2009’s Best Retro Revivals: What’s Old Is New Again

2009 wasn’t just the year of big name releases; there was also a very obvious attempt to revive some of gaming’s longest running franchises. While that’s not necessarily a new idea, it seemed like in this past year developers actually attempted to keep the feeling of the original games instead of just taking the name of a franchise and slapping it on something completely new. Take a look at some of the classics that received some nostalgic love this year, and reminisce about the good old days as you cross your fingers that 2010 holds the same retro goodness. [Continue Reading]

Video Games…We Have Sinned

Sigh Video games,
“stop playing that son why don’t you go outside what is a SNES anyway?”
“omfg Zangiefs throws are so lame”
“shit is that the time I got college I should stop playing counter strike”
“oh dude is that the time I said I would see her soon I should stop playing GTA”
“is it time for work already?! I really should leave the orange box alone” [Continue Reading]

E3 ‘09: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Revealed (Updated)

If you’re not excited about this title being worked in conjunction with Kojima Productions, then I don’t know what will excite you.  Given Kojima Productions approach to long cut scenes, it may the only thing that you should worry about.  The game already has a stellar voice cast, including the likes of Patrick Stewart, and Robert Carlyle. For those of you who don’t know Carlyle, he has worked on movies like James Bond: The World is Not Enough, and 24-Redemption movie.  Carlyle is doing the voice over for Gabriel.

[Continue Reading]

Five Reasons There’s Never Been A Golden Age of Gaming

If there is one thing I’ll never get tired of in this vast world of so-called “Gaming Culture,” it’s the overwhelming amount of idiocy. I don’t know why, but I’m always entertained at reading ignorant opinions, especially if they come from someone who hasn’t hit puberty yet. So, as you can probably tell, I’m a lurker at GameFAQ, GameTrailers, MLG, Blizzard, and Bungie forums, among others.

With that being said, sometimes I read things that personally strike a nerve. I’m not talking about the basic stupid topics like, “‘Halo’ is the best FPS EVAR,” or how sitting on your ass and mashing buttons should be considered a respectable “sport.” Those things would be way too easy for me to rant about.

Today, our little topic will be the mythical creature called “The Golden Age of Video Games,” or more commonly known as, “The 90s.” Lately many gamers across thousands of forums have been bitching about the reality show called “WCG Ultimate Gamer.” They hate the people on it. They hate the games being played. And they hate how gaming has become less of a social taboo. Of course, they also bring up the topic of the “good ol’ days.”

I haven’t watched the show, so I have no idea if it’s bad or not. I only have two reasons to turn on the TV, outside of playing video games; House and Gordon Ramsey. However, when I read someone arguing about how great video games were in the 1990s or 1980s, I have to wear my goggles and a rubber suit because there is so much bullshit being spewed.

The sad reality of it is, we are so much better off now than we were 15 or 20 years ago. Games have improved greatly, and it isn’t costing us a fortune just to get a mere afternoon’s worth of entertainment. I’m going to shatter the myths of the “Golden Age of Gaming” because I’m rather of sick of cleaning bullshit up in my room. [Continue Reading]

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Review: A Whole New World

I’ll admit it. I was wrong. A few weeks ago when I previewed “Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia” I was concerned that Konami was stepping too far away from many of the elements that make a “Castlevania” game a “Castlevania” game. I cited some of the many changes, like the weapons system, female character, lack of a Belmont, and the fact that the game took place outside of Dracula’s castle. However, after spending many, many hours with the DS game, I will be the first one to admit that I was wrong. “Ecclesia” definitely steps away from many of the conventions that have made “Castlevania” titles so memorable over the years, but the changes and tweaks to the formula really pay off in the end, and Shanoa’s journey is worthy of comparison to anyone with the last name Belmont.

Pretty much everything about “Order of Ecclesia” is different from all of the “Castlevania” games that came before it. The weapons system, the magic items, the characters, the setting, even the goal of half the game (hint: it isn’t to take down Dracula) are vastly different than everything from “Simon’s Quest” to “Dawn of Sorrow.” [Continue Reading]

Top 10 Franchises That Deserve A Retro Update

Growing up, a pixel used to be a boy’s best friend. Nowadays, everything all fancy, and “rendered” with anti-aliasing. What’s the fun of that? When we were kids, not having a definitive face on our character meant that it was easier for us to imagine that we were that character with the giant sword and magic spells.

“Mega Man 9″ may not seem like the most innovative game of the year, but, for long-time gamers it is a welcome homecoming for a franchise that has gone astray from its roots. Over the last 30 years of gaming “innovation” has driven many on-going franchises into the ground with constant reworking of beloved classics. Unfortunately, these “updates” don’t always pan out too well, and the only thing that is similar between a new title and an original, are the characters – and sometimes even that’s a stretch.  Sure, “Super Mario 64″ introduced the series to 3D very successfully, but for every success there have been more than a few failures.

Hopefully, “Mega Man 9″ will be such a success that some of gaming’s oldest franchises may stop and take note of their roots, and maybe their next release will be an old-school “update.” Here’s a list of the 10 franchises that could stand for a trip down memory lane – preferably in glorious 8 (or 16) bits. [Continue Reading]

Castlevania: Judgement Gameplay Footage

Oh Konami…why couldn’t you have made a new 3d Castlevania adventure? Instead you went a made a 3d fighter? I know Koji Igarashi said that people would get tired of waggling the wii remote back and forth to attack. But after having played Castlevania: Judgement it became apparent that they could have made a full fledged Castlevania game and fans would’ve been more open to that than a fighting game of all things. Ahh well i gotta give them credit for trying something different that’s for sure. Now the question is will fans flock to this game or condemn it to the deep dark bowels of Dracula’s castle? Only time will tell, for now peep the video and check out our in depth hands on impressions for this game.

Preview: Whipping Some Ass With Castlevania Judgment

It was funny hearing that “Castlevania: Judgment” shouldn’t be called a “fighting” game, even though it could very easily pass for one. In case you’re looking to categorically correct, Koji Igarashi, and the team at Konami are calling “Judgment” a “3D versus action game” and so should you. In their defense, it isn’t your typical fighter, but not calling it a fighter is like saying sky blue isn’t really a shade of blue. Attempting to call it anything other than what it is might take away from the the overall goal in the newest “Castlevania” which is, like all other fighting games, to beat the snot out of your opponent.

At a recent demo, I was told by one of Konami’s product managers that the upcoming title for the Wii was created to be a pick-up-and-play, multiplayer game. In other words, the controls are supposed to be easy to learn (which they are) but not very precise (and they are not), in hopes that this re-imagining of the classic franchise might appeal to the Wii’s broader audience. So much so that, one of the goals of “Judgment” was to take advantage of the Wii’s motion controls, but within reason, and not force players to over exert themselves.

“Castlevania: Judgment” doesn’t appear to be anything but a fighting game from the outset, partially because it’s hard to shake that label when you have two characters beating each other up under the confines of their enviornment and the match’s time limit. However, both of those confines are what really help define this new game in their own unique way. [Continue Reading]

Castlevania Order of Ecclesia trailer

You knew it was coming! That’s right, a new Castlevania has been announced for the Nintendo DS. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia will have for the first time a female protagonist as the lead character. This will be the third Castlevania game released on the DS and in this version you’ll once again hunt for Dracula. At your disposal you’ll have all sorts of magic based weapons with a twist, all your weapon attacks consume mp! No longer will you be able to consistenly mash buttons to attack, you’ll have to watch your MP bar to make sure it doesn’t deplite, otherwise your attacks will have no effect on your opponents.

But before you yell wtf! all is not lost as your MP bar will instantly regain its energy back the moment you stop attacking. Konami stated that there will be weapons in the game that don’t deplite MP when used. And for those that bitched about the anime styled art from the previous games, you’ll be happy to know that konami has gone back to the more painterly styled art.  Gamers will be happy that Konami choose to keep these games 2d and on the ds, the dual screen is a blessing! You can have your map displayed at all times on the top and that helps out a hella lot in my book! This new Castlevania drops this fall in Japan and proably won’t hit stateside until the Winter 2008-09. For now, peep the trailer below and get ready for another trip to that ol’ castle.

E4ALL – Iga-San Speaks Castlevania…

Iga-san not only has Castlevania symbols running through his blood stream but was nice enough to shed some Holy Light on the long awaited Rondo Of Blood, one of those Castlevania stories that never made it to the west. Though the game is currently only available on the PSP in 2D, Iga-san is not completly ignorant to the industries embrace to 3D and its relationship to movie spin offs, and to also crush the rumors of an XBOX360 version as well. Still, with the way things are in the business these days, you never know. Also, don’t be surprised if you hear some whip cracking coming out of Hollywood as well.