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| Source: Bryan Grabauskas |
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| Source: Bryan Grabauskas |
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Sid Meier's Pirates
Have you played Sid Meier's Pirates? I'm sure a lot of you out there have played the popular Sid Meier Civilization games, but this is a different type of game. With this, Meier tried his hand at simulating the life of a pirate, and boy did he do a great job. For those of you that ever played Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and wanted to focus more on the pirate aspects rather than the campaign, or anyone else who has ever wanted to play a game as a pirate, this is definitely worth playing.
I actually missed this game n the first go around. It came out in 2004 for Windows and X-Box, and can now also be found on the X-Box 360 and Apple devices. To avoid confusion, the game I am talking about is the 2004 version, but there is a version that came out way back in 1987. In this game, you can sail on the high seas, engage in both ship and foot combat, and visit ports and towns to trade and interact with locals. All of this adds up to building up your reputation as the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. The ship combat is smooth to control as you guide your ship into position to fire at the enemy and land combat is a well-paced, rock-paper-scissors type match between different strikes and dodges. Everything while anchored is ineracted with through a very friendly and easy to use interface. If you have any interest in pirates, or just good games, definitely check this one out.
Psychonauts
Have you played Psychonauts? This gem, released a little over ten years ago in 2005, is a prime example of pure entertainment. This game has everything, from fun, unique gameplay to an interseting story and characters. Psychonauts follows the young psychonaut-in-training as he uncovers a plot to steal the brains of his fellow psychic campers. Already, the premise should clue you in on the heights of wierdness this game reaches. But what really makes this game a success is its charm.
This game had me chuckling along as one camper argued with squirrels and another screamed for home as he explained how the camp was a deathtrap. As you explore the inner workings of other people's minds, you will come across several unlockables and bonuses, including figments of their imagination, literal emotional baggage, and vaults containing their innermost secrets. This game receives an incredibly enthusiastic recommendation from me, as anyone can find enjoyment in this game, from the most casual to the most hardcore of gamers. Definitely play it if you have not already.
This game had me chuckling along as one camper argued with squirrels and another screamed for home as he explained how the camp was a deathtrap. As you explore the inner workings of other people's minds, you will come across several unlockables and bonuses, including figments of their imagination, literal emotional baggage, and vaults containing their innermost secrets. This game receives an incredibly enthusiastic recommendation from me, as anyone can find enjoyment in this game, from the most casual to the most hardcore of gamers. Definitely play it if you have not already.
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| Source: Bryan Grabauskas |
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Metal Gear
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Before I say anything about his game, take in to account that it is a classic. That being said, it is a game on the NES. With that comes the pixel graphics, the beeping sound effects, and the very simplistic gameplay. You can move up, down, left, and right. Along with these commands, you can also strike or shoot if you have a gun equipped.
The goal of this game is to proceed through the levels, preferably through means of sneaking, which is almost necessary because like most stealth-based games it is almost impossible to survive in a big battle. I would recommend checking this title out if you are a fan of the series, but if you're not then there is not much to check out here. This is more for those previously addressed fans or for people who enjoy old school gaming. If you are not too much into older games from the Nintendo era, I would recommend Metal Gear Solid on the original Playstation.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Have you played Star Wars Battlefront II? It was released in 2005, and still holds up as easily one of the best Star Wars games ever, and even one of the best games ever. Battlefront II is a shooter that places you in control of one of several types of soldiers from the expansive Star Wars universe, ranging from droids to clones and stormtroopers. Throughout play, you can be rewarded with the opportunity to play as a hero or villain, depending upon which faction you play as. For example, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker headlines the Rebels, the foreboding Darth Vader commands the Empire, the menacing Darth Maul battles with the Separists, and the wise master Yoda assists the Republic.
There are several modes available for play, including Conquest, where the focus is on capturing command points and fighting a position battle, Capture the Flag, and all out team deathmatch, among others. There is also an excellent campaign that follows the story of the 501st, Anakin Skywalker's and sequentially Darth Vader's personal legion, through almost the entire saga. It provides a ground level view of all the battles that take place in the movies.
The shooting mechanics are smooth and accurate. The graphics are top-notch for the time, and are still acceptable today. The story is intriguing and fun to play. I mean, of course it is, it's Star Wars. However, none of these are the best thing this game has to offer. That would be its replay value. In fact, this is a game that I still play to this day.
Between the story mode and the other game modes, Battlefront II is just a fun experience that somehow never manages to get old. I highly recommend this game to anyone an everyone, even those who for some unknown reason do not enjoy Star Wars. Oh, and by the way, this would be a much cheaper option than the more recent Battlefront, besides just being a better game. Go get it!
(Source: MetaGoblin on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UMuNpMbBLI)
There are several modes available for play, including Conquest, where the focus is on capturing command points and fighting a position battle, Capture the Flag, and all out team deathmatch, among others. There is also an excellent campaign that follows the story of the 501st, Anakin Skywalker's and sequentially Darth Vader's personal legion, through almost the entire saga. It provides a ground level view of all the battles that take place in the movies.
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The shooting mechanics are smooth and accurate. The graphics are top-notch for the time, and are still acceptable today. The story is intriguing and fun to play. I mean, of course it is, it's Star Wars. However, none of these are the best thing this game has to offer. That would be its replay value. In fact, this is a game that I still play to this day.
Between the story mode and the other game modes, Battlefront II is just a fun experience that somehow never manages to get old. I highly recommend this game to anyone an everyone, even those who for some unknown reason do not enjoy Star Wars. Oh, and by the way, this would be a much cheaper option than the more recent Battlefront, besides just being a better game. Go get it!
(Source: MetaGoblin on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UMuNpMbBLI)
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Hitman: Contracts
Have you played Hitman: Contracts? This game is the third in the series actually, but from personal experience seems to be a popular first entry that many people play in the series. I don't really know why that is but it was true for me too.
This game is a very tactical stealth game where you play as the titular hitman and sneak around locations, waiting for the right moment to strike and out and kill your prey. The main selling point of this game is the variety in which you can dispose of your targets. You can disguise your self using the clothes of people you can take out along the way, whether that be security guards, maintenance workers, or even Santa Claus in one amusing level placed at a Christmas party.
This game is very fun and interesting, offering a lot of replay value in the different ways you can complete your mission. However, here is a word of warning. This game is pretty difficult not only intentionally, but also with the dated controls. The gun combat is very stiff and there is no real way to take cover from enemy fire. This causes the player to almost be forced to play stealthily, often resulting in a quick death if caught.
That does not mean this game is not fun and rewarding. Just maybe pick up a later game in the series like its sequels Blood Money and Absolution if the concept interests you but the challenge sounds like a little too much. The later games are better built and a little easier to get used to. Overall, this game is fun, but its controls don't quite stand up to today's standards. I definitely recommend it for anyone who desires a challenge, but recommend later games if it sounds a little too hard.
This game is a very tactical stealth game where you play as the titular hitman and sneak around locations, waiting for the right moment to strike and out and kill your prey. The main selling point of this game is the variety in which you can dispose of your targets. You can disguise your self using the clothes of people you can take out along the way, whether that be security guards, maintenance workers, or even Santa Claus in one amusing level placed at a Christmas party.
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That does not mean this game is not fun and rewarding. Just maybe pick up a later game in the series like its sequels Blood Money and Absolution if the concept interests you but the challenge sounds like a little too much. The later games are better built and a little easier to get used to. Overall, this game is fun, but its controls don't quite stand up to today's standards. I definitely recommend it for anyone who desires a challenge, but recommend later games if it sounds a little too hard.
Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Hello! Have you played Star Wars Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight? The second entry into the Dark Forces series, yet also the origin of the Jedi Knight series, this game is the perfect spot to jump into if you wanted to play the popular game series. The first Dark Forces was a doom-like stuck-on-one-plane-of-aiming first person shooter set in the Star Wars Universe.
This game was the first to venture into the capability to aim 360 degrees around you. You can look down, up, right, left, and all around. This would differentiate it and lead to the developers to continue onto the new series of games labeled Jedi Knight, rather than keeping the Dark Forces title.
It was released back in 1997, and you can definitely tell it is a bit dated compared to the high octane shooters we have today like Call of Duty and Battlefield. The graphics are very pixelated, and the sound design has the distinct sound of being studio produced. And the controls are somewhat stiff. Oh, and I can not forget to mention the cutscenes. The godawful cutscenes in this game are live-action, mixed with CG for aliens and robots. These are the worst looking and acted cutscenes I have ever seen in a game.
However, this game has one mechanic that the latter are sorely missing: the ability to use a lightsaber. If you want to feel like a jedi, using the aforementioned lightsaber and an array of Force-related powers to fight your way through a Star Wars story, then this game will suffice. Despite all of these flaws, the positives make this game a worthwhile experience if you are a fan of Star Wars.
If you want to see the cutscenes for yourself, here is a taste:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYANZVApUg
This game was the first to venture into the capability to aim 360 degrees around you. You can look down, up, right, left, and all around. This would differentiate it and lead to the developers to continue onto the new series of games labeled Jedi Knight, rather than keeping the Dark Forces title.
It was released back in 1997, and you can definitely tell it is a bit dated compared to the high octane shooters we have today like Call of Duty and Battlefield. The graphics are very pixelated, and the sound design has the distinct sound of being studio produced. And the controls are somewhat stiff. Oh, and I can not forget to mention the cutscenes. The godawful cutscenes in this game are live-action, mixed with CG for aliens and robots. These are the worst looking and acted cutscenes I have ever seen in a game.
However, this game has one mechanic that the latter are sorely missing: the ability to use a lightsaber. If you want to feel like a jedi, using the aforementioned lightsaber and an array of Force-related powers to fight your way through a Star Wars story, then this game will suffice. Despite all of these flaws, the positives make this game a worthwhile experience if you are a fan of Star Wars.
If you want to see the cutscenes for yourself, here is a taste:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYANZVApUg
Friday, September 9, 2016
Resident Evil 4
Have you played Resident Evil 4? The fourth entry into this classic survival-horror series is a masterpiece. Coming out back in 2004, originally for the Nintendo Gamecube, Resident Evil 4 took fans by storm.
Switching from the original fixed-camera style where players saw themselves from different angles in each room, this one opted for a behind-the-shoulder view that followed the player. This innovation led to a faster-paced, more action oriented play style that definitely delivered a much more thrilling game.
Another improvement over the originals is the storytelling. Guided through the narrative with cutscenes that deliver the story with much improved voice acting, Resident Evil 4 serves up a much more detailed and cohesive story than its predecessors.
Switching from the original fixed-camera style where players saw themselves from different angles in each room, this one opted for a behind-the-shoulder view that followed the player. This innovation led to a faster-paced, more action oriented play style that definitely delivered a much more thrilling game.
Another improvement over the originals is the storytelling. Guided through the narrative with cutscenes that deliver the story with much improved voice acting, Resident Evil 4 serves up a much more detailed and cohesive story than its predecessors.
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| Source: Bryan Grabauskas |
Despite leaving the previous games behind in pacing and storytelling, Resident Evil 4 still instills horror in the player, whether that be the violent villagers screaming death threats at you in Spanish or the very creepy Regenerators struggling to breathe as they slowly approach you, unimpeded by the hailstorm of bullets you attempt to stop them with. Coupling the old-school horror and suspense with modern action and surprisingly good graphics and sound design that still stand up today.
Resident Evil 4 provides players with some of the best the Resident Evil series has ever offered. In fact, if you haven't already, I strongly recommend you pick up this game. It was ported to PS2, Wii, and PC and has been rereleased in HD on PS3, PS4, X-Box 360, and X-Box One. So what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Resident Evil 4 provides players with some of the best the Resident Evil series has ever offered. In fact, if you haven't already, I strongly recommend you pick up this game. It was ported to PS2, Wii, and PC and has been rereleased in HD on PS3, PS4, X-Box 360, and X-Box One. So what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Welcome to Have You Played...
Hello everyone! In this blog, I will be talking about some older games, whether that be retro like Nintendo or even more recent up to PS2 and X-Box. I have been playing videogames since before I can remember and I have played several systems, ranging from the Nintendo systems to the Playstation and X-Box families of systems.
Every week, I will bring into the spotlight a game that caught my attention recently. Other times, I will try to select a game that maybe is related to a new game releasing soon, or has just released. What I will actually discuss is a short review of the game overall, and some opinions about whether it holds up and is still fun to play compared to our modern games. Something, I have witnessed lately is that there are a lot of games that people either just do not play anymore or maybe never even experienced when it came out. That's why I am doing this blog. I want to breathe new life into some old gems that people may have missed or forgotten.
Anyway, that's all for the intro post. Join me next week for a look at a classic that is still considered one of the best games of all time and just received an HD rerelease: Resident Evil 4.
Every week, I will bring into the spotlight a game that caught my attention recently. Other times, I will try to select a game that maybe is related to a new game releasing soon, or has just released. What I will actually discuss is a short review of the game overall, and some opinions about whether it holds up and is still fun to play compared to our modern games. Something, I have witnessed lately is that there are a lot of games that people either just do not play anymore or maybe never even experienced when it came out. That's why I am doing this blog. I want to breathe new life into some old gems that people may have missed or forgotten.
Anyway, that's all for the intro post. Join me next week for a look at a classic that is still considered one of the best games of all time and just received an HD rerelease: Resident Evil 4.
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