buttonmashing

Mashing buttons since 1984

Nat

In [Nat’s] Hands: Wipeout Pulse

by 5 Comments

Wipeout PulseAs many of you know, I’ve been going on and on the last couple of days (or is it weeks) about Patapon. Yes, it is a PSP must buy, and yes, it is a challenge to play. However, this post is not about that game. I actually ended up with something unexpected on top of Patapon.

While getting another game for my brother’s birthday (the greatest console game of all time, in my opinion) and trading in a bunch of games (a LOT, but not all, and if you’ve been following my little project here that may gave you a hint of another upcoming post), I was able to score Wipeout Pulse for $5 with a trade promotion and still keep a lot of my credit.

I’m not a big fan of the Wipeout games, but some people are diehard fanatics. Insane people. However, I have owned every Wipeout game on the PSP (there’s been only one) . At $5, how could I not pass it up. (I broke my “no new games” rule. I’ll confess later).

Anyway, this title is probably has the best presentation I’ve ever seen in a handheld game. Name any recent feature found in games and Wipeout Pulse has it: achievements, wifi play, major stat tracking, nostalgia play, minor rpg elements, a great soundtrack, custom soundtracks using your own MP3s, JPG screenshots you can save to the memory stick, and the list goes on. There’s even a browser link in game that let’s you get more vehicles, tracks, and other such goodies from a PSP formatted website. Oh, and there’s 8 person online play. That feature alone makes it that there is no excuse for any racing game on the PSP to not have online play.

In some respects this game appears to be a giant homage to the diehard fans. However, the game does appear to be getting favorable reviews from mainstream outlets. Their only complaint seems to be that the races really offer nothing new and that the endgame can be difficult. I find that to be ironic that most reviews mention that because the Wipeout games have never really changed all that much as far as gameplay is concerned.

According to my profile’s stat page, I’ve only played 2 minutes and 33 seconds on one race. (I finished 7th out of 8 slots), but I figure I’ll probably pick this game up from time to time for some fast-paced filler.

Oh, did I mention that you can create custom decals to share online for your racers? The only downside is that it appears that add-on content for some of the items will cost some moolah. That’s kind of a bummer because the previous game offered downloadable content for FREE. We can probably thank Xbox Live for that.

It’s Final Fantasy Tactics, and I need more parenthetical references (maybe?).

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

by 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you about my little renaissance I’ve had with Puzzle Quest. It is the only game I’ve really put some time into this last month while my family and I were (and are) under the weather. Well, it seems as if D3 Publishers of America has finally release information about their pseudo-sequel called Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. This person is excited. Puzzle Quest is the only game I have bought three times: DS, 360, and PC.

If you’ve never played it, get the PC demo. I guarantee, you’ll get it for something. (It’s available everywhere at budget pricing). Kotaku was able to score an interview with the developer and they were able to address some things and find out a little more about the gameplay.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

The round pieces have changed to hexagonal ones and extra challenge has been added by the movement of the hexagons once you have matched up your three or more. Instead of dropping straight down, your columns slide diagonally, and depending on which piece you move, the columns will fill in either from the left or the right. Gravity will have a bearing on the various movements of the pieces as well making you have to think in several directions at once.

One of the things I asked about was whether the AI was going to be improved over the seemingly punishingly difficult AI of the original Puzzle Quest. I was told that the developers had heard players issues and it was something they were working on.

The game is set to be released later this year, and that’s just not soon enough.

Thanks to Kotaku for the pic. Be sure to head there for more info.

Pata Pata Pata Pon

by 3 Comments

Patapon Screenie

I am predicting that particular phrase will become a part of 2008 video game vernacular. Having just finished only the demo, I’m predicting this will (1) either be PSP game of the year or (2) be a good year for the PSP.

Patapon may be a little hard to describe but it’s essentially a rhythm RPG game. I use the term RPG lightly because it’s in experience only. You have these little creatures that look like eyeballs that basically worship you. They’ll perform actions for you in a four beat rhythm. Along the way, they build experience, gain new weapons and armor, and a couple of new skills. You can also do minor formations to your little armies. Screenshots of this game really don’t do it justice. Many a times I was distracted (initially) on playing by just listening to these little guys and laughing at their animations.

A demo has been out for about a week or two and if you have a PSP you should snag it. I guarantee you’ll play it straight through. Plus, at the end of the demo, the game lets you perform a special save that provides you with a unique weapon to use with the retail game. I’ve had this game pre-purchased for over two months and I’ve raved about it before. (Go there for some old gameplay video). At $20 it is a PSP must buy. Come this Tuesday, I’ll be throwing my army into the rhythmic fray.

[Wii] Okami Goodness?

by 1 Comment

I know of one reader here that goes crazy anytime Okami is mentioned. It’s sort of a “painter’s” RPG. Well, that’s not a really good description but it’s a game that’s been on my radar for a while. It came out earlier for the PS2, but Capcom is making a Wii port. It seems only obvious to do with the Wii controls. I think it’s beauty in videogame form. Roger Ebert has no clue what he’s talking about.

 

Thanks to Kotaku for the heads up.

All Good Things…Part 2

by 9 Comments

Four months ago, I gave myself the herculean task of completing every videogame I own. It’s been many things: daunting, rewarding, and even downright boring in some parts. Most games started off great and some have just come to a complete stop. It’s painful completing some of them. My vow was to not get any new games until this list was complete and I broke it in the middle of January. It looks like I have five games to add to this list. However, I did want to share with you my progress since October. Now, realize that I started every game over from scratch. You can see my progress below. (Click on it for a larger image).

The List
As you can tell, I’ve only completed one game and not even started three of them. I think I’ve made pretty good progress over the last four months. I basically, took note of where I was in a game and compared it to a walkthrough. That’s where I got the percentages. I hope to finish up some of these soon. Out of this list, I think I’ll trade them all in but one or two.

Birthday Recap [Nat]

by 2 Comments

Carrot Cake?I don’t normally post personal stuff, but one can only hope that Tony is having a better birthday than I am. (Our birthdays fall in succession.) Let’s run a tally. Here’s what I wanted to do today:

  • Clean the house
  • Play games such as Sins of a Solar Empire, Burnout Paradise, Fairway Solitaire, and some DS love.
  • Read a new book such as Armor or Inside Delta Force
  • Fix my favorite meal: chili
  • Post two writeups on buttonmashing
  • start on a watercolor

Here’s what I’ve done:

  • Cough
  • Lose my voice
  • Clean up our youngster’s puke (All four of us are sick with random things.)
  • Go to the store and get nighttime cough medicine when I needed daytime
  • Watch my oldest and his grandma play Wii and Burnout Paradise
  • Cough
  • Clean crap out of my youngster’s eyes
  • Played about five minutes of Fairway Solitaire
  • Fixed my own birthday supper: chili with chocolate and cinnamon (trying something new). It was actually very delicious. A highlight of the day.
  • Passed on my birthday cake. (Not much of a cake eater, but I love carrot cake. My wife tried a new recipe and it came out like a carrot fruit cake. We all laughed.)

I may play some PC games tonight in a delirium. I might actually do well.

Keeping It Alive: Gaming Quickies

by 5 Comments

I don’t know what it is about the beginning of the year that spurs me to buy a bunch of games, mainly PC games. I guess I don’t want to see PC gaming die. However, I would like for it to evolve. PC games for me anymore have to be extremely accessible and not have a need for me to tweak my system in order to play. Oh, and I’ve got to try before buying as well. Here’s some short mini-reviews of what I’ve been doing since January 1 (in no particular order):

Burnout Paradise [360]: This has been our go to game almost every night. For the first time in a long time, both my son and I got the “you’ve been playing a little too much speech.” Essentially, it’s like riding bikes with your friends and playing Hot Wheels in the dirt at the same time. (I don’t take credit for that analogy).

Endless Ocean [Wii]: Scuba diving in a digital ocean should be incredibly boring. However, this title stands on the premise of discovery alone. Relaxing as well.

World in Conflict [PC]: This game has taken all the conventions of real time strategy games and thrown them out the window. I love the idea of no resource management. I just want to fight. The atmosphere of the game, another plus, is just a little to real and creepy for me.

Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends [PC]: Another RTS from a year or two ago I missed. It’s predecessor is my favorite. This game gets a bonus for a steampunk setting and a mark against it for being steampunk. It’s basically the first game with a few tweaks.

Puzzle Quest [PC]: At $10 I could not pass it up. I was easily reminded; however, that early on the game is stacked in favor of the enemy AI.

Fairway Solitaire [PC]: At $10 and the fact I’ve heard so much about this game, I’d thought I’d give it a try. I hate golf and I’m not much of a fan of solitaire. Barring all that, this game is an addictive blast! I don’t think I’ve ever put so much time into a card game.The game mechanics implore you to just play one more round, and then another, and then another…

I’m curious. Has anyone else played any PC games lately?

In [Nat’s] Hands: Burnout Paradise

by 7 Comments

Love. Love. Love. Love.

Burnout Paradise

Initial thoughts:

  • Get the camera. I may have to. The reactions are priceless.
  • Soundtrack is actually quite good. Paradise City by Guns ‘N Roses was a nice touch.
  • 24th and 25th 2 car challenge are doozies. Use fast, light cars. Online is fun and seamless.
  • Achievement point candy?
  • Watching another player in showtime is kinda eerie, but funny.
  • Marked man can die a slow death. Don’t ever, EVER stop driving or get stuck unless you like the black cars popping out of nowhere and slamming you.
  • Forget the races, make them all road rages.
  • It’s actually not taking as long as I thought to “know” the map.

I also acquired Rise of Legends (PC) and Endless Ocean for the Wii. (More on that later.)

January Cabin Fever

by 2 Comments

I’ll never buy a PC game again.

The following quote was from a Google Talk chat that I had with Tony a couple of weeks ago. I guess it was a lie. I don’t know what it is about January, but I always become weak this time of year for PC games. It’s like I have to catch up for the year before. Many times I’ll purchase a game in January and not play it until late December or early January (Hello, Civilization IV this year!).

I guess this year was no exception. This silly trend of mine started almost four or five years ago with Far Cry. Then it was Unreal Tournament 2004 (loved it!), Galactic Civilizations (learn..ing curve!), Guild Wars (2500+ hours!), Command and Conquer 3 (meh to good), Galactic Civilizations II (strategy perfection), and Civilization IV. In the last week, I’ve purchased four titles that I’ve had in the back of my mind to play: Unreal Anthology, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, World in Conflict, and Rail Simulator.

The Unreal package is kind of a weird misnomer this year. When we moved this last August, we ended up losing one box, just one. This was a box that had some computer games in it. Of course, they were some of the games I played once in a while. The anthology replaces some of those games.

I don’t know where this weakness comes from. I think it has to do with a man needing to have a cave. Our consoles are out in the open in the living room, but the PC pretty much has a room to itself. I find it enjoyable and comforting to go in there from time to time and just veg on a good game. It might even be to that I’m coming down of the holiday high and I want to replace that with something different. RTS usually seems to be the preferred flavor, but I may go all out crazy on some action as well.

I’m wondering if I am alone in this? Do any of you guys have a weakness when it comes to games, console or PC? Do you have a cave as well?