Now Playing: DuckTales Remastered

Back in 1989, a video game came along and changed the way we view games forever. Disney and Capcom took us on a journey to the land of Duckburg, but that was only the beginning. The real adventure was soon to follow that took us everywhere from the Amazon all the way too the Moon itself. All of this while singing that all too familiar tune.

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It’s a duck blur
You might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history

DuckTales, Woo-oo!
Everyday they’re out there making
DuckTales, Woo-oo!
Tales of daring do bad and good luck tales, Woo-oo!

D-D-D-danger, watch behind you
There’s a stranger out to find you
What to do?
Just grab onto some

DuckTales, Woo-oo!
Everyday they’re out there making
DuckTales, Woo-oo!
Tales of daring do bad and good luck tales, Woo-oo!
Not pony tails, or cotton tails, no
DuckTales, Woo-oo!

Now I’ve never played the original game on the NES, but I do know about DuckTales. This means that this remastered version of the original game is all new to me and I like it. The Disney fan in me enjoyed watching the television series back in the day featuring the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and the gang scouring the world for legendary treasure. There was also something else I’ve always wanted to do. That would be diving into a massive vault of coins just like Scrooge McDuck. Sadly, there’s no way to perform this act in real life, but I can live the fantasy here in DuckTales Remastered, and it’s awesome!

The first thing that impressed me with DuckTales Remastered are the high definition visuals. Everything from the characters to the jaw-dropping levels themselves look absolutely fantastic. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. All the original actors of the show are also back reprising their roles for the game giving voices to the characters during all the cutscenes. The overall atmosphere gives me the impression that I’m participating in an actual episode of the hit animated series. Now that is a real treat for fans like myself, because this takes the DuckTales experience to a completely new level.

Platforming is the name of the game here in DuckTales, and it’s well executed as Scrooge uses his cane as a pogo stock for jumping on enemies and completes some simple puzzle solving. Considering the fact that this is a Disney game, don’t expect DuckTales to be some easy romp even though it does follow the main 8-bit rule of “If you lose all your lives you must start over”. I would keep that in mind especially in boss battles. These battles can be a bit of chore since memorization of their attacks is needed for survival. Remember that less stress equals more fun.

Throughout my adventure I would come across random treasure chests randomly appearing out of nowhere containing health and other riches. Gems also sometimes appeared as I walked by. This just goes to show that wherever Scrooge McDuck walks money is sure to follow. As I collected the money I was able to spend it in the gallery mode where I can unlock concept art, music, and more showing the rich history of the game. I really like seeing how the game has evolved from it’s 8-bit beginnings to the current generation consoles.

DuckTales may be a near perfect port of the original game, but there is one area of concern that will have fans scratching their heads. This would have to do with the game’s length. The levels in DuckTales Remastered have been extended in some areas, because the original NES game didn’t take very long to finish. This new version of DuckTales can be finished within a couple of hours which might have some fans wondering if the nostalgia trip is worth the $14.99 price tag. I think that some won’t care, because it’s DuckTales. However, others will probably wait for a sale.

As a trip down memory lane, DuckTales Remastered shines with it’s high definition visuals, and making me feel like I’m in an episode of the show. The platforming is fantastic, and at times can be quite challenging, but it’s not entirely frustrating. The game’s length may be it’s only setback, but it didn’t hold me back from buying it. Besides, it’s not very often that I get to “solve a mystery, or rewrite history!”

DuckTales, Woo-oo!

—————

Developer: Capcom, Disney, WayForward
Platform: PlayStation 3, PSN
Players: 1
Price: $14.99

Now Playing: Resident Evil 6

Ok, so I took a long time to get this review out, but I wanted all the press to die down before I gave my opinion on Capcom‘s latest entry in the long running Resident Evil saga. Sure the survival-horror element that made the series popular is gone (then again it’s been gone since Resident Evil 4), but is it really a reason for so many so-called “fans” out there to shun the game? No! The series may be focused more on action (enough mayhem, crashes, and explosions to make Michael Bay orgasm in excitement), and the plot lines are more confusing as ever, however Resident Evil 6 is not as bad as purists are trying to make it. The game has some faults, but it’s still an entertaining experience.

Resident Evil 6 moves away from just a single campaign with one point of view. This time there are four campaigns that intersect into one complete story. Popular favorites including Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Ada Wong are back once again, but some of the new characters along for the ride are just as fun to play as. Sherry Birkin is back and all grown up. Helena really fits in with Leon’s campaign. Piers is no Jill Valentine but is still a good action hero. Finally there is Jake, the son of Albert Wesker, who is a complete badass and is a lot of fun to play as.

To sum up each campaign here’s how I would base it. Playing as Leon S. Kennedy makes the game feel close to Resident Evil 4 (my favorite game in the series so far) minus the shopkeeper. Playing the game as Chris Redfield makes the game feel like your typical third person shooter just with Resident Evil moments and enemies. Jake’s campaign feels like Resident Evil 3: Nemesis which will constantly have you on the run. Ada Wong’s campaign is full of stealth and crossbow action making this campaign a cross of Batman games from Rocksteady meets The Hunger Games. Of all the campaigns I enjoyed Leon’s the most because it felt the closest to the Resident Evil games I’ve loved.

Resident Evil 6 comes in with some big changes. The biggest change has to do with the clunkiness of the controls. No more standing and shooting while the enemies keep coming. It’s now been replaced with a more run and gun style. Basically, the release of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City paved the way for what was to come. Shooting, ducking, taking cover. In other words an increased chance of survival as well as saving some of those precious herbs. In between all the nonstop action there are plenty of Quick Time Events (QTE) sprinkled in. These QTE’s are quite frequent which at times come off as annoying especially when your in the middle of surviving a battle. Personally, I think it’s time to get rid of QTEs for any future games. They’re just not fun anymore.

Shopping for weapons and upgrades are also gone in favor of a skill point system. Throughout my game play in the campaign and in The Mercenaries (more on that later) I come across skill points icons that I collected to purchase upgrades. These upgrades included damage, accuracy, frequent ammo drops (which was sorely needed when I played Chris’ campaign), and so much more. The skill point system helps for multiple play throughs plus they can be used in any campaign. Now if they could only find a way to add the shopkeeper from Resident Evil 4 and this option would be awesome. He can also have all his signature phrases telling you how great the upgrade you want to buy is.

The Mercenaries mode is also back once again, and this time it’s better than ever. The same goal still applies here which is get the highest score possible before the timer expires. There were plenty of time extension points along with combo bonus icons to smash so I could rack up those points as I blasted zombies (yes, the undead that made the series popular are back again!) along with other infected enemies and bosses all out to get me. I find this mode a lot of fun especially when I need to kill off some unwanted stress from work. There’s also an Agent Hunt mode where I can go into an online game as an enemy character to kill the heroes. In theory this mode sounds like fun, but it doesn’t execute as well as it should.

So, do I like Resident Evil 6? Well, yes I do. It may not be survival horror, and the QTEs suck, but it’s clearly not as bad as everyone wants to say it is. At least the zombies are back which is a huge plus. Mercenaries is still a fun experience in short spurts. Plus all the over the top action is just as fun as your typical summer blockbuster movie. If your a fan of the series than you owe it to yourself to give at least a rental. For me, I can expect this game to stick around for quite awhile. By the way, did you notice that I kept this review spoiler free?

Developer: Capcom
Platform: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4 (online multiplayer)
Price: $59.99

The Final Cut: Resident Evil 4 HD

GAME STATUS: Ashley has been rescued. Los Illuminados has been eliminated.
ACHIEVEMENTS EARNED: 9 out of 12 (600 Gamerscore)

For my original review on Resident Evil 4 HD click HERE

Who would’ve thought that going on a mission to rescue the President’s daughter could be this involving. Crazed non-zombies, giant powerful beasts, parasites, bioterrorism, a somewhat religious cult, and plenty of shopkeepers who always seem to show up in key moments. Yup, just another day on the job for Leon S. Kennedy.

My mission in Europe was filled with plenty of action and suspense as Resident Evil 4 kept my focus on everything that was going on. Non-zombies and other creatures would appear anywhere where I would least expect them. I sometimes got a chill up my spine when you hear the chanting in the castle and find an enemy right behind me ready to strike. Eventually I did a quick 180 and delivered a hole to the chest with my shotgun knocking him back to his death. Of course I also enjoyed heads explode from non-zombies and even watching bosses think that they’ll get the best of me only to get a warhead from a rocket launcher up their asses. $30,000 well worth it. Thanks shopkeeper!

As for Ashley, well let’s just say that she’s no Sheva from Resident Evil 5. Ashley was more of a babysitting assignment after her rescue. Sheva held her own, and at times had a pretty good shot as well. That’s saying a lot. Although, Ashley did help out on a few puzzles, and opened a door or two in the castle until she almost got carried away by those evil Los Illuminados bastards. I then responded by putting a bullet in their head. Maybe I wouldn’t of had to do all of that if I was being a good babysitter. Then again I love the feeling of a good headshot. It’s so gratifying. Plus it puts a big smile on my face when I see their head’s explode in a bloody mess.

Ok, so Resident Evil 4 was a little bit out of character because it didn’t have any zombies, but that never really bothered me one bit. The creepy atmosphere was well done even if everything was not on HD, and the over the shoulder gameplay was excellent. My only gripe would be all the quick time events. On a personal note, Salazar may have been an annoying little person at times, but he clearly wasn’t as annoying as Alfred Ashford in Resident Evil Code: Veronica.

THE WORLD IS SOMEWHAT SAFE ONCE AGAIN, SO WHAT’S MY NEXT ASSIGNMENT?

Second quest? Hell yeah! Separate ways quests for Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong? Absolutely! The Mercenaries? I can’t turn that down. There’s so much to do now that everything is unlocked. In my opinion Resident Evil 4 is one of the best games in the long running series so it’s safe to assume that this game is a keeper on my Xbox 360 hard drive. Enough chat. Time to go save the President’s daughter once again, but this time with upgraded weapons. Now where’s that shopkeeper?

Developer: Capcom
Platform: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Price: $19.99

Now Playing: Marvel vs Capcom 2 (iPad)

Marvel vs Capcom 2. Clearly one of the greatest fighting games of all time. It’s also one of my all time favorites. Street Fighter, superheroes, villains, as well as other Capcom characters together for one hell of a fight. Honestly, I can’t get enough of this game. I play it to death on Xbox Live, but now I can take the game on the go with my iPad. The question is whether the touchscreen controls would really work for a game of this caliber. Well that is sort of a mixed bag.

Capcom decided to not make any major changes in the game where graphics are concerned. Considering the fact that most other games have received a HD remix, Marvel vs Capcom 2 is just one of those games that should be untouched. I think that the pixelated blockiness is alright even if it shows the game’s age rather significantly. However, there are moments of noticeable slowdown especially when there are more characters and action on the screen.

My only concern with this version has to do with the controls themselves. I questioned if the touchscreen controls can keep up with all the intense high flying action that this game delivers. Well unfortunately this is where things get a little complicated. In other words your either going to love it or hate it. I chose to go with a six button control scheme with your punches, kicks, and assists. Some of the moves were a bitch to pull off in the beginning, but I was able to adjust myself later. I’m still having trouble with the tag ins and a few super moves, but with time I should be alright.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 was tough to resist for the $2.99 asking price (special price during The Avengers launch weekend), but in the overall picture I still found it fun to play even if the controls make you scream in agony. Just give it some time, along with an update or two, and things will be just fine. Definitely fun for the fans and fighting game enthusiasts.

Publisher: Capcom
Platform: iPad & iPhone
Version: 1.0
Players: 1-2
Price: $4.99

Devil May Cry HD Collection Review: Time For This Party To Get Crazy In HD!

Pros:
Three classic Devil May Cry games in one package
All three games look great in HD
Gameplay is both fun and challenging

Cons:
Camera system still out of whack
Not everything is upgraded in HD
No main menu to change games unless you restart

Since 2001, the Devil May Cry series has been something special on the Playstation 2. The first game hooked me right in with it’s over the top sword and gunplay action. Tossing enemies up into the air with my sword and then blasting them to death with my dual handguns never got old. Some of the lines were a little cheesy at times when Dante was ready to kick some ass, but this series was not about dialog. It was about hacking and slashing with style and it was fun. Lately there have been some changes with a reboot along with a new style and younger looking emo-Dante. With such a radical change on the horizon, this HD collection serves up everything that we loved about the series…except for maybe Devil May Cry 2.

The Devil May Cry HD Collection is a three game set of Dante’s adventures all which were exclusively featured on the Playstation 2. The series’ only rivals at the time was the God of War games also on the PS2 and Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox. Talk about some good company. The main story centered around the main character Dante, the son of Sparda, who had the huge task of eliminating the demons of the underworld with his sword and trademark handguns Ebony and Ivory. Along with his apparent cocky attitude and an ass kicking nature in mind, Dante accomplished just that all in style. Besides all the action, the series also featured plenty of puzzle solving reminiscent of the Resident Evil series. Overall, each game was fun and filled with some memorable moments.

One of the biggest changes with this unique collection is the graphical HD upgrades giving the games a more modern look to them. These upgrades are noticeable in character design, some backgrounds, and in a few of the cutscenes. Of course not everything is in HD. There are some moments where some of the pre-rendered cutscenes and digital presentation looks aged and very dated. This is not a deal breaker in any way because this package is all about the nostalgia so even the standard and somewhat blocky resolutions here and there will not affect the reason why we played the game…it’s fun gameplay.

The stylish combat with swords and guns alike was the staple for the Devil May Cry games. Add on to the fact that you can use magical attacks for that extra “wow” factor and what you have is action/adventure brilliance. So many times have I walked into a room with a ton of enemies or even a boss encounter and thought to myself about how cool it would be to whoop some serious ass and score some cool combos (which you are rated on your performance), except this time I can now score an achievement or two in the process. Sadly, I wished that Capcom would have went back and worked on the camera angles, because they still are a distraction at times when in a tough fight.

As I first started playing this collection (starting with DMC 3, because that game is awesome), I once again found myself immersed in the demon slaying world. Swinging my sword and shooting my guns scoring awesome combos was so much fun once again. This was a series I really missed, and DMC 4 just didn’t do it for me either. I truly enjoyed the originals even though DMC 2 kinda sucked back then. Nowadays, I can  come to grips with that sequel and find time to enjoy it even if the main reason I purchased this collection was to play the original and DMC 3.

The nostalgia is what will bring in the fans, but it’s the gameplay that will keep you playing over and over again. It may even bring in a new gamer or two that have never played the series before. Devil May Cry HD Collection offers tons of gameplay for the small price and it’s well worth it. Maybe even those who disliked Devil May Cry 2 will find a way to enjoy the game we all wanted to forget at that time. Overall, Devil May Cry HD Collection is a definite buy for the fans, but is good buy for everyone else as well.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Review: A Fun “Multiplayer” Experience Through Familiar Grounds

Pros:
Fun game in co-op and competitive multiplayer
Heroes Mode and Survival Mode are a blast to play
Killing zombies, B.O.W.s, and Tyrants

Cons:
AI teammates are not as helpful in single player
Weapons don’t feel as effective
Inside areas don’t look as good as the outside atmosphere

So here I was on release day staring at my unopened copy of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City from Capcom and Slant Six Games (known for the team-based SOCOM games) making a big decision. Do I open it? Do I return it back to the evil empire also known as GameStop? Over the weekend several people who acquired the game early gave their two cents talking about how the game completely sucked. On release day a couple of review sites finally offered their negative opinions. Wow! Well all it took me was six hours. Six hours of constant debating was all it took for me to make my decision to finally break open the shrink wrap and play the game. After about an hour of playing both single and in co-op all I can say was “What were these other so-called professional reviewers playing? Was it the same game?” I ended up playing all night saying that Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City has quite a bit of faults, but it’s damn sure fun to play…with friends.

OK, so four out of five players, or even reviewers, may not agree with what I’m saying. Now I do agree with some people about some of the game’s faults which I will discuss later. These negativities is what fuels all the internet trolls out there flooding the message boards saying the game sucks, but what they don’t realize is that when you engross yourself into the game those thoughts begin to fade away leaving you with the experience. No longer am I thinking about how enemies are like bullet sponges or shitty AI. All I’m thinking about is how am I going to survive the zombie apocalypse, along with some other human threats, while playing as the bad guys of Umbrella.

So let me set the stage. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City takes place between Resident Evil 2 and 3 with the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City. Your role is part of the Umbrella Corporation out to recover the G-Virus along with eliminating any survivors so that nobody talks. This also includes characters like Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine. The game plays more like a “what if” scenario making Operation Raccoon City more like cannon than actual storyline, but it’s still filled with all the familiar enemies you’ve come to love including zombies, B.O.W.s, tyrants, and even the Nemesis himself. Along the way you’ll also come across Spec Ops soldiers who are trying to regain control of the undead town along with finding survivors. Overall, the storyline is rather bland at times but it does have it’s moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Playing the game as the badasses of Umbrella (Spec Ops coming later as free DLC) is a real treat. You get to choose one of six operatives to play the game as. My favorite is Vector (good luck choosing him in an online game), because he just looks like a badass. Each character boasts their own unique abilities. For example, Vector can turn invisible or mimic enemy soldiers and heroes. Spectre can oversee the environment letting you know of nearly enemies. Bertha can spawn with first aid sprays and when she does a melee kill a green herb will spawn. Beltway will shove a grenade into an enemy’s mouth after a successful melee attack. The list goes on and on. It all comes down to who you want to play and level up as. Sadly, each character doesn’t have their own unique story which would’ve helped the single player replay value.

With the zombie apocalypse well underway, Capcom and Slant Six try to recapture the look and feel of Raccoon City at it’s darkest hour. However, I did get a laugh at the gas station with the $1.15 per gallon price remembering the good old days when gas was cheap. Some areas looked absolutely amazing looking like your in the middle of a war zone filled with abandoned cars, buildings and fires spread out as you make your way through alleys and the city streets. There are some other areas that don’t look as well as you make your way through hallways and other rooms. This is usually typical in most games where developers work so hard making the outside atmosphere look amazing like in Dead Island and then there’s the bland inside corridors reminding me of the original F.E.A.R. game.

Now Operation Raccoon City is a big departure from the typical Resident Evil games that we all know and love. The biggest difference is the fact that you can now run and gun as well as take cover from enemy fire. This style is welcome to some while hated by others. Some may call it evolution in the series, but I have to say that with how this game plays it really makes sense. Besides with all the gunfire taking place it wouldn’t make sense to just stand there taking constant bullets from soldiers. You’ll also find yourself running from hordes of zombies and other abnormalities so that you don’t get infected and become a zombie yourself and attack your own teammates. Operation Raccoon City also features a cover system. Taking cover happens automatically when you come near a surface as you duck down, peer out from the sides and use blind fire. if taking cover is not your cup of tea then take a zombie as a meat shield and use them for cover while blasting away.

As a team-based shooter, Operation Raccoon City does have a huge fault. It has to do with both the team as well as enemy AI. As your making your way through the campaign I do suggest playing with a few friends, because playing in single player can be frustrating at times due to the AI. Your computer controlled teammates act really stupid as they fire at nothing to not even healing if you if your in danger of dying. They also seem to have this problem of getting in the way and not moving especially in the middle of a gunfight and taking cover. This is unacceptable. In Left 4 Dead, your AI teammates are pretty helpful especially in providing health because it’s all about survival. Now I did have a moment or two in the game when Bertha, an AI controlled teammate, did use a first aid spray or two when the time was needed. However, in a gunfight she sucked ass as she would either become a lead magnet and look for a revive or just get infected and become a zombie.

Another problem that I have has to do with the weapons. They just don’t seem as damaging. You start out with your basic assault rifle or submachine gun. As you earn XP you can purchase upgrades in abilities as well as weapons. You would think that these upgrades in the weapon department would help, but instead it still feels like your spilling just about the same amount of rounds into enemies. I also want to add that I don’t understand why it takes so many rounds to kill enemies. At one point during a co-op game I took control of a sniper rifle while enemy soldiers fired from the upper floors. I then placed a clean shot to the head only to see the soldier flinch for just a moment, smile, and keep on shooting. Seriously, in any other game their dead. Not here. Even the Licker laughs at your puny pea shooter while salivating at the thought of using it’s tongue ready to choke the life out of you. There needs to be some sort of balance here Slant Six since a headshot is an instant kill. I am a bit forgiving on the B.O.W.s and Tyrants though.

Single player games can get quite boring even if you have the XP system for replay value. The internet trolls went wild on this. the only problem is that this is only one aspect of the game. What about the multiplayer? Well I’m here to tell you that this is one area that the game doesn’t disappoint. Whether you play in co-op or competitive multiplayer is where the fun is in Operation Raccoon City. Playing the game with friends or complete strangers makes killing zombies and soldiers exciting leading to good times and plenty of laughs along the way while trudging through the campaign. Competitve multiplayer is great as well. Here you’ll find all your typical game modes of team deathmatch and capture the flag (called Biohazard). My personal favorites are the Heroes mode where you take on the iconic characters in single elimination gameplay. There’s also the survival mode where you take on hordes of zombies and other monstrosities while battling your opponents while waiting for the chopper to arrive. Only four of the eight players can survive meaning every man or woman for themselves at that point. Who will it be? That’s all up to you. Overall, I enjoyed Operation Raccoon City’s multiplayer more than a lot of other games I’ve played except for maybe Gears of War and Halo. It’s definitely better than any Call of Duty game. The zombie mode in Call of Duty still kicks ass though.

With all this said is Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City worth the $60 purchase? This is where I question how big of a fan you are of the series. Fanboys will buy instantly because of the Resident Evil name and have a goods time. Others may choose to rent or eventually wait for the price drop. For me the game didn’t cost a dime due to trade ins and I’m having a great time with it despite it’s noticeable flaws. Internet trolls and so called professionally paid reviewers like IGN may trash the game, but when the price drop occurs and the game heads to the bargain bin even the biggest of internet message board trolls cannot resist picking this game up. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is just great fun with friends. Isn’t that what gaming is all about in the first place?

Street Fighter X Tekken Review: Clearly The Best Crossover Fighting Game To Date

Pros:
A great blend of Street Fighter and Tekken characters
Gem system is pretty good addition
Online play is fantastic

Cons:
Game modes are a little bland
DLC content already on the disc requiring unlock keys for a price

Capcom has always been known for some great crossovers as of late. Marvel vs Capcom, Tatsunoku vs Capcom, X-Men vs Street Fighter. The list goes on and on. Now we may have not gotten that Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter that we’ve all wanted back in the day, but the folks at Capcom and Namco have teamed up to bring fans one of the best crossover games of all time to date. Street Fighter and Tekken together in the same game. The World Warriors versus the King of Iron Fist. Who will reign supreme? As gamers, it wouldn’t really matter because Street Fighter X Tekken is a win/win situation filled with awesome fighting action that will have you hooked in for a very long time.

If I had one issue when this game was announced it had to do with the thought of the Street Fighter characters having a distinct advantage over the Tekken characters. Hadokens and Psycho Crushers taking on fists and feet. You would think that players would rather spam Ryu and Ken to death rather then play as Jin and Heihachi. Well I’m here to tell you that the balance between the characters is well done. The Tekken characters really hold their own in this game. You might have a more overpowered character players will use online for a time early on, but you can expect Capcom to fix it really quick like they do with all their fighting games.

Street Fighter X Tekken is presented with the 2D Street Fighter IV style and it looks and plays extremely well. The tag team fighting style is practically flawless in it’s design which is something that Capcom has plenty of experience in with it’s countless other mash ups. However, there is a difference. Unlike Capcom’s previous tag team fighters Street Fighter X Tekken uses Namco’s tag team fighting design  in Tekken Tag Tournament where there is no recycling of fighters. When one character is knocked out the round is over. If perfectly ok with this concept, because of the fact that this adds a bit of strategy into the game other than the typical attitude of  gamers saying “Oh well. At least I have another fighter to work with.”

One thing you can expect in Street Fighter X Tekken is that the fighting system is still top notch. Street Fighter is still one of the most technical fighting games in the market with it’s wide array of attacks and counters. Defending is more important than attacking in the series and this game shows that as well. Super Moves, EX Moves, and plenty of counter attacks still exist here. New to this game is the use of moves that include launchers that knock your opponent up in the air and then your partner runs in to rack up more hits. There’s also a team up combo where both of our characters run in at the same time to engage in a total beat down. Of course these combos work best when your opponents health gauge is low so you can get that flashy KO just to show off your ass kicking skills in front of your friends.

Also new to Street Fighter X Tekken is the use of gems. These gems really add a new strategic element as well as change the pace of the fight. These boost and assist gems have different abilities including an added offensive boost, defensive boost, allows for an easier button combinations for special moves and super attacks, and so much more. These gems can be set to your character by default, or by customizing your own set of gems (maximum of three per character). Gems will then be earned by what happens in the fight in terms of whether your an offensive juggernaut, special move spammer, or just plain getting your ass kicked. I really thought that the gems would “cheapen and dumb down” the game, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The gems are awesome and are activated immediately as you gain them. You’ll also have a glow around your character which reminded me of Leroy and Shonuff in the old school ’80s flick “The Last Dragon.” Just for shits and giggles, you should yell into your speaker when playing online “Who is the master?” when this happens.

I’ve really noticed something about fighting games as of late. The single player game modes are rather lacking. Also they seem rather bland in nature, because every fighter has the same modes and nothing really original. You get your standard game modes including arcade mode and training mode to learn your basic moves and combos. There’s a challenge mode which has you winning matches in different scenarios. There’s even a tutorial mode where the fan favorite and lovable loser Dan, who can’t even get a roster spot in the cast, trains you in the game’s basics. I found the tutorial very helpful as well as get a laugh or two out of Dan’s antics. If you need a bit of freshening up on your moves then might I suggest the practice mode. Here you can get work on your skills as well as see your button presses on the left side of the screen so you can cure any button mashing problems you might have.

Now every fan knows that it’s the online arena where any fighting game really succeeds. Street Fighter X Tekken once again shines in this aspect. Just like in Street Fighter IV and it’s later versions you’ll find nearly lag free matches with your friends and complete strangers to compete for supremacy or look like a Dan. You can also set online play challenges to take place in arcade mode so you can have a match at any time. Obviously, online is where your going to spend the most time with this game. Each of the matches I played online I enjoyed a lag free experience with my AT&T Mobile WiFi hot spot (cheap plug). I also did a little trash talking on the side for some extra fun (friendly of course unless the other person was a real jackass). Overall, the online multiplayer scores a perfect victory.

I do have one major beef with this game and it has to do with the upcoming DLC add ons. According to an article from IGN, the upcoming future DLC that features extra characters as well as the costumes are already on the disc and require an unlock key to use. What the fuck is up with that Capcom! Didn’t you get enough money from me when I bought the game in the first place? I’m sure I speak for all the gamers out there when I say that this should be free. Maybe have an unlock system in the game as bonuses for completion like the old fighting games had. There’s no need to get greedy and rape us for more money. At least they learned from the fiasco with Marvel vs Capcom  3 and decided on DLC instead of a new disc down the road. Then again I could be wrong. Of course this is nothing new with Capcom, because they’ve been doing this for years with the same Street Fighter games with longer titles and new additions. With all this said I’m sure that in the next few months we might expect a Super Ultimate Street Fighter X Tekken Tag Tournament Turbo with Hyper Fighting.

Street Fighter X Tekken takes two of my favorite fighting franchises and blends them into the ultimate fighting game that’s so enjoyable. The main storyline is not important (notice how i skipped it). The fighting action is very technical and strategic yet flawless in it’s nature. The gems are cool. Online play is a blast. What else can I say to a game that is awesome in just about every way except for the whole DLC thing. Street Fighter fans, Tekken fans, all fighting game fans should be buying this game right now! Now let’s see what Namco does with their version Tekken X Street Fighter due out sometime in the near future.

Resident Evil 4 Review: The Best In The Series…Now In HD!

Pros:
It’s Resident Evil 4! Enough Said!

Cons:
Controls Will Take Some Time Getting Used To

Arguably the best of the long running series, according to fans, Resident Evil 4 finally makes it’s debut on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 as a downloadable game. Released six years ago on the Nintendo Gamecube and Playstation 2, Resident Evil 4 gives all players a chance to relive a survival-horror classic. Personally, this is my first time playing Resident Evil 4 and I must say that now I know why everyone loves this game so much because it’s awesome and it’s in HD!

For those not familiar with Resident Evil 4 let me fill you in on the story. You play as Leon Kennedy, survivor of the events in Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2. You find yourself in Europe on a mission to rescue Ashley, the president’s daughter. Of course, just like any Resident Evil game you’ll quickly realize that this will not be an easy mission. The group responsible for the kidnapping has an evil plan and the cult’s crazed followers stand in the way of success. There is more, but I’m not going to spoil the game for anyone who hasn’t played yet.

Like every Resident Evil game, you can expect the same type of character motions which at times feels a little clunky and awkward. This has been around since the beginning which is no surprise to series vets. Even some newbies should be used to it especially with games like Resident Evil 5. As for me it wasn’t a big deal at all because I’m used to the clunkiness the game brings. One big difference with Resident Evil 4 compared to other games in the series is the over the shoulder view which was a first in the series was well received and feels great.

Capcom has decided to give fans a re-release of the game except this time it gets the HD treatment. Those of you with high end HD televisions will notice all the sharp enhanced  images which relates directly to the game. However, there are some areas where nothing was done whatsoever. It’s not a big deal. When you really think about it, you’ll be too busy paying attention to all the action on the screen instead of nitpicking on something insignificant unless you’re that anal on the subject.

Even though this is my first time playing the game, I have to nitpick on the tough controls. Considering the fact that Resident Evil 4 was made for the Gamecube and PS2, the controls were tough getting used to. It doesn’t matter what kind of gaming skill you have, because there is going to be a long learning curve with the controls before you get them down. Some people will find this frustrating, but let me tell you that after a few hours dealing with it, you’ll start to grow accustomed to it.

Tough controls aside, Resident Evil 4 kicks ass. The storyline is good, the voice acting is great, and the action is well done. Best of all, it’s all in HD which makes my big screen 1080p HDTV very happy. Is it safe to assume that I’m calling Resident Evil 4 a must download not just for first timers, but for anyone who’s looking for a thrill no matter how many times you’ve played.

Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition Review: Long Name, Still Great Game…and Online Play Too!

Pros:
The best version of Street Fighter 3
Online play works very well

Cons:
Can be too tough for amateurs
Gill…Do I need to expain?

How can I sum up the long running history of Capcom’s Street Fighter series? Start with a basic game, update it a few months later and charge full price, update it again with a longer name and charge full price, update it again with an even longer name and charge full price, etc… I think you get the point. After they rape you for your money for a couple of years then they’ll start the process all over with a new title. Mainly this was Street Fighter 2 through the ’90s.

Late in the same decade, Capcom decided that it was time to count to three. Street Fighter 3 was unleashed and some fans took the reception well. The rest said “What the fuck” and went back to the previous game. Part of their reasons was the lack of familiar characters. The other was the tougher difficulty. Street Fighter 3 was the toughest and the most technical of all the games. Good news for us is that Capcom gave fans the best of the Street Fighter 3 games…Third Strike!

Now on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation 3, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition (another long name with a full downloadable price) brings back the classic formula that we all know and love in the fighting game genre. Time for some more quarter circle and charge back and forth d-pad movements while pressing punch and kick buttons. Add in a few super moves and counters and what you have is one of the most technical fighting games of all time in glorious 2D. The best part about this game is online multiplayer making for some great matchups or like most people an embarrassing mismatch.

The game as a whole is an exact port of the arcade classic except this time Capcom has decided to enhance the game slightly. One of those enhancements comes in the graphical arena where you can choose the original look or choose a more crisp refinement. You can also change the presentation from the original 4:3 to widescreen or even an arcade cabinet. While most people will go right to the widescreen presentation, I would recommend against it. On my big screen the widescreen look just blows up the screen distorting everything. Just stick to the 4:3 or arcade cabinet. Even in these ratios Capcom uses the full screen with progress awards for unlocking achievements as well as other content.

For those of you that are new to Street Fighter 3 or veterans of other variations of the series I strongly suggest boning up on your skills because this game will kick your ass. Have you noticed how many times I’ve said how technical this game is? I’m really not kidding. Counters, reversals, when to block supers, Gill…enough said. Your Street Fighter 2 or even Street Fighter 4 skills will not work here. Was M. Bison too tough for you to beat? Are you a Ryu’s Hadoken spammer? If you answered yes to any of those questions, and your Street Fighter 2 skills are all you have to offer, then you might find yourself in bigger trouble in more than just the arcade mode. You might also want to add the online arena as well. If you need some much needed practice I would suggest the training mode.

Any diehard Street Fighter fan is very critical on a game’s performance more than anything else. Well I’m here to tell you that both online and offline gameplay run very smooth with almost no sign of lag. Even me with a less than superior internet signal lately didn’t hurt me online with the many competitors. As for my success rate…we’ll just leave it at 50/50.

Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition sure is long in name, but there’s plenty of features, along with online play to keep you busy for quite awhile. There’s enough flavor to have a want to play this game along with the multitude of other fighting games on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 especially with plenty of Street Fighter games available. Now let’s just hope that Capcom doesn’t release a new updated edition a few months later like what they did with another popular fighting franchise.

Welcome to “The Generation of Greed”

Take a moment to think about these terms: Unlock Key, Downloadable Content, Bonus Content, Map Packs, New Characters, Skins, Collector’s Editions, Arcade Edtions, Ultimate Editions. The list goes on and on. For the past few years we’ve been subjected to these terms that have now become second nature. This console generation sure has seen quite a few changes compared to the past. Remember when you bought a game and everything was on it that was supposed to be there? Well that’s not true these days. The full price of a game you purchase off the store shelf is no longer enough. Welcome to “The Generation of Greed.”

Greed. According to Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street, “Greed is good.” Sure, maybe that line that is important when it applies to the stock trade industry, but what about the video games industry? Greed has been good to some. Companies like Activision, EA, and Capcom sure know about it. Why do I say that? Well that’s because they’ve been milking us for our hard earned money for years. Yes, even I’m guilty. Games like Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Street Fighter, and every one of EA’s sports games fall under this catagory. Every year we head to the stores for the latest game only to find out it’s more like the same game we had before except with a slight enhancement. Doesn’t it make you feel just a little jaded?

Currently the greed train made another stop just last week when Capcom made the announcement of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. It’s only been five months since the release of the original game, and Capcom has made the announcement of an updated edition. Now you can’t tell me that your just a little outraged over this. Back in February I spent $60 to buy the game which I enjoy playing a lot. I also bought both character packs at $5 a piece to add to the fun. Now all of a sudden you want me to spend $40 on the Ultimate Edition for more content? Are you kidding me?

Capcom stated last week that their original plan was to release DLC, however the recent events in Japan (earthquakes and tsunamis) has forced them to change their minds about that process. They stated that the content would be too large to do as DLC alone. So they decided that a release on disc was better. C’mon Capcom, please don’t tell me that your using mother nature as the reason for not doing DLC. That’s just taking things a little too far. In my honest opinion, that’s just a lame ass excuse. Remember Street Fighter II? All of those suposedly “new” editions that you released were basically the same game with just a longer name.

For all you gamers out there take a moment to think about this. How many times have you traded in a game to buy a new version? Almost every time right? Every Call of Duty players knows this since Call of Duty 4. The game that they play for multiplayer purposes has been the same except for a graphical facelift. EA’s sports games are the same every year except for a current roster update and graphics. Don’t let me get into Guitar Hero and all the other “Hero” games that came after it. At least Harmonix did things right with Rock Band.

Now what about the whole DLC issue. I’m not here to say that DLC is bad because it’s not. we all love map packs, new quests, and other cool stuff to extend the life of our current games. However, what about supposed DLC that’s already on the disc to begin with. This is known as an “unlock key.” Xbox 360 gamers can easily find this when content only registers at 108 KB. That’s an unlock key folks. Publishers and developers are using this strategy to get more bang for the buck because maybe they feel that $60 for a game is just not enough. When will the madness end?

With all of this in mind what will the future console generations bring. Will publishers and developers only release half finished games making you purchase the rest? Could game prices be going up in the next generation? Here’s a thought. Remember last generation with the Xbox and Playstation 2 having collector’s editions for specific games costing only $10 more than the usual $49.99 price. We all bought into it which helped ease the price of games to where it is today. Not just technology. We could be setting ourselves up for $69.99 games next time around. Just thought I’d warn you because this could happen.

With all this said, I don’t want you to say “I’m not buying any DLC ever again” or “I’m not getting Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3.” In November, I plan on getting the game. I will say to Capcom that this better be the “Final” version to this game. No Extra Special Editions or Arcade Editions with Turbo or even Hyper Fighting, because all this shit in this “Generation of Greed” is getting out of hand. Make it easy on gamers by releasing only one game. It’s not that hard. As for all the DLC, we’ll let our wallets and purses do the talking.