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Nov 12th, 2012 at 17:07:57 - Duck Hunt (NES) |
Duck Hunt was one of my all-time favorite games as a child. It is a relatively simple game to play with a very straightforward objective: shoot the ducks. The mechanics of the game are simple as well. The player possesses a handheld gun controller that shoots a beam of light at the television screen. The player can move the gun around to aim at different spots on the screen. When the player is aiming at a duck, he or she can pull the trigger in order to fire the gun. If the gun was on target, the hit will register on the television screen, and the duck will drop dead. It is the objective of the player to kill all of the ducks that fly across the screen without letting them get away. If too many ducks get away, the player will lose the level. There is also an option within Duck Hunt that lets the player shoot clay pigeons. It is essentially the same thing as regular Duck Hunt, but it adds some variety to the game. There isn’t much of a narrative associated with Duck Hunt. An embedded narrative is non-existent, unless one would include the dog laughing at the player for failing as an embedded narrative. Other than that, the player isn’t given much of a story. One would assume that the player is in the position of a hunter that is out hunting ducks. However, level progression does not advance any sort of plot. With the level progression comes only increasing difficulty in terms of duck speed and direction changing. Duck Hunt is the type of game that doesn’t need a complex narrative or flashy graphics in order to be fun. The simple pleasure of testing your aim with a fresh and new controller was enough to set it apart on the NES.
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Nov 5th, 2012 at 21:11:33 - Angry Birds (iPd) |
Angry Birds is one of the most popular and well-known games on the mobile market today. It is a fairly simple game in terms of its mechanics. The player pulls back the bird to shoot it, and can touch the screen while it’s in flight in order to perform a special action if it has one. The mechanics are simple enough so that people of all ages can pick up the game and play it within a few minutes of learning it. One aspect of the game that keeps it fresh and constantly entertaining is the maps. There are a huge variety of maps in the game. With these new maps, there are also new birds. Different types of birds are able to perform different maneuvers that may aid the player in finishing a level. For example, one type of bird is a bomb bird. This bird explodes when the player taps the screen. He or she may also refrain from tapping, and the bird will eventually automatically explode. In addition, there is a small blue bird that splits up into three separate birds when the player taps the screen. In terms of the narrative of Angry Birds, there isn’t much of one. There is an embedded narrative that plays when the player beats a section of the game. The embedded narrative plays out, and the player moves onto the next part. However, these embedded scenes aren’t very elaborate. Most include a few seconds of purely visuals that give the player a hint at the narrative of the game. The narrative is not what makes angry birds great though, for it is its simple art design and easy mechanics coupled with interesting and innovative maps and abilities that causes Angry Birds to truly shine.
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Oct 22nd, 2012 at 22:49:39 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) |
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the sequel to Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, is one of the best-rounded games I have ever played. The clean and easy mechanics are complemented nicely by an absolutely amazing story. The mechanics of the game include moving around in all directions, shooting, fighting, throwing objects, picking up objects, talking to allies and enemies, and managing and inventory of weapons. There aren't too many aspects to the mechanics of the game that one would find surprising or groundbreaking. However, the mechanics cover all the bases in terms of what the game requires. Where Uncharted 2: Among Thieves truly shines is in its plot. Personally, I played Uncharted 2 numerous times through on various difficulties. Prior to this game, I had never been so immersed in a game’s narrative. I kept repeating to myself throughout playing the game that “this is the best game I've ever played by far.” One element of the plot that makes it so immersive and believable is the voice acting. The voice acting in Uncharted 2 is extraordinary to say the least. In addition, the original musical compositions create an atmosphere for the game that could not have been achieved otherwise. The story includes elements of action, suspense, and humor to make it extremely fun and entertaining. The game also uses a series of embedded narratives in addition to the emergent narrative to give it more of a movie-like feel. The entire game feels like a movie in which you are a movie star – and a critically acclaimed movie at that. Not to mention, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (despite the lack of hype that a Call of Duty game would receive) was extremely well received by the community. It received extremely high ratings and won many “game of the year” awards. In terms of the narrative of a video game, Uncharted 2 surpasses any other game I have ever played. It is a truly fun and satisfying playing experience that no one should miss out on.
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Oct 16th, 2012 at 01:43:22 - NinjaFishing (iPd) |
NinjaFishing is a mobile game for platforms such as iOS or Android. The main objective of the game is to get the highest score possible, which is achieved by slicing as many high-value fish as possible. There are multiple stages to the game. First, the player must drop a hook underwater and navigate past fishes swimming around. When the hook encounters a fish, the fish will bite and the hook will begin to shoot upwards. The player should try to get the hook to the lowest depth possible in order to catch more fish on the way up. The second aspect of the game occurs when the player hooks a fish. Instead of dodging the fish, the player should now aim to catch as many fish as possible on the way up to the surface. Once the surface is reached, the third stage of the game is encountered. The fish fly into the air in groups or one at a time, and it is the player’s job to slash the fish in order to receive points. The mechanics of the game are tilting the device left and right to control where the hook goes, tapping to drill through fish while sinking, and swiping a finger across the screen to slash the fish. There isn't much of a narrative aspect to the game. All the player knows is that they are a “ninja fisher” and that their goal is to catch fish and slash at them. The game relies on its mechanics as opposed to a narrative to make it fun and addicting. The art in the game is bright and friendly, which impacts the mood of the player. NinjaFishing is a relaxed game that is extremely fun to play, but lacks any sort of plot. If there were a narrative back story or some sort of plot progression, I believe NinjaFishing would be even more fun to play.
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mobmarkymark has been with GameLog for 12 years, 2 months, and 21 days |
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