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Jan 26th, 2008 at 20:55:14 - Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii) |
Rayman: Raving Rabbids
Gamelog entry #1
Summary
In Rayman: Raving Rabbids you play as Rayman, enslaved in a Coliseum run by crazy bunnies. You are forced to complete various missions and mini-games for the Rabbids’ amusement in return for plungers, which eventually help you climb the wall of your cell to freedom. The controller for the Wii adds a unique essence to the game as it must be manipulated differently for each game.
Gameplay
You can choose to play Raving Rabbids in either story or score mode. My first time playing was with a friend so we chose the multiplayer-compatible score mode and teamed up in a Bunny Hunt. I was in a good mood before we even began just because of the ridiculous style of artwork and noises the menu screens made. Each player can mix and match all of Rayman’s outfits to create their character. Some of the choices include a mariachi costume, gangster, grandma, and a bunny suit. The “hunt” is an arcade-style first person shooter, where your character moves on a set path around one of about a dozen maps. The plunger-launching gun you are equipped with has infinite ammunition allowing me to shoot as much as I want at the bunnies sprouting continuously out of the most unexpected places.
The bunnies squeal when you hit them, and, if you are accurate, a headshot is rewarded with a plopping noise as the plunger connects with their face. This kept me laughing for most of the game, but the sheer amount of Rabbids always kept me on guard because they had their own plungers to chuck back. Points are given whenever you hit your target, and based on the percent hit out of shots fired. Since you must aim with your controller, it is slightly difficult at first to hit the bunnies, as they are small targets, but once you get the hang on shooting and reloading fluidly, they stand no chance.
Since each level followed a set path, I didn’t have to worry about where to go and could focus all of my energies on plunging the white fur balls. With my friend we could also face off against each other and try and beat the other’s score. This added another aspect to the game to keep it from getting too repetitive, and the loser could trade off with someone else to include more people in the fun. So far, at least this part of the game flows smoothly and keeps me interested.
Gamelog entry #2
Gameplay
Although the Bunny Hunt was getting slightly repetitive it was still, honestly, no less entertaining. But I figured I should see what the actual game was all about so I played the story mode for a little while. Playing as Rayman imprisoned in the Rabbids’ coliseum, the story mode is composed of lots of strange mini-games. Each game is unique, but more challenging versions of the same game come up as you get further along in the story. This gives you more chances to get better at the games, but it also makes you play some again that you might rather skip. After completing a few of these challenges, you play a level of Bunny Hunting, which makes all the other games worth it.
The motivation for your character is freedom, and as you complete more and more challenges, the bunnies reward you with different outfits and music for your cell in addition to plungers that allow you to climb the wall, and eventually escape out the window. It is interesting to see the new presents but they aren’t that exciting. The game kept me interested enough to play for a while, and I could have definitely sat down and beat it in a few hours without getting too bored.
Design
I’m not sure how unique Raving Rabbids would be if it wasn’t being played on the Wii, because playing with wireless, motion-sensing controllers really made this game great fun. Each mini-game requires the player to use their remote in a different way. This was fun, but it means the player has to figure out how to play each game before they start. The Bunny Hunts were by far the most fun of this game. Each level had its own theme and shooting plungers at bunny rabbits didn’t get old for a while.
The other challenges become repetitive after the second time around, however, after struggling through them, the player is soon rewarded with another Bunny Hunt. There is little replay value for the story mode of Rayman, but the score mode always challenges you to perfect your handling of the remotes, and its accessibility and enjoyable controls keep it entertaining for you and up to three of your friends.
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Jan 15th, 2008 at 03:34:10 - Battle Tanx: Global Assault (N64) |
Gamelog entry #1:
Summary
Battle Tanx puts the player at the helm of an array of tanks with a lot of firepower. You control an army of resistance fighters battling across the globe to protect the human race against Cassandra, your enemy and commander of a large tank force. Each level presents a new challenge, lots of enemies, and more than enough accessories to help you blast through them. You push Cassandra’s forces out of America and chase her into Europe, while finding more tank bunks in each level, which let you choose between a variety of specialized tanks whenever you die.
Gameplay
I began playing this game not knowing what to expect, but the name itself gives a pretty good idea of what’s in store. I played the campaign cooperatively with my friend who owns Battle Tanx and is a far superior tank commander than I. This was both a bonus and a setback; because he knew what he was doing and completed levels quickly, it took me a little longer to figure out what was going on, but once I had the basics down I could keep up and get a piece of the battle. Each tank has varying firepower, speed, and size depending on the cost. I like the basic M1A1 tank because it has a powerful gun and decent speed, however, I definitely drooled over the pricey Goliath, whose cannon got me a few satisfying explosions before its lagging speed soon spelled my doom.
The levels are reasonably simple and easy to navigate thanks to the brilliant map given in the upper corner of the screen; and since there is a main theme of utter destruction to guide you anywhere you wish to destroy, it is not hard to find something to use your guided-missiles, grenades, or flamethrower on. My friend and I rolled as a solid team meaning he could save me when there were too many enemies. Shockingly, I only tended to die when panic struck and I sprayed madly.
Besides the simply spectacular aspect of destruction via a treaded, metal, missile-launcher, I think Battle Tanx has a slightly humorous storyline as well: A nuclear war has just killed 99.9% of Earth’s women and your wife is one of the four remaining females on the planet. After that it fades back into the typical battle to save the world where demolition is the only solution and the short laugh I had was replaced by pure adrenaline pumping through me in anticipation for the epic war ahead. The story is logical and provides enough incentive to continue playing by presenting varieties of challenges in each mission to keep you interested.
Gamelog entry #2:
Gameplay
Coming into my next session of Battle Tanx, I knew what to expect but wanted a little more. The challenge of figuring out how to control my tank was gone and now I could focus more on missions and killing as much as possible. The game had been fun so I was excited to continue but got a little bummed a few levels in when the repetitive nature of the game started sinking in. I stopped concentrating on the storyline and I hardly knew my own name, much less those of other characters. However, the levels soon changed and so did the machines. A bridge level caught my attention, with the goal being to cross it while blasting through a sea of enemies. This new setting plus the addition of two new tanks was just what I needed to keep having fun.
I think one of my favorite aspects of Battle Tanx is that it never stops. When you blow one tank up, another one is there to keep shooting. The buildings are lined up neatly to roll right through and collect power-ups while blasting new holes in the opponent’s defenses. The only pause was between missions to show your kill-count and brief you on your next set of objectives before putting you back in the fray. Due to this consistent theme and utter disconnect from the “plot”, I could definitely play this game again and have an even better time.
Design
Battle Tanx gives you the sense that you are fighting for survival in an evil world. You’ve heard enough: there are four women left on the earth and your wife is one of them. That alone is obviously worth fighting for. This desperation is obviously felt by your comrades, who are fighting the steady stream of red tanks with you and pushing them across several countries. This tone of urgency is kept up through non-stop gameplay and you must stay focused and firing or someone will find and blow you up.
With each level, stronger enemies appeared and the missions got more complicated. This kept the game challenging and progressively more interesting, although the new missions got confusing at times when they were vague or the location of a checkpoint was hidden on the map. What really kept me intrigued was all of the weapons available for any tank, big or small. There are items scattered throughout the map that deliver different explosive force, and stars replenish your health every time you kill an enemy. There are also Tank Bucks in a few places on every level which help you afford a new tank every time you die and cooler tanks further along in the game.
Though this game is a lot of fun, it is repetitive and visually bland. The graphics are decent, especially for the time, but the color shades grow unappealing. I had fun until I got tired of shooting other tanks, and after that, there isn’t much left to do.
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