Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Series That Need A New Game

Written By: Tyler

I haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday in a while, but I was sitting around discussing Smash Brothers with my own little brother (yes my very own!). We were talking about what characters, from any console/company, we'd like to see in the new one. This got me thinking about old games that I miss, so here we are at the newest Top Ten Tuesday.

Games like Metroid aren't included here because it's not like it's been that long since a new Metroid, and Nintendo has already mentioned new ones. To qualify for this list, you have to be a series that has remained dormant for an extended period of time (with some exceptions), especially despite fan outcry (or just my own), and it has to have more than one game. This list isn't for individual games that need sequels, as that's an article I will probably write at a later date.

Originality and new IPs be damned, here are the top ten video game series that need a new game entry.

10: F-Zero

Okay Nintendo, it's about time that you bring back this franchise. When you look back to the SNES F-Zero, it's mostly just a fast racer with pretty simplistic tracks. When I look at what Nintendo has done with the newest Mario Kart, it's hard not to drool all over myself when I consider what that could mean for F-Zero. Mario Kart 8 has some of the most insane tracks of any Mario Kart, and that amount of craziness could lend itself well to the speed of F-Zero. Let's get on it Nintendo.


9: Half-Life

To a lot of people, a new Half-Life would probably top this list. I like Half-Life... hell, I think that it's very deserving of its legendary status, but I'm not a Half-Life fanatic. That's why it's only number nine on my list. With that said, there's been teasing, waiting and annoying internet memes, all in the name of Half-Life 3, so Valve should really just release the damn thing and watch as the latest installment of its classic first-person shooter franchise gets 9.5s and 10s all across the board by critics.


8: Battletoads

When I was growing up we had a lot of great beat 'em ups, and Battletoads was always one of my favourites. While we've seen Double Dragons, we haven't seen a new Battletoads in a very long time. Why is that? I reckon part of it is just that this genre isn't as popular as it once was among the mainstream, but Battletoads is such a classic series with its fun fighting mechanics and its over-exaggerated moves, it's hard not to thirst for a new one.


7: Perfect Dark

The original Perfect Dark didn't innovate like Goldeneye 64 did, but it was a better game. It took the formula and upgraded it in all ways. The only criticism I have of it is the frame rate drops when things start getting hot and heavy. Still, it is a classic.

Jump ahead to 2005, and we get a new installment: Perfect Dark Zero. It didn't set the world on fire, but it was a solid game with some great multiplayer maps. I really enjoyed it. Since then, Rare had pitched the idea to Microsoft to make more, but it never flew. Instead, Rare is making Kinect games while Joanna Dark and crew are lost in the shuffle.


6: Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan 2: Glan of the Gray Wolf stands tall in a generation that had a lot of amazing history simulation/strategy games. We had Nobunaga's Ambition, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liberty or Death, and many more, but Genghis Khan 2 is the best and is my favourite strategy game of all-time. There have been Japanese sequels, but even those were a long time ago now. I know the market isn't what it once was, but I'd love to see a new installment of this series.


5: Chrono Series

The crowning achievement of the SNES is arguably Chrono Trigger. It's one of the finest RPGs ever made. So excitement was high for the sequel Chrono Cross. When Chrono Cross came out, it sold really well and was critically acclaimed, but some fans weren't happy. It had elements of Chrono Trigger, but it wasn't seen as a true sequel to the SNES classic. I love Chrono Cross, myself, but it's not Chrono Trigger to me, despite the amazing soundtrack, the large cast, and the great story.

Then the Chrono series disappeared. There hasn't been a new game. I don't expect a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger, with the same characters, though admittedly after all this time it would be nice to see them again. I'm not picky, I just want a new game.


4: The Lost Vikings

Blizzard has incredible series like Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo, but my favourite is The Lost Vikings. I loved the co-op puzzle/platformer, where each Viking had his own limitations and abilities and you had to go through the levels using all three. It was a great mechanic back in the day, and despite the Lost Vikings showing up in games like World of Warcraft, we have yet to see another new game in the franchise... and quite frankly it's long overdue.


3: Earthbound/Mother

Even if I wasn't a huge fan of Earthbound and Mother 3, I would include this on the list because there have been very few franchises with this kind of fan demand. There is technically a Mother 4 coming, but it's fan-made. Each game has been a unique take on certain things, and I think it's about time that they give into what the fans want and just release another one. That's right, I'm telling them what to do.

 
2: Ogre Battle

Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen is one of the best games ever. The excellent blend of strategy and RPG was really appealing at the time and I spent hours and hours playing it because there is a lot of replay value and secrets to find. I still don't think I know where everything is. I really liked Ogre Battle 64 too and think it's one of the best games on the N64. There have been spin-offs like Tactics Ogre, but I would lose it if they announced a new game in the series like the SNES one.


1: Timesplitters

There are games I like more than Timesplitters, like Earthbound and Ogre Battle, but I adore Timesplitters as it's one of my favourite shooters ever. So why is it number one if there are games I like more? Because they keep throwing it in our face. First it was in development, then it stopped. Then it got cancelled. Then Crytek said they wanted to make it. They're still saying it's something they want to make. I wish they would because in this world of grim shooters, it'd be nice to have a light-hearted, fast shooter with a sense of humour... and monkeys.


Honourable Mentions:
Commander Keen
Loaded
Power Stone
Shenmue


So what did you think? Did I miss a series that you really like? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to make friends with me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime. Until next time, Happy Tuesday.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top 10 First-Person Shooter Games/Series That Don't Get Enough Respect For Various Reasons

Written By: Tyler

TITANFALL releases today, and if you don't understand why I capitalize the title then you haven't been reading the Weekly News Round-Up. That's okay, I forgive you because this isn't about that. Since it's Tuesday and TITANFALL is a first-person shooter, I figured it would be a good time to give a shout out to some of the shooters that are not given enough respect for various reasons, in my humble opinion. This means that the only games that will appear on here are either underrated, overlooked or just treated unfairly in general.

What constitutes overlooked? Is it when the general population doesn't know what a game is? Is it when hardcore gamers aren't familiar with it? Is it when a game doesn't sell well?

When is a game underrated? Is it when critics don't like it? Is it when the gamers don't like it?

How do you judge this stuff? It's tricky business, and I won't pretend to be the authority on what these things are, but this is just how I see it. Some games I feel are overlooked in my experiences, same with underrated. Some games have just gotten a bad reputation for whatever reason.

No, you will not see Call of Duty on this list, though due to the backlash towards it at this point I considered it for a brief second. No, this list belongs to other series or individual games and I intend to justify, whether I'm right or not, why I think these games don't get enough respect either way. You also won't see much in the way of indie games because I reckon most indie games are overlooked to some extent.

Look, I'm almost at the list... I just have one more thing to say. Admittedly maybe a pick or two are less "shooter" than others, because I was torn on whether something like Mirror's Edge qualifies -- ended up deciding that no it doesn't because it basically penalizes you for shooting -- but still picked a couple wonky choices.

Okay, let's do this.


10: Duke Nukem Forever 

Hear me out before you hit the X on the top right hand corner of the screen. Oh screw it, just hit it anyway because I probably deserve it for even defending this game. But damn it, I will defend it.. sorta.

You see, Duke Nukem Forever is not an amazing game. It's not even a worthy successor to the classic Duke 3D. How could it be? It was destined to be the way it ended up. It went through so many developer changes that I imagine new developers coming in would have a hard time even following the code. It took years and years to complete. All the changes it went through made it extremely difficult for it to be a good game. But you know what? It's not a bad game and it's because of the outrageous backlash that I included it on here. There are legitimately great games on this list, and while I admit I wouldn't rate this higher than a 7 (on a good day), I also wouldn't rate it lower than a 5. Probably a 6 or 6.5.

It's a decent old-schoolish shooter, with the Duke charm and comedy. If you don't find Duke (who is a satire/homage to action heroes) funny, then that's more on you than it is Duke. While the load times for the PS3 version were godawful, I still had fun with the game.


9: The Killzone Series

Some people may scoff this pick as well, and I say bring it on because lists are fun when they're unpredictable or controversial. The Killzone games have been rated pretty well for the most part and it's a Playstation exclusive... so why do I pick it?

When I turn on Shadow Fall, I see very few people playing the game. I understand that the PS4 is new and it probably wasn't a good time to release a multiplayer shooter, but the player base is small. It's not just Shadow Fall, though, because the other games have players but nothing to the extent of a Call of Duty. It's a shame because the Killzone series offers different gameplay but perhaps the heavy feel is what keeps it from reaching those heights in popularity. It's for this reason I think they're a little overlooked, even though they're a "big" Playstation exclusive.


8: ZombieU

The launch line-up was criticized for the Wii U, but there was an underrated gem buried in there from the beginning. While ZombieU might technically be more of a first-person brawler than a shooter, I wanted to include it because yes, it does have guns.

It's a hard survival horror game, and the multiplayer is fantastic (would be even better if it were online). I never spent as much time with the game as I would have liked, but it deserves more recognition than it got, especially since I saw a bunch of bad reviews when it first game out.


7: Star Wars: Republic Commando

There has been a million Star Wars games, and more are coming... but I think Republic Commando is one of the more underrated/overlooked ones. You see, it was actually a pretty solid shooter that felt a little like Halo, but you don't play as a Jedi or anything so nobody was interested. If you give it a chance, you'll agree (because I'll make you) that this is a Star Wars game that should get more recognition.


6: Singularity

A game that plays with science in neat ways, Singularity isn't the most amazing shooter I've ever played... but it's a damn good one. I feel like it got lost in the shuffle when it was released and that's a shame because it was a little bit different than the shooters that normally get popular. You'll see this included in a lot of these types of lists and there's a reason why.
darkwatch


5: Zeno Clash

While technically a first-person brawler more than a shooter (much like ZombieU and a pick that is coming up), Zeno Clash got some respect but didn't get enough. The story is weird and probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's interesting and the visual flair is something to behold. Zeno Clash takes place in one of the weirder worlds we've seen in the genre, and the art design is a large part of that.

I don't think first-person games are ideal for fighting mechanics, but Zeno Clash does it remarkably well given what I perceive is the limitations of the genre.


4: Dead Island

Dead Island is a flawed game. Seriously, it's one of the least polished big games I've played.

It also had an incredible, misleading trailer that made it look like it was going to be an emotional ride. Unfortunately, it ended up just being a fun first-person shooter/brawler with zombies. But despite the false promises and the bugs, it was a surprisingly entertaining game. Riptide could be better, but I was so annoyed that they didn't fix any of the problems that I ended up enjoying it less.

Still, Dead Island is a lot of fun with the right kind of people.


3: Darkwatch

Darkwatch is a game I rarely see talked about, but it was one of the best shooters on the PS2. It had a Gothic Western feel, and while it may seem silly, I really enjoyed how high you can jump in it. Yes, that matters to me because I liked being able to just jump through the air and blast everything around me.

It's one of those FPS games that are different than what we were getting, and I don't think people should sleep on it because it does everything right.


2: The Timesplitters Series

Timesplitters is one of the reasons I have a hard time making lists like this. At this point I don't know if Timesplitters is underrated or overlooked, but I just don't see enough people talking about the series.

It's a silly series about time traveling with memorable characters and more fast-paced multiplayer. Each game got better than the last and there was a lot of content in each of them.

We've been trying to get Timesplitters 4 for a long time, but at least there is a free-to-play multiplayer game being made by the fans who have gotten permission to use the character skins and whatnot. So we can look forward to that anyway.


1: The Darkness

This is kind of like the Timesplitters pick, where I don't know if it's truly underrated/overlooked or not. However, again, I feel like people sleep on this one as well. With The Darkness it's all about the story, and both games have a memorable, emotional story, which is weird considering how dark it is.

Seriously, give it a try and get invested in it... the first one has one of my favourite video game scenes of all time and the second is thrilling and strange, but with a lot of heart underneath it all.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Top 10 Catchphrases In Video Games

Written By: Tyler

I like lists. In fact, I like lists a lot. If I had my way I'd probably sit around and make lists that nobody else cares about all day. But alas, people tell me that I have to go have a life or go to work. I was on The Broke and The Bookish where they do/did Top Ten Tuesdays and I really like the idea of doing that weekly... however I probably won't be able to commit to it every week because I'm not that creative and this blog is free (I know, mind blown) and I have to put priority on other matters like paying those little gimmicks called bills -- to quote Stone Cold Steve Austin. Oh well, I will from this point on try to do a Top Ten Tuesday as often as possible even if it's only once a month.

Since Bravely Default is so long and is taking up so much time I haven't written a review in a while and coincidentally I've had less content on here lately because of it. Fear not, a review for Bravely Default is coming, along with Thief and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, among whatever indie games happen to fall into my lap.

One thing I feel the need to mention, and will probably mention each time I make a list, is that this is my list. I'm not sitting here trying to be "objective." I'm not sitting here debating to myself what the most important catch phrase is. I keep it simple stupid because my mind can't handle much else -- I include the catch phrases that I like.


Here are the Top 10 Catchphrases In Video Games

It's important to note there is a difference between catch phrases and quotes. There are some badass quotes in games but if they've only said it once then it doesn't qualify. I don't like to flood my list with the same games so if there are numerous catchphrases in one game the entire game will be represented by my absolute favourite.


10: Scorpion from Mortal Kombat - "Get Over Here!"

When you hear Scorpion yell this at you, it's too late, you've already been hit (damn!). If you didn't catch that Limp Bizkit reference than shame on you.

Scorpion is a badass and he throws his spear at you. When it hits you, he yells this at you and even though you really don't wanna go over there, you have no choice because the spear is in your neck or chest. After that point there's probably an uppercut coming.


9: Random Voice in Ogre Battle - "Fight It Out"

This probably isn't a popular pick but I try to throw Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen into everything I do. At work, at home, at fancy dinners, whatever, I talk about Ogre Battle.

Right before you're about to get in a fight, you hear a voice say "Fight it out." And then this song hits:
Then you know shit got real


8: Moogles in Final Fantasy - Kupo!

I love Moogles. Fans of Final Fantasy love Moogles. I feel like they are a good representation of Final Fantasy. Admittedly, while characters have said a lot of great lines in the series, there aren't that many great catchphrases, so leave it to the cute little white things to save the day.


7: Random Enemies from River City Ransom - Barf!

A great supporting role in a movie compliments the lead and makes the experience better. The enemies in River City Ransom compliment you because when you are done kicking the shit out of them, they die... but first they barf. It's extremely satisfying.



6: Your Wife From Genghis Khan 2 - "...Is that lipstick on your collar?"

You can choose to spend time with your family in order to create children to lead your army after you pass. I think Genghis Khan 2 is an overlooked or at least under appreciated Strategy game from a company that was firing on all cylinders at the time, and despite it being memorable for all kinds of reasons, it's this quote that sticks out to me.

Why? Because the game forces you to cheat! I've entered marital problems that I didn't even know existed! I was off trying to build an empire but apparently I was getting down a lot with random girls (or guys?), and my wife knows it. She's a clever little thing, but she still sleeps with me so in my book that's a win-win for men all around the world.


5: Toad from Super Mario Bros. - "Thank you Mario! But our Princess is in another castle!"

It's such an overdone choice but there's a reason for that. For years, children all over would play Mario and we'd be bashed over the head with disappointment after disappointment when we were told this. The thing that really pisses me off is that he seems so joyful about it... I mean as much as an 8-bit character can be. Look at those exclamation marks.


4: Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter - "Shoryuken!"

This beats "Hadouken!" for me just because of the amount of passion that Ryu and Ken put into it. I feel like that has to count for something, so even though I like using the Hadouken more, Ryu and Ken deserve more praise for their enunciation of Shoryuken.


3: Sergeant Cortez from Timesplitters - "It's time to split."

This is one of the most self-aware, cheesiest lines in all of gaming, and I love Cortez for it. It gets to the point that he has used it so much that he ends up getting cut-off because people are just tired of him. That's the mark of a classic catchphrase, and I can only hope I can get to that point in my life.


2: The Game Over Screen in the Metal Gear Solid Series - "Snake? Snake? SNAAAAAAAKE!"

This beat out Solid Snake going "Damn!" and "Metal Geeeeear?" but it was a hard choice. This is more memorable because whenever you die people get upset. That's an alien feeling to me in real life (because I die all the time and nobody cares), so when you hear people like Otacon yell your name... it makes you feel good.


1: Atlas/Fontaine in Bioshock - "Would you kindly?"

I had to put this number one because it's a legit awesome line. Some of these choices are just because I spent years having them drilled into my head. This is actually clever writing. What I love about Bioshock is that it's very post-modern. It dissects video games.

It does this by taking something that gamers never think about and putting a new spin on it. As gamers we just do what we're told. We progress when we can. In Bioshock you progress because you're hypnotized. All of a sudden, it all makes sense... he wasn't just being nice to you, he was bossing you around! It's genius and it's my favourite catchphrase.



If you have an idea of a list that you'd like to see me do, regardless of how silly it could be, let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime. I will try my best to eventually do it as long as it's possible and entertaining.

Warface Versus Mode First Impressions - WARFACE!

Written By: Tyler Selig      

Rating: 5/10    
Verdict: Warface does not set the FPS genre on fire, or even come close. It's not downright terrible but it's not really worth playing at this point.

"Bob, you're looking the wrong way."

               Free-to-play, free-to-play… the term invites the scorn of the video game community. I am not personally against it if it is done correctly and doesn’t become pay-to-win, but I will admit there aren’t as many games as one would hope that actually do it right. However, I have always maintained that free is free, and a little extra grind to be free is not a deadly sin, so long as it doesn’t go the Dust 514 route and take grinding to an extreme that makes the game a boring, uneven, waste of time. If a free-to-play can balance grinding to a reasonable level, make micro-transactions that make sense, and deliver a game with good gameplay mechanics, I’m all for it. But I am also aware of how difficult that is, especially in a genre as competitive as the shooter.

                But that isn’t stopping Crytek apparently.

                Warface is a PC first-person shooter with a silly name. Honestly, every review, preview or conversation about the game mentions how stupid the name is. It would probably be okay if it were a tongue-in-cheek cheek shooter. I’m picturing Timesplitters 4 actually being called Timesplitters 4: Warface… and that would work. They didn’t go that way however, and Warface is a military shooter, not that there are many of those around.

                This isn’t really meant to be a full review. It’s more of a first impressions type of thing, where I haven’t played the Co-Op yet, but have spent some time with the Versus mode and I want to get my opinions out there so all three of you who read this can rest easy knowing what I think about Warface.

                Warface.

                Warface.

                So can Warface make a claim for the military shooter throne? Does it topple Call of Duty or Battlefield? No. Even as a non-fan of CoD, I can tell you it doesn’t beat CoD.

                When you start the game you’re able to create a character, but there’s no depth to it. You pick from a template of faces and off you go. From there you will do basic training that nabs you some rewards, and then you are able to pick which channel you want to go in for multiplayer. Luckily you’re able to stay in Rookie quite a while, so you’re not really outgunned. I was able to stay somewhat competitive with people (and by competitive I mean I wasn’t 1 and 12, the first game I played was something like 15 and 20).

                You can choose between four classes, but unfortunately you have to unlock them as you go. It doesn’t take real long to do so, so that’s a bonus. The classes are simplistic: you can be a medic, a sniper, an engineer a typical assault class. All of these do what you’d expect.

                You can also choose a few different match types, but they run the gauntlet of generic. Team death match, free-for-all, plant the bomb, and capture the objective… all of these in other shooters, though obviously you’re always going to have death match. My point is, Warface doesn’t go out of its way to introduce anything new, innovative or even uncommon.

                The levelling up system is par for the course. Play matches, gain experience and money, unlock rewards. Or spend real money and do it faster. In my few hours of playing, Warface hasn’t suffered from me being at a disadvantage because I didn’t spend money, but I also haven’t progressed into the harder channels yet. However, judging from what I get for money and experience, it seems like it won’t be a huge issue. I could easily be wrong there. However, in a game like Dust 514, I could tell from very early on that it was going to be a problem.

                So you’re ready to go, and you want to shoot people, but is the game any fun? Yeah it’s okay. I saw a few people say how terrible the game was in the Gface chat, but it’s just painfully average at this point. It definitely feels free because the guns don’t have any real weight or intensity. Even the shotgun, which should feel extremely satisfying, doesn’t arouse any excitement.

                I’m very disappointed in the maps. They’re just so limited, similar and they’re small. Personally I enjoy a more tactical game where you’re not running into someone every step you take, but even if you’re a fan of this bodies on top of bodies style, Warface is problematic.

                Here’s the scenary in Team Deathmatch: Spawn, run to a choke point, shoot, die. Rinse, repeat. However, it’s also very easy to get spawnpoint killed. For any shooter, that is a serious offense. There are other elements at play that contribute to that, but it’s also a symptom of maps being too small.

                The game does try to encourage team work by allowing you to help people up into higher spots. It’s an alright mechanic that sets it apart from some other shooters, but it’s hardly a selling point. There is also an ability to run and slide, which I’ll admit made me enjoy the game quite a bit more. It is a blast running, sliding out from around the corner, and blasting someone in the face.

                Graphics aren’t something I put a lot of stock in, but as you’ve probably heard, it’s no Crysis. That’s fine because it means my computer can run it, but it’s not an ugly game. People are way too spoiled at this point so when they see a game like this they say the visuals are shit. But they’re decent and the animation is much more important than how beautiful the game looks. There aren’t really any complaints from me in that regard.

                The Co-Op mode could be fun, but I’m waiting on having a friend to play with, but as it stands now, Warface doesn’t have a whole hell of a lot going for it in the multiplayer component, which is what most people will play it for anyway.