Game Plan

I've been reading a book recently called "Game Plan: Great Designs that Changed the Face of Computer Gaming". It's all about ten games that completely changed modern gaming. It's dead interesting despite the fact that I don't entirely agree with the games listed (If you're interested the games are Populous, Tomb Raider, Super Mario 64, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Street Fighter 2, Broken Sword 2, The Sims, Half Life and Everquest) but the most interesting thing about it is the interviews with the developers on the earlier titles (Mainly Populous, Super Mario 64 and Street Fighter 2).

The great thing about them is that the developers had no clue what on earth they were doing, and that most of the extraordinary things we see in videogames today were because of the mistakes made back then. Combos for instance, were created due to the animations in Street Fighter 2 not allowing the player fight back after receiving a hit. They weren't intentional at all, they were never meant to be there and that fascinates me.

Now if only I could make a revolutionary mistake....

PSN / Xbox Marketplace Remakes

I was thinking earlier about Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, and how much of a great remake it is. The crisp HD graphics, the incredible online experience and extremely cheap price. It's a well rounded package, and certainly worth every penny I spent on it.

Then I remembered about Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and how that has just had the HD, online makeover and it got me thinking. Why don't more companies do this?

Think of it. It wouldn't be that difficult to mess around with the original code, surely? Sharpen the graphics, maybe re-record the soundtrack, add a few trophies/ achievements and maybe an online mode and your sorted. Everyone will buy it if it's a classic! I mean, look how successful the likes of Pacman and Worms have been! It'll be good for the developer, and for the gamer because are more likely to download them then go out in shops and buy them for full price.

So please, anyone out there, remake your old games in HD please. Especially you Naughty Dog and Insomniac. I'm literally gagging to play Spyro and Crash in HD.

It's Super Dynamic Cooking Time!

Street Fighter + Mates = Endless Fun.

Can you disagree? Well yea probably, if you don't like Street Fighter and/or have no mates to play it with. But for those normal people amongst us, isn't it just great?

Me and a mate of mine were on Street Fighter 4 on the Xbox for ages yesterday, and despite the fact that we actually hated each other after about three matches in it was still great fun. There's just something almost childish about the way Street Fighter plays, whether it's the classic one versus one fighting, the cartoon graphics or just the epic Japanese cheese that spouts from every orafice. ("IT'S SUPER DYNAMIC COOKING TIME!" being the prime example.).

Oh, and as far as all you guys are concerned. I won. Eveytime.

Everytime.

Summer Time!

Ah the summer time! It's warm! It's great! Also, Summer rhymes with "Street Fighter 4" and "Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga"! Honestly, it does. If you don't believe me then you're just not saying them right.

Anyway, I bought these two games for the Xbox the other day for a tenner (a mighty fine deal if you ask me), but I'd also just bought inFamous, Battlefield 1943, Wipeout HD: Fury, the original two Fallout games and of course had just started playing Fallout 3.

This is probably the main reason I haven't been blogging as much lately. I've just had so many games to play that I didn't even wanna talk about them.

So basically, expect a ton of reviews coming your way over the next few days. Well, probably weeks.

And I'll end this review, with a bit of a controversial statement.

inFamous is clearly better than Prototype.

DISCUSS :O