GeekSugar

Art Style: Aquia Review - Challenging and Addictive

GeekSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:33:14 -0700

On Sunday, I spent 500 of my free DSi points on Art Style: Aquia, the Tetris, Bejeweled, Meteos mash-up that has you putting rows of same-colored blocks together in order to make them disappear. I knew the game would be fun, since I'm such a big fan of Tetris and Meteos, but I didn't realize how addictive it would be.

Not only are you being timed, but your goal is to help your undersea diver to get to the bottom of the ocean. With every second that ticks by, your diver is using up air, so you need to work fast. But if you aren't fast enough, the screen starts to turn black, meaning your diver is losing oxygen. It's a twist that gets your fingers - and your mind - working.

It may be fun, but to see the one thing that irks me about Art Style: Aquia, just read more.

So while the screen turning black does make you work harder, at the same time you lose so much play area that you can't see anymore. This makes catching up almost impossible, so once half of your screen turns dark, you're pretty much screwed.

Overall though, Aquia is extremely fun, and really gets your brain juices flowing. Totally worth the 500 DSi Ware points you'll be spending to purchase.

Pokémon Platinum Review: As Fun as I Remember

GeekSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:01:48 -0700

Although I've had this copy of Pokémon Platinum in my hands for some time now (it was released on March 22), I've finally had some time to sit down and actually play it. And you know what? It's as fun as you thought it would be. For hard-core Pokémon fans, the past two years have been painful, waiting for the series to be completed (it's a follow-up to the first two games in the set -Pokémon Pearl and Pokémon Diamond), and now it's finally here.

In the traditional role-playing game style (which is Pokémon's bread and butter), you use your creatures (or Pokémon) to fight your enemies. Although it sounds simple, and you may think the game is made for kids, it's consistently one of the top selling games in Japan - and it's played by all ages.

To see what else I loved about PP, just read more.

The good news is, if you haven't played any of the other Pokémon games before, you won't really need to. It's a simple story line - you use your creatures to fight, level by level - and one that will keep you entertained. Plus, the controls and battle sequences are pretty much the same in all versions, so if you do play this game, you can always go back and check out an earlier version without getting confused.

It's the tradition of Pokémon to come out in threes (i.e., Pokémon Emerald Ruby and Sapphire), where one game doesn't change much from the other, but Pokémon Platinum has a lot more going for it than Diamond and Pearl did previously. You have a lot more online multiplayer options, an online amusement park where you can meet up, as well as a town square where you can collect dozens of creatures and level them up to use during battles. Plus, there's a totally new world at the tail end of the game that's brand new to the series which newbies and Pokémon fans will enjoy.

Overall, Pokémon Platinum is a fun game that's worth picking up if you're a fan for its added features. I know the idea of Pokémon can be a little intimidating if you've never played before, but it's easy to pick up and actually kinda hard to put down!

Resident Evil 5 Review: Bottom Line? It's Really Fun

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:03:52 -0700

After partying it up at the SF Resident Evil 5 launch event, I was more than excited to really dig my teeth into the game over the weekend. Although it comes onto the scene after the massive popularity of Resident Evil 4, RE5 really takes over where the original left off - with Chris Redfield large, in charge, and out to track down the source of the Umbrella Corps bioweapons, which have been used to turn an entire African country of Kijuju into "Majini" or evil spirits if you speak Swahili.

If you aren't good at third person shooters, or just don't play horror titles in general, I encourage you to pick up this game and give it a try anyway. Not only is it really fun, but it sucks you right in. And even if you aren't familiar with the RE franchise, it's totally OK - you can pick up the plot right away, plus, you get a history lesson throughout the game via facts that are splashed across your screen while scenes are loading.

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Obviously, not all is well in this fictional African country, so to find out what I love (and kinda hate) about this game, just read more.

Forget all the criticisms you've heard about the plot not being good enough, or not being up to par with other recent games like Metal Gear Solid 4. The bottom line is, this game is really fun. I turn this game off at the end of the day being totally satisfied. Mostly because I love my shotgun (it does some pretty good damage), but also because the graphics are great, the controls are easy to pick up, and the sounds of far-off evil spirits really get me in the mood to take them down and save the country. Woah. I'm turning into G.I. Jane or something over here.

Another great feature in RE5 is the co-op play. For the first time, you and a friend can battle the Majini together. Better yet, if your partner gets tired of blowing through humans possessed by evil spirits, they can leave then come back any time they want. That's right folks, you don't have to go at it alone - a friend can jump in whenever she feels like it. Which is a really good thing since one of the more irritating points in the game is your AI partner, Sheva Alomar. Be warned - this chick has some issues. She's supposed to be there to have your back, but sometimes when you're in the middle of a serious battle, she may disappear to look for ammo, herbs, or hey, even some gold coins. There was one time when she was supposed to "cover me" in a dark tunnel since I picked up a lantern to light the way, but when it came time to give said cover, she was no where to be found. I swear, if you want something done right . . .

Overall, Resident Evil 5 is worth the pricey $60 sticker. Although you might find some frustrations, mostly with your AI partner, the fact that you can't organize or switch your weapons in a paused menu environment (which proves tricky when you run out of bullets in your shotgun and need to switch to your magnum with a bunch of possessed tribal guys coming after you), and the restricted movements while shooting (you can't even shoot and run at the same time), I think you'll be able to overlook all that and enjoy the ride.

Resident Evil 5 is out now for $60 on your Xbox 360 and PS3 systems.

Afro Samurai Review: A Beautiful (Semi) Disaster

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:30:41 -0800

Disaster may be a little too harsh of a word to describe Afro Samurai, but on the flip side, calling it beautiful may not give this game the credit that's due. The first thing you're going to notice while playing Afro Samurai is the insane art design, and the kick-ass music (which is notably scored by Rza from Wu Tang Clan and Howard Drossin) that periodically had me stopping play just to listen to the beats.

Afro Samurai is based on a Japanese manga series and subsequent anime mini series that has run here in the US on Spike TV. Just like in the show, Samuel L. Jackson lends his voice to the main character's sidekick who helps Afro along in his quest. What quest, you ask? Well that's a good question. See what I mean when you read more.

If you aren't a fan of the manga or mini series, then you might be a bit lost when you begin the game. There's no real explanation of what is going on or what you're doing. But really, you don't have to know the inner details of the story to enjoy the game, so you just might find yourself saying "Huh?" a few times. The game has its faults, but the main gripe I had about this visually stunning game is the lame and unchangeable camera controls. They are inverted, which means that if you want to look left, you move your joystick to the right and if you want to look up you have to move your stick down. I know that there are a lot of gamers out there that prefer inverted controls, but for me it just makes things all the more frustrating, especially when there's nothing you can do to change it. Additionally, the menu kinda stinks, and isn't very helpful when you're trying to figure out your weapons and direction.

But to be honest, the good outweighs the bad in this situation. Although you will find yourself bored at times, there will be moments of awe when you realize that the game is playing out on your screen like a comic book and you've never seen anything like it. When you are getting confused as to what to do next without many clues, a new track will start playing and you'll realize that Rza is a mad genius. And of course, when you start thinking that this game is too bloody and gory (it may be, but it's done oh-so-stylishly), you'll realize just how satisfying it is to slash your enemies, and how cool they look when they go down.

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Overall this game is definitely worth a look, even if it's for the artwork and soundtrack alone. I loved hacking away at my foes (especially when I get to chop them in half with my sword), and just for the record, Samuel L. Jackson is one bad mo-fo.

Afro Samurai is available now online or in stores.

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Skate 2 Review: Frustrating, Then Totally Addictive

GeekSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:02:13 -0800

The first time I popped open my copy of Skate 2, I knew I was in for a different kind of skating game. Not only are you able to get a crash course in boarding trickery at the local skate park, but you can also roam free around the city of New San Vanelona - jumping curbs, popping ollies, accepting challenges and running from the police Burnout Paradise style. I later found that Skate 2 kept me entertained, but at times it would make me oh-so-frustrated.

Skate 2 starts with you getting released from prison. Your friend Al picks you up and immediately takes you to Slappy's skate park to reclaim your place at the top of the skateboarding food chain. If you played the first installment of Skate (I didn't), you'll find that your city has been taken over and "rebuilt" by a mega-corporation and all your old favorite skating spots have been deemed useless. Plus, the police take skateboarding seriously and if you're caught skating on public property, you might get pinched if you aren't quick.

There are many things I liked about Skate 2, and some things that had me cursing the skating gods. To see what I mean, read more.

In Skate 2's career mode, you are climbing your way back to being the best skater in San Vanelona and reclaiming the city for your comrades. Doing so involves taking on different challenges from other skaters, racking up high scoring tricks, and participating in magazine photo shoots. All of this is easy peasy if you get the moves down. And that's a big if.

So when I tell you that learning the tricks in the game can be frustrating, it's only because I was sloppy at my timing or my control combos. It's funny cause I've seen kids around my old neighborhood doing these exact tricks, so I feel like it should be easy, but it's not. Just like in real life, if you aren't popping your board at the right second, you fail. You either land (hard) on your rear, or you just simply jump off your deck. But once you get it, it's really, really fun. Plus, there's a cool feature in Skate 2 that allows you to mark the beginning of your trick so that if you fail (which will probably be often), you can go back to that spot and try, try again.

Exploring the city is awesome since almost anything you see is "skateable", and you can engage in different challenges along the way to increase your score. You are also super strong (must have been all those gym hours in the Big House) and can move almost any object with ease to make your own little skating heaven anywhere you find a spot. But watch out for the police - those dudes are everywhere. Overall, Skate 2 is entertaining, engaging, and addictive. Even at my most frustrated times, I just wanted to keep going so that I could learn just one more trick. Although I could do without the citizens of San Vanelona getting in my way when I'm trying to race (Hello? I'm trying to race here), but I suppose that is how it would be if I were a real life skating bad ass, which will probably never happen.

Skate 2 is available today on your XBox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles.

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Lips Review: So Addictive Even the Neighbors Want to Play

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:02:43 -0800

When I cracked open Lips for the first time, I had no idea what was about to happen to me. Honestly, I thought that it couldn't get any better than SingStar, and that this game probably wouldn't attract gobs of eager players like Rock Band does. . . but I was wrong. So wrong in fact, that after playing for a few hours with some of my pals, my friendly neighbor knocked on the door to see if she could get in on the action.

What makes Lips fun right out of the box isn't just the wireless LED lit mic (that makes you feel like a total rock star), or the fun gestures you make while singing to get extra points, but the selection of songs Lips comes packed with from the get-go. Offering up 40 tunes from Alicia Keys, and Peter Bjorn, to Nirvana and R.E.M., this game is a crowd pleaser.

Plus, did I mention the mics were wireless? You have no idea what kind of karaoke people are capable of until they are able to move effortlessly around a room. Trust me on this one.

But of course, with every plus comes a minus. Find out what I mean when you read more.

So the thing I love about SingStar and Rock Band is the constant flow of updated and downloadable songs to buy online - you never get bored, and the songs are cheap. At the time that I'm writing this, there is a lot to be desired in the Lips song store - last time I checked there were only 20 songs available to buy. I'm hoping that this is a temporary shortage, since the songs that come packed with the game are pretty current and desirable.

Also, I previously mentioned the gestures that you make while singing. Let me explain: the wireless mics are equipped with sensors, so when cued to do so, you can play air guitar, or raise the roof while you're jamming to earn additional points. Although I think its a fun way to integrate the technology, some people who played with me thought that the movements were distracting and sometimes impossible to find a way to work them in without messing up on the lyrics or timing. Either way, it's just another feature that SingStar doesn't offer.

Overall, I'm in love with Lips, mostly because of the amount of "stock" songs it comes with, and the wireless mics. Plus, you can even plug in your iPod or MP3 player and sing along to your own (DRM free) tunes. It's totally worth the $70 price tag (especially since there may be a hack that lets you use the Lips mics for Rock Band. Hello, awesome!), and any music gamer out there is sure to dig it. Lips is available now for your Xbox 360 online and in stores.

Gears of War 2 Review: My Boyfriend Loves It

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:01:45 -0800

As I'm writing this, my boyfriend is playing Gears of War 2 with a buddy via online co-op play. He is also wearing an Xbox Headset so that they can communicate and strategize their mission.

So to say that my boyfriend loves GOW2 is a bit of an understatement. Besides the fact that there was a permanent butt imprint in our last couch when the first installment of the series hit the shelves, it seems that in some weird way the game re-establishes a sense of manliness that is lost from days of working in customer service, IT support, or just bending to the wants and needs of others. It brings an aura of brotherhood as you battle the "Locusts" together, lending a hand with your chainsaw to amputate the enemy that chokes your brother-in-arms. It's a phenomenon I'll never be able to explain.

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I can't say that I've had much time to play Gears of War 2 myself - you know, since there are always at least four guys on my couch taking turns high-fiving each other for destroying the "horde" - but I can give you some observations I've made over the past few days. To find out what they are, just read more.

There's much more story involved in this game than in the first Gears installment.
Online co-op play is the preferred way to "Gear Up."
You can literally play for hours and not get bored.
Graphics are good, and blowing things up is awesome.
The Locusts' voices are pretty creepy.
This would be the ultimate Christmas gift for a guy in need of some male bonding.
You'll have plenty of time to do your nails/shop/workout/play your DS without your BF bothering you about it.

I don't know if any of these insights will help you decide whether or not to actually purchase Gears of War 2 for yourself, but hey, if I'm going by my boyfriend's enthusiasm, it's like the greatest game ever.

Gears of War 2 is available now for $60 on your Xbox 360.

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Mirror's Edge Review: Fun. . . Once You Get the Hang of It

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:01:22 -0800

I had been looking forward to playing Mirror's Edge since the early months of 2008, all the while hoping it was going to live up to the hype I had heard swirling around it. The good news is, this first-person action title is beautiful to look at, it's a great way to break out of a RPG rut (note to self: must stop playing Fable II), and I was able to do things I had never done before in a game. The bad news? It takes quite a while to get the hang of the controls and movements, not to mention the camera angles.

Mirror's Edge places you in a suppressed city, run by a totalitarian regime. You're a messenger, running correspondence between the underground resistance, and your sole mission is to deliver your "packages" without getting caught by government surveillance teams. But the coolest part? You use rooftops high above the city floor to make your way from point A to point B. This is where things get interesting.

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To see what I mean, just read more.

As Faith - the game's main character - finding your way around the ceiling of the city is made much easier by looking for objects, platforms, pipes, anything that you can jump from, grab onto, or open, that is shaded in red. Sometimes this has you leaping from one building to another while avoiding barbed-wire, sliding under pipes, and busting open roof doors to evade the police; or to get where you need to go. But nothing is set in stone - there is never only one way to get to your destination.

The colors and graphics in Mirror's Edge are like nothing I've ever seen before. It's vibrant, crisp, has great detail, and has impressive lighting effects that emulate real sun reflecting off the glass windows of your city. Plus, the sounds are pretty awesome too. You can hear the traffic bustling below, but the one thing you hear the most is your heavy breathing and footsteps - it's a true immersion into the world. This great detail is what makes the issue with the controls such a bummer! Even with a full tutorial in the beginning, I spent more than a few hours doing some trial and error before I finally got to the point where I could really play the first level - but in the end it was totally worth it.

Mirror's Edge is that game that you can keep coming back to, even if it's only to perfect your skills. The story is engaging, and your heart really does pound when you leap off the edge of a skyscraper, or when you're being pursued by cops and can't find your way out of a building. There's a lot to love about this game - it's fresh and I've never played anything like it - but it's definitely not going to be for everyone. Especially those who have a hard time picking up control functions. . . and maybe even those who are afraid of heights.

Mirror's Edge is available now for $60 bucks for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

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Mercenaries 2 Review: Commercial Was Better Than the Game

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:40:53 -0700

I was totally excited for Mercenaries 2 to hit the shelves, mostly because of the awesome and totally original commercial. Haven't seen it? Check it out below, but I'll tell you now – that just may be the best part about the game.

As I came to find out, playing Mercenaries 2 wasn't even up to par with the first installment that came out back in 2005, which is a total letdown. Cause, you know - this is 2008! Games have progressed so much in the past three years (just look at Mass Effect or BioShock for a prime example), so I was expecting a lot more from the second title. Sure, this is a shoot-em up action game, but every game should have some kind of substance if it wants to survive, and unfortunately this was all filler. To see why, just read more.

Bugs, repetitive play, and a boring story brought this game down more than a few notches. And if I'm being honest, it kinda seemed unfinished. Blowing things up is always a hit with gamers (including yours truly), but having the same explosion happen over and over again is just not fun. And the bad guys? Well, I think they are more like clones, cause I'm pretty sure I shot the same guy 20 times over. Overall, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames isn't worth the $40 - $60 price tag, but the commercial is well worth 30 seconds of your time!

Spore Review: Not Just a Game In a Box

GeekSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:02:18 -0700

During my interview with Ocean Quigley, Art Director for Spore, I mentioned to him that I hated calling this a game, cause it's much more like a tool for creativity. And after playing Spore every spare moment I could muster for three days straight, I can attest to that statement as being true. It's more than a game (although some will say it's not really a "game" at all), it's a lesson in evolution and a brand new way to watch something you've created come to life.

Spore is split up into five stages - Cell, Creature, Tribal, Civilization, and Space – evolving you from a tiny cell trying to make it in the muck pool, to a space cowboy who travels to other planets in his space ship. Along the way, you are able to evolve by adding new parts, molding, and upgrading your creature as you make your way up the food chain. It's really quite exciting to see something that you've made go from swimming in a tide pool, to walking on land and making friends (and enemies)!

To see my thoughts on the rest of the stages and check out some pics from the game, just read more.

The Cell stage is by far the shortest, your only task being to eat so you can gain enough DNA points to evolve to land. An interesting aspect you learn right away is that all of your choices from this point forward will affect your species' evolution, right down to the choice of being an herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore. I loved playing around in this stage, and kinda wish it would have went on longer!

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If I had to pick one stage to be my favorite, it would have to be the Creature stage! This is where all the magic happens. You get to mold, shape, and upgrade your creature, and I'll warn you now – you might spend longer on designing your creature than you did playing in the Cell stage altogether! Since there are other species in this level to interact with, you can either make friends with neighboring groups, or attempt to destroy them - either choice earns you DNA points so that you can evolve to be a more powerful creature. Eventually, you can add other allies to your pack and travel with them, which is pretty helpful when you do need to take on another species to the death!

The Tribal stage, although engaging, was probably my least favorite. I'm not the biggest fan of real-time strategy games, and this was like a simple version of one. Your creature has evolved, made fire, and can now build huts, hunt and gather food, and communicate with a language. To earn DNA points, your tribe gathers food to support your growing population. Again, you can either make friends with your neighboring tribes by playing instruments, or crush them into oblivion. Customization takes a nose dive in this stage, but you can dress your tribe members, and upgrade your huts.

The Civilization stage brings a grander sense of scale, where you can build cities (this is where all those hours you've invested in playing The Sims will come in handy), and attempt to dominate the planet. You generate a stream of income by collecting spice, so you can purchase more materials to build more buildings, and acquire more soldiers to conquer more land. Additionally, you can build factories and entertainment complexes so that your unhappy workers can unwind at the theater afterwards!

The Space stage was another favorite of mine. You build space ships, vehicles, mold planets, travel to other galaxies and either help a fledgling species, or dominate them. You can even abduct other life forms and transport them to other planets! This is by far the largest stage, and the longest one to complete. What makes this stage cool though, is that it's pretty open ended so you can go where you want, and do just about anything. Designing my space ship was for sure the toughest part - it had to be awesome!

Overall, Spore inspired me, not because of its complex design, cool art, or thought provoking gameplay (I was always worried about what the consequence will be if I exterminate a neighboring species – I'm too nice, I know.), but the fact that this will change the way games are made from here on out. Spore will require other games to have more customization, since it's pretty endless here. Besides, over three million creatures have been made with the Creature Creator, and no two are alike! I loved playing Spore, but I realize it won't be for everyone. There's not a constant stream of action, and there is a whole science class aspect to it, but it really is very fun to play. If you don't have a Mac or PC, you can also get the DS version ($30) of the game! Spore is available this Sunday, September 7 for $50 online or in stores, and guess what, it's worth every penny!

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