Forza 3

The ugly duckling has finally become a swan. Well the duckling wasn't ever ugly to begin with, but she sure got more pretty since the last time I saw her. Forza 3 is the best simulation racing game I've ever played. I'll be the first one to admit that I'm not an expert in the field, but Forza 3 is special. Unlike a PlayStation 3 exclusive with a $60 million dollar budget that shall remain nameless Forza works with you for the most enjoyable experience. Gran Turismo is a series that forces you to adapt to it's way of life in order to get the most out of it. I've never played a Gran Turismo game for more than an hour before it got too boring for me to handle. Again I will say I am not an expert in the field of racing games.

Back to Forza.

I was introduced to this series with Forza 2 also for the Xbox 360 and was convinced that it was the only reason to buy a 360 back in 2007. Forza 2 felt like the training exercise I did to get ready for Forza 3. Forza 3 follows a linear story in the form of a calendar with race events. Every 2 to 3 weeks is a championship race which help increase your rank for both your car and your driver.

The courses are beautiful and the racing is fun. The rewind feature in this game is an interesting addition. I probably would never use it if my friends were around, but I found myself using it multiple times during races. It beats having to redo 7 laps because you didn't brake early enough to make a sharp turn. The thing I've always loved about the Forza series is it's pacing. The loading screens in between races kept me interested with random facts about the auto industry. Buying and painting a car is fast and fun.

My favorite new addition to the series would have to be the Quick Upgrade feature. Instead of adjusting individual parts of a car for the optimal performance, you hit quick upgrade before each race and your car is at peak performance. The music is a bit too rock oriented for myself. It felt like I was playing Burnout at times, but electro tracks are there as well. If you're not the biggest fan of racing games give this game a try. You might be surprised.

Three Sixty Five

A year ago I began this adventure with you. A week in the spotlight and a nomination for Gamespotter of the Year has us looking at Bayonetta. The leader of the pack of games helping me keep warm this winter. Next shot is for the month of January.

Bayonetta

Developed by the makers of Devil May Cry and published by SEGA. When I saw the side by side picture of Sarah Palin & Bayonetta in one of the last issues of EGM, I was turned off. I thought the game was already released at the time so I figured I wasn't missing anything. Turns out it was coming this month. It's out now with positive reviews but I just can't do it.

Finding out this game is the next step for the creators of Devil May Cry also turned me off. I tried to get into the get in the series with Devil May Cry 3. Too late. The game starts with a boss fight that expects you to know what your doing. Next. Devil May Cry is about as interesting as Demon's Souls to watch someone else play. I'm not knocking the series. I know it's deeper than button mashing. It's just not my cup of tea.

If I played the first Devil May Cry, Bayonetta might be in my 360, but that ship sailed years ago (Unless PS2 classics show up on the PSP.) Bayonetta's also published by Sega which was the final straw in my decision to leave this game alone. Sega is notorious for releasing mediocre video games. Just look at Madworld and any Sonic game since 2001. Like I said earlier Bayonetta is getting positive reviews, and I'm probably missing out. I just can't do it. I might rent it whenever the next drought shows up.

Dark Void

This game is going to be wack. Capcom knew it when they postponed Super Street Fighter IV, Lost Planet 2, and Monster Hunter Tri from January to March. That way they could distance themselves from this disaster coming on Friday. What games get released on Friday's? Bad ones. Dark Void was supposed to be released last year, but the competition was too stiff. Capcom's only real competition is against the people who created Devil May Cry. A successful series published by Capcom. I couldn't think of a better way to make people forget about a bad game. Release it in the winter then drop hits in the Spring.

Mass Effect 2

This game makes me curious. I've decided to rent it. I bought the first one in 2007. I wasn't the biggest fan of RPG's. Pokemon will always have a soft spot in my heart. I hooked to Mario Galaxy and Assassin's Creed at the time so Mass Effect got neglected. It happens. My friend Branden at (Shout out to) The Gamer Report posted an article about how convincing the trailers were to Mass Effect 2. I was feeling the same way. Fight for the Lost Ladies & Gentlemen. Last January, I was introduced to an action RPG by the name of Fallout 3. That ish changed my life. I never realized how many hours you can put into a game before you realize you stink. If we don't last, at least it'll be pretty to look at.

The Gamer Report: Mass Effect 2 Trailers are Convincing
http://www.thegamerreport.com/2010/01/mass-effect-2-trailers-are-convincing.html

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

The countdown begins. I can't wait to go back to Santa Destroy. Travis Touchdown is the most underrated characters for now. Just wait until he gets his hands on Paradise. That's right. My most anticipated game this month is a Wii game. I haven't played my Wii since Cursed Mountain back in August. That's the thing about my Wii I might not play it all the time, but when I do I put a good 20 - 30 hours into it. I love my Wii.

Happy Birthday Baby

PSP Whoa

The PSP-3000 reminds me of the Sega Game Gear. They're both the same shape and are too big to fit in my pocket. Even if I stopped wearing skinny jeans I wouldn't put the PSP-3000 in my pocket since the screen is so big it would eventually get scratched by my keys. Maybe Sony should redesign the PSP. Oh wait they did. The PSP Go.

I don't understand why the PSP Go gets so much negativity. The Recession probably has something to do with it. It isn't the brightest idea for Sony to sell the PSP Go for $50 less than its Blu-Ray player that just so happens to play video games. Especially when the PSP-3000 is $199.99 compared to $249.99 for the PSP Go. The PSP Go is a pretty penny, but there are a lot of Secret Santa's out there.

I've read reviews saying the PSP Go sucks because it doesn't have a UMD drive. UMD dics remind me of mini disc players so to that I say get an iPod and good riddance. Change is hard for some. They say the Macbook Air sucks because it doesn't have a disc drive. I wonder how many of these people download albums and movies from the Internet only to send them to their iPod's. It's not like you can return an opened PSP game to GameStop and expect to get a full refund. Besides the cases for these UMD games waste space, and there is always the risk of having a disc stolen. Game theft have been on the rise over the years. Maybe we should just accept digital downloads as the future. I can understand how a person who already owns a PSP could get mad, but maybe the PSP Go isn't for you.

Game of the Decade is a Myth

Can a game stand the test of time long enough to define a decade? I doubt it. Many innovative games have been released this decade, but they usually become a great sequel a few years later. There isn't a fair way to compare a game that was made in 2009 with a game made before 2005. It's hard enough trying to compare a game to it's predecessor. Put Grand Theft Auto 3 next to Grand Theft Auto IV and they both look dated when compared to a game like Assassin's Creed 2. Graphics aren't everything, the Wii proved that, but they do increase a games chances of surviving the test of time.

We're at the point of the cycle where most of the original IP's released this generation have sequels. Should we ignore predecessors and give the  award to either a game without no sequels or the latest game in a franchise? I'm sure there are people who feel that both Uncharted 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 are not as good as the originals, but sales say otherwise. Do sales matter when it comes to determining the Game of the Decade? If so, then Wii Sports should be a contender which is an insult to gamers.

If the award was divided by genre, how would the Sports Title of the Decade be determined? Would it be the 2010 (2k10) edition because of the latest features, or does the roster at a certain year determine it's dominance? Since Madden has been the only NFL game since 2004, should we consider Madden to be the NFL title of the decade?


It's hard enough trying to compare a game released in 2009 with a game released in 2008. When a game is new, it represents the year it was released. Look at Fallout 3 and Borderlands. Both games, released a year apart, are First Person RPG's set in a wasteland. Fallout 3 uses the setting to complement the dark theme about Washington DC after a nuclear war. It was released in 2008 when the economy was beginning to really suck, and the future wasn't looking too bright. Borderlands comes out a year later and has a more lighthearted approach to a wasteland. Instead of feeling like a victim to the situation, your on a treasure hunt with funny robots, cool guns, and raiders who don't have bodies hanging outside of their hideouts. Both games have different intentions, but what a difference a year makes. The lighthearted approach this year could be a reason why Mickey Mouse is returning with Epic Mickey next year.

Game of the Year? Yes
Game of the Decade? Not Possible but I'd give it to Grand Theft Auto IV

The Off Season

Feels like I've been ignoring you. I haven't. Been busy with college which requires more of my brain than I had hoped for. Besides, the drought is over so I hope you're busy playing games. I know I am. I've played Cursed Mountain, Gay Tony, Uncharted 2, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, and right now I'm playing Assassin's Creed 2 and Borderlands. The semester is over next month, so I'll be back soon. That's a promise.

Here's a preview of what's to come.

Happy Holidays

A friend once told me that being spoiled is how you act when you don't get what you want.

1. Demon's Souls

2. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

3. Beats by Dre High Definition Headphones

Merry Holidays Everybody

Wii are not the same

Remember when an arcade game by the name of Mortal Kombat was ported to the consoles? The blood & gore that made the game inFamous was removed from the SNES version. What was Nintendo thinking? Guess it's no surprise the Gamecube had a stigma of being a system for kids. Remember the "Clean is better than dirty" ad for Super Mario Sunshine? Maybe it was Gamecube's indigo color, or it could have something to do the fact that not one game was rated M on launch day. Was anybody else thrown off when Capcom announced the Resident Evil series was going to be exclusive for the Gamecube? This strategy to gain mature gamers failed since other M rated exclusives such as Eternal Darkness flopped, while Resident Evil 4 has been ported to everything including your cell phone.

Nintendo had their moment with M rated games. The Nintendo64 introduced Turok & Conker's Bad Fur Day. Sure the game was edgy, but Conker's image as a cute squirrel could easily fool a parent who was looking to buy a game for their child. Sure they were probably advised not to by the person selling it, but I bet a few copies made it home. Nintendo has always seemed to cater to parents, soccer moms particularly. They are the ones that are able to buy the games for children that are too young to work after all. The Wii feels like Nintendo's way of saying thanks to the parents that supported them for all of these years.

Not paying enough attention to the mature audience is definitely the charm of Nintendo. They find ways to be innovative . Who has more recognizable mascots than Nintendo past or present? Mario's adventures still find a way to bring the kid out of me. These third party developers should just stick to the other consoles for M rated exclusives. Either that or join the club with the other flops.

Maybe this is all apart of Nintendo's plan. The Wii has hit a wall as far as sales go because of surpise surpise a low demand for software for the Wii. Maybe Nintendo needed to prove to themselves that they could win a console war again. It's been a while since Nintendo was on top. This generation is the strangest. Sony's in last, Nintendo's in first, and the top selling game of the decade is free when you buy a controller. That is bullshit by the way.