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Jan 26th, 2008 at 01:13:06 - Mario Party (N64) |
.GAMELOG ENTRY 2.
.Gameplay.
The longer the game goes, the more mind-numbing it gets. I also started getting a little impatient as the second half of the game session continued. It always takes a while for players to complete their turn. First, they must roll the dice and decide their path. Next, if they run into a special space, they have to decide on a path of action. If they want to buy items, it takes even more time. It might have been the fact that I had already been playing the game for a long period of time, but the time it takes to get from the first player to the last seems to take forever.
Twists and turns in the game keep it a bit interesting, however. Players are able to steal coins and stars from others, giving each player a reason to continue (revenge!). This, however, makes the outcome a bit random. In the first game that I played, I ended with the least amount of stars, but won the game because I was awarded one for having the most coins and another for winning the most mini-games. It is only possible to stay ahead in the game if you anticipate it. Overall, I think Mario Party is only good for short rounds. Long games easily get repetitive. My hallmates and I stopped in the middle of our second game because of that fact.
.Design.
The characters, world, and music of Mario Party were upbeat, bright, and cheerful, leading to an overall enjoyable game experience. Mario Party is great to play with other people, as I said in my previous game log. It does a great job in fostering friendly competition among players. In the game, instead of simply earning stars, players can steal them from each other. Players can also set up traps on the board, or change the location of the star to make it more difficult for others to get to it. The game is never stagnant, and there is never only one goal to accomplish, keeping it interesting for everyone.
A few frustrating things about Mario Party were some of the mini games and the wait. Some mini games simply involved button mashing, which did little to keep the game appealing, especially when you have been playing the game for a long time. Other games involved vigorous use of the analog stick. After playing them for a while, my hands needed a break. Other than that, the mini games were always entertaining. After unlocking them, players can go to the library and select any of them to play at any time. This is handy if you want to simply play games against your friends without immersing yourself in another hour long game of Mario Party.
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Jan 26th, 2008 at 00:56:39 - Mario Party (N64) |
.GAMELOG ENTRY 1.
.Summary.
Unlike other games of its time, Mario Party is a board game style video game. The goal of the game is to collect as many stars as possible and stay ahead of your opponents. There are numerous traps and pitfalls sprinkled about the board, and some even encourage players to turn against each other. One can enlist the aid of Bowser or Boo to steal another person’s stars or coins. Having the most stars during the game does not guarantee a win, however. At the end of each game, stars are awarded to players for their achievements. One is given to the player who collects the most coins, another is given to the player who wins the most mini games, and so on. In Mario Party, the tables are quickly turned, and players must always stay one step ahead of their opponents.
.Gameplay.
When Mario Party first came out, I remember falling in love with it and staying up into the wee hours of the night to play with my brother and cousins. Mario Party is a great game to play with family, friends, or even people you have just met. I started the game solo, but was soon joined by one of my hallmates. Another joined soon after, and later, we had a full-on four player game going. I did not know two of the other players very well, but by the end of the game, we were joking about the game and throwing challenges back and forth. Mario Party is a great ice breaker and social tool. Even spectators in the lounge were enjoying the game with us. I was glad that people came to join in the game, because Mario Party is definitely meant to be played multiplayer.
The mini games in Mario Party were definitely fun. There is also that little bit of excitement you get when you unlock a mini game that you have never played before. One feature that was handy were the practice rounds. Before playing a mini game, you can play as many practice rounds as you like, whether for fun or actual practice. The game was interesting because the games are so varied. One moment, you can be playing on a team, and the next, it can be you alone against the other three players. Alliances continuously shift, never letting players settle into a particular rhythm.
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Jan 14th, 2008 at 02:37:08 - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) |
.GAMELOG ENTRY 2.
.Gameplay.
The more I play The Phantom Hourglass, the more interesting it becomes. The controls, which were at first awkward, soon became familiar. It, in fact, enhanced the game. As I said before, I had never played on the DS. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that to solve some of the puzzles and get past some of the obstacles, I had to make use of the integrated microphone. For example, in order to put out torches, I had to blow on the microphone. I was also able to take notes on screen by using the touch screen. Overall, the game is very interactive, calling for me to shout or speak in order to get the attention of NPC’s. I’m excited to see what else I can do in The Phantom Hourglass on the new DS platform.
The story behind the game is less exciting, however. I’ve played most of The Legend of Zelda series, and most of them have been the same. Once again, the princess gets kidnapped and I must once again save her. What redeems the Zelda games however, are the puzzles and dungeons. I found myself going back to The Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Those had more of a story and plot, but then again, they were on the Nintendo 64. At this point, I feel that I’m not going to be very interested in the story, but hopefully, something will develop that can catch my attention.
.Design.
The design of The Phantom Hourglass is very simplistic. As a 3-D cel-shaded game, the graphics aren’t as intriguing as others, but it makes the characters and environment very, for lack of a better word, cute.
The colors, even in dungeons, are very vibrant. Choosing a simple style was a good choice for this game.
The game, as I’ve said before, is very innovative. I can’t stress how much I am amazed by how interactive it is. I love being able to write down hints and clues I get on the maps (it always comes in handy later on). The microphone also has many uses. It can be used to capture the attention of other characters and even blow out “torches”! Many puzzles and dungeons require the use of the touch pad and microphone and I can’t wait until I run into more.
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Jan 14th, 2008 at 01:54:57 - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) |
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Jan 14th, 2008 at 01:56:42.
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nekoshii has been with GameLog for 16 years, 10 months, and 7 days |
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