Perfect Dark HD + Early ‘90s FPS’s.

So, I won a competition today by saying something witty and my prize was a free copy of Perfect Dark HD, the Xbox Live Arcade remake of the cult classic N64 shooter from the 90’s.

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never played the original. Yes, I know, blasphemy etc. I just never got around to it. So, I figured, this would be a perfect opportunity for me to play it, finally, after all this time. First impressions are it’s amazing. Really good fun.

Now, that isn’t my point. My point is this. My God. How much have FPS’ changed in the past ten years please?

I was always a big fan of Goldeneye and Timesplitters in my early teens (because lets face it, before Infinity Ward even drew a picture of a gun, Rare / Free Radical were masters of the genre), but I honestly think it’s been so long since I’ve played a classic FPS that I haven’t had time to look back and just think “Woah… this is so… basic.”

You know what? Basic is good. It’s nice that I’m given three objectives, a gun and just told to go do the mission. There’s no freedom. There’s no cut scenes midway through levels of people dramatically revealing plot points to me, even though I know for a fact that in order to reach the conclusion I’m just going to have shoot more people, and it’s ESPECIALLY nice not having the option of being able to aim down my scope! Because lets face it, the second we have that option we seriously exploit it. Also, whatever happened to Guns with multiple functions? You know, pistols with grenade launchers. That kind of thing. I miss them!

I think it’s just nice to sit back and go back to basics. Play a game that started it all. I’m not saying this is better than Bioshock, or Call of Duty. It’s just a good old fashioned, incredibly fun and refreshingly simple game that I’m enjoying playing at the moment.

Also, is it just me, or does everyone get stuck on every single level when playing these games?

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.

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

Two Things

Two things have been keeping occupied over the last few days. The first is Super Stardust HD (which is one of the best games to download from your shiny PS3!) and the Mighty Boosh.

I'm a HUGE Boosh fan, but one scene that always gets me is this one from season 3 when Howard meets the Hitcher for the third time. (Four, if you count the coconut hitcher =D)

Enjoy!

Wipeout HD: Trophies!

 

Must….. Finish… All…. Races…

 

Must…. Get… All…. Trophies….

Next-Gen Laziness

I love my Ps3. Last night, I played an hour of Metal Gear Solid 4, 2 hours of Wipeout HD and then half an hour of Super Stardust HD. The last two were played while listening to my own music. 

The great thing? Didn't even have to move from my seat.

M-M-M-M-M-MONSTER SPEED

Downloaded it this morning. For £12 it's an absolute steal. 38 races, tons of vehicles, a load of modes and a massive online mode as well as trophy support you can't go wrong at all.

It's HD, it's fast and it works. Essential if you have a PS3.

The Future?

Just a few quick thoughts today. I think I've discovered the future of videogames. I downloaded the Demo of super stardust HD the other day and realised something. You can download additional levels, modes and even an Online function separately of the PSN. Is this how games will eventually be played? Will games be available for download only? Perhaps we'll find ourselves only downloading a "base" package of a few levels for a cheap price, then choosing to pay for additional levels, online features all for a small fee. Surely that way, games will be more accessible to play? Especially with the price of new games these days. Personally, I'd like to see this happen.