Its been overdone.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/6/8/
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Review Style
My reviews are mostly criticism about parts of the game that I don't like. It's not that I don't like the game, its that those parts spoil what could have been a really great game. Only when a certain part of a game really stands out, I otherwise will not mention. You can probably find many other reviews out there that talk about the average points, that keep repeating sequel after sequel.
Actually I quite like the style of reviewing games like those in gametrailers.com. It shows the positive aspects of the game, and its achievements, and also mentions the few bad points that spoils the game, but most importantly does it so that there is a pleasing balance, and ends it off in a positive light, unless the game is horrible. I'll try to do something like that next time I do a review.
Also, one thing about many reviews is that it seems that the reviewers themselves seem to have been over-hyped, so much so that they think the game is really good, and totally forget the flaws, even when the game is not that great. That's why I always keep my hype level low, because there is totally no point having too high of an expectation only to see the final product unable to meet it, and then have to defend your decision and ego. If its good, I enjoy it as well as anyone on the hype train. That's why I also minimise getting other people hyped up.
Actually I quite like the style of reviewing games like those in gametrailers.com. It shows the positive aspects of the game, and its achievements, and also mentions the few bad points that spoils the game, but most importantly does it so that there is a pleasing balance, and ends it off in a positive light, unless the game is horrible. I'll try to do something like that next time I do a review.
Also, one thing about many reviews is that it seems that the reviewers themselves seem to have been over-hyped, so much so that they think the game is really good, and totally forget the flaws, even when the game is not that great. That's why I always keep my hype level low, because there is totally no point having too high of an expectation only to see the final product unable to meet it, and then have to defend your decision and ego. If its good, I enjoy it as well as anyone on the hype train. That's why I also minimise getting other people hyped up.
Midna is cuter as an imp
Edit: I went to replay the last sections of both Minish Cap and Twilight Princess, thinking that I may have saw a few things wrongly in my frustration. I've put any updates I have below the original text.
Just finished Twilight Princess, and that's the first thing on my mind.
Didn't really like the overall feeling however. Comparing this to the only other Zelda game that I've completed, the Minish Cap, I think Minish Cap comes off as a more polished package than Twilight Princess. I know I'm comparing a 2D game to a 3D game, and 3D is harder to do, but exactly because it's so you have to do better to have the same enjoyment.
Update: I did enjoy TP as well. Only the final areas, with a sudden increase in difficulty and drop in quality, frustrated me enough to make me rant like its all bad.
Puzzles and contraptions -
Minish Cap, while not so complex in puzzles because of less one dimension, is easier to complete. However, its a lot more fun to play because of the different equips you get, and have to use all of them regularly (much more balanced compared to TP), even when advancing in levels.
Twilight Princess puzzles are pretty stale. You get new equips, but they are your regular types like hookshot, metal boots, boomerang etc which is ok, but you depend on one or two of the equips per dungeon, and hardly ever use them out in the open world. (Except the hookshot, Link should just attach the it to his arms. I use it the whole day) Twilight Princess's difficulty also ramps up ridiculously at the end without preparing you for it, which is pretty frustrating.
Update: I haven't played much of Ocarina of Time, but I think TP's style is following it, in that you don't use the equips as much as the cartoony versions like Minish Cap. Also, I haven't been playing regularly (my playthrough is over the course of a year), so I forgot some stuff that would have made the puzzle easy had I played it more often. Both games have their frustrating moments, and I did manage to complete both without referring to a guide. But seriously, tiny hookshot areas that just look like fires from afar? (technical aspect, wire grills faded from view when looking from afar)
Combat -
Minish Cap's combat is simple and effective, similar to previous 2d top down Zelda games. You just swing the sword in the correct direction, understand the enemy patterns, use your puzzle solving equipment to knock them out and attack them when they are weak.
First off, I play the Wii version of Twilight Princess, which uses waggle to activate the sword swings. After the first 2 hours, I just flick the wrist anyhow to swing the sword. Not very fun, its just a substitute for a button press. This method also has some lag, which affects a little when you have to make some timed swings (looks at last boss).
Twilight Princess's combat follows the 2D games. However, the way it is done makes it not very fun. You get to learn quite a few "hidden" sword skills, which you need to use to take out enemies that don't fall to the simple sword slashes. At first its ok, you need to use that particular skill just taught to defeat the enemy. These enemies don't get knocked down by any equips you have, so you just have to wait to use that particular sword skill, which makes fighting them very boring because you just wait. Later on, a couple of skills are just not practical due to the type of enemy given. You can just kill them normally with sword swings or with your bow. So its either wait and wait, or mash. The AI also fights the same way everytime.
At bosses, the sword skills are almost useless, because all of them will be blocked, or you've knocked him down by hitting his weakness, and the fastest damage option is the normal sword swing combo. And at the last boss the game comes down to a quick time event style way to defeat your opponent. How lame is that? Why don't you use all the mechanics taught to the players in a new way?
Update: The combat is done this way, because it has always been, Zelda style. It is still fun as its a adventuring RPG because its more about the story and dungeon crawling and finding items than a fighting game. I was thinking of using a way to crush the enemy's guard, but it is protrayed as a strong enemy and I was being impatient. There are similar enemies in Minish Cap. I was definitely frustrated because I forgot a previous mechanic in the game, which was taught, right at the start, which was needed to defeat one form of the boss. :/ Minish Cap was better in this aspect as it constantly used the same important gameplay mechanics throughout so that you remembered what you need to use for the last boss. The final form of the last boss actually does not require the QTE to defeat, it just helps make it easier. But the mechanics part I mentioned was actually a poor rip off for the 2nd last boss. I just fought all the bosses that I defeated so far once again, and it was a poor rehash.
Story -
So hopefully, the story with the cinematic cutscenes and more attractive characters will be a winning point for Twilight Princess? The cinematics are done the same movie style you can expect by now, trying to evoke feelings the same way. However, you know from all those fast paced movies, if you don't feel as close to the character who's dying as the character's best friend, you won't really bother. So don't try to create dramatic scenes early on because no one is interested. It doesn't help that Link's facial animations look odd. Overall, the story is very generic Zelda.
I guess Twilight Princess was rushed to meet the Wii's debut, which resulted in a drop in quality which becomes more apparent as you approach the end of the game. Fun, but ruined at the end.
Update: Though Link's facial animations weren't being warped through my frustration now, it still does look a bit poor compared to all the rest of the characters at the last boss scene. The last dungeon seemed a bit weird seeing that you have two paths, one quite easy, and another ridiculously hard, and they don't mesh together well. Still think it was rushed, and that they reduced what was supposed to be a complete dungeon into hard parts for equipment stockups and rupees. The 2nd last boss fight mentioned earlier helps support my point. I did not mention anything about the previous dungeons before this because it was a really great Zelda experience. It is just this last portion which ended the game on a bad note.
Just finished Twilight Princess, and that's the first thing on my mind.
Didn't really like the overall feeling however. Comparing this to the only other Zelda game that I've completed, the Minish Cap, I think Minish Cap comes off as a more polished package than Twilight Princess. I know I'm comparing a 2D game to a 3D game, and 3D is harder to do, but exactly because it's so you have to do better to have the same enjoyment.
Update: I did enjoy TP as well. Only the final areas, with a sudden increase in difficulty and drop in quality, frustrated me enough to make me rant like its all bad.
Puzzles and contraptions -
Minish Cap, while not so complex in puzzles because of less one dimension, is easier to complete. However, its a lot more fun to play because of the different equips you get, and have to use all of them regularly (much more balanced compared to TP), even when advancing in levels.
Twilight Princess puzzles are pretty stale. You get new equips, but they are your regular types like hookshot, metal boots, boomerang etc which is ok, but you depend on one or two of the equips per dungeon, and hardly ever use them out in the open world. (Except the hookshot, Link should just attach the it to his arms. I use it the whole day) Twilight Princess's difficulty also ramps up ridiculously at the end without preparing you for it, which is pretty frustrating.
Update: I haven't played much of Ocarina of Time, but I think TP's style is following it, in that you don't use the equips as much as the cartoony versions like Minish Cap. Also, I haven't been playing regularly (my playthrough is over the course of a year), so I forgot some stuff that would have made the puzzle easy had I played it more often. Both games have their frustrating moments, and I did manage to complete both without referring to a guide. But seriously, tiny hookshot areas that just look like fires from afar? (technical aspect, wire grills faded from view when looking from afar)
Combat -
Minish Cap's combat is simple and effective, similar to previous 2d top down Zelda games. You just swing the sword in the correct direction, understand the enemy patterns, use your puzzle solving equipment to knock them out and attack them when they are weak.
First off, I play the Wii version of Twilight Princess, which uses waggle to activate the sword swings. After the first 2 hours, I just flick the wrist anyhow to swing the sword. Not very fun, its just a substitute for a button press. This method also has some lag, which affects a little when you have to make some timed swings (looks at last boss).
Twilight Princess's combat follows the 2D games. However, the way it is done makes it not very fun. You get to learn quite a few "hidden" sword skills, which you need to use to take out enemies that don't fall to the simple sword slashes. At first its ok, you need to use that particular skill just taught to defeat the enemy. These enemies don't get knocked down by any equips you have, so you just have to wait to use that particular sword skill, which makes fighting them very boring because you just wait. Later on, a couple of skills are just not practical due to the type of enemy given. You can just kill them normally with sword swings or with your bow. So its either wait and wait, or mash. The AI also fights the same way everytime.
At bosses, the sword skills are almost useless, because all of them will be blocked, or you've knocked him down by hitting his weakness, and the fastest damage option is the normal sword swing combo. And at the last boss the game comes down to a quick time event style way to defeat your opponent. How lame is that? Why don't you use all the mechanics taught to the players in a new way?
Update: The combat is done this way, because it has always been, Zelda style. It is still fun as its a adventuring RPG because its more about the story and dungeon crawling and finding items than a fighting game. I was thinking of using a way to crush the enemy's guard, but it is protrayed as a strong enemy and I was being impatient. There are similar enemies in Minish Cap. I was definitely frustrated because I forgot a previous mechanic in the game, which was taught, right at the start, which was needed to defeat one form of the boss. :/ Minish Cap was better in this aspect as it constantly used the same important gameplay mechanics throughout so that you remembered what you need to use for the last boss. The final form of the last boss actually does not require the QTE to defeat, it just helps make it easier. But the mechanics part I mentioned was actually a poor rip off for the 2nd last boss. I just fought all the bosses that I defeated so far once again, and it was a poor rehash.
Story -
So hopefully, the story with the cinematic cutscenes and more attractive characters will be a winning point for Twilight Princess? The cinematics are done the same movie style you can expect by now, trying to evoke feelings the same way. However, you know from all those fast paced movies, if you don't feel as close to the character who's dying as the character's best friend, you won't really bother. So don't try to create dramatic scenes early on because no one is interested. It doesn't help that Link's facial animations look odd. Overall, the story is very generic Zelda.
I guess Twilight Princess was rushed to meet the Wii's debut, which resulted in a drop in quality which becomes more apparent as you approach the end of the game. Fun, but ruined at the end.
Update: Though Link's facial animations weren't being warped through my frustration now, it still does look a bit poor compared to all the rest of the characters at the last boss scene. The last dungeon seemed a bit weird seeing that you have two paths, one quite easy, and another ridiculously hard, and they don't mesh together well. Still think it was rushed, and that they reduced what was supposed to be a complete dungeon into hard parts for equipment stockups and rupees. The 2nd last boss fight mentioned earlier helps support my point. I did not mention anything about the previous dungeons before this because it was a really great Zelda experience. It is just this last portion which ended the game on a bad note.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
text flip
http://www.cracked.com/article_15231_7-reasons-21st-century-making-you-miserable.html
I think that this is a very good read for people like me who have been stuck on the computer for too long.
Just going to talk about number 3 on that link. I feel that (I'm going to use this because I'm not writing this as fact, and sometimes writing confuses people, unable to determine whether its an opinion or factual piece) it is really true. People think texting through sms, email, blogging, whatever, is a great solution for almost anything.
Which its not. They've done a study on email communication (link also in above article), and if you're lazy to read just go to the bottom of that link. 56% of people correctly interpret the message, basically just slightly better than a coin flip. Are you sure you want to bet your important discussions on a coin flip!?
I may have used to talk about relationship issues between others on my blog. Before I re-started this blog I thought about it, thinking that it's kinda unprofessional to do so. Reading that study just improves my stand on it. Seriously, hinting through text is bullshit. I can try to guess, but I can be wrong. Flip a coin.
I think that this is a very good read for people like me who have been stuck on the computer for too long.
Just going to talk about number 3 on that link. I feel that (I'm going to use this because I'm not writing this as fact, and sometimes writing confuses people, unable to determine whether its an opinion or factual piece) it is really true. People think texting through sms, email, blogging, whatever, is a great solution for almost anything.
Which its not. They've done a study on email communication (link also in above article), and if you're lazy to read just go to the bottom of that link. 56% of people correctly interpret the message, basically just slightly better than a coin flip. Are you sure you want to bet your important discussions on a coin flip!?
I may have used to talk about relationship issues between others on my blog. Before I re-started this blog I thought about it, thinking that it's kinda unprofessional to do so. Reading that study just improves my stand on it. Seriously, hinting through text is bullshit. I can try to guess, but I can be wrong. Flip a coin.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Conveniently Fat and Spicy
Now I think I know how they make the chicken taste spicy. It's not spices rubbed into the meat, its into the fat which surrounds the meat. How did I know that? Well, I had another sample. Burger King's Tendercrisp.
BK took its Tendergrill (the name of that grilled chicken burger I blogged about before) and made it into McDonald's McSpicy. It is the same! Fat layered. Though much more spicy and better tasting. Slightly cheaper too if you don't need so much fries.
Ah.. when is fast food ever healthy.
Oh wait. You can buy Subway! Subway is not bad.. and the offer they having now ($6 for any choice of sub as a meal! Meaning with cookies / chips and drink), wow there's a queue at subway everyday.
Ok now I'm hungry. Gotta eat.. nearest open food outlet: McDonalds. Gah.
BK took its Tendergrill (the name of that grilled chicken burger I blogged about before) and made it into McDonald's McSpicy. It is the same! Fat layered. Though much more spicy and better tasting. Slightly cheaper too if you don't need so much fries.
Ah.. when is fast food ever healthy.
Oh wait. You can buy Subway! Subway is not bad.. and the offer they having now ($6 for any choice of sub as a meal! Meaning with cookies / chips and drink), wow there's a queue at subway everyday.
Ok now I'm hungry. Gotta eat.. nearest open food outlet: McDonalds. Gah.
Are your memories real?
Finished watching Dennou Coil recently. Just some stuff to think about..
You are so engrossed in anime, drama, rpgs, mangas, so much so that you feel close to the characters in them. But are they "real?"
You can't touch them, you can't interact with them more than what the programmer has done, just watching them, thinking that they could be real.
What is real? Tangible things you can feel and touch in this world?
Those stories are real.. people can hear them, talk about them.
No. They only exist in the mind.
In the end whatever you do, they just get recorded into your mind as memories, right?
What I meant is, these things are just virtual, they have no impact on anyone!
But what if people like it, discuss it, which leads to a relationship? Isn't it the same for sports and all other things?
And then some say whatever you do, things of this world will fade and it won't matter anymore.
This is getting more deep than I thought.
You are so engrossed in anime, drama, rpgs, mangas, so much so that you feel close to the characters in them. But are they "real?"
You can't touch them, you can't interact with them more than what the programmer has done, just watching them, thinking that they could be real.
What is real? Tangible things you can feel and touch in this world?
Those stories are real.. people can hear them, talk about them.
No. They only exist in the mind.
In the end whatever you do, they just get recorded into your mind as memories, right?
What I meant is, these things are just virtual, they have no impact on anyone!
But what if people like it, discuss it, which leads to a relationship? Isn't it the same for sports and all other things?
And then some say whatever you do, things of this world will fade and it won't matter anymore.
This is getting more deep than I thought.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Street Fighter IV at home, with no arcade stick. Good sticks are sold out everywhere around the country, and will only come in end of the month to early April, and then there may not be enough stock. Plus the price is now really high. Thought of getting someone to help mod my Hori Real Arcade Pro (I just realised that it is actually the RAP, not RAP 2.) to be used on the PS3. No replies yet though.. Before that I actually went to buy the converter that I tested before hand and confirmed it drops inputs and lags because I really wanted to play with the arcade stick. It just made me more irritated and $15 poorer. Maybe I just have to adapt to the control pad.. for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
