General gaming

General gaming

Asura's Wrath Review: A Surprisingly Shallow Cataclysmic Action Game

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 06:00 PM PST

I shouldn't have to start any review with my definition of what a game should be, but in the case of Asura's Wrath I'm awfully tempted. A major reason for this is because I'm torn when trying to describe it. Asura's Wrath tries to be a game, but it's a shallow one in terms of gameplay. This is unfortunate, since it's obvious that so much painstaking love of anime and manga went into crafting its over-the-top style and presentation. One that's filled with arena battles to fight in, shooter levels reminiscent of Panzer Dragoon, and a heavy dose of Quick Time Event driven gameplay -- a mechanic that requires the player to press a button in time with an onscreen prompt to further the action taking place on screen. Asura's Wrath wraps all of these gameplay styles around a seamlessly presented space opera story, and follows the furious title character through 18 episodes of rage-filled scenarios and planet-shattering action sequences. On the surface that last idea alone sounds so cool, but sadly Asura's Wrath squanders its potential by wildly unbalancing its gameplay to cutscene ratio -- a move that hamstrings its promising qualities.

In order to get a firm grasp on what disappoints me about Asura's Wrath, it helps to step into a time capsule for a second and travel back to the early '90s, where full-motion-video games promised a future of action-heavy interactive cut-scenes as a healthy future for the medium. These primarily video-driven works presented gameplay that only moved forward (often in small increments) if you pressed a button in accordance with a set of scripted on-screen prompts. Get it right and you get treated to a cooler action sequence; get it wrong and suffer harsh consequences or fail states. It helps to clarify that the consequences of missing a button prompt in Asura's Wrath are typically more forgiving, but games steeped in this style slowly disappeared because they offer little in terms of actual gameplay. Sure, an interactive movie can be entertaining, but it sacrifices the elements of player creativity and freedom that make video games a fun format.

Metal Gear Solid 3D Review: Neither Definitive Nor Terrible

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 05:36 PM PST

Let's look at the facts here: Metal Gear Solid 3 (at least the Subsistence version) is easily one of my favorite games ever. I also love handheld games and have taken quite a shine to the 3DS over the past year. The final version of this remake happily clears up the technical flaws and issues of the janky demo, with respectable frame rates and a polished feel. And the optional Circle Pad Pro turns an awkward Peace Walker-style interface into something comfortable and fun. By all rights, the Snake Eater 3D should be a home run. So why do I find myself disappointed by it?

The problem is that, as much as I love the game and the platform, they're just not right for each other. Just as a game as twitchy and intricate as Mega Man X has no place on iPhone, just as Game Freak is absolutely right in keeping Pokémon on portables, Snake Eater really doesn't belong on 3DS. The system simply isn't the proper fit.

Killzone 3 Multiplayer Experiment Could Be a Preview of Gaming's Future

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 04:02 PM PST

Killzone 3

Sony has announced plans to offer a free-to-play trial version of Killzone 3's multiplayer, with players being offered the option to upgrade to the full version for a fee. It's an unusual move for a game of this sort on consoles, yet it could serve as a preview of what we may see more of on consoles in the future.

PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download Killzone 3's full online multiplayer component for free from the PlayStation Store starting this Tuesday, February 28, in the United States. This will provide access to every map, including those released through downloadable content. You will have complete access to Guerrilla Warfare, Warzone, and Operations modes until they've reached the rank of Sergeant I. Once that point is reached, the full version of Killzone 3's multiplayer can be purchased for $14.99, a fee that will grant you 24 hours of double experience, some free unlock points, access to Botzone mode, and the ability to create both clans and custom games. Alternatively you can opt to pick up the standalone game, which will also allow you to play through the game's single-player.

This Month in Misogyny: Exposed Minors, Hair-Pulling, and Advanced Elephantiasis

Posted: 24 Feb 2012 10:51 AM PST

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This Month in Misogyny: Exposed Minors, Hair-Pulling, and Advanced Elephantiasis

Three more reasons to hide your hobby from female friends and well-wishers.

By: Bob Mackey February 23, 2012

Video games have a history of turning off women worldwide, and for good reason: like television and movies, gaming tends to embrace certain regressive ideals -- though on a level unmatched by other forms of entertainment. As production costs escalate, you'd think developers would take a stab at inclusiveness, rather than alienating potential female customers with characters who will later be described by their "assets" in terrible Internet writing near you. But no, in the futuristic sounding year of 2012, gaming for women still exists in a segregated ghetto, while most of the industry is content to continue distributing the low-hanging fruit their audience loves.

Posted by Shri Krishna

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