I warn you now (and realize that I probably should have warned you in the introduction, but I am lazy and don't like thinking ahead) that all my reviews will be biased and there will be a foul language abundance.
General Stats
Concept: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 9/10
Playability: 9/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Replay Value: Very High
About the Game
Genre: Action/Adventure Platformer
Length: 8-20 hours
Platform: PS2
Review and General Storyline:
Alright, this game begins with Jak and his buddy, Daxter, exploring the dangerous Misty Island, and generally doing shit they aren't supposed to do--like exploring Misty Island.
Cute little cut scene and BAM. Best friend Daxter goes swimming in some Dark Eco and is now an Ottsel. That is a mix between an otter and a weasel, in case you were wondering (I was, so I did a little research).
And, you guys are totally in trouble with the Old Green Sage Samos, so he kicks you off to Training Rock, which is a seriously useful level. Here you learn pretty much all you need to know to kick ass throughout the entire game.
Eco, as you learn, is some pretty awesome shit. Green will heal you, Blue makes you fast, Red makes you strong, and Yellow shoots fireball things. Oh, and Dark Eco, obviously will kick your ass--you get hurt if you touch it and die if you fall in it. Ouch.
But these first few levels--Sandover Village, Sentinel Beach and the Forbidden Jungle--are very easy and teach you all the controls. If you can't get through these first few levels, there is now way that you can get past some of the later levels--because some of those get hard.
Anyway, the point of this game is to generally collect power cells. They power your A-GRAV zoomer and keep you from being lava bait. You collect them for Kiera, a babe that has both Jak and Daxter drooling after her--and she is the crotchety old Sage's daughter. That kind of defines the game. You need 20 to upgrade your heat shield the first time to get you to Rock Village, then 45 to upgrade your anti-gravity device to get through the Mountain Pass to Volcanic Crater, then 72 to power your second heat upgrade and go through the Lava Tube. Finally, 100 (or 101, depending on your awesomeness) power cells are needed to unlock the "secret" ending.
You also need to collect Precursor Orbs, which act kind of like currency--they allow you to buy Power Cells from various villagers. There are like 2,000 total, but you only need just shy of 1,600 to buy all the Power Cells--and you will be considered totally kickass if you can do that, because there are some seriously tricky spots (including 10 in the junction between Spider Cave and Volcanic Crater).
ANYWAY, mini-games. I live for some of these mini-games, if only because they are so freaking hard. The first one, in the Forbidden Jungle, is to catch 200 lbs of fishies. There are 5 lb fishies and 1 lb fishies, then there are Poisonous Eels--nasty little buggers--and if you catch a single one of them, the guy takes his net back and you have to start all over again. Super frustrating, but I feel like a boss when I finish it.
So, while you are attempting to turn Daxter back into a human, you end up kicking Lurker ass, rescuing all of the Sages, zooming on your zoomer, defending a swamp from critters, flit around on a Flut-Flut, spend time in a volcano, on a snowy mountain, chill on the beach, and explore some ruins. Easy.
The final level, the Citadel, defines this game. It weeds out the boys from the men, the women from the girls, the babies from the big kids. It defines a platformer--there is so much jumping, so much precision, just so much, that if you aren't dedicated, you might just quit. I thought about it, did, in fact, a few times. But then I set aside a couple of hours and made it to the very top. That is where I met the mother of all bad guys. Seriously. Super hard boss fight that ended up making me want to pull my frigging hair out. And then--freedom. You finish the game. Done. Kaput.
Like I said, this game, if you motor through and only get enough Power Cells and Precursor Orbs to finish the game, then it can take as little as 6 hours. It is also entirely possible to 100% the game in a single sitting, 10 hours, if you are good. If you are an inexperienced gamer and OCD and have to get everything, at the very pinnacle, this game will take 15-20 hours.
This is another great game for casual players. There are places that require some skill, but it is entirely possible to bumble your way to the very top--it just takes some persistence. I've only finished this one twice, possibly, but I've gone through the first few levels at least 10 times, and can 100% it in my sleep almost. The more you play, the better you will be.
Overall, I give this game a 9 out of 10. The dialogue of Daxter and the laconic Jak is hysterical and ups the replay value to very high all by itself.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Ps One: LEGEND OF DRAGOON
First game review for the first game I ever played (religiously).
General Stats
Concept: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Playability: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Replay Value: Very High
About the Game
Genre: Fantasy RPG
Length: 40-60 hours
Platform: Ps One Classic (also available on PSN for the PS3 and PSP)
Review and General Storyline
This game begins as a young man, Dart, returns home from a 3 year journey to find the "Black Monster," the creature who destroyed his childhood home and killed his parents. But, on the way, Dart gets attacked by a Dragon and is saved by a mysterious traveler--and then learns that the Dragon just came from his hometown.
Fast forward a few minutes as Dart runs through the forest until he gets to the smouldering ruins of Seles.
Cue fight music.
Now, the fighting in this game is simply ingenious. You learn along with the characters (though we start with just Dart) because as you get better at the first addition, then you get more that get progressively harder. Double Slash, for now, is simple enough. The higher level you are, the more difficult the addition is; pretty simple.
And I say you learn along with the characters because, in a way, you do. If you began with Dart, level 1, with, say, Madness Hero, you would throw down your controller and likely never pick it up again (sidebar: Madness Hero, though only 5 attacks, had me pulling my hair out for the longest time. Blazing Dynamo, at 7, was simple. But Madness Hero was all about fast attacks and precision; with Blazing Dynamo, you get a little bit of a reprieve between each attack). You have to work your way up to the more difficult additions, and with time, it gets easier.
Muscle memory is a big component to this game. My first play through I could barely do the additions, completing one of the higher level ones maybe 30% of the time (another sidebar: took me years to actually do a Perky Step. It was insane). I got better with time and practice. And now, even though I haven't played the game in a year or two, can stick the 4th disc in and pull out a perfect Demon's Dance without practicing. It is just one of those things that stick with you.
So attacks are good: not too hard, not too easy. Guarding is a good way to gain health, especially early in the game where you don't have much gold or healing potions. It is slow, obviously, and takes some patience, but a good idea to do if monsters are kicking your butt. And in those first few fights, you need that health, not having many/any healing items.
But you kick the Commander's butt and you find out Dart's childhood sweetie, Shana, was taken to Hellena Prison for nefarious, undisclosed reasons. Obviously Dart is going to have to save her.
Before you leave this area, it is good to think about talking to every NPC you come across. Some provide vital information, or information for sub-plots, and some are just hilarious. Plus, if you want to get some fighting practice, talk to Master Tasman, as he will teach you about additions.
Another note: Star Dust. There are 50 in the game, and for every 10, you get an item. You need all 50 to make an optional fight super easy. The very first one is in Seles.
First Timers: make sure you talk to the guy in the Forest--he is going to teach you about how to use items. especially offensive magics. If you don't have a turbo controller, you are going to need this practice time. with a turbo, you can get up to 260ish%. Without, the most I have ever gotten was maybe 170%.
At Hellena, you get to save the girl, save a knight, and generally kick some ass. Lavitz, the knight, and Shana join your group, making fights so much easier, even if Shana is a pansy.
Over the course of the first disc, new characters Rose, King Albert, and Haschel join your group as a badass, a girly-man and an old dude, in that order. You slay Dragons, become Dragon Knights (Dragoons), and solve puzzles (like that absolutely annoying level Shirley's Shrine. I want my treasure chests, damn it!). To find out how the game ends, how you get these characters and what not, you are going to have to play the game. Sorry.
For a game released almost 12 years ago in 2000, the graphics are considered very good--cut scenes are cutting edge for the time period. It has some fun soundtracks, with different ones for each area, so it doesn't get old very quickly.
This game is perfect for those who want a fun time, but aren't serious gamers. It is easy without being too easy, and has some challenges to keep everyone interested. It is also a good first-time RPG-er to get introduced to the genre. It isn't nearly as long as some games in the genre, but if you want to, there is a ton of extra stuff that you can easily stretch out to 60+ hours.
I've played this game a good six or seven times, and I have yet to get bored with it, which is kind of saying something. It is a classic!
General Stats
Concept: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Playability: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Replay Value: Very High
About the Game
Genre: Fantasy RPG
Length: 40-60 hours
Platform: Ps One Classic (also available on PSN for the PS3 and PSP)
Review and General Storyline
This game begins as a young man, Dart, returns home from a 3 year journey to find the "Black Monster," the creature who destroyed his childhood home and killed his parents. But, on the way, Dart gets attacked by a Dragon and is saved by a mysterious traveler--and then learns that the Dragon just came from his hometown.
Fast forward a few minutes as Dart runs through the forest until he gets to the smouldering ruins of Seles.
Cue fight music.
Now, the fighting in this game is simply ingenious. You learn along with the characters (though we start with just Dart) because as you get better at the first addition, then you get more that get progressively harder. Double Slash, for now, is simple enough. The higher level you are, the more difficult the addition is; pretty simple.
And I say you learn along with the characters because, in a way, you do. If you began with Dart, level 1, with, say, Madness Hero, you would throw down your controller and likely never pick it up again (sidebar: Madness Hero, though only 5 attacks, had me pulling my hair out for the longest time. Blazing Dynamo, at 7, was simple. But Madness Hero was all about fast attacks and precision; with Blazing Dynamo, you get a little bit of a reprieve between each attack). You have to work your way up to the more difficult additions, and with time, it gets easier.
Muscle memory is a big component to this game. My first play through I could barely do the additions, completing one of the higher level ones maybe 30% of the time (another sidebar: took me years to actually do a Perky Step. It was insane). I got better with time and practice. And now, even though I haven't played the game in a year or two, can stick the 4th disc in and pull out a perfect Demon's Dance without practicing. It is just one of those things that stick with you.
So attacks are good: not too hard, not too easy. Guarding is a good way to gain health, especially early in the game where you don't have much gold or healing potions. It is slow, obviously, and takes some patience, but a good idea to do if monsters are kicking your butt. And in those first few fights, you need that health, not having many/any healing items.
But you kick the Commander's butt and you find out Dart's childhood sweetie, Shana, was taken to Hellena Prison for nefarious, undisclosed reasons. Obviously Dart is going to have to save her.
Before you leave this area, it is good to think about talking to every NPC you come across. Some provide vital information, or information for sub-plots, and some are just hilarious. Plus, if you want to get some fighting practice, talk to Master Tasman, as he will teach you about additions.
Another note: Star Dust. There are 50 in the game, and for every 10, you get an item. You need all 50 to make an optional fight super easy. The very first one is in Seles.
First Timers: make sure you talk to the guy in the Forest--he is going to teach you about how to use items. especially offensive magics. If you don't have a turbo controller, you are going to need this practice time. with a turbo, you can get up to 260ish%. Without, the most I have ever gotten was maybe 170%.
At Hellena, you get to save the girl, save a knight, and generally kick some ass. Lavitz, the knight, and Shana join your group, making fights so much easier, even if Shana is a pansy.
Over the course of the first disc, new characters Rose, King Albert, and Haschel join your group as a badass, a girly-man and an old dude, in that order. You slay Dragons, become Dragon Knights (Dragoons), and solve puzzles (like that absolutely annoying level Shirley's Shrine. I want my treasure chests, damn it!). To find out how the game ends, how you get these characters and what not, you are going to have to play the game. Sorry.
For a game released almost 12 years ago in 2000, the graphics are considered very good--cut scenes are cutting edge for the time period. It has some fun soundtracks, with different ones for each area, so it doesn't get old very quickly.
This game is perfect for those who want a fun time, but aren't serious gamers. It is easy without being too easy, and has some challenges to keep everyone interested. It is also a good first-time RPG-er to get introduced to the genre. It isn't nearly as long as some games in the genre, but if you want to, there is a ton of extra stuff that you can easily stretch out to 60+ hours.
I've played this game a good six or seven times, and I have yet to get bored with it, which is kind of saying something. It is a classic!
Introductions: Why Now?
As it just so happens, I was trolling around while at my internship today (not very important), when a stroke of genius smacks me right across the toes--and knuckles--in the form of a story. Quite literally, I might add, nursing a sore foot where I dropped a box.
Now (still not very important), I am working this summer at a local newspaper, doing general, boring work. And it is completely obvious that I want nothing to do with daily newspapers when I graduate from college, I still want to write. Just not daily--and not for a newspaper.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against newspapers, nor daily publications. But it is boring. Set. Unoriginal.
I can't play with form. I can't play with style. I can't even add flowery imagery because, let's face it, newspapers are boring. And that is okay because that's how it is supposed to be.
But this genius idea (getting more important), is to write about something I love about once weekly. I love very little more than I love video games (writing and sleep--that's it), and I can use the practice of keeping a deadline. Hence: a video game blog. Best of both worlds. I get to write and I get to play. Win-win.
I've always wanted to write a walkthrough, but with YouTube the way it is, everyone and their Uncle has a guide out there, and it's better because it is a video. Video for video games--it just kind of makes sense.
But (very important now), game reviews sounds like a fun time. And I have played a lot of games in my day. Who cares if I add some spoilers (which I totally will, coincidentally) because that is half the fun, isn't it?
I still don't know what I am going to do when I graduate--novel writer, teacher, librarian, ace detective, etc--but I don't really like to think that far into the future. Makes my head hurt.
So I won't. I'll take this one day at a time (though more likely, one week every once and a while), because deadlines are boring.
And I hate being bored.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy my witty, sometimes sarcastic voice and general moodiness.
Now (still not very important), I am working this summer at a local newspaper, doing general, boring work. And it is completely obvious that I want nothing to do with daily newspapers when I graduate from college, I still want to write. Just not daily--and not for a newspaper.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against newspapers, nor daily publications. But it is boring. Set. Unoriginal.
I can't play with form. I can't play with style. I can't even add flowery imagery because, let's face it, newspapers are boring. And that is okay because that's how it is supposed to be.
But this genius idea (getting more important), is to write about something I love about once weekly. I love very little more than I love video games (writing and sleep--that's it), and I can use the practice of keeping a deadline. Hence: a video game blog. Best of both worlds. I get to write and I get to play. Win-win.
I've always wanted to write a walkthrough, but with YouTube the way it is, everyone and their Uncle has a guide out there, and it's better because it is a video. Video for video games--it just kind of makes sense.
But (very important now), game reviews sounds like a fun time. And I have played a lot of games in my day. Who cares if I add some spoilers (which I totally will, coincidentally) because that is half the fun, isn't it?
I still don't know what I am going to do when I graduate--novel writer, teacher, librarian, ace detective, etc--but I don't really like to think that far into the future. Makes my head hurt.
So I won't. I'll take this one day at a time (though more likely, one week every once and a while), because deadlines are boring.
And I hate being bored.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy my witty, sometimes sarcastic voice and general moodiness.
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