A child of the 80s, coming of age in the 90s, I grew up in small town UK and so my earliest gaming memories include playing on friends' C64s and Spectrums, and my Uncle's Amstrad CPC464. As for our home - we had a Commodore 16 handed down by a different Uncle and I naturally had a nice selection of Systema LCD games that I still find occasionally fun.
As my friends and I entered double digits things changed, and we found ourselves in the 16-bit era. Several friends owned Mega Drives. I was later to the game with an Amiga 500+ coming in late 1991 (Cartoon Classics pack which included Bart Vs The Space Mutants, Captain Planet, and a game I only recently replayed - Lemmings). Later still I got my Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which helped cement my future as a gamer.
So, with no further ado, I share with you my five top retro gaming moments. Those moments that shaped my gaming life in its formative years. In no particular order.
1. Pinball At The Artichoke
In exercising the deepest recesses of forgotten memory I stumbled upon something very sweet. Way back when we still lived in Croxley Green, we would frequent a pub on The Green called The Artichoke. It's still there - it's more of a gastropub these days and I still go there when I'm visiting locally. Back in the 80s they had a pinball table tucked in a corner outside the ladies toilet, and we would spend hours on it while our parents got drunk. Their friends, also drunk, would make sure we never ran out of credits or those small bottles of Coke they have in pubs.
2. St. Osyth
On the Essex coast, just up from Clacton-on-Sea, St. Osyth was home to my grandparents' caravan, used for holidays when my mum and her siblings were young. It was history before I came along, but it meant that the town had a place in my Uncle's heart (the same one who owned the CPC464) and so he'd take me and my cousins there for a day of french cricket and arcade games. Four of us? Well that's the perfect number for Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, The Simpsons, Gauntlet, or Wrestlemania. At 10p a go, even in those days we could enjoy a good few games before it was time to head home.
3. Left 4 Dead
I absolutely hate online gaming. Seriously, it stresses me out. From my first internet connection in 2002, playing Phantasy Star Online on Dreamcast for 15p a minute, through 2009's slightly improved and slightly less expensive in the long run 512kbps ADSL, to today's 300Mbps low latency network, I draw no enjoyment from online interaction with dickheads. In 2009 though, something magical happened - I was invited to join a "mature gaming community" called The Art of Warfare (TAW). I'd dabbled a little with Left 4 Dead and found it tremendous fun, so agreed to give it a go with an organised group. Well, to cut a long story short, I quickly moved up the ranks and ended up running the L4D division of said community which did wonders for my self-confidence and, over a few hundred hours of gaming gave me such enjoyment that I doubt I will ever match. I also have crippling RSI in my right hand from the intense use of a mouse, and a handful of lifelong friends that I owe to that time.
4. My Amiga 500+
I remember my dad bringing this home for me. I wasn't expecting it, but my word was it exciting. I remember him helping me to set it up, plugging in the RF converter so it would work with the TV (he may have bought me that at the same time), powering it on, and encouraging me to work out that the animated graphic was directing me to insert a disk. I recently rediscovered my old Amiga library (much of it at the time courtesy of X-Copy2) with the help of an emulator, and the sound of the disk drive took me right back to my old bedroom, the tiny desk and the red metal chair with plastic seat that collapsed one day, cheekily telling me I'd become too big for it. It's a rare positive memory of my father, and I cherish it.
5. Super Mario All Stars
This is a key game (collection) for me. Despite what you've heard a hundred thousand bazillion times on YouTube about the massive importance of the Nintendo Entertainment System, it simply wasn't that important in the UK. I knew three people who had one, and they all had rich dads. However, Super Mario Bros had attained something of a legendary status in my mind, at least in part thanks to playing the games with those three people - and in no small part due to the fantastic Super Mario Land games on Game Boy that were far more readily available. When I was able to finally own a SNES, I spent days and days deciding between the Super Mario All Stars or the Street Fighter II Turbo pack-in. If you understand that at this time I was incredibly lucky to get the console at all, and in several years of ownership I only ever had four games, then you'll see how important this choice was at the time. So I chose Mario, and set in place the pieces that would ultimately begin a (so far) lifelong love affair with Nintendo. Easily the most important video gaming item I ever owned.
So what about you? Did any of these points align with your experience or trigger your memories? Do you have any of your own to add? Go write something in the comments. If nothing else it makes me feel good.
Friday, 28 April 2017
Friday, 7 April 2017
What Would I Tell 21-Year-Old Me?
I recently saw this question posed in an Instagram post and naturally it got me thinking.
I'm 36. 21 seems so long ago, and yet as if it were yesterday. A lot has happened in the interim years, a lot has changed - in myself, in the world, in the people I know. I'm married, happily, and have a beautiful baby boy and I am blessed to be a stay at home dad who cares for him 4 days of the week while his mummy works to bring the money in.
I'm in a band, which is fun and has some potential to become something in the local scene (well I would say that). I want for nothing, besides material things that I can save for.
You could say my life is as close to perfect as anyone has a right to expect. So - what would I tell 21-year-old me?
To borrow from Nike's advertising slogan - "Just do it", or words to that effect.
My whole life only one person has truly held me back - me. Sure, I can point to various authority figures and ascribe an amount of blame to them for failing to help me believe in myself, for putting me down when I needed lifting up, for telling me "music is a hobby". But ultimately I must accept responsibility for myself and my actions and decisions along the way. Every time I took the easy way out, or let depression and anxiety of the potential negative outcomes keep me from even trying, I let myself down.
Once upon a time I was a promising musician. I had a very small following locally who would ask when is the next gig, thrilled to be part of what I was doing. But I had to "get a proper job" which only increased my anxiety and lowered my energy levels such that I eventually stopped pursuing the dream altogether. Use it or lose it as they say.
Now, a married father, my capacity for taking any kind of risk is limited by the need to support my family. I am in a band now, my third in two years of living in Netherlands, and the first that truly feels right. Like most of the other guys in the band, family commitment prevents it from being much more than a hobby at this time. Sure, we have the opportunity to find our place in the local scene, to become a part of something comfortable and exciting, but I can hardly run off on tour and shirk my responsibilities at home.
So, 21-year-old me. Just do it. Get out there, make a name for yourself, find your place, before it's too late and your place is at home. Before you wake up, look in the mirror and see a fat, balding man approaching middle age.
Just do it.
I'm 36. 21 seems so long ago, and yet as if it were yesterday. A lot has happened in the interim years, a lot has changed - in myself, in the world, in the people I know. I'm married, happily, and have a beautiful baby boy and I am blessed to be a stay at home dad who cares for him 4 days of the week while his mummy works to bring the money in.
I'm in a band, which is fun and has some potential to become something in the local scene (well I would say that). I want for nothing, besides material things that I can save for.
You could say my life is as close to perfect as anyone has a right to expect. So - what would I tell 21-year-old me?
To borrow from Nike's advertising slogan - "Just do it", or words to that effect.
My whole life only one person has truly held me back - me. Sure, I can point to various authority figures and ascribe an amount of blame to them for failing to help me believe in myself, for putting me down when I needed lifting up, for telling me "music is a hobby". But ultimately I must accept responsibility for myself and my actions and decisions along the way. Every time I took the easy way out, or let depression and anxiety of the potential negative outcomes keep me from even trying, I let myself down.
Once upon a time I was a promising musician. I had a very small following locally who would ask when is the next gig, thrilled to be part of what I was doing. But I had to "get a proper job" which only increased my anxiety and lowered my energy levels such that I eventually stopped pursuing the dream altogether. Use it or lose it as they say.
Now, a married father, my capacity for taking any kind of risk is limited by the need to support my family. I am in a band now, my third in two years of living in Netherlands, and the first that truly feels right. Like most of the other guys in the band, family commitment prevents it from being much more than a hobby at this time. Sure, we have the opportunity to find our place in the local scene, to become a part of something comfortable and exciting, but I can hardly run off on tour and shirk my responsibilities at home.
So, 21-year-old me. Just do it. Get out there, make a name for yourself, find your place, before it's too late and your place is at home. Before you wake up, look in the mirror and see a fat, balding man approaching middle age.
Just do it.
Monday, 6 March 2017
Hakchi2 and the NES Mini Classic
In this post I shan't describe the process of adding NES games to your NES Mini Classic, as it's been noted elsewhere. It's really quite simple, and if you have the wherewithal to obtain the Rom images then you will get through it without difficulty.
My intention here is to document a series of difficulties I had running the provided Windows software on my Mac. (tl;dr version first).
tl;dr
If using a Mac with Parallels (and possibly other virtual machine options) to run Windows to install the Hakchi2 hack on a NES Mini Classic, make sure to run the hack software from the virtual C: drive under Parallels.
In order to maximise compatibility and to avoid game speed issues, be sure to use American version ROMs (usually marked with "[U]" within the file name.
Full
Wine (using Winebottler) didn't like it much. The software didn't look right, couldn't access the internet to download the cover art, and couldn't install the required driver to control the Nintendo hardware over USB.
I had a Windows 8 update disc to hand. The update edition only works for a while before it locks you out, but I'd only need a few hours so I went ahead and installed the trial version of Parallels 12, and on its virtual machine went my Windows 8. Everything was going swimmingly, and when I used Parallels to open Hakchi2 it looked like a true Windows program and ran as it should - including simple drag and drop functionality from macOS's Finder.
After several hours of adding games to the list and selecting the best available cover art I ran the process to install the extra games to my NES Mini (248 to be precise - whilst it holds more I don't want all the chaff). It seemed to be going well until it told me to wait for the power light to go out to continue - the light never went out, instead blinking slowly. I unplugged the console from my Mac and tried to power it on - no luck, it was stuck in this slow blinking mode with nothing on the screen.
I trawled forums looking for a solution but all I found was examples of the same problem, all using Parallels, but no solution, so I went back to basics.
My Hakchi2 folder was on my Mac's desktop, which Parallels has no problem accessing. I copied it to the root of the virtual C: drive of the virtual machine and ran it again (the copied folder retained the game files and cover art, as well as my list within the software).
Everything went right, and after a couple of restarts I had a working NES Mini Classic with a couple hundred extra games on it!
Doing some play testing, I discovered that some games ran way too fast to be playable, and some had terrible artefacts on screen making them unplayable - though only a couple suffered his second problem.
More forum digging and I found the (simple if you know how worldwide gaming was back in the day) answer. The basic emulation within the console's firmware is based on a 60hz output, as in the USA in the pre-HD era. The games that were running too fast were European roms, which I had tended to use, being from that territory. They are programmed to run on 50hz hardware, and so in this instance we're running 20% too fast.
An easy, though time consuming, solution had me going through my games list one by one, replacing any European rom images with USA versions where applicable, and reflashing the console. I took the opportunity, given my now expert status, to increase the number of games I added to around 400, intending this to be the final
attempt (I don't want to pay €79 for Parallels after the trial!). Any games only available in Europe I simply deleted from my list - a shame, but they aren't enjoyable at that speed.
Now I have a NES Mini Classic with 440ish games installed, the vast majority of which run perfectly.
My intention here is to document a series of difficulties I had running the provided Windows software on my Mac. (tl;dr version first).
tl;dr
If using a Mac with Parallels (and possibly other virtual machine options) to run Windows to install the Hakchi2 hack on a NES Mini Classic, make sure to run the hack software from the virtual C: drive under Parallels.
In order to maximise compatibility and to avoid game speed issues, be sure to use American version ROMs (usually marked with "[U]" within the file name.
Full
Wine (using Winebottler) didn't like it much. The software didn't look right, couldn't access the internet to download the cover art, and couldn't install the required driver to control the Nintendo hardware over USB.
I had a Windows 8 update disc to hand. The update edition only works for a while before it locks you out, but I'd only need a few hours so I went ahead and installed the trial version of Parallels 12, and on its virtual machine went my Windows 8. Everything was going swimmingly, and when I used Parallels to open Hakchi2 it looked like a true Windows program and ran as it should - including simple drag and drop functionality from macOS's Finder.
After several hours of adding games to the list and selecting the best available cover art I ran the process to install the extra games to my NES Mini (248 to be precise - whilst it holds more I don't want all the chaff). It seemed to be going well until it told me to wait for the power light to go out to continue - the light never went out, instead blinking slowly. I unplugged the console from my Mac and tried to power it on - no luck, it was stuck in this slow blinking mode with nothing on the screen.
I trawled forums looking for a solution but all I found was examples of the same problem, all using Parallels, but no solution, so I went back to basics.
My Hakchi2 folder was on my Mac's desktop, which Parallels has no problem accessing. I copied it to the root of the virtual C: drive of the virtual machine and ran it again (the copied folder retained the game files and cover art, as well as my list within the software).
Everything went right, and after a couple of restarts I had a working NES Mini Classic with a couple hundred extra games on it!
Doing some play testing, I discovered that some games ran way too fast to be playable, and some had terrible artefacts on screen making them unplayable - though only a couple suffered his second problem.
More forum digging and I found the (simple if you know how worldwide gaming was back in the day) answer. The basic emulation within the console's firmware is based on a 60hz output, as in the USA in the pre-HD era. The games that were running too fast were European roms, which I had tended to use, being from that territory. They are programmed to run on 50hz hardware, and so in this instance we're running 20% too fast.
An easy, though time consuming, solution had me going through my games list one by one, replacing any European rom images with USA versions where applicable, and reflashing the console. I took the opportunity, given my now expert status, to increase the number of games I added to around 400, intending this to be the final
attempt (I don't want to pay €79 for Parallels after the trial!). Any games only available in Europe I simply deleted from my list - a shame, but they aren't enjoyable at that speed.
Now I have a NES Mini Classic with 440ish games installed, the vast majority of which run perfectly.
Monday, 16 January 2017
Why I Cancelled My Switch Pre-Order
Today I cancelled my Switch pre-order.
The reasons are manifold, and some have been repeated over and over by seemingly everyone, but here they are - my reasons.
1) The price. Actually I think the price is great. €300 or thereabouts for a brand new console. However, it's money I can spend better elsewhere right now - for example putting it towards a new guitar amp I need now I'm no longer playing bass in a band, but back on guitar. If there were any bundled games, or even a discounted Zelda bundle, I'd be more interested.
2) Lack of exciting launch (window) titles. Yes yes I know Zelda is coming, but I can buy that on Wii U (which I already own) for €60 without having to buy another console. 1-2 Switch, Bomberman, Just fucking Dance. No thank you, not for anything close to retail price especially. Arms looks like a fun tech demo, but not a full game, and the jury's out on Super Mario Odyssey. Nintendo have yet to disappoint me with a Super Mario game, and I won't jump on the "it's the true sequel to Super Mario 64 we've been waiting for" bandwagon (Sunshine being a fantastic game with a '64-style layout already...) but the presentation didn't impress me in the slightest. I'll wait and see how it looks when it's finished before I make a console purchase based on that game.
3) The cost of accessories. Yes, this is essentially a subheading for point 1. The extra controllers, and especially the spare dock, cost an insane amount of money. Seriously, I've put off buying a second DualShock 4 because it costs €65. €80 though for a pair of JoyCons, or €60 for a Switch Pro controller? No chance. And the plastic steering wheel adapters? They're ok at €15 for two, but couldn't they have been a cheaper pack in for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as they were with the Wii version? Ah Mario Kart - that brings me to perhaps my biggest reason for cancelling.
4) Remakes, remasters, and repurchasing. Sure, if you skipped Wii U you won't have Mario Kart 8. Maybe you enjoyed earlier Rayman games, but haven't played Legends yet. It's perhaps even feasible that you may not have played Skyrim. But Switch's launch window has altogether too many remakes - and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the one that really gets my goat. Collecting all the DLC in one package is nice, and the ability to carry two items harks back to my favourite in the series Double Dash but come on, why isn't this a new game with new tracks and new ideas?
It's not just modern games being remade - I'm also getting sick of Nintendo's money grabbing ways with their old software. I'm as guilty of helping this as anyone - I've purchased Super Mario Bros 1, 2 and 3 on Wii, Wii U and 3DS. Not to mention on NES, SNES and Gameboy Advance. In this modern age, however, it would be a nice touch if we could keep our purchases tied to our account rather than our console, and enjoy them across any and all of them. We pay good money for the games and the consoles, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect something that has been normal for over 10 years on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, and nearly as long on iOS and Android. They should also fix the dark, blurry emulators on Wii U.
5) I have too many games to get through already. Hey look, this isn't Nintendo's fault at all! I have so many games on so many systems that I'd like to get through, and the main difficulty I have in doing this is that I keep buying more systems and more games. I have games as far back as Xbox and PS2 that I'd like to complete, as well as several RPGs on Wii and PS3. That's not to mention 80-odd games on PS4 and 25 on Wii U, AND 25 on 3DS, 95% of which I haven't finished - and I'll be adding Resident Evil 7, Kingdom Hearts I.5 & II.5 Remix to those in the next few weeks. And Zelda. Don't forget Zelda. So yeah, a new console will not aid me in catching up.
---
So there you go. The main reasons I cancelled my Switch pre-order. The last console I bought at launch was the GameCube. It gave me many of my greatest gaming experiences, and I've owned most every mainstream console released since 1990. These days though, it seems a wiser move to sit back and see how the machine's first couple of years go before making a decision.
The tech sure looks exciting, and it's great to see Nintendo looking outside the box - such as in 1-2 Switch, which encourages new ways to interact with your opponents. However the company seems increasingly to be doing it for the money rather than for the joy of gaming (of course the purpose of a company is to make money, I know. But it should not be to the detriment of the user-base or the final product).
The reasons are manifold, and some have been repeated over and over by seemingly everyone, but here they are - my reasons.
1) The price. Actually I think the price is great. €300 or thereabouts for a brand new console. However, it's money I can spend better elsewhere right now - for example putting it towards a new guitar amp I need now I'm no longer playing bass in a band, but back on guitar. If there were any bundled games, or even a discounted Zelda bundle, I'd be more interested.
2) Lack of exciting launch (window) titles. Yes yes I know Zelda is coming, but I can buy that on Wii U (which I already own) for €60 without having to buy another console. 1-2 Switch, Bomberman, Just fucking Dance. No thank you, not for anything close to retail price especially. Arms looks like a fun tech demo, but not a full game, and the jury's out on Super Mario Odyssey. Nintendo have yet to disappoint me with a Super Mario game, and I won't jump on the "it's the true sequel to Super Mario 64 we've been waiting for" bandwagon (Sunshine being a fantastic game with a '64-style layout already...) but the presentation didn't impress me in the slightest. I'll wait and see how it looks when it's finished before I make a console purchase based on that game.
3) The cost of accessories. Yes, this is essentially a subheading for point 1. The extra controllers, and especially the spare dock, cost an insane amount of money. Seriously, I've put off buying a second DualShock 4 because it costs €65. €80 though for a pair of JoyCons, or €60 for a Switch Pro controller? No chance. And the plastic steering wheel adapters? They're ok at €15 for two, but couldn't they have been a cheaper pack in for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as they were with the Wii version? Ah Mario Kart - that brings me to perhaps my biggest reason for cancelling.
4) Remakes, remasters, and repurchasing. Sure, if you skipped Wii U you won't have Mario Kart 8. Maybe you enjoyed earlier Rayman games, but haven't played Legends yet. It's perhaps even feasible that you may not have played Skyrim. But Switch's launch window has altogether too many remakes - and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the one that really gets my goat. Collecting all the DLC in one package is nice, and the ability to carry two items harks back to my favourite in the series Double Dash but come on, why isn't this a new game with new tracks and new ideas?
It's not just modern games being remade - I'm also getting sick of Nintendo's money grabbing ways with their old software. I'm as guilty of helping this as anyone - I've purchased Super Mario Bros 1, 2 and 3 on Wii, Wii U and 3DS. Not to mention on NES, SNES and Gameboy Advance. In this modern age, however, it would be a nice touch if we could keep our purchases tied to our account rather than our console, and enjoy them across any and all of them. We pay good money for the games and the consoles, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect something that has been normal for over 10 years on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, and nearly as long on iOS and Android. They should also fix the dark, blurry emulators on Wii U.
5) I have too many games to get through already. Hey look, this isn't Nintendo's fault at all! I have so many games on so many systems that I'd like to get through, and the main difficulty I have in doing this is that I keep buying more systems and more games. I have games as far back as Xbox and PS2 that I'd like to complete, as well as several RPGs on Wii and PS3. That's not to mention 80-odd games on PS4 and 25 on Wii U, AND 25 on 3DS, 95% of which I haven't finished - and I'll be adding Resident Evil 7, Kingdom Hearts I.5 & II.5 Remix to those in the next few weeks. And Zelda. Don't forget Zelda. So yeah, a new console will not aid me in catching up.
---
So there you go. The main reasons I cancelled my Switch pre-order. The last console I bought at launch was the GameCube. It gave me many of my greatest gaming experiences, and I've owned most every mainstream console released since 1990. These days though, it seems a wiser move to sit back and see how the machine's first couple of years go before making a decision.
The tech sure looks exciting, and it's great to see Nintendo looking outside the box - such as in 1-2 Switch, which encourages new ways to interact with your opponents. However the company seems increasingly to be doing it for the money rather than for the joy of gaming (of course the purpose of a company is to make money, I know. But it should not be to the detriment of the user-base or the final product).
Friday, 16 December 2016
Review - Super Mario Run (iOS)
We've been waiting a while for this one, huh?
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| The Mushroom Kingdom serves, naturally, as your hub. |
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| The level select screen, unlocked with a *gulp* In App Purchase..! |
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| Winning an online run is quite gratifying. |
Playing through the main campaign you will also unlock tokens which enable you to access the online competitive mode which sees you run against the ghosts of others to finish a stage with the most coins and in the most style - the winner gains Toads who repopulate their kingdom and unlock decorations and buildings to improve the kingdom. This is quite fun, and it's certainly satisfying to win a run. Matchmaking seems pretty solid with a choice of opponents based on your current placing.
This is great fun, and pretty much exactly what you thought it would be - a well-crafted game that goes far beyond most disposable iOS games. Whilst not as fully fleshed-out as its peers on Wii U or 3DS, it certainly carries and condenses all the charm and joy of its big Bros. The price of entry is also considerably lower than for Mario's other games - more so if you already have an iPhone or iPad, but don't own a Nintendo console.
Afterthoughts:
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| Stages are themed around familiar Super Mario levels. |
This is great fun, and pretty much exactly what you thought it would be - a well-crafted game that goes far beyond most disposable iOS games. Whilst not as fully fleshed-out as its peers on Wii U or 3DS, it certainly carries and condenses all the charm and joy of its big Bros. The price of entry is also considerably lower than for Mario's other games - more so if you already have an iPhone or iPad, but don't own a Nintendo console.
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| You didn't think Bowser would miss out on the action, did you? |
This is the first time I recall Apple having allowed a game to sit on the App Store as "coming soon" for several months before release. I'm sure it helped build some hype amongst gamers who have long waited for Nintendo to cease their stubborn ways. Unfortunately I fear we're seeing a downside of Nintendo bringing its IP to other hardware - the game stands at 3 stars on the App Store a day after release, with many 1 star ratings. Reading through the internet, as you do, reveals that a lot of people are displeased at the cost of the game - apparently all smartphone games should cost less than one of whichever currency you use. Super Mario Run costs £7.99, €9.99 or $9.99. It's a fair price for the content on offer - a game that they could easily charge twice as much for on their own platforms, compared to what else is out there.
Unfortunately, Nintendo have a long way to go to shake off a reputation that leads them to consistently "lose" the console race with each new generation. I must say that this reputation is unjust, and Nintendo consistently produce great games to match their hardware, but at least this is a step in the right direction, and sure is a great experience for those that want it, but I fear that Nintendo won't find a new audience on the iPhone outside of the already converted. It's a shame, but it's not easy to sway public opinion when that opinion is negative. Super Mario Run, I feel, is likely to remain a niche product, loved by many, but shunned by most. The cost of entry is clearly a problem for a lot of people, and will place the game amongst the likes of the Final Fantasy series on iOS - games that will be picked up by people that are already fans but ignored by those who are used to paying €0,99 for Angry Birds.
At least I didn't have to pay for it twice to play it on my iPad as well as my iPhone...
Saturday, 10 December 2016
Game of the Year 2016
Until 2016 I was very much in the last gen. my gaming PC had suffered a fatal hard drive crash and been passed to a friend two years previously (it was already 9 years old and I was bored of it), and I'd switched from windows gaming to giving my PS3 and Xbox 360 more time. I also bootcamped my MacBook Pro to install Windows 8.1 so I could still play some Left 4 Dead with my old competitive team - macs are, contrary to popular nonsense, alright for gaming with windows installed, as long as you're not looking for high settings on the latest games.
Early this year I finally persuade myself that I wanted a Wii U. I don't know what took so long - Gamecube has long been my favourite console, and I've enjoyed every Nintendo console that's existed (not so much N64 but that's another story). Even Wii had given me much enjoyment, yet I'd put off the Wii U for 3 years.
I didn't regret the purchase, it has some tremendous games. Probably the best 3D Super Mario game, one of the best Mario Karts, and some very nice Zelda remakes (we're still waiting on an original Zelda title though..!)
Then in Summer a friend of mine told me that PS4 was very good. I'd avoided it, and the Xbox One, because I had concerns over the coming switch to downloaded games replacing discs, the crazy privacy concerns with the Xbox One (and Windows 10) and I was just losing interest in newer games on PS3 and 360.
Well, I bought a PS4 on his recommendation. Another great purchase, with so many great games (many of them "remasters") the PlayStation 4 is close to taking Gamecube's spot as my favourite system ever.
I also upgraded my New 3DS to the XL model. Another worthy console, 3DS deserves more love.
So onto my game of the year? Naturally it's going to be on one of those consoles, as I haven't bought any other games from 2016. It's tough though - most games I've purchased have been older, having just bought the consoles, but first some runners up (no Wii U games here - that console's attempts this year were sadly uninspiring).
Dishonored 2 (PS4) - so close to being my pick. Dishonored was a fantastic game, well realised, though terrible on PS3 where I first played it. The remaster on PS4 though matches the PC version in all its beauty - and the sequel builds on everything it was, aesthetically as well as in story and depth of gameplay.
Dark Souls 3 (PS4) - a strong contender. The souls series took me a long time to get into, but completing Dark Souls 1 and 2 are highlights of my gaming past, and the third shows no sign of staleness.
Bioshock The Collection (PS4) - not strictly a 2016 game, but this collection shows how a generation-later re-release should be handled - the three games look better than they did on the previous consoles, and match the PC versions. A great box set.
Skyrim (PS4) - another remaster not strictly from 2016, Skyrim again shows how a remastered game should be handled. PS4 is replete with high quality upgrades to PS3 games, and this one goes an extra step to provide an ultimate experience of the content within - even with the controversy over its high price.
Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros (3DS) - the series has perhaps become a little stale by now, however this crossover between Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario is cleverly done, bringing elements of both series together and is all the better for it - certainly stronger than the last two Paper Mario games...
So now, the winner. You might expect it would be a PS4 game - this has been a good year for that console - but as I can only pick from games I've actually owned and played, and as I'm prone to ignoring the calls for what I "should" think, I've gone for a game that has given me such enjoyment, wasted so much time, and had me going back time and again to better my scores.
Rhythm Paradise Megamix (3DS) - a collection of short mini games, most of which come from earlier games on GBA and DS, this cartridge is packed with good humour and fun. Button presses replace the DS's taps and swipes, making it much easier to perform actions in time with the music and increase the pleasure of seeking a perfect score in each round. I consider this an essential purchase, and it is high on my list of all time favourite games.
2016 has been a great year for gaming, and 2017 already seems to have some great titles lined up for us - not to mention Nintendo's new Switch and that new Zelda game we've been patiently waiting for for some now! It's a good time to be a gamer.
Early this year I finally persuade myself that I wanted a Wii U. I don't know what took so long - Gamecube has long been my favourite console, and I've enjoyed every Nintendo console that's existed (not so much N64 but that's another story). Even Wii had given me much enjoyment, yet I'd put off the Wii U for 3 years.
I didn't regret the purchase, it has some tremendous games. Probably the best 3D Super Mario game, one of the best Mario Karts, and some very nice Zelda remakes (we're still waiting on an original Zelda title though..!)
Then in Summer a friend of mine told me that PS4 was very good. I'd avoided it, and the Xbox One, because I had concerns over the coming switch to downloaded games replacing discs, the crazy privacy concerns with the Xbox One (and Windows 10) and I was just losing interest in newer games on PS3 and 360.
Well, I bought a PS4 on his recommendation. Another great purchase, with so many great games (many of them "remasters") the PlayStation 4 is close to taking Gamecube's spot as my favourite system ever.
I also upgraded my New 3DS to the XL model. Another worthy console, 3DS deserves more love.
So onto my game of the year? Naturally it's going to be on one of those consoles, as I haven't bought any other games from 2016. It's tough though - most games I've purchased have been older, having just bought the consoles, but first some runners up (no Wii U games here - that console's attempts this year were sadly uninspiring).
Dishonored 2 (PS4) - so close to being my pick. Dishonored was a fantastic game, well realised, though terrible on PS3 where I first played it. The remaster on PS4 though matches the PC version in all its beauty - and the sequel builds on everything it was, aesthetically as well as in story and depth of gameplay.
Dark Souls 3 (PS4) - a strong contender. The souls series took me a long time to get into, but completing Dark Souls 1 and 2 are highlights of my gaming past, and the third shows no sign of staleness.
Bioshock The Collection (PS4) - not strictly a 2016 game, but this collection shows how a generation-later re-release should be handled - the three games look better than they did on the previous consoles, and match the PC versions. A great box set.
Skyrim (PS4) - another remaster not strictly from 2016, Skyrim again shows how a remastered game should be handled. PS4 is replete with high quality upgrades to PS3 games, and this one goes an extra step to provide an ultimate experience of the content within - even with the controversy over its high price.
Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros (3DS) - the series has perhaps become a little stale by now, however this crossover between Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario is cleverly done, bringing elements of both series together and is all the better for it - certainly stronger than the last two Paper Mario games...
So now, the winner. You might expect it would be a PS4 game - this has been a good year for that console - but as I can only pick from games I've actually owned and played, and as I'm prone to ignoring the calls for what I "should" think, I've gone for a game that has given me such enjoyment, wasted so much time, and had me going back time and again to better my scores.
Rhythm Paradise Megamix (3DS) - a collection of short mini games, most of which come from earlier games on GBA and DS, this cartridge is packed with good humour and fun. Button presses replace the DS's taps and swipes, making it much easier to perform actions in time with the music and increase the pleasure of seeking a perfect score in each round. I consider this an essential purchase, and it is high on my list of all time favourite games.
2016 has been a great year for gaming, and 2017 already seems to have some great titles lined up for us - not to mention Nintendo's new Switch and that new Zelda game we've been patiently waiting for for some now! It's a good time to be a gamer.
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
First Impressions: The Last Guardian (PS4)
I had a nice surprise this morning to see that The Last Guardian was out - I was sure it was a Friday release, in a couple of days' time. Thanks to my pre-order, I got a very pretty steelbook case which sweetens the deal somewhat.
I've only been able to spend about an hour with it, and have progressed little beyond the intro, but I wanted to be timely for a change and post some initial thoughts based on what I have seen. A full review may follow soon.
So the main thing I was reading online before I played it (Twitter, Metacritic et al) are that it is essentially a PS3 quality game, with PS3-standard graphics and controls, and that the game frequently dips to "20 frames per second". Well, my natural assumption when reading such specific numbers is that these people all read it somewhere and blindly parrot the information in their own reviews. It's become common in recent years to complain about framerates, especially the notion of considering anything less than 60fps to be substandard.
I don't subscribe to this thought. In some games, sure, frame rate can have a strong effect on gameplay - especially in racing or shooting games where twitchy reflexes are a must on higher difficulty levels. More important than the framerate itself in these games, is that it is consistent. In a game such as The Last Guardian though, this is less important. The game is slow, and doesn't rely on fast reflexes and as such the framerate is not the most important thing. I understand the concerns that the PlayStation 4 should be able to keep up with a game like this, and frustrations about poor coding and optimisation, though I have seen no evidence of slowdown as of yet. I've read anyway that PS4 Pro has no problems with it, at least when set at 1080p, and that the patch 1.02 released today for launch goes some way to fixing any issues, which is maybe why I haven't seen any with my non-Pro.
Graphically, the game is superior to anything I ever played on PS3. There are some elements of the graphics engine that is clearly from an earlier time, such as the layers of your companion Trico's feathers that come through each other, and the hazy dithering around the characters, which reminded me of a similar effect in Far Cry 4 on PS4. But overall the image is crisp and clean, and the colours well-chosen. If this had come to PS3, late in its life, I suspect it may not have held up well at all, and would have had some real framerate issues.
The sound design is typical of Team Ico. Minimalist in nature, the music comes and goes with the action and rouses the emotions well.
Otherwise the game feels very much like its predecessors, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. It wears the influence of these games on its sleeve - from rescuing Trico from captivity in the first chapter, to pressing R1 to call him to you, it borrows its core mechanics from Ico. Maybe there's something in the big bird beast being called trICO. I even found myself slightly anxious in sections where I had to leave him behind due to his massive size, just as I did when leaving the girl behind in Ico, even though to this point no one is pursuing him to harm him - I'm sure this will change soon, but I'm busy avoiding spoilers as best I can! The influence of Shadow of the Colossus comes into play with Trico himself - climbing his feathered body to reach high platforms will remind you of the second game from this developer.
Ultimately it's a very enjoyable experience so far, though one that requires you to be immersed. It's not easy to enjoy with distractions around you - and benefits from use of headphones. It's natural that a game with a 9 year development cycle, that was originally planned to release on PS3, will carry over some elements of that age, however don't let this put you off giving it a go, especially if you liked those two games people are complaining this is "too similar to."
I've only been able to spend about an hour with it, and have progressed little beyond the intro, but I wanted to be timely for a change and post some initial thoughts based on what I have seen. A full review may follow soon.
So the main thing I was reading online before I played it (Twitter, Metacritic et al) are that it is essentially a PS3 quality game, with PS3-standard graphics and controls, and that the game frequently dips to "20 frames per second". Well, my natural assumption when reading such specific numbers is that these people all read it somewhere and blindly parrot the information in their own reviews. It's become common in recent years to complain about framerates, especially the notion of considering anything less than 60fps to be substandard.
I don't subscribe to this thought. In some games, sure, frame rate can have a strong effect on gameplay - especially in racing or shooting games where twitchy reflexes are a must on higher difficulty levels. More important than the framerate itself in these games, is that it is consistent. In a game such as The Last Guardian though, this is less important. The game is slow, and doesn't rely on fast reflexes and as such the framerate is not the most important thing. I understand the concerns that the PlayStation 4 should be able to keep up with a game like this, and frustrations about poor coding and optimisation, though I have seen no evidence of slowdown as of yet. I've read anyway that PS4 Pro has no problems with it, at least when set at 1080p, and that the patch 1.02 released today for launch goes some way to fixing any issues, which is maybe why I haven't seen any with my non-Pro.
Graphically, the game is superior to anything I ever played on PS3. There are some elements of the graphics engine that is clearly from an earlier time, such as the layers of your companion Trico's feathers that come through each other, and the hazy dithering around the characters, which reminded me of a similar effect in Far Cry 4 on PS4. But overall the image is crisp and clean, and the colours well-chosen. If this had come to PS3, late in its life, I suspect it may not have held up well at all, and would have had some real framerate issues.
The sound design is typical of Team Ico. Minimalist in nature, the music comes and goes with the action and rouses the emotions well.
Otherwise the game feels very much like its predecessors, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. It wears the influence of these games on its sleeve - from rescuing Trico from captivity in the first chapter, to pressing R1 to call him to you, it borrows its core mechanics from Ico. Maybe there's something in the big bird beast being called trICO. I even found myself slightly anxious in sections where I had to leave him behind due to his massive size, just as I did when leaving the girl behind in Ico, even though to this point no one is pursuing him to harm him - I'm sure this will change soon, but I'm busy avoiding spoilers as best I can! The influence of Shadow of the Colossus comes into play with Trico himself - climbing his feathered body to reach high platforms will remind you of the second game from this developer.
Ultimately it's a very enjoyable experience so far, though one that requires you to be immersed. It's not easy to enjoy with distractions around you - and benefits from use of headphones. It's natural that a game with a 9 year development cycle, that was originally planned to release on PS3, will carry over some elements of that age, however don't let this put you off giving it a go, especially if you liked those two games people are complaining this is "too similar to."
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