Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Games I Liked, Others Didn't - Round Three

What a simplistic title for this series of articles, no? "Games I Liked, Others Didn't" was the best I could come up with. Seriously? Regardless, same principle goes for these next games. They were mostly panned by critics and/or the gaming community, but I happened to enjoy them. Sounds simple enough.

Metroid: Other M (Wii)


Whether you dig the storyline or not, I do not care. Whine all you want-- you're gamers, that's what you're so good at doing. I really enjoyed Samus Aran's latest adventure despite the anime-like story. The cinematics were something extraordinary-- something you wouldn't usually see from Nintendo. Having Adam allow weapons and abilities to be used was so much better than Samus magically and coincidentally losing her abilities somehow for the fiftieth time. The level design was not as good as something as up to the caliber of a Super Metroid, but it was competent all to its own. Finding secret weapon and energy tanks was still as enjoyable as ever even if you constantly saw a different side of Samus than we're used to seeing. Plus using the d-pad to control Samus wasn't a problem at all, nor was switching views by holding up the Wii remote. All-in-all, a solid game like my review states.

Mario Sports Mix (Wii)


Talk about negativity. The latest Mario sports title was developed by Square-Enix who worked on the mediocre DS game, Mario Hoops 3-on-3. In my eyes, they've redeemed themselves with this title. Each sport is simple enough to learn but tough to master, and though the early cups are mind-blowing-ly easy, it doesn't stop you from having a good time. Multi-player is where this game really shines whether online or offline, participating in cups cooperatively with friends/relatives or duking it out two-on-two or three-on-three in heated competition. Expect a review of Mario Sports Mix sometime tomorrow evening.

White Knight Chronicles: International Edition (PS3)


Take sword, dagger, or battle axe in hand as you play this MMORPG-like JRPG. Whether you play the offline story that hangs up on a cliffhanger or partake in online play, there's something for everybody in the world of White Knight Chronicles from Level 5. There's even HD towns, something Square-Enix (the cowards) stated would be impossible to produce! Take out foes in real-time combat similar to Final Fantasy XII. You have only a set amount of moves you can make before your action gauge fills back up, so use them wisely! From the breathtaking visuals to the ability to play online with friends, there's something for everyone (well, except trophy whores) in White Knight Chronicles: International Edition.

Shadow the Hedgehog (PS2, GCN, XBX)


Shadow the Hedgehog was too edgy for its own good. There was no reason for the dark tone or the need to curse. Oh, wow, he said "damn"! Regardless of the source material, the game allowed the titular character to drive vehicles, shoot guns, and otherwise avoid using that dreaded homing attack, something that doesn't really work well in 3D. The levels were adequately-designed with hidden passages, multiple pathways, and secret bonuses. Each playthrough of Shadow was six stages long. The way you progressed depended upon your decisions in the game's levels. Help Eggman? Then you'll follow his level path. Help Sonic? You guessed it. An above-average title with an excellent rock soundtrack, Shadow the Hedgehog is by no means an awful game.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up (Wii, PS2)


This budget-priced title featured the more-recent cartoon version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The difference between the Wii and PS2 versions was that one had online play, and one did not (the PS2 version). The game gives no secrets about its point of inspiration as the subtitle says it all-- Smash Up-- as in Super Smash Bros. The combat, however, does feature lifebars instead of percentages like SSB. The cast of characters, though, leaves a lot to be expected. During development, the developers hinted heavily that characters from the 1980s TMNT cartoon would be in the game such as Bebop and Rocksteady. Instead, what we received were characters all from the 2000 TV series. The only remnant of the old TMNT show is a themed Technodrome stage.

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My writing thirst has been quenched, so it's time for your turn. What games does most of the world dislike but you happen to enjoy? Don't be shy now, let me know in the comments section!

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