little girls are genetically altered. Conditioned. Their purpose? One thing only — retrieve the precious ADAM from corpses. So if you happen to wander near a poor lost soul, I’d hasten my step. Where these little girls go, their guardians always follow. And you can’t blame these mewling little children for being fussy. That hag Tenenbaum had a hand in mutating them, changing them with those digusting sea slugs. You can find them hanging around Splicers (oh, you’ll find out soon enough), extracting ADAM from the “angels.” God help you if you bring one to harm, lest you deal with death incarnate.

If you happen to cross the path of a Little Sister, it’s best to run away. Quickly! Unless you want a drill to the face or the shot of a rivet gun in your groin. These behemoths are known as Big Daddies. They come in a few different makes (the Bouncer model is pictured at right), but they all serve one purpose: keeping Little Sisters safe from harm. Though the men inside were previously just as human as you and I, they’re conditioned to guard the precious Little Sisters as they pillage and defile corpses in order to get their ADAM fix. Lay one finger on their precocious little heads and you may very well find a drill lodged in your stomach. Be ware. I wouldn’t chance going near one of those…things if I were you.

Splicers. Rapture’s crawling with ‘em. Once upon a time, they were normal blokes like you and I, but the mass consumption of ridiculous amounts of ADAM via plasmid has warped their brains and their appearances into something decidedly more ghoulish. You’ll find them lurking around the darker parts of town, ready to destroy their bodies for another plasmid fix. Don’t bother indulging them. Lodge a few bullets in them, for my sake. Filthy buggers. And don’t let their ability to speak like normal people fool you. They’ve got more than a few bats in their belfry, if you know what I mean — especially when they attempt to take on Big Daddies.

Tenenbaum is looking to redeem herself after turning innocent children into the scavenging monstrosities known as Little Sisters. As the “mother” (for all intents and purposes) of the beastly Little Sisters, she’s a key player in the fall of Rapture. As the mother figure for the lost little girls, she is of course quite concerned for their safety. That’s why it’s best to leave those kids alone. Jack Ryan did quite the personable thing with a Little Sister or two, saving them from their wretched existence, making Tenenbaum a powerful ally for when he made his daring journey through Rapture. It’s said that she now dwells on the surface (poor thing), but one can’t be too sure…

Look for Spawn Kill’s upcoming review of BioShock 2 soon. Until then, know that there’s something in the sea…and have fun with the sequel!

Share On

The first Silent Hill game suffers from more than a few bumps in the night. Controlling protagonist Harry Mason yields a clumsy and difficult affair, and one can safely infer that the impending orthodox flashlight proves brighter than the various characters. Nonetheless, the premiere established many conventions that would endure throughout consecutive installments—including literature-based puzzles, the radio which alerts Harry of nearby monsters, locations such as the nurse-infested hospital, and a ritualistic cult influence. Plus, the alternate but popular UFO ending peaked gamer curiosity. Many notable inclusions redeem the game’s minor flaws, and the inexplicable sounds and sights of the environments contribute the most. Whether players hear an unseen girl crying in the Midwich Elementary School bathroom, the radio’s white noise, or a loud albeit harmless crash in the sewers, or whether they witness the gritty and blood-drenched sights of the Otherworld, the rows of empty classroom desks, or even the menacing elevator descent into Alessa Gillespie’s personal hell, the game delivers plenty to rattle us besides Yamaoka’s soundtrack.

Not to mention the sequence that started it all: A winding and gradually degraded run through a narrow, dead-end alley bordered by wheelchairs and chain-link fences, offering supposedly certain death at its finish, lures us into Silent Hill’s delirium with unbridled success. Players quickly learn that between squeaking black shadows and the dimensional blurring of Alessa’s Nowhere, they are being issued a warning without the luxury of escape. More than a little frightening? Most definitely.

Again, not everything about the game courses smoothly. Documents are inconveniently not logged, the voice-acting sounds altogether horrific, and remembering to watch Harry’s health often becomes an afterthought (along with whether or not an ordinary Joe should be sprinting such long distances without pause). Over the years, the series built an unfortunate reputation for its surprisingly short length—a feature that, when compared with the relentless psychological scares and atmospheric chills, seems to defy reality itself. The possible endings, difficulty modes, and secret weapons unlocked with each game completion allow gamers to clock additional hours of torture and head-spinning encounters. Bring on the carousel rides and abandoned lighthouses, because the classic Silent Hill knows that we’re not just scared of the dark—we can’t get enough of it.

[Ed. Note: WITA.  also known as Stephanie Carmichael, is currently a guest writer at Spawn Kill! We can guarantee you'll want to sink your teeth into more of her work, which you can find here at her personal blog, Impulse Creations, RadNerd, and now at OneMetal! Thanks for stepping in, Stephanie!]

Title: Silent Hill Publisher: Konami of America, Inc., Konami Co., Ltd., Konami Developer: Konami Co., Ltd., Konami Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: April 04, 2000

Share On

For those of you who may not be familiar with the game, let me enlighten you.  Basically, Puzzle Quest is what happens when a fantasy RPG and a match-3 puzzle (think Bejeweled) have a love child.  From an RPG, you have such staples such as classes/character selection (you pick your character and their class at the beginning of the game), leveling (although leveling is capped at 50), skills, spells, and equipment of all sorts, plus quests and party members, not to mention a story.  The actual gameplay, however, is all match-3 puzzles, although there is variety (not to mention various difficulty levels) to keep things interesting and addictive.

Basically, you travel the map, taking on quests and fighting battles.  Thus, most of the game you will find yourself in a turn-based match-3 game against various opponents.  But it actually is more complex than it may sound.  For example, you have 7 different types of icons in the game grid.  Four are elemental gems (blue/water, red/earth, yellow/air, green/earth), which you collect to power various spells you learn by leveling up or from captured enemies.  The others are coins (which give you money), skulls (which damage your opponent) and purple stars (that do nothing).  As a result, you must strategize, as your opponent will only take damage when you match skulls or cast certain spells.  Also, if you match four or five gems (instead of the usual three), you earn an extra turn and other bonuses.   There’s more to it, but that’s the gist.  Basically, your object is to reduce your enemy’s HP to zero before he does the same to you.  If you do, you win (and get rewarded), if you don’t— well, there’s really no penalty.  Just try again.

To keep things fresh, you can also attempt to capture an enemy (after you’ve defeated that enemy type a certain number of times) by playing a special match game.  You start out (Dr. Mario style) with a certain grouping of gems, stars, and skulls, and you must clear the board in order to successfully capture that enemy.  I personally found these segments some of the most challenging (yet also most satisfying) aspects of the game.  Once you capture an enemy, you have the chance to try to learn a spell or two from him that you can then equip for battle.  It’s a great way to learn some important spells.  Some of these enemies you can use as a mount, which not only speed your travel over the map, but also lend you special defensive abilities and a unique spell you can’t acquire otherwise.  You can “battle” your mount in order to train it and increase its level, which will increase the defensive bonuses you derive from it.

Another aspect of the gameplay is your citadel: your home city, where you can use coins to build various buildings.  You need to build a special building in order to capture prisoners, learn spells from them, forge items, and train mounts.  You can also do battle against cities in order to capture them, which means you’ll have access to all your home town amenities, plus you’ll earn gold for them.  This comes in handy later in the game, especially.

The game has its flaws: the graphics aren’t stellar, it can be a bit buggy, enemies can sometimes seem a little cheap, and the story doesn’t measure up to the depth of most traditional RPGs.  But what Puzzle Quest does is craft an incredibly fun gaming experience that I’m actually surprised hasn’t been done before.  The various characters you meet (including your own protagonist) have surprisingly well-crafted (if cliched) personalities that will have you chuckling every now and then.  I know I’ve said it already, but this game is just fun to play, and there’s so much to do (whether it be the various types of gameplay in the story mode, multiplayer, or puzzle mode), that you will certainly get your value here.

Although I honestly can’t say how long this game is, as I played it over such an extended period of time, but you definitely get a great value.  The puzzle aspect is addictive, and you’ll constantly have yourself saying “just one more” until you look up at the clock and see hours have past.  There’s also much more to the game than I’ve hinted at here, but if you are at all a fan of RPG-lites and especially match-3 games, look no further.  The fact that it constantly auto-saves makes it the perfect game to play for a few minutes while you’re waiting for the bus, or if you just want something light and fun. I know I’m counting down the days until the sequel is released!

Editor’s Note: I played the DS version of the game, although it is also available on PC, Mac, PSP, PS2, 360, Wii, and PS3 (some as digital downloads) – even on iPhone and other cell phones, meaning everyone can enjoy it.  However, I personally do recommend the DS version, as the stylus really comes naturally to sliding the gems around and navigating your character on the map.  I do recommend a screen protector, though, since you’ll have plenty of repeated sliding that could scratch your screen!

Title: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Publisher: D3 Publisher Developer: 1st Playable Productions / Infinite Interactive Platform(s): DS, PC, Mac, PSP, PS2, PS3, 360, Wii, iPhone, Mobile Release Date: March 20, 2007

Share On

Because deathmatches, “exclusive” maps, and the relentless verbal abuse of other players are what the people want. In a market crowded with cookie-cutter space marine shooters, derivative platformers, and minigame collections, social interaction must be the only way to keep players revisiting games purchased weeks, months, or even years ago. Right?

Wrong — at least, for some of us. Pithy, transparent elements such as perks or exploitative glitches are not enough to keep us satisfied.

We need more. The allure of the perfect headshot cannot quell our thirst for breathtaking landscapes, complex worlds, and charismatic party members you grow to love and understand like a living, breathing companion.

The merits of multiplayer modes aren’t exactly opaque. The tendency to tout knock-down, drag out brawls that can be experienced between friends across the street or across the planet rather than single-player adventures is certainly understandable. Fragging can be an absolute blast. And we were doing it years ago, even if we had to drag over our friends to our houses to play. We thrived on the hustle and bustle of arcades, rife with competitors and potential allies in the world of gaming. We made friends through heated Pokemon battles, LAN parties, and tournaments.

Multiplayer modes were woven skillfully into the very fibers of the games we devoured; well thought-out twinkles rather than afterthoughts. Passing the controller to your brother or sister in Super Mario Bros. 3 was natural, as were rousing GoldenEye 64 matches. Adding another person to an already great experience wasn’t the gamble it is now. Quality mattered. Perhaps it still does, but as far as today’s society is concerned, cash and instant gratification matter more.

As gaming continues to evolve into even more of a social activity than ever before, it’s inevitable that multiplayer will become ingrained into just about every experience imaginable. And why not? Developers want to augment their finished product with anything that could possibly extend their its shelf life. I can’t fault good business sense, but I can decry the act of phoning in lousy multiplayer modes simply to turn a profit.

Unfortunately for us, memorable aspects take money and manpower to come to fruition — and lots of it. It’s simply not feasible to pour even more time into them when there are so many sheep in the world to capitalize on. In their pastures they’re grazing on regurgitated war games with the same modes of play again, and again, and again.

It’s a disconcerting sign of the times when games we took to with so much gusto in the past — Dead Space, anyone? — are now being saddled with multiplayer modes that seem absolutely out of place in relation to the atmosphere and tone that the original title set in the first place. Even stranger, BioShock 2’s insistence upon a multiplayer mode detracts from the qualities I found its predecessor to possess. The fact that you were forced to play alone lent a morose, somber tone to the journey that echoed throughout the entire game; through the halls of Andrew Ryan’s underwater Nirvana to the Big Daddy suit players filled near the game’s completion.

So what, right? If I don’t like it, don’t play it? That same principle is one I have applied to many a situation in my twenty years of living, and each time I find it to be more and more of a cop-out than ever before. It’s easy to ignore the fact that quality titles are dragged through the mud with the inclusion of bug-ridden, glitchy abortions of multiplayer options that require new patches every subsequent week. It’s easier to lie or to pretend that we, as gamers, are okay with this practice. It becomes easier still to believe that it’s okay — genuinely believe. And it’s frightening to think that so many of us are so used to this sharp drop in quality that it’s starting to become the norm.

When a game’s multiplayer forays are so mind-numbingly dull they force you to reconsider your experience with the single player campaign, you know you’ve got a problem. And like the key you know you missed during your first run of the Water Temple, a solution that benefits all parties will be difficult (and tedious) to find. I’m in it for the long haul, but how many more years of this are to come?

Let’s party up. It’s time for change.

Share On

The plot kicks off in the protagonist Dante’s place of business, seemingly dead-center in the seedy underbelly of some unknown city. A woman named Trish steps to the plate as a physical opponent, and when Dante proves his worth, she informs him of the forthcoming return of the demon Mundus. Given the exact nature of Dante’s occupation, that he is in fact a Demon Hunter, the news of Mundus is clearly of great concern to him. Mundus, as it turns out, was responsible for the death of Dante’s family members. Dante and Trish set out to some haggard castle in order to track down the demon, and it is here that the majority of the game takes place.

Right at the onset, players are given a large cache of abilities within combat. Dante wields an enormous sword, which can be used within various combination attacks against the variety of enemies found in-game. The main draw to the fights in Devil May Cry was the over-the-top speed, which is utilized to a great degree. This time, though, Capcom made an interesting change to a mostly-standard formula with the inclusion of guns. Dante sports twin semi-automatic pistols named Ebony and Ivory, and with these two he can damage enemies from afar, switching from melee to projectile range with ease, as well as juggle said fiends in air.

Not limited to just a sword, Dante was able to acquire a powerful set of fire-based gauntlets as well as several firearms – a shotgun for spread damage, a needlegun for underwater combat, and a unique weapon called the Nightmare-Beta, firing charged green lasers. Each weapon granted new combo moves (with the firearms presenting different approaches to utilizing those moves) as well as a new visual style to Dante’s Devil Trigger powerup mode.

Players had to brave the combat in order to advance through the game’s mission-based levels, but were also graded upon how efficiently (and more important, stylishly) they were able to eviscerate their competition. Combos were rated as the player racked up successful hits, leading ultimately to an “Awesome” or “Stylish” combo. If the player’s hit streak was interrupted by taking damage, the combo would reset itself. At the end of each level, the player was rated by their overall performance, and given higher rewards for higher ratings.

Outside of the often-furious combat, Dante found himself in the midst of areas not much unlike those of a Resident Evil title. The protagonist would have to find keys to open doors, often engaging in platforming-style elements in order to acquire said goods. Other times, puzzles would present themselves, with the payoff often being an item needed to progress. The player could also stumble upon several hidden areas acting somewhat as challenge missions, with the payoff being massive amounts of red orbs, the game’s currency to be spent towards unlockable abilities.

After its release, Devil May Cry was praised for its intense combat, gothic visuals and atmosphere, varieties of unlockable content, and replay value. Though its success may have not been immediately (or financially) made apparent, it’s easy to see how it has shaped modern-era games. God of War, Bayonetta, Chaos Legion, Darksiders, and many other games use a fast-paced action style directly in the vein of Devil May Cry. Though almost nine years old at this point, Devil May Cry ranks high among some of the most brutal action games ever made, and any gamer worth their mettle owes it to themselves to play and conquer this game.

Title: Devil May Cry Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4 Platform(s): PlayStation 2 Release Date: October 17, 2001

.

Share On

1999 was the year of the original title’s release. While interesting and fun it its own way, its early downfalls were not apparently until the release of its predecessor in 2000. Better than the first in every way, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 showed how much dedication Neversoft had towards not only their brand, but towards skateboarding in general.

The already outlandish list of possible skateboarding tricks from THPS was still available, Neversoft saw it fit to include a number of new grinds (based upon their real-world counterparts), several flashy new special tricks (everything from flip tricks, grinds, to spins and varials), and the all-important manual and nose manual. The inclusion of the manual was the first step Neversoft took towards being able to link together huge chains of moves, racking up massive amounts of points, and sending the game towards an over-the-top extreme play style. Luckily, this was a game or two off into the future.

While the possibilities were quickly becoming enormous, being only the second entry in the series, THPS2 still kept itself quite firmly grounded in reality. Over a dozen real-world skaters were available to use across several levels based on real-world locations. If that weren’t enough, many of the unique named gaps across the levels were close to impossible without leveling up the player’s stats (much like in real life!), like leveling the Ollie stat to be able to land the Leap of Faith gap, or leveling up Speed to clear the Carlsbad gap.

Also new to the series was the inclusion of the Create-A-Skater and Park Creation modes. The character creation mode gave players the chance to build a skater like themselves or any professional or amateur skater they followed to down to their skate style, stance, and even their hometown. Included alongside this new creation tool was a few unlockable skateboarders, one of which being the first of many Marvel characters to come out of Neversoft’s contract to make future Marvel video games.

One of the least-often used features of the game was the skatepark creator. Though limited to a few basic styles of locale, the park creation was a fantastic way for players to build a run to their specifications. Skaters who played the game were able to build a park akin to the quarter pipe and funbox setup they might have had in their driveway, and then hesh on it with their personalized digital avatar. One of my personal favorite things to do was line up huge ramps to see how high my character could be launched into the air.

To add even more fun to the action-packed title, the developers added in even more unlockables and even cheats (a definite last-gen inclusion) that enabled anything from wireframe mode to oversized characters and moon-based physics. Popular amongst my friends was the ability to turn up gravity, allowing only low ollies. In a time before the more realistic Skate series, this was as close as someone could get to real-world skateboard physics. Many levels also had unlockable areas, which became somewhat of a staple in the later games to follow.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 represents everything the series had to offer, even at its peak. Players with outrageous in-game aspirations could see how many objectives could be completed in one run, taking huge launches and racking up three million point combos. Casual fans or skateboarding fans would likely have more fun lining up slick-looking runs and unlocking some of the end-game videos for their favorite pro skaters. All in all, THPS2 is very much the forefather of modern skateboarding games, and an excellent action title for any game fan.

Title: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 Publisher: Activision Developer: Neversoft Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: September 20, 2000

Share On

Pikmin 2, originally released in the summer of 2004, is a real-time strategy game in which you take control over Olimar, the original game’s protagonist, and Louie, his assistant. Olimar and Louie return to the planet of the pikmin to find treasures in an attempt to get their company out of debt. Now these “valuable treasures” are little more than litter with items ranging from a box of matches to a battery. Part of the humor and charm of the collection of these items is the in-game names of each. For example, a screw is called a “Repair Juggernaut” and the jack-o-lantern is referred to as a “Possessed Squash.”

To obtain these knickknacks, your Olimar and Louie must command a variety of pikmin to complete tasks such as building bridges, moving obstacles, or destroying enemies. You may direct, at the most, 100 pikmin at a time and as part of the strategy you must select how many of the variety of pikmin make up that number. As in the original game, there are red, blue, and yellow pikmin. However, in the sequel, the white and purple pikmin have been added. Each of these creatures has a different ability or strength. For example, red pikmin are fire-resistant and yellow pikmin are nearly unaffected by electricity.

Many complaints of the first Pikmin title were based around the 30 day challenge. Meaning you had to find all of the items within 30 days (each day is approximately 15 minutes real time) to succeed at the game. This sequel did not include that stipulation and you can explore, experiment, and collect for as long as you want. Another complaint of the original was that you had to run back and forth between different groups of pikmin to control them. This was addressed by adding Louie to the game, which allowed you to switch between the two characters to control the armies of pikmin. Another issue with the first Pikmin was that it was a single-player affair. Nintendo added co-op challenge areas and versus battles in response.

I love this game because of its humor and focus on collection. It appeals to me because of the same love I have for Borderlands and Animal Crossing: Wild World (check out the SKF for it here). Pikmin 2 is also a gem of my collection because it was the first console real-time strategy game that I had a positive experience with. And yeah, I know it’s not a traditional RTS title, but Nintendo brought those elements to a console to make a great game. Try it out with either Pikmin or Pikmin 2 on the GameCube or the New Play Control! re-release of the original on the Wii.

Title: Pikmin 2 Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo EAD Platform(s): Nintendo GameCube Release Date: August 30, 2004

Share On

As a first-person shooter rookie, I was a bit nervous about tackling such a beloved colossus. But my fear of uncomfortable playability—and not to mention the Splicer-infested dystopia overseen by a corrupt leader named Andrew Ryan—was quickly embraced and assimilated into the multi-tiered edifice of Rapture, whose condition suggests a disfigured and brutal defiance toward its own meaning. In the ruins of the utopia-envisioned city, only the desperate but stalwart survivors resist, but madness infects each of its inhabitants. BioShock jubilated in my uncertainty and ignorance of the depths it had sunk to despite its ocean location and all too kindly opened its treacherous doors.

Disorder might replace the joy and freedom bonded to Rapture’s origins, but there’s no dearth of weapons to go around. Stunningly, BioShock maintains a capable balance between heart-pounding survival instinct and a lavish stream of supplies. Aside from your standard weaponry, the invention of Eve fuels your more magically, albeit in this case genetically, inclined offensive and defensive pursuits called plasmids. In conjunction with physical tonics, the machine-focused engineering tonics, and damage-centric combat tonics, the player can tap into near limitless possibilities as to powers and abilities in the scramble to overthrow the dominating power, guided only by an enigmatic man known as Atlas.

But the real bounty lies with the collection of Adam, found in the near indestructible bodies of Little Sisters—who are well-protected by formidable Big Daddy creatures. BioShock grants the player considerable wealth in options ranging from purchased or redeemed inventory to an array of treasures big and small to be discovered in Rapture, machine and environment interaction, and the choice to harvest or save Little Sisters from their own corruption. In any avenue, there are material rewards aplenty. And when you get stuck, the temptation of a free hint will surpass wasted hours of frustration.

Whether it’s navigating the easy-to-read map, maneuvering the user-friendly plasmid and weapon reels, swapping cash for items or assigning different tonic slots, everything about BioShock runs smoothly. My only complaints are the few lethargic errand runs, minuscule subtitles, and auditory messages, which are difficult to understand over the cacophony of a regular combative day in Rapture.

Of course, there’s more to a game than technicality. BioShock proudly unleashes its eerie potential with not only inventive methodology, but an enticing storyline and more than a few wild cards hidden up its sleeve. The decomposing society nurtures countless issues relative to humanity and morality around every corner, and the game lets you carve your own mark in Rapture. As it paradoxically combines 1950s lifestyle and music with an edge of degraded nostalgia, you’ll venture through Rapture murdering deranged citizens while “Beyond the Sea” fills the room and remnants of love and future rot abandoned in the background. BioShock never affords you the pleasure of forgetting the tragedy of perfection destroyed from the inside—victim to man’s injustice unchained by normal society’s rules.

A rare feat, Bioshock proves simultaneously heartbreaking and frightening in both its story and interaction, becoming a vigorous epitome of the power of the medium while never losing its underlying grace. Once you master the gameplay system and learn of Rapture’s dreadful secrets, you’ll want to explore its wasted empire all over again.

[Ed. Note: WITA.  also known as Stephanie Carmichael, is currently a guest writer at Spawn Kill! We can guarantee you'll want to sink your teeth into more of her work, which you can find here at her personal blog, Impulse Creations, RadNerd, and now at OneMetal! Thanks for stepping in, Stephanie!]

Title: Bioshock Publisher: 2K Games Developer: 2K Games Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Release Date: October 21, 2008

Share On

Best Retro Throwback: Retro Game Challenge

Cuatro Chihuahuas:
If you haven’t heard of this game, I wouldn’t be surprised.  It was a bit of a sleeper, sadly, but a great game nonetheless.  Especially if you grew up playing the NES until your hands cramped up, you will definitely want to check out this gem.  Rather than remaking or doing sequels of hit games from the 8-bit days, Retro Game Challenge is set up in a creative way.  You are transported back in time so that you are a kid again, and you must complete various game challenges in order to finally be able to get back to your present adult form.  Sounds a little weird, but it works.  You get to play various games throughout the adventure that are completely original and new, yet will feel very familiar: space shooters, racers, and even an old-school RPG all appear, and for the most part, they are as much fun to play as any of the games they are tribute to were.  One other neat thing is you get access to various issues of game magazines in order to read about upcoming releases as well as learning tips and tricks (not to mention cheat codes) to help you achieve your challenges.  Once you make all the challenges for a particular game, you can then play the game in free mode whenever you like.  This game was one of the freshest and most fun games I played all year, and I cry a little tear each night that we haven’t gotten the sequel localized.

Game That Freaked You the @!$# Out: Demon’s Souls

K-Tuck:
Demon’s Souls, the PS3 exclusive RPG from From Software, aims to provide something no other game on the market can. It strives to intimidate, to dishearten, and to terrify its player. In this regard, Demon’s Souls excels. Every interaction the player character has with a base-level enemy is a potentially fatal one. Of course, this is to say nothing of the larger, more powerful foes littered around every unsuspecting corner. How should a player feel, dodging death at every step forward, when he is suddenly facing massive Tower Knight, an epic fire-breathing dragon, any of the Archdemons, or the invading force of a Black Phantom? Freaked out, of course.

Game Hardest to Categorize: Brütal Legend

K-Tuck:
Brütal Legend, Tim Schafer’s love child between games and heavy metal, was tracked closely by fans of many different mediums: anything from music, Schafer’s past work, Jack Black himself, to the promise of an open-world game where the environments were inspired by classic metal album covers. Curiously, how the game was actually played didn’t get much coverage before release, and when the game finally hit store shelves gamers were a bit befuddled. The title brings bits of adventure games, action games, car combat and racing games, rhythm games, and real-time strategy games into one ambitious mixture. Although the blend leans more towards specific aspects, Brütal Legend does so many things that its hard to discern which of them were the developer’s original intentions.

Scariest Monsters: House of the Dead: Overkill

Tigresa:
Not only is House of the Dead: Overkill my personal favorite Wii game of 2009, it had some impressive monster models for “just a zombie game.” The insanely wild ride of a story the game takes you on leads you to confront some seriously fudged up boss battles. From Total Recall’s creepy Kuato look-alike with the fetus’ head extending from a monster’s body to the crazy screamer hiding in corners and running up to you to the mindschlock ending boss fight that I refuse to spoil because it’s so damn outrageous and freaky — makes for some a mix of some creepy, some disturbing and some scary fights.

Game That Made You Swear: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Molotov Cupcake:
I’m very impatient. Patient when it counts, but when it comes to douchebaggery and unacceptable online behavior, I can get downright nasty. Plenty of vitriol was spewn out of my mouth when it came to what was possibly my biggest letdown of the year regarding the multiplayer department (I found it to be a superb single-player endeavor) — Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I’m sure I’m not alone in the fact that that game singlehandedly elicited more foul language out of my mouth due to cheap deaths and unbalanced gameplay than I’ve ever heard myself allow. Chants of the “gamer’s prayer” did abound as people traipsed around with ridiculous perk and weapon combinations, and the overall frustration with that game grew and grew with every day that passed until finally I decided I’d forget about the multiplayer entirely and never unleash that much anger again. Not worth it. And I’m sure many of you are wanting to follow suit for more greener pastures and cleaner mouths.

Most Unattractive Characters: Dragon Age: Origins

Snarkasaur:
This definitely requires some explanation, because for the most part Dragon Age is a great-looking game, particularly on the PC. It’s not stellar by any means and doesn’t compare to some of the visually gorgeous work we’ve seen this year, but it does the job. But where it gets unattractive are in its portrayal of “nudity” and a few of its nastier bosses. The brood mother is quite possibly the grossest thing we’ve seen in a game, with her multiple protruding teets and weird appendages. And the darkspawn in general are just a nasty looking bunch. Being unattractive in that capacity is a good thing because it adds to players wanting to kill these monstrosities. The half-baked nudity in Dragon Age, particularly during sex scenes and whenever a character sheds his or her armor is where the unattractive part really hits. The human body in prime condition is a beautiful thing. BioWare’s portrayal of that body was unappealing to say the least.

Most Narcissistic Game: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Molotov Cupcake:
For me, graphics do not make the game. I am just as impressed with flat, polygonal characters as I am with fleshed-out organic beings who mirror the human form with finesse and unbelievable polish. Unfortunately, many titles sacrifice engaging and solid gameplay for glossed-over looks and a plastic exterior to mask the ugliness underneath. Luckily, one shining example this year proved that we could have our gorgeous, expansive landscapes and fluid gameplay as well. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was home to some of the most breathtaking expanses of land, mythical setpieces, and gorgeous scenery I have seen in my 18 years of gaming. Where it excelled in providing impeccable interaction between characters and solid gunplay, it mastered the art of presentation. Snowy cliffs, ornately decorated sacred grounds, and lush jungles dotted the landscape in-game, and each time I arrived at a brand new location I was floored by the exhaustive attention to detail and the obvious amount of dedication it took to bring the game to live. An absolute pleasure to play and even more of a visual treat, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is most deserving of the Most Narcissistic Game award, and it should be proud.

Best Music Game: The Beatles Rock Band

The Herp:
Ever since Harmonix stepped onto the scene of music games they have always delivered the best that the genre has to offer. Don’t forget that they were behind the first couple Guitar Hero games before branching off to create Rock Band. It was a surprise to me that they were able to snag the rights to The Beatles tracks and after seeing what they did with it, I don’t even want to think about how it would have ended up if were in Guitar Hero’s hands. Harmonix could have easily coasted when creating this game, riding the coattails of The Beatles’ expansive library, but they didn’t. The style, presentation and storytelling in The Beatles Rock Band stands out in a genre that is flooded with throwaway titles. Even though the core gameplay remains the same, they were able to bring a brand new experience for all gamers. The Beatles: Rock Band could not be more deserving this year for Best Music Game of 2009

Least Hype, Most Delivery: Borderlands

The Herp:
Though some were following Borderlands from the beginning, many of us were not. The most I heard about the game was regarding the insane amount of weapons you can find and shift in graphics. The decision to change them from hyper-realistic to cel-shaded was done very late in production. I didn’t hear much else and I’m sure that had something to do with the media not being too impressed by its early iterations. Borderlands seems like such a simple concept. It’s a first-person shooter mixed with MMORPG elements. It wasn’t until after I played it that I realized how much fun the game actually is. It brings together a ton of MMORPG elements to create a very exciting game, not to mention the art style and the story work so well together. I can’t imagine the game being any different. With all the loot-gathering, the different classes and skill trees, the ability to play the game entirely via co-op, Borderlands is a very unique experience for anyone who wants just a bit more from their shooters. I always describe Borderlands as “baby’s first MMORPG” but it definitely is a game that had very little hype and definitely delivered.

Most Hype, Least Delivery: Scribblenauts

Snarkasaur:
Before E3 of 2009, very few people had heard of Scribblenauts.  After E3, it was about the only thing people could talk about.  Final Fantasy XIV?  Cool, but what ridiculously off the wall thing can I write in for Scribblenauts?  So it was that we all boarded up the hype train, strapped in, choo choo’d, and took off for a few months.  Then Scribblenauts released in September and everyone kind of smiled and looked around and realized that the train had stopped and our tea was cold and we hadn’t been eating fillet migon just now but Manwich.  In fact, what might have been lauded as a fantastic game this year was marred by the praise it received before its release.  If nothing else, the experience proved that bringing new concepts to a show floor isn’t always going to bring positive results.

Best DLC: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Snarkasaur:
Arkham Asylum’s DLC did right just what the game did right. It kept everything similar to the challenge modes that came with the game, but mixed it up a little, threw in some extra difficulty, and best of all was totally free. And if you had a PS3 version, you were granted access to actually controlling the Joker himself. Most people would probably assume they’d take Batman and just re-skin him, but Rocksteady surprised everyone yet again by giving him his own methods and feel entirely. The Joker maps were a treat and a great departure from the style players had been used to while controlling the Batman.

Worst Game of the Year: Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga

Cuatro Chihuahuas:

Read my review, and you will know why this game won in this category.  I have played a few stinkers on the Wii, but undoubtedly this is one of the worst games I’ve ever played on any system.  The combat is shallow and boring, the sound is annoying, and the graphics aren’t just bad, they make the game painful to play.  Overall, the game has the feeling of being rushed out the door about half-way through, which is disappointing, as it has some deep elements.  Nevertheless, you shouldn’t ever play this game for any reason.

Second Opinion

The Herp: While I didn’t play all the terrible games this year, NBA 2K10 was one of them. The core gameplay was as solid as ever and did offer the best basketball experience; however the amount of bugs, the constant crashing, the horrible online play, the frame rate issues and the fact that 2K Sports thought it was ok to not release a patch until a month after release definitely makes me feel that 2K10 deserves this tag. For a company that has been enjoying being the #1 basketball game for so many years, you don’t have to look too hard to see how 2K Sports can turn something you love into something you despise.

Game of the Year: Dragon Age: Origins

Tigresa:
Dragon Age: Origins had such an immersive world worth getting into. BioWare put so much into the lore of the universe that it was hard not to get completely sucked in. I grew so fondly attached to all of my party members, when in most RPGs there are always possibly two good teammates tops worth making it into the ranks of your battle-going party. In Dragon Age: Origins, since they God-blessedly all level up simultaneously, I constantly found myself strategizing on which teammate to take for which mission, since the majority of them were so likable. The game is phenomenal and so intricate in that every little choice you make has many an outcome on the story to come. With a handful of epic endings to experience, it makes me wonder if there is anything that is considered true “canon” if we are ever lucky enough to receive a sequel.

Dragon Age: Origins does something so well, better than any game I’ve ever played to date. BioWare has outdone even themselves with this one. There is no plain and simple paragon/renegade decisions to be made in the game, there is no “right” and “wrong” points to be attributed. Because of that, you really feel more inclined to make decisions you feel are truly “right” for each individual situation, not simply making “good” choices for the sake of being a paragon. Also, there is no official paragon/renegade path in any sense of the terms, because to some of your teammates they become pleased and approve of your actions when you take matters into your own hands and kill off people during quests, while others might be neutral about some situations, lest others may ask you to be kind and rational. Those are decisions you have to make on who you want to please and who you want on your side, because you will find yourself in many a situation where your teammates will be at each other’s throat in disagreement over what should be done. Everything you do has a consequence both in the game and with your relationship with each character.

I actually am typically more of a sci-fi nerd over the lore of dragons and elves, so I was excited to get into the decision-making shoes of my character, but I didn’t expect to get very “into” the world itself because the times of ye olde don’t usually feel very engaging to me. Being as the making choices and leveling up my devilish Miss Blood Mage was what I was looking forward to, I was more than impressed. The world itself? It must have taken years to craft the depth and histories behind all of the different races, characters, and places to visit in Dragon Age: Origins, and it totally had me at “Hello… Grey Warden.”

Honorable Mention: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Blehmeng:
My heart was set on voting Batman: Arkham Asylum for Game of the Year for taking a franchise that sorely needed a makeover and making it one of my favorite games of all time. With the stealth, fighting, exploration, and fully developed characters in one of the best game worlds I’ve seen in a “sandbox” game, it surpassed all my wildest expectations for it, and made it a game that I intend to devote time to each year to play, much like my favorite games from every generation.

Second Opinion:

The Herp:Personally my game of the year was Killzone 2. When you add everything together, the graphics, the story, the huge battles, the excellent class based multiplayer, the clan system, the voice acting, the great music and sound, the environments, it all comes together to offer an amazing FPS experience unlike anything else released this year.

Third Opinion:

Molotov Cupcake:I played many a fantastic game this year, and some equally terrible abominations. However, throughout this tumultuous year of gaming, one title stuck out to me the most: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. As a staunch naysayer in the beginning, I simply could not fathom the trance this game was putting many a journalist and layman gamer in…after all, it’s just a third-person action/shooter title that has elements derived from plenty of games before it. However, after sitting down with it, I found myself unable to look away from the screen. My daily ritual became one of getting off work and heading over to my newly-acquired PlayStation 3 Slim for some quality time with Nathan Drake and his motley crew. Nate, Elena, Flynn, Chloe, and even Lazarevic made this a journey I won’t soon forget with their believable and undeniably human personalities and agendas. I formed genuine bonds with this cast of characters, ones that grew stronger with each twist and turn of the epic plot, and ones that brought tears to my eyes near the game’s climax despite its positive (yet not absolutely finite — we could see more Drake) conclusion. The cinematic presentation, superb voice work, tight controls, and charm of Uncharted 2 won me over from start to finish, and I’m not too proud to say I was absolutely wrong about this game. It’s without a doubt my personal game of the year, and a title that I can only hope inspires upcoming releases to do what’s been done before much better. And then we’ll talk about throwing innovation into the mix.

And there you have it. This concludes the first annual Spawn Kill Game of the Year Awards! Did you agree or disagree with the nominees elected to reign supreme? Did we miss anything? What were your personal picks? As always, we’d love to hear what you think so don’t be shy and let us know in the comments below. Happy 2010, everyone!

Don’t forget to check out our companion podcast, episode 5 of the Kill Kast, found here and on iTunes for your convenience!

Share On

During the 16 and 32-bit eras, role-playing games reigned supreme. Also during those times, Squaresoft saw a phenomenal boost in the sales and popularity of their games. With Squaresoft’s rise to power came a conflict within Quest (developers of the Ogre Battle series of games,) and many of the former employees of Quest signed on with Square. The result of this marriage was one of the finest strategy-based role playing games of all time, Final Fantasy Tactics.

Final Fantasy Tactics incorporated all of the best elements of both franchises. The intricate battle and leveling mechanics from the Ogre series were a perfect match for the previously-established line of Final Fantasy jobs as well as the generally-grand plots and character developments from the more recent games in the series.

Final Fantasy Tactic’s storyline was one if its strongest and weakest points. After a long war, a struggle had broken about between the likes of nobles and commoners. Ramza, a young noble, and his friend Delita, a commoner, were separated by this rift and set out to right the wrongs done on both sides of the continuum. The two eventually end up on opposing sides of a new conflict between law and religion, Ramza seeking out truth, and Delita seeking out power. Both of the warring factions see the loss of kings, knights, heroes, civilians, innocents, and, of course, many terrible monsters.

However, it wouldn’t be Final Fantasy if the world was not at stake. Several key political figures discovered the power of the ancient Zodiac Stones, which long ago provided the world with machinery. The church seemed to be working to aid the government in finding this unnatural power. Right as Ramza discovers the truth behind the religion and the power being sought by the government, he is made an enemy of church and state. In an unnatural twist, it is revealed that the power of the Zodiac stones was going to be used to resurrect what was the God in the realm’s religion, except that their God is actually a gnarly demon.

That’s about as concise as I can get. The plot had a lot going on. Anyone that can pay close attention is sure to find plenty to be intrigued with, though many people (like myself, my first time through) will be utterly lost. Of course, like most SRPGs, the plot isn’t the meat of the game. When each battle takes between 20 and 90 minutes, players will likely be paying much more attention to their characters’ skills, abilities, battle formations.

The player would have to actively manage the range of their character’s movement and attack in-battle, as well as relative position to allies. Magic with an Area of Effect would hit enemies as well as teammates, and the cost for slipping up once could be huge. Characters who died in battle and were not quickly revived would turn into crystals. Enemies could then move over these crystals to gain some of their items or weapons. A player who had an ally fall would have to be quick to resurrect them before they were gone forever. It was a rough system, but many gamers found the game much more rewarding due to the steep difficulty.

In addition to having most of the spells and job classes from older Final Fantasy titles, Tactics also contained plenty of direct references to other Final Fantasy games. Chocobos were abundant, and could even be ridden or commanded in battle; Cid makes a return as Olan’s father; and lastly as well as most popularly, Cloud Strife from FF7 busts onto the scene as a recruitable character.

Final Fantasy Tactics means different things to different people. Some who came across the game were fans of Quest’s strategy-RPG titles, some were Final Fantasy followers who would likely pick up anything under the moniker. Whatever the case, the game serves an equal purpose for classic turn-based gameplay and nostalgia value. Final Fantasy Tactics is hands-down my favorite game of all time, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Title: Final Fantasy Tactics Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Developer: Square Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: January 28, 1998

.

Share On