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Mar 4th, 2008 at 00:58:42 - Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) |
GameLog #1
Summary:
Sins of a Solar Empire is a new 4X, RTS game released by Ironclad Games. Players choose among three specialized races (“Trade Emergency Coalition” (TEC), Advent and Vasari) and primarily “explore, expand, exploit and exterminate.” The playing field is comprised of a 2D solar system, which includes 3D asteroids, planets and stars. Players and/or computer opponents all inhabit the same solar system and are given the ability to battle, form alliances, and trade amongst each other.
Personal Gameplay Critique:
Initially, I started playing Sins of Solar Empire primarily because of good reviews and my roommate’s interest astrophysics. Fortunately, we were both impressed by the new range of aspects within its gameplay. However, since we were both playing multiplayer, I never had the chance to play single player and grasp the game’s plot.
Since I was a kid I have always been a “Blizzard” loyal RTS fan. Unfortunately, I must warn readers for the fact that Sins of the Solar Empire does not “play” like anything from the StarCraft or WarCraft series. This game is very slow paced game in respect to the Blizzard hits and additionally, Sins of a Solar Empire bases much of the player’s succession on economy and expansion. Ideally, Sins of a Solar Empire took the RT-4X genre, added new interesting gameplay aspects, and created a world of both economic and militant warfare.
As with most RTS games, getting good will take some time, but for the most part Sins of a Solar empire allows succession to any player who focuses on a particular aspect of the 4X genre. Ideally, the game will eventually require for players to fulfill each of the 4X aspects. For example, players may choose to focus on maximizing economy, unlocking research, exploring as many planets as possible or even just massing fighter spacecrafts. Keystrokes and hotkeys help with macro-management, but due to Sins of a Solar Empire’s pace and level design, micro-management is not as important.
This entry has been edited 3 times. It was last edited on Mar 4th, 2008 at 14:03:56.
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Mar 4th, 2008 at 00:56:44 - Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) |
GameLog #2
Personal Gameplay Critique:
The world of Sins of a Solar Empire is inhabited by three discrete races known as the TEC, Advent, and Vasari. Additionally there are neutral bounty hunters known as pirates, who will target any player with the highest bounty. Each of these ethnic groups has an arsenal of researchable technologies, different structures, and spaceships ranging in size and power. The TEC specialize in heavy armor and ballistic weapons for their ships and structures. Secondly, Advent have low cost and low armored units, but use energy and psi (mental power) weapons. Finally, the Vasari is the most technologically advanced race and have more expensive ships, but are much stronger in terms of shields, weapons and armor.
Design:
Sins of a Solar Empire is an amazing game for anyone willing to devote hours of gameplay. Rather than explaining the design in terms of the 4x genre I will instead describe the new design aspects that were implemented in the game.
Like other RTS and/or 4X games, Sins of a Solar Empire requires players to gather resources and spend them on new structures and units in order to create an army. In doing so, players are also required to expand and fend off any opposition. However, Sins of a Solar empire is not a huge playing field. Sins of a Solar Empire separate each playing field into the 3D planets, asteroids and stars that make up the 2D solar system. Additionally players “expand” by colonizing one of these planets or asteroids.
Graphics and level design are beautifully detailed and help Sins of the Solar Empire look, feel and play the way it does. Sins of the Solar Empire make graphics technology amazing by giving players the option to zoom all the way into a specific ship or all the way out to see the entire solar system. My only complaint is that bullets and lasers to not instantly inflict damage when they are shown on the screen, making the game feel a little non-“real-time.”
All in all Sins of a Solar Empire is an entirely new concept of RTS game and is successful because of its new ideas, themes and forms of gameplay.
Research consists primarily consists of economy and military upgrades/un-lockables, but also has other forms of gameplay specific upgrades.
This entry has been edited 3 times. It was last edited on Mar 4th, 2008 at 20:45:55.
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Feb 21st, 2008 at 00:33:15 - Super Mario World (SNES) |
Gamelog # 1
Summary:
Super Mario World is a 2D side scrolling platform game that eventually became the best selling game of the SNES consol. In this installment of Mario, Princess Toadstool is kidnapped by the infamous Bowser and players play as the heroic Mario to save her. Super Mario World consists of a total of 72 levels (including secret levels) within 7 different worlds. Within the levels are 96 exits (multiple exits for certain levels), in which Mario crosses to pass a level and come closer to beating the game. Also within the game are two unlockable areas, which consists of “Star Road” and another special area. Players who unlock “Star Road” are given the chance to skip immediately to Bowser’s final stage by passing the 12 levels within the path of Star Road. Unlike previous Mario installments, Super Mario World took the original jumping hero and also gave him some new capabilities.
Personal Gameplay Critique:
I have always loved Super Mario World since the days I’ve played it as a child. After not having played in such a long period of time, I found myself relearning basic mechanics of the Mario world. However within minutes of play, I quickly found myself re-enjoying the continuous jumping.
The objective of Super Mario World is to complete each level to get farther and farther within the game. Occasionally the game will ask players to save before beating certain ghost and boss castle levels. By saving the game, players are able to lose all their lives and return to the game to the previously “saved” spot. Normally players would be required to beat all 72 levels, and Bowser, but players who unlock “Star Road” are otherwise able to beat the game in 12 levels.
Controls take a little bit of time to get used to, but I found that they were relatively easy to learn because they are each useful if utilized correctly. Movement is achieved through the conditional D-pad and jumping is achieved by pressing “b.” Additionally, Mario can run by holding the “x” button and the D-pad designated direction. Mario is also able to spin jump which can destroy certain yellow blocks by pressing the key “A” key. Furthermore, if Mario has a special power or his companion Yoshi, players may press “Y” to use a special ability.
This entry has been edited 3 times. It was last edited on Feb 21st, 2008 at 06:45:05.
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Feb 21st, 2008 at 00:33:06 - Super Mario World (SNES) |
Gamelog #2
Personal Gameplay Critique:
Players play through a multitude of obstacles such as short “Goombas” or shelled “Koopa Troopers,” in which they may either avoid or kill. Mario’s standard attack is his jump which kills enemies as Mario lands on them. In order to achieve this maneuver players are required to jump and navigate Mario so that he will land on the enemy. Furthermore Mario is also able to kill enemies using the different power-ups, which are accumulated throughout the game. In total there are four power-ups within the game. The first power-up is the red mushroom which increases Mario is size and gives him an extra shield from dying. The second power-up is the green mushroom which adds an additional life to Mario’s total life bank. Additionally players may accumulate lives for each 100 coins collected by Mario. The third power-up is the fire plant, which grants Mario’s growth and the ability to shoot fireballs at enemies. With this special ability, Mario is able to shoot up to three fireballs on the player’s screen by pressing the “y” button. Mario’s fourth and final consumable power-up is the feather which gives Mario a cape and grants him the ability to run, jump then fly or float across a level. In addition to the four power-ups, players may also find a “Yoshi,” which grants players the ability to ride a dinosaur like creature and consume enemies.
Super Mario World plays relatively fast and never slows down due to the array of actions players are able to choose at any particular moment. Play constantly changes due to the variety of environments within the worlds and levels. Players will often find themselves flying in the air, swimming through water, or climbing fences and vines despite the games platform genre.
All in all Super Mario World has a timeless classic gameplay that has gone on to spread inspiration to many other 2D platform games within its genre. By adding these new themes and skills to the Mario series, Super Mario World easily sets aside its gameplay between other 2D platforms of its time.
Design:
Rather than just jumping through a map, Super Mario World has added new ways to beat the conventional Mario type game and its predecessors. Super Mario World is a great game for pace, player interactivity, and its new power-up reward system.
Comprised of 72 environmentally challenging levels, Mario must also face new methods of maneuvering and killing obstacles within each progressively harder level. Super Mario World introduces its powerful rewards in the beginning of the game, but these powerful rewards are often short lived due to the constant bombardment of enemy obstacles. Even though the game is beatable in 12 levels, Star Road is still respectively hard to beat.
The reward system is what sets Super Mario World on to the classics list. The combination of power-ups and Yoshi served as an amazingly incentive filled game in my opinion. Furthermore, Mario’s individual attack movements added appeal to the interactivity with Mario. Maneuvering through the game and getting the hang of timing actions correctly was very rewarding to me. Also, using the different abilities of the colored Yoshi added replay-ability of certain levels within the game.
By allowing Mario to interact with many different objects within Super Mario World, the Super Nintendo was able to release its best selling game. Unlike previous Mario titles, Super Mario World added player interactivity and new items for Mario to cope with. This combination creates an addicting fast paced thriller that utilizes items to keep players wanting to try more.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Feb 21st, 2008 at 06:46:27.
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Akai_Tenshi has been with GameLog for 16 years, 10 months, and 7 days |
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