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Mar 6th, 2008 at 04:06:39 - Metal Gear Sold 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) |
GAMEPLAY
As I was writing the previous entry, I kept thinking about how much I wanted to go back and continue playing this game (I left off at a very interesting part). This shows me how much this game keeps the players attention. I have a serious concern for what happens to the main character in relation to the story. I also notice that it a player who just dove into the game without having played the previous game or lack adequate knowledge of the events in the previous games would have some trouble understanding some of the allusions in the narrative to the previous games; primarily, references to characters in the previous games like Mei Ling and Vulcan Raven.
My roommate, who was playing Devil May Cry 3 for his game log assignment (my roommate and I are in this class together) made me realize that MGS2 was relatively slower paced in that the player must progress sluggishly through the game in comparison to DMC3 where the player is attacked by hordes of enemies every two steps. The flow of the game makes the player spend a good amount of time in cut scenes or speaking to supporting characters. There is a slow and steady flow to this game. It makes me feel like I am watching a movie. At some points, I would even put down the controller and just watch the cut scenes.
Despite the speed of the game, it is really fun to play. The Metal Gear series does for stealth games what the Mario series does for platformers. Creeping around, going around opponents and knocking them out is really fun and give the player a sense of excitement.
DESIGN
The first thing I noticed about the design of MGS2 is that it holds true to the first game. For the most part the controls are similar and the movement is similar to the first game. The player has to sneak around enemies; hug walls; crawl through vents; hide out of the line of sight of an enemy; and avoid being spotted. The main essence of the game hasn’t changed.
What I really liked about this game was its level design. The game is segmented into areas that the player explores. They player can back track from area to area. Another part of the level design that I like is that each area new area that the player enters is unique in challenge and some areas are more challenging than others.
A what I really like about the Metal Gear series is that it has a good sense of humor. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously and often indirectly breaks down the fourth wall. There are some instances in the game where the player can open a locker and find a poster of a woman in a bikini or a well built man. Things that tell me the level designers are really fun people who would probably be fun at a party which is why they work for Konami.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Mar 6th, 2008 at 04:07:01.
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Mar 6th, 2008 at 00:25:05 - Metal Gear Sold 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) |
SUMMARY
Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons of Liberty is another game of espionage from Hideo Kojima. The game takes place after the events of the first Metal Gear Solid. Snake, now working for an organization known as Philanthropy, must investigate the threat of another metal gear.
GAMEPLAY
I mentioned in a previous game log that I had always hated stealth based video games. I would always despise the missions in games that required the player to not be seen by the enemy. My opinion changed when I played the Metal Gear Solid. After playing Metal Gear Solid and beating it, I gained a lot more confidence in my video game sneaking abilities. Upon playing Metal Gear Solid 2 for the first time, I had a lot more confidence and familiarity with the game mechanics having recently beaten the first game. I quickly became immersed in the environment and feel of the game. MGS2 has the same feel as MGS in that the character interacts with the environment in the same way; the camera angles are limit the view of the player; and the games cut scenes are just as essential as the gameplay. All of these attributes of the game made for a captivating gaming experience.
Like all the previous Metal Gear games, the story is central to the game. What is really great about this game is that it seems to have just as solid a story as its predecessors. The first five minutes of the game is one long cut scene that establishes the story and the setting of the game. Throughout the first hour of play, the player learns more about what has happened after the events of the first game and show some of the main characters as the introduce themselves in the game. MGS2 can easily be compared to a movie. There is such a rich storyline and well developed characters that sometimes its feels like you’re watching a movie more than playing a video game.
I can already tell that I am going to enjoy this game as much as I enjoyed the first game. So far so good.
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Feb 21st, 2008 at 01:50:18 - Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) |
GAMEPLAY
It might just be because I am not used to the controls, but I find the dislocation of the thumb stick and the Wii-mote to be a bit frustrating at times. With ordinary controls, the thumb stick that controls motion is usually controlled by the left hand. One would say that it’s no big deal and that the right hand can easily control the Wii-mote but herein lays the problem: I’m left handed! This makes it difficult to control Mario’s movement because I must hold the Wii-mote with the left hand for comfort and the nun chuck with my right. A minor problem but it seems like a minor flaw with the control and game design that makes a player like me have to feel awkward with controls to such a fun game.
On a lighter note, I did find my second hour of play enjoyable regardless of discomfort. The game environment made me feel very comfortable and happy. Everything from the way the characters are drawn to the music in the game is meant make the player feel happy. I was easily entertained the way Mario interacted with the environment.
One last thing about the gameplay is that it doesn’t seem to get old. I have only been playing this game for two hours but I have not gotten tired of anything so far. Every level that I have played so far seems to be just as fun as well as slightly more challenging than the last but at the same time it doesn’t get too hard too fast. I have been entertained so far.
DESIGN
The first thing to take notice of in the game is the level design. I can easily compare this game to Psychonaughts. In both games the main character navigates different levels that have their own physics or feel to them. In Super Mario Galaxy each level consists of the player going from planet to planet navigating obstacles on each planet that has its own gravity. Sometimes the physics of the game can really make someone sick. The physics engine is amazing in itself.
One thing that kind of bugs me about the game is that even though Super Mario Galaxy has lots of room for good cut scenes, it still resorts to out of date text boxes. The funny part of the whole thing is that there is still some voice acting in the game even though its takes the form of phrases, grunts, and roars. That part of the game really bugs me. I don’t think that anyone can use the Link card on this one. We already know how Mario sounds like every character has a familiar voice that people recognize. So why not just have good voice acting instead of obsolete text boxes? I think its Nintendo being cheap.
So that would be what I would change about the game: the voice acting, or lack thereof. I really feel that Nintendo has no excuse for this and that they should get with the times. But of course this is my own personal grudge and has nothing to do with how awesome Super Mario Galaxy is.
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Feb 20th, 2008 at 22:08:31 - Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) |
SUMMARY
Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii is a platform game that puts the player in control of Mario, the lovable plumber in red. Mario must cross the galaxy visiting numerous planets in search of power stars and rescue the princess from the evil Bowser.
GAMEPLAY
Like most Nintendo games, the story for Super Mario Galaxy is very similar to its predecessors, or at least astonishingly similar to Super Mario 64. Mario gets invited to the castle, Bowser as kidnapped the princess, and Mario has to save her. The game story hasn’t changed much from the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES. If there is one complaint that I have about Nintendo is its lack of imagination when it comes to basic story. While there is an independent story in the game that is unique to this game, the basic formula hasn’t changed much. While the basic formula for each Nintendo game hasn’t changed, I wonder how long they can keep using the same formula before players start wanting more out of each game.
The camera angle in the game was a bit disorienting at times. I found myself struggling with the camera and trying to see where I was going or what was ahead of me. Although there is a button to adjust the camera angle, it sometimes flips the camera backward making it even more difficult to see what is ahead of you. This is most evident when the player is trying to navigate a planet. The even though the camera can get annoying at times, the gameplay more than makes up for it.
Even though Super Mario Galaxy is meant to be a one player game, it has a feature that allows a second player to collect star bits for Mario. Collecting star bits may not sound like much fun but it can be much more fun than one may think. The designers made these star bits made it so that they come from everywhere at anytime. This makes player 2 keep an eye out for star bits. Along with collecting these star bits, player 2 can also shoot them at enemies.
To be continued…
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| Chuy Zapatista's GameLogs |
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Chuy Zapatista has been with GameLog for 16 years, 10 months, and 8 days |
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