buttonmashing

Mashing buttons since 1984

Nat

Metal Gear Solid 4 First Impress…er, Digressions

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It has a top-notch presentaiton and the audio and visuals are outstanding. I’m not too deep into the story, but I hear it gets convoluted really fast.

I’ve put about 45 minutes into this game.

I’ve pressed a controller button about ten times.

If this is the future of next generation gaming, count me out. I’m sure that this may change the deeper I get into the game, but for cryin’ out loud, let me play! I don’t know what the (seemingly) recent trend is to put 20-30 minute intros into a game before there is even any real gameplay, but it’s driving me nuts. Here are some recent games I’ve played: Okami, 20 minutes; about every Mario game since the Gamecube, 20 minutes, Eternal Sonata, 15 minutes; Final Fantasy Crisis Core, 10 minutes; and Metal Gear Solid 4, a whopping 40+ minutes.

Yes, some of the fluff can be skipped, but some of it cannot be. I guess that’s why I’m drawn to games such as Space Invaders Extreme and Galaga (a remake coming soon…another trend—but one I like). Give me the pew pews.

In looking back on the games I’ve enjoyed the most in the last year, they have been those that are either short on story or they use the gaming experience to tell the story. Bioshock is an excellent example of a game that uses itself to advance the storyline and Half-Life 2 is another example (somewhat). Assassin’s Creed with it’s forced cutscenes is not.

There were a lot of moments in the opening scenes of Metal Gear Solid 4 that I could have played, but I guess it was not to be. Apparently, this is the style of play that gamers want—at least in this instance for PS3 owners, who are coming close to pushing this title to over 1 million sold in the U.S.

Yes, the game is epic. I’ll give it that. The whole “press one button to play” mentality just reminds me of the people in the movie Wall-E. Of course, this trend might be going the other way if a game like Mega Man 9 (possible old-school difficult) proves to sell well.

Hopefully, we’ll have both. Some can pay $60+ for their glorified movie viewer, and some can pay $10+ for their buttonmashing pew pews.

In [Nat’s] Hands: Playstation 3

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Through an even weirder turn of events involving a group of tourists from Hong Kong, a camera, and a package of Little Debbie Zebra Cakes I was able to get a Playstation 3 bundled with Metal Gear Solid 4 for absolutely FREE. (Well, not really. It was by using the reward points of my Sony credit card.)

I am excited for the movie playing alone. Games, you need to prove yourself.

In [Nat’s] Hands: Civilization Revolution

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Through a weird turn of events that involved a chicken, corn husks, strawberry jelly, and sprinkles of pixie dust I was able to acquire Civilization Revolution. I’ve not even opened it yet because I am afraid of what a time sink it might be. It’s getting good reviews, but nobody seems to be playing it. Maybe there really is a difference between the PC gamer and the console gamer? I hope to follow up sometime in the future with a 2 Minute Review.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop

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Here’s something new at buttonmashing: a press release. Why is this a big deal here? 1) We like Dead Rising. 2) It’s now officially announced for North America.

It’s not really anything new we’ve already posted except the mention that it’s using the same engine as RE4 and the save function is “improved.” Here’s hoping the gameplay translates to the wiggle stick.

Press release after the jump.

I’m all set for Dead Rising 2, but this’ll suffice if priced right.

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Dead Rising Wii Changes

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Here we go (with commentary):

  • A new title, Dead Rising: Zombie Sacrifice (A new name is not necessarily needed, but…)
  • Missions from Otis are no more (heck, yes! Best change yet.)
  • Linear missions (yes, good)
  • RE4 camera style (uh, I don’t think it was needed)
  • No photo mode (Thank you, although Frank is a photographer, I felt taking snapshots was bothersome—I would not do it. Forget that dang thing. Survive!)
  • New enemies, new weapons, and all sorts of new wiggles. (And it’s not DLC? Yay!)

If they sell this title for $30, it will be a must-buy. However, I still think it’s Japan only so far.

Thanks to 1up for the news. Go there for a lot more detailed info.

Give It Up, Hardcore Gamers

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A site I used to frequent more than daily recently posted the June NPD numbers. The number aren’t what I’m really interested in (i.e. Nintendo prints money). However, the comments on that post chafe me just a little.

It seems as if hardcore gamers cannot accept the fact that there has been a paradigm shift in the gaming world. Let me make it simple: the Wii is a success and is here to stay, Sony still has to prove themselves with the PS3 (Yes, they do. If you don’t think so, you are in denial—show me the numbers next month), and Microsoft seems to be missing all the cues to stay afloat with the 360.

It also seems as if all the companies are copying each other: avatars and Miis, achievements and trophies, motion controllers, instruments, etc. You name it, but I only really see one innovation that’s driving all the momentum. It’s that thing that hardcore gamers call a gimmick.

I truly believe that hardcore gamers are a dying breed. Hardcore AAA games will keep being sold for a premium (and don’t get me started on the “Collector’s” editions that some games just have to have), and the casual waggle games will still fly off the shelves at an incredible rate at a cheaper price.

My big surprise for the June NPD was that the Wii Lego Indy made the top ten list and the 360 version didn’t.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog

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Please go see the new “teh phunny” from Joss Whedon. It’s brilliant.

UPDATE: It’s proving to be very popular on the intrawebs. The tubes are full. You can snag the entire series for only $4 on iTunes. I’m not shilling, but based on the 1st act alone—it’s worth it. I got lucky and viewed it online earlier today.

Let Me Know When It’s Over

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While Tony will be writing about E3, I’ll be the devil’s advocate. As gamers we gut FUD all year long. For events like E3, it just goes over the top.

Bill Harris says it much better than I can.

In a sense, to me, it’s all epic fail. All I know is that Nintendo prints money and really wants to get into the controller business (for each individual game), Microsoft overprices hard drives (is it up? down? a new size? a phased out kit? wha…?), and Sony still appears to be in denial (everything else is just niche) .

Geesh.

Achievements? Trophies? Nothing new.

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This may be an old discussion—even before the 360 or the PS3 existed. To prove there really is nothing new under the sun:

I was playing the greatest game ever made this afternoon, and as the Emperor’s cronies fired bolts out of their hands and tattooed my arm—I realized it.

All those times I got a new addition to my arm, all those times I received new medals and pins—those were achievements. Nothing has ever been as more rewarding in a game as the wonderful glowing tatoo designs I received on my arm.