In addition to my other reviews, I've decided to have an ongoing subset of reviews that focus solely on retro games. The difference is that I will try to review the game without the ruby lens of nostalgia, but with a modern, critical eye. What I hope to achieve is an assessment of games that hold the test of time. This will not be easy as I have a fondness for retro games but I think that it can be done given that I play the game today.
So first up, is the Sega Genesis game Gunstar Heroes. Since I do not actually own this cart, I played it on the Virtual Console on the Wii using the Classic Controller. This distinction is important as I cannot speak to how the game would look using the original hardware on a brand new LED TV, nor can I talk about how the controls would feel on the original controller in a modern context. In future RetroGrade reviews, I will make a point to mention the Title and the format that I played it on.
Title: Gunstar Heroes
Original System: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
Played on: Virtual Console, Wii
The Story
The story is pure Saturday morning cartoon. Colonel Red has kidnapped the Gunstar Heroes' older brother and is using him as a pawn in his plan to take over the world of Gunstar 9, the world the Gunstar family are sworn to protect. That's it. Cheesy? Yes. But does it fit the game? Absolutely. This is not a game that needs a lot of pathos or melodrama. This is a run-and-gun affair in the vein of Contra developed by the masters of shoot-em-ups Treasure. Thus, the story is perfectly fitting.
The Good
1. The Look - the game is sprite based with a very cartoon-y look. There is a lot of detail in the backgrounds and the animations are often hilarious. The closest game I can relate this to is Metal Slug for the NeoGeo.
2. The Controls - being that this is a shooter, precise controls are a necessity. I cannot say how this game would play today using either the 3 button or 6 button Genesis controllers, but this game plays very well on the Classic Controller and even the Gamecube Controller. The control scheme is simple enough with one button to change weapons, one button to fire, and one to jump. You can shoot in eight directions when you choose Fixed Shot mode which is very helpful in this type of game when enemies come at you from all sides. However, this comes with the added complication of making you unable to move when shooting. Free Shot mode lets you move around but only restricts you to 4 directions.
3. The Gameplay - a straight up run-and-gun game would get monotonous after long periods of play. Fortunately, the monotony is broken up by different level designs and one level in particular that is made up like a board game when each player rolls "dice" and have to complete challenges wherever they land. Also, the fact that you can carry two weapons at all times (eat that Halo) is kind of a genre staple. However, being able to combine to two weapons to become one uber-weapon are not and it works perfectly in this game. Their is something very satisfying when you combine the Homing Missile with the Laser to make an ultra-powerful Homing Laser.
The Bad
1. Slowdown - the impressive graphics and animation definitely take a hit when there are multiple enemies on the screen. It's fairly obvious that this game pushed the limits of what the Genesis could do and you can see the hardware sputtering when there is too much action. Is it a deal breaker? Not really. It almost feels like you are entering a John Woo movie when it starts slowing down like that and honestly kind of makes the enemies easier to hit. It still needs to be said that the game does not move at a consistent pace.
2. The Difficulty - the retro-gamer in me expects this level of difficulty. However, the modern gamer in me is not used to a game being this hard right off the bat. This game will punish you with hordes of enemies and stray bullets that you will have to track at all times. There are a couple sequences where you are going down a hill so fast and enemies come at you seemingly out of nowhere. You will die at this sequence. Maybe a couple times until you memorize the level. Is it unfair? Totally. Many modern gamers may get turned off by this.
In Conclusion
This is a very deceptive game. At first glance, it looks and sounds like a cartoon-y game meant for kids, what with the characters with the big anime eyes and the upbeat and fun music. But beneath this candy-coated veneer is a game that will throw endless hordes of enemies at you and punish you with its difficulty. This is not a game for the faint of heart. But if you are looking for a solid game with great controls and a really great example of 2D sprite graphics, this is a game you need to try.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Review: Marvel vs. Capcom 3
So I've had MvC3 for a little over a week now and have been playing it quite a bit. For those of you who have known me for a while (and let's face it, if you're reading this then you probably do) know of my affinity for Capcom fighters. What you may not know is that I'm not the biggest fan of the Versus series of games. Not quite sure why they've never really appealed to me. Maybe it's the fact that they're much more fast paced. Maybe it's because they focus more on air combo strings that require precise timing. Or maybe it's just the fact that they seem to be really flashy affairs that seem to take style over substance.
Be that as it may, I came into MvC3 with a very open mind. I have been enjoying the resurgence of 2D style fighting games recently, what with Super Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue leading the pack. So I thought I would give the Versus series another try. And without further ado, here is my review.
The Story
What story? From what I have pieced together through the game, there is some kind of powerful entity that is looking to destroy two Earths: Marvel and Capcom. As a result, the best fighters from each world must unite(?) to defeat said powerful entity. Except that they don't really unite since they spend most of the game beating the crap out of each other. So I guess it should be some kind of prize to face the big baddie on your own? Not quite sure how that works. In any case, you pick a team of 3 representatives from each universe and fight your way through other teams of 3 until you get to the last boss. Who is Galactus. And oh yeah. He gives the power cosmic to Dormammu and Akuma. But really, the two are just chump change, present just to whittle your energy bars down so Galactus "The Planet Eater" has even more of an advantage.
But yes, that's the story. To the best of my knowledge.
The Good
1. Simplicity - Much to the chagrin of many fighting game fans, Capcom made the decision to simplify the control scheme. Whereas the first few Versus games in the series followed the 6 attack button style of Street Fighter 2, MvC2 reduced it to 4 attack buttons and 2 assist buttons. This was simplified even further in this game with only 3 attack buttons, a "special" button that really just starts air combos, and 2 assist buttons. What this means is that instead of 2 punches and 2 kicks, you get 3 attack buttons that could be either or. And while this might confuse series stalwarts, I actually found the control scheme refreshing. Instead of trying to learn how to fight, I could focus on how to win. Much better.
2. Music - MvC2 had a soundtrack that you either loved or hated. It's odd elevator jazz pop struck a chord with some people and left others wishing they had ear plugs. MvC3 replaces that with stage music that recalls the specific levels from different games represented or the characters associated with those backgrounds. For instance, the Ghouls and Ghosts level features music reminiscent of that franchise. Awesome.
3. Characters - yes there are 20 less characters in this game than MvC2 but I think that the game is better for it. There were a lot of palette swapped characters in the previous game, with some other characters thrown in for fan service or as inside jokes but weren't really all that great. This game features a much more varied character group with more useful skillsets. This means that learning new characters is a lot more interesting this time around since each one is so unique and they all have their skills. Except for MODOK. He sucks. Oh and Sentinel. Completely overpowered. Just like MvC2.
The Bad
1. Graphics - I know I'll probably get some flack for this but I'm not a huge fan of the graphics. There is a weird, dark shadowy tinge to them that seems counter to the other games in the series, which tended to have bright sprites with less contrast. I liked the other games because they looked very cartoony/comic book-y. The art style in this one was heavy on the ink outlines and yet very 3D, which was an odd blend.
2. Lack of modes - The game has Arcade, Versus, and Mission mode. That's it. I don't exactly know what I was expecting but maybe a Tournament mode would have been nice. Or the ability to customize games better. Spectator mode on Live would have been great too. If nothing else, it would have added more to the replay value of the game and with only 4 unlockable characters, this game needs all the help it can get.
3. Learning Curve - Oddly enough, this might be the first Capcom game (actually Tatsunoko vs. Capcom maybe first but I haven't had the pleasure of playing that game) that may have more of a learning curve for veterans rather than newbies. The reason I say this is because of the aforementioned simplified controls. After playing fighting games for almost 2 decades that featured dedicated punch and kick buttons, it was weird going to this scheme. It took a while for me to adjust to it but once I did, I was in awe at how easy it was. But it still needed to be said. Those who were raised on Capcom fighters can't just jump into this game without expecting a period of adjustment.
In Conclusion
Overall, I like the game. It is very easy for newbies to get into and still offers the depth that veterans expect from a fighting game of this caliber. The selection of characters may be smaller than previous entries but the fact that they are more varied and balanced means that I'll actually have more viable choices than I did before. I'd say that this game perfectly bridges the gap between a game like Super Smash Bros. and more traditional fighting games like Street Fighter IV. If you're a fan of fighting games or are looking for a good game to dip your feet into, MvC3 is the game for you.
Be that as it may, I came into MvC3 with a very open mind. I have been enjoying the resurgence of 2D style fighting games recently, what with Super Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue leading the pack. So I thought I would give the Versus series another try. And without further ado, here is my review.
The Story
What story? From what I have pieced together through the game, there is some kind of powerful entity that is looking to destroy two Earths: Marvel and Capcom. As a result, the best fighters from each world must unite(?) to defeat said powerful entity. Except that they don't really unite since they spend most of the game beating the crap out of each other. So I guess it should be some kind of prize to face the big baddie on your own? Not quite sure how that works. In any case, you pick a team of 3 representatives from each universe and fight your way through other teams of 3 until you get to the last boss. Who is Galactus. And oh yeah. He gives the power cosmic to Dormammu and Akuma. But really, the two are just chump change, present just to whittle your energy bars down so Galactus "The Planet Eater" has even more of an advantage.
But yes, that's the story. To the best of my knowledge.
The Good
1. Simplicity - Much to the chagrin of many fighting game fans, Capcom made the decision to simplify the control scheme. Whereas the first few Versus games in the series followed the 6 attack button style of Street Fighter 2, MvC2 reduced it to 4 attack buttons and 2 assist buttons. This was simplified even further in this game with only 3 attack buttons, a "special" button that really just starts air combos, and 2 assist buttons. What this means is that instead of 2 punches and 2 kicks, you get 3 attack buttons that could be either or. And while this might confuse series stalwarts, I actually found the control scheme refreshing. Instead of trying to learn how to fight, I could focus on how to win. Much better.
2. Music - MvC2 had a soundtrack that you either loved or hated. It's odd elevator jazz pop struck a chord with some people and left others wishing they had ear plugs. MvC3 replaces that with stage music that recalls the specific levels from different games represented or the characters associated with those backgrounds. For instance, the Ghouls and Ghosts level features music reminiscent of that franchise. Awesome.
3. Characters - yes there are 20 less characters in this game than MvC2 but I think that the game is better for it. There were a lot of palette swapped characters in the previous game, with some other characters thrown in for fan service or as inside jokes but weren't really all that great. This game features a much more varied character group with more useful skillsets. This means that learning new characters is a lot more interesting this time around since each one is so unique and they all have their skills. Except for MODOK. He sucks. Oh and Sentinel. Completely overpowered. Just like MvC2.
The Bad
1. Graphics - I know I'll probably get some flack for this but I'm not a huge fan of the graphics. There is a weird, dark shadowy tinge to them that seems counter to the other games in the series, which tended to have bright sprites with less contrast. I liked the other games because they looked very cartoony/comic book-y. The art style in this one was heavy on the ink outlines and yet very 3D, which was an odd blend.
2. Lack of modes - The game has Arcade, Versus, and Mission mode. That's it. I don't exactly know what I was expecting but maybe a Tournament mode would have been nice. Or the ability to customize games better. Spectator mode on Live would have been great too. If nothing else, it would have added more to the replay value of the game and with only 4 unlockable characters, this game needs all the help it can get.
3. Learning Curve - Oddly enough, this might be the first Capcom game (actually Tatsunoko vs. Capcom maybe first but I haven't had the pleasure of playing that game) that may have more of a learning curve for veterans rather than newbies. The reason I say this is because of the aforementioned simplified controls. After playing fighting games for almost 2 decades that featured dedicated punch and kick buttons, it was weird going to this scheme. It took a while for me to adjust to it but once I did, I was in awe at how easy it was. But it still needed to be said. Those who were raised on Capcom fighters can't just jump into this game without expecting a period of adjustment.
In Conclusion
Overall, I like the game. It is very easy for newbies to get into and still offers the depth that veterans expect from a fighting game of this caliber. The selection of characters may be smaller than previous entries but the fact that they are more varied and balanced means that I'll actually have more viable choices than I did before. I'd say that this game perfectly bridges the gap between a game like Super Smash Bros. and more traditional fighting games like Street Fighter IV. If you're a fan of fighting games or are looking for a good game to dip your feet into, MvC3 is the game for you.
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