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Feb

Guitar Hero Van Halen

Categories: Preview and Review
Tags: demo, guitar hero, Van Halen, xbox live

Mini demo review

I have been feeling a little ashamed of myself of late, and as it is game related shame I feel I must confess. As you all probably know I have been writing under the name ‘GuitarGirl24′ for some time now, and recently this has caused me a some conflict. You see though my name was in part chosen merely for my love of guitar solo’s (and I LOVE a good guitar solo) it was also a reference to my unconditional love of the plastic guitar. Yet recently I confess I have been neglecting my faithful fretted friend in favor of my much louder, more tiring plastic drum peripheral. I must explain. It is not that I no longer love my plastic guitar, it is simply that I have spent less time with the drums, and therefore find them more challenging. That combined with the fact that recent Gh and Rockband releases have been getting more and more family friendly with each new release (Or easier, lets not beat about the bush here) has swayed my attention away from the guitar and onto the much newer world of virtual drumming. This is the cause of my conflict, my shame. As time goes by I cannot help but wonder, will anything be able to re-ignite my passion for the plastic guitar? Or am I doomed to change my name to ‘DrumGirl’ and hot, sweaty and most of all tired for evermore.

By this point you may be thinking all hope is lost, and that I have given up hope, but fear not. 2010 is here, bringing with it hope for all of those who like their solo’s fast, furious and finger burning. For anyone who hasn’t read the title I am talking of course about Gh Van Halen, and for those of you without X-Box live here my take on a demo which I believe may just have the power to get us all strumming once more.

At this point you may be thinking that I am a huge Van Halen fan, I mean why else would I get so excited about this game otherwise right? WRONG. Beyond knowing the chorus to “Jump” my Van Halen knowledge is actually embarrassingly small, leading to the inevitable question: Why do I find this release so exciting? Its simple really, the demo beat me. At this point, primarily for the risk of sounding big-headed I will give some context to this statement. Though, I am in no way undefeated I rarely consider songs un-winnable. In the good old days of guitar hero I used to fail songs all the time, but as some of you who have read my previous articles will know recent releases have posed me almost no challenge. For example, I played Gh 5 from start to finish in expert repeating only two songs, suggesting either I have become a guitar goddess (unlikely), or the games have been getting easier. Therefore to be beaten 33% into “Eruption” and to be still hopelessly stuck at this point in time is VERY interesting. Could it be that Gh Van Halen has a set-list with difficulty to rival that of even Gh Metallica? It would certainly be a refreshing start to 2010 if it does, and after-all I do like a challenge.

As for the rest of the demo its pretty standard really. Same format of following a bands rise to stardom etc… Same slightly self indulgent feel that Gh Metallica had (oops, should I say that?) However it is worth mentioning at this point a few unexpected curiosities which caught my eye when playing. Firstly, On downloading this demo I couldn’t help but notice that it has a strange underlying retro feel. Though there are no major changes in graphics or gameplay (if anything the graphics have improved again) I did manage to spot a couple of little changes to the game which were more puzzling than revolutionary. For example it seems that the decision has been made to revert back to the more spaced out screen layout reminiscent of titles released pre- Guitar hero world tour. By this I mean that the score meter, star power bar and star meter have moved to their retro positions at the sides of the screens, instead of being down the sides of the fretboard. I find this change a little surprising as besides perhaps making it slightly harder to read your score and play simultaneously it accomplishes next to nothing. Slightly more pleasing to me is the appearance of the traditional Guitar Hero set characters. As you are all probably aware the Gh band members have evolved quite a long way since Gh 1, in my opinion reaching perfection Gh 3, only to change beyond recognition in world tour and beyond. I am pleased therefore to report that In Van Halen our favorites are more or less back to their old selves. Sure Judy nails has lost a few pounds, and Larz a little more trim, but at least Casey Lynch has her long hair back. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, that bob never suited her….

Anyway, onto more important things. Set-list. Now as you will expect this game comes with a fair dose of Van Halen tracks as well as a splattering of other “Rock hits’. During the demo You are able to play a selection from the full playlist including “Drop Nose” by Weezer, “The end of heartache” by Killswitch Engage, “Eruption” by Van Halen and “Panama” by Van Halen. Though Eruption was the only song to actually cause finger burn, all of the songs were intricate enough to be found enjoyable, and this leaves me hopeful for the rest of the set-list. On the subject of the rest of the Set-list please Enjoy.

Van Halen Selection

“Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”
“And The Cradle Will Rock”
“Atomic Punk”
“Beautiful Girls”
“Cathedral (Solo)”
“Dance The Night Away”
“Eruption (Solo)”
“Everybody Wants Some”
“Feel Your Love Tonight”
“Hang ‘Em High”
“Hear About It Later”
“Hot For Teacher”
“Ice Cream Man”
“I’m The One”
“Jamie’s Cryin’”
“Jump”
“Little Guitars”
“Loss Of Control”
“Mean Street”
“Panama”
“Pretty Woman”
“Romeo Delight”
“Running With The Devil”
“So This Is Love”
“Somebody Get Me A Doctor”
“Spanish Fly (Solo)”
“Unchained”
“You Really Got Me”

Other songs

“Come To Life” Alter Bridge
“White Wedding” Billy Idol
“First Date” Blink-182
“Space Truckin” Deep Purple
“Best Of You” Foo Fighters
- “Double Vision” Foreigner
“Stacy’s Mom” Fountains Of Wayne
- “Pain” Jimmy Eat World
“Painkiller” Judas Priest
“The End Of Heartache” Killswitch Engage
“Rock And Roll Is Dead” Lenny Kravitz
“I Want It All” Queen
“Sick, Sick, Sick” Queens Of The Stone Age
“Master Exploder” Tenacious D
“Safe European Home” The Clash
“Pretty Fly For A White Guy” The Offspring
“Semi-Charmed Life” Third Eye Blind
“Dope Nose” Weezer
“The Takedown” Yellowcard

True there is nothing particularly unexpected here, and some of the songs are of course Rockband repeats as usual. However Van Halen are know for their solo’s, and that leaves me hopeful that the gameplay will be more enjoyable than the set-list may let on. That is, as long as the solo’s we are offered are not to heavily reliant on the slider/tap feature of the newer guitars. Call me old fashioned, but I do love a good finger breaking solo…You know what I mean…

Just a couple more things. Though this game is like Gh Metallica in theme, I am pleased to say that some of the problems which once tormented me have now been fixed. The biggest improvement to me comes in the smallest of features. Unlike Metallica this game allows you to chart your progress through the different difficulty levels using tiny Guitar picks with roman numerals on. Each Pick represents a different difficulty (kind of like the skulls in world tour) and beside each pick there is space where your score for the song in each difficulty is written. I know, I know. this seems like such a small thing, but anyone who tried to play Metallica in two difficulties will know why this is so important. I also couldn’t complete this demo review without mentioning the great attention to detail that has been paid to animating the band. Every member is expressive and dexterous, to the point of being almost quite scary. Though their energy can be a little overwhelming at times its is nice that although once again it seems we must abandon our custom creations to “BE” Van Halen, at least our virtual selves look as if they are actually having a good time.

And thats it. The demo is still on line so if you have a spare 5 minutes I suggest you download away and see what you think. Oh and if anyone gets past 33% on Eruption in expert (Not using the tap and slide bar!) please let me know. I will make you a paper crown.

Oh, and before I go I will make you all a promise. I “GuitarGirl” hereby promise to resist the lure of the drums and play this title from start to finish on my plastic guitar. I Vow to be faithful to the frets once more, and resist my evil urges in order to once again justify my name. No longer will I be found banging from noon until night, else the gods of rock strike me down for…misrepresentation of goods………?

Until next time,
GuitarGirl24
x

Feb

Taiko drum master Wii

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Article and Review

Bang With A Smile

When we we talk about Japanese gaming, it is all to easy to focus full attention on the vast, poetic world that is final fantasy. It would also be easy to while away the hours talking about our never ending love of street fighter, or to ramble on about exciting new releases such as Bayonetta. I am however not going to talk about any of these games. No, in all of this, it becomes easy to overlook the other side to Japanese gaming. I am talking of course of those quirky, colorful and sometimes just truly insane titles which though rarely get the media hype they deserve (or not) really to me embody the true spirit of Japan. If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, think of such classics such as Cooking mama, Beautiful Katamari, and Wairoware and your half way there. With this in mind I was lucky enough to ‘Experience ‘ (Apparently you don’t just play games in Japan, you experience them) the ‘Most popular rhythm game in Japan’ this weekend and I was of course intrigued. So from the country who truly put the WTF into gaming I bring you a brief summery of Taiko Drum Master Wii….The most popular rhythm game in Japan.

So what is Taiko drum master all about? Well for those of you who never played the original Taiko drum master (PS2, 2004) its a bit like the bastard lovechild of Rockband, Donkey conga and Bust a move. It may be a bit messed up, and in places not all there, but like a doting parent we still love it very much anyway. Based on the original, highly popular Japanese arcade game, the aim of the game is simple. You are presented with a single, large plastic drum which you must hit in time to the beat of the song, a little like Rockband. However unlike Rockband this drum has pressure sensitive surfaces on both the center, and side allowing the game to read not only when you hit the drum, but where you hit it and how hard. To give an idea of the setup, the commands scroll across the screen from right to left in the form of large and small dots, but not just dots, dots with smiley faces in the center…of course. The basic commands go, Small red circles (hit the center with a single stick), Big red circle (hit the center hard with both sticks), Small blue circles (hit the side with a single stick) and Big blue circle (hit the side with both sticks). It seems very simple, and though I found it a bit of a step down from the more complex, 5 piece kit I know and love, in its harder modes the game did seem to put up quite a fight. For example though the easier modes were comprised mainly of the simple commands above, when playing harder songs Taiko drum master not only speeds up, but also complicates things with the demand for rapid multiple hits (marked with a x sign), as well as a variety of mini challenges.

It is with this that I move onto what I feel is the most important part of this game, the true Japanese ‘Random factor’. Now those of you who are thinking “Hang on a minute, Why would I bother with this? Isn’t it retro and outdated and anyway I have the much newer and more exciting Gh/Rockband to play with” listen up. To me this game is not about exceptionally beautiful graphics, nor about becoming a rock God. It is simply about hitting a small plastic drum as fast as you possibly can to burst a bubble gum balloon being blown by a strange creature which looks like a cross between a dog, a baby and a jam jar. In hindsight I’m 70% sure that the character was a drum… but to be honest I don’t know and in a way I think that sometimes in this type of situation its better not to know and just go with it. Drum master is just packed full of the colorful, seemingly incomprehensible Japanese graphics which make on the whole in-arguably charming. The game is an explosion of color and noise with enough dressed up animals, random noises and smiley faces to keep anyone guessing what will come next. In addition to the smiley nieve graphics Nintendo have once again managed to work the Mii’s into the game by having them happily dancing at the bottom of the screen. Though the Mii’s are now commonplace in Nintendo titles, I have never seen them used in a way which makes them look quite so out of place before. Though in any other game this would probably prove quite off putting, Drum master is already such a crazy mix that it doesn’t really matter. In fact in a way it does sort of add something to the experience, all be it something quite strange and a little out of place. As for the set list, I have seen no other like it. In the short period of time I ‘Experienced” the game everything from modern pop, to Anime Tunes and classical music was bashed out on that little plastic drum proving that in musical diversity this game really has no equal. It would seem that in the category of music and rhythm gaming the prize for most random release goes to Drum roll please (I know bad joke again) Japan of course. Who else.

All of this talk makes me a little sad that as of yet I have seen no plans for a Uk release. Still, if this post has made you at all curious about the wide world of Drum based gaming I have it on good authority (my own) that there are several similar machines waiting to be discovered at the back of arcades all over the UK. I know for a fact that there is a DrumMania just waiting to be hit on in the Troccadero center in London, so next time you have a weekend free go old school, I dare you.

Until next time,
GuitarGirl24
x

P.S. So excited about Bioshock 2. I just can’t wait any longer…I may burst with the pure anticipation….

Jan

Lego Rockband

By GuitarGirl24 4 Comments

Categories: Article and Review
Tags: EA, harmonix, Lego, MTV Games, Music & Rythem, rock band

Just child’s play?

Well the new year is upon us and after a slightly longer break than anticipated I feel it is due time for some reviews. After much thought on what my first full review of the year should be (and honestly, it was a difficult choice) I decided it was only right to kick off 2010 with a closer look at the newest offering from the rock band family. Yes, I know its kinda predictable, but it is sort of my thing!

I write this in honor of all of you who still have the tatty plastic box of mismatched Lego bricks buried at the back of the wardrobe, you just can’t bear to get rid of. I know who you are…

Lego to me is an institution. A childhood symbol of freedom, creativity and mess which has brought hours of Joy to generations of children the world over. I believe that most of the true creatives in the fields of architecture, sculpture, product design and art have their roots in lego and for this reason I feel that we owe lego a great debt of gratitude. With this in mind it may shock you to hear that initially I was dubious about the prospect my favorite genre being merged with lego. Afterall, with the Rockband series no longer in its infancy it is necessary for the games to improve with time, and I was curious about how the integration of Lego would be able to move the gameplay forward and not turn it into pure ‘Childs play’. I was prepared to log on full of criticism, after-all I love the more serious music games (if there is such a thing) with lifelike character creation and more hard core set-lists and hated the thought of losing these elements. However from the moment my Plastic band climbed onto their plastic stage, with their plastic instruments and started their first plastic gig I couldn’t help but find myself smiling, I like this game.

Firstly this title is very similar to the previous Rock band titles, so don’t go expecting any dramatic changes. The concept is still the same, you are a new band, gradually rising to fame, fortune, stardom etc… You are able to progress through the game by earning lego bricks which allow you to build various modes of transportation for your band. A simple idea, but one which gives the game much needed structure making it easier to navigate than previous titles. The game is Lego themed seamlessly from start to finish, with everything from the notes to characters and titles screens having the same, nieve plastic feel. This aesthetic is as chaming and simple as the previous Lego titles, and though there are no surprises here it is very well executed. The level of dedication to the lego theme is especially obvious in the entirely customizable nature of not only your band, but your Rock den, offices and instruments. Throughout the game you are also able to hire staff, such as roadies, various managers, stylists and promoters who will also aid you in your rise to stardom. Unlike previous games, in this title you are able to change the appearance of your staff, who will then appear to mosh at the side of your stage during certain gigs. Though turning your roadies into a horde of rock grannies wont aid your performance, it will certainly keep your band entertained, and after-all if this game isn’t an opportunity to be childish what is?

Though the gameplay was pretty much as expected, there were some surprises. Firstly I must mention the Rock power challenges, which have to be the most entertaining addition to the gameplay. The challenges are the boss fights of the Rockband world, cropping up as encores to end of level gigs. In order to progress onto the next level, you must use the power of rock to complete certain challenges. In this game your plastic instruments have the power not only to scare away ghosts (to the tune of Ghost busters I might add) but also the ability to destroy buildings (Tick tick boom, the Hives) and even save a sinking ship (In too deep, Sum 41). In order to complete these feats of rock heroism and save your band, each band member must play their own section of a song before all joining in for the final, almighty plastic killing blow. I found the addition of these challenges reminded me of the very first guitar hero boss fights of GH3. I was disappointed when guitar hero abandoned this feature in favor of a more simple set-list based game and am really happy that rock band have brought it back to life once more. The fact that these challenges include all of your band makes it more of a party/team game than ever before. So if you want to get the most out of Lego rock band I strongly suggest that you recruit one or more willing friends/brothers/sisters/parents (Voluntarily or not) to play through the career with you as a band. Usually I like to play the career alone, but the novelty factor of these challenges is really worth sharing, trust me.

As for the set-list it is much softer than previous Rock band titles, but it makes up for this in the classic, and quite often novelty choice of songs. The set-list somehow manages to be both family friendly, and entertaining, with song choices which are as much about childhood reminiscences as the lego bricks are themselves. With its mix of retro classic songs and future hits including You give love a bad name, Bon jovi, Summer of 69, Brian adams, Kung fu fighting, Carl douglas, A-Punk, Vampire weekend, Walking on sunshine, Catrina and the waves, and The final countdown, Europe, all generations are likely to find themselves erupting in a chorus of ‘No way, I remember this!’ which only adds to the party potential of this game. In fact the mainstream yet quirky set-list makes me sure that Lego Rockband is going to take over from the Beatles as the family party disk of 2010. After-all, the sing along potential of the game is just truly epic.

A quick footnote in relation to my previous statement. Yes, this is a party game, however I am also very much aware that the difficulty level has been well….changed back to normal when compared to the previous offering of the Beatles Rock band. Generally I liked The Beatles rock band, however I did find it very easy even in its hardest modes. I am pleased to say that though this game is not the most challenging made, they have slightly upped the difficulty which to me is a great relief. I am all for family gaming, including everyone, hugs and hippy flowers etc, but that is what easy/normal/hard mode is for. Expert mode, in my opinion should keep getting harder, otherwise you lose the challenge. It is nice to see that Rockband has now rectified the one mistake they made to an otherwise great title. There is hope for the hard core fans yet, as long as you like tacky rock. (Which I do, and I mean I REALLY do.)

Another, less obvious change to the gameplay is the re-invention of how band members may be saved from failure. As you will probably know, in previous rock band titles if a band member fails they can be brought back into the game through another player activating overdrive. However in Lego rockband this is not so. In lego world on the point of failure each band member is responsible for bringing themselves back into the game through successfully hitting a section of highlighted notes. If the band member is able to hit these notes they are brought back into the game, making every lego rocker completely in control of their own plastic fate. Though this is very useful if you band are, well for want of a better word quite crap, I find it takes away from the whole team aspect of the Rock band series. Part of the fun of Rock band is working together and helping your teammates out, and though this change makes the game easier it does kind of take away from the sense of achievement the band gets when working together. This one of my only criticisms of this game, and though it bothers me a little it is not really something which will spoil the game for most.

I also could not write this piece without mentioning the obvious changes to the character creation menu. We are all familiar with the interchangeable heads, limbs and torsos of lego men, and the character creation takes full advantage of this basic modular system. Though the initial character creation offers a somewhat disappointing choice of heads, bodies and limbs, it is soon made apparent that most of the ‘Shinyer’ body parts can be earned very easily throughout the game. Though this may be frustrating to start with (I couldn’t find anything to wear!) by the end of the game the offering of lego fashion is actually quite good, so hang in there! It is also nice that the various lego fashions are linked to the venus/challenges you play. For example, by completing a pirate ship level you can win all of the parts to create your own pirate band, and as they are interchangeable with the normal rock attire it is possible to come up with some quite weird and wonderful combinations. This attention to detail is to me exactly what gives this game its charm. Its creative yet nieve combinations embody the true spirit of Lego, giving the game a sense of purpose and style.

On the subject of style the real beauty of this game is that it in no way takes itself seriously. This laid back attitude to itself somehow gives the game a sort of magic, charming quality which makes it truly hard to dislike. It is almost as though in losing of some of my favorite elements (the competitiveness, the lifelike characters, the hard core metal) the game gains something new, something quirky, something fun. I know, I know. Lego IS fun so what did I expect, but I suppose my point is that this game is a real breath of freah air, especially when the format of its predecessors seems to grow somehow tired. Even the animations, though child friendly and quite innocent, have a kind of charming quality which I found very hard to resist. To hate this game would be like to kick a puppy, and everyone knows thats not nice.

In a sentence, all in all I found the spirit of Lego rock band much more like the Beatles rock band than 1 or 2, so if you liked the Beatles, you will like this.

Stay tuned, big fat juicy Plus Xp video surprises on the way soon. I will keep you updated, I promise…

Until then,

GuitarGirl24
x

Dec

Lessons learnt from gaming with the over 50’s

By GuitarGirl24 1 Comment

Categories: Article and Humor Post
Tags: wii, wii fit, wii fit plus, wii motion plus, wii sports resort

Lessons learnt from gaming with the over 50’s
The 12 days of christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas we played upon the Wii

12 Rounds of frizbee
11 Birds eye Bulls eye
10 Downhill slaloms
9 Sky diving
8 Segway circuits
7 Tilt city
6 Step aerobics
5 Fitness tests
4 Kung Fu
3 Rounds of golf
2 Dog fights
And an hour creating Mii’s

The snow has melted, the presents opened and the last of the turkey has been roasted, stir-fried, and finally curried. The festive season may be drawing to a close so why you may ask do I find myself still very much in the Christmas spirit? Why, have you forgotten? Gaming bounty of course! With all of that Christmas cheer over and done all that is left is to put your feet up, eat what is left of Christmas and relax with whatever new titles your own personal family Santas have bestowed upon you this year. However before we return to the norm (and I promise, new articles soon!) I feel it appropriate not only to give thanks to all of those who have added to my game library this year, but also to look back upon what the time spent with my nearest and dearest has taught me about family, Christmas spirit and most importantly, gaming this year. So it is with added Christmas cheer that I bring you my own, hard earned lessons learnt from gaming with the over 50’s.

N.B. Some context. My father, the lucky soul got a Wii this Christmas along with Wii Fit plus, and extra controller and Wii sports resort. Now we have a ‘traditionl’ family Christmas, meaning that everyone has to play nicely together. This combined with everyone’s enthusiasm for the new toy meant that that not only my father (50‘s) but my mother older brother and Fiancée (mid 20‘s) and myself (Not telling!) all took part in breaking in the Wii together this Christmas. I am sure a few of you have had similar experiences of gaming with your entire family at some point, but just for giggles here is what I have learnt.

1. It doesn’t matter how much thought you put in, how many hours you spent trawling the shops finding it, or how much you spent. Your golf mad father WILL put aside the new pro golf game you bought him and proceed to spend three hours flying around in a virtual chicken suit come Christmas day. Lets face it, the new games on Wii fit plus are just too tempting. You just have to bite your tongue, deal with it, film it and put it on you-tube. Job done.

2. If you have a large family, everyone insists upon playing and you are getting tired of waiting for your go, try challenging them to generation or boys V girls matches. This works really well on games such as Wii resort frizbee and archery, which proved to be by far the most popular across the generation gap this Christmas. Everyone got the hang of these games really quickly, and with team members switching every round games were short and sweet. True, its hard to measure individual scores when playing this way, but with my brothers financee on my team (Who by the way owns the only other Wii in my family) I was not complaining.

3. Do NOT challenge your older brother to fitness/reaction games. Even if you win the first time (which is very unlikely) He will insist upon spending all hours of the day practicing until he had proven his worth by slaughtering you the next time. Even if you are his little sister…

4. When throwing your virtual frizbee to your virtual dog (Wii sports resort) Try not to aim so low that you hit it up the….Well you know where I mean. This will lead to hours of heckling from the whole family about how you throw like a girl and one very unhappy yelping Labrador…Though I must admit, it was perhaps worth it for the dogs expression…Go on…Try it and see what I mean…

5.You can beg, barter and plead all you like. Your mother will NOT take the Wii fit fitness test whilst ANY member of your family is in the room. Its no use telling her that EVERYONE puts on a little Christmas weight, nor that having 2 children would take its tole on anyone’s physique, she just wont do it. No, the only way to get her to register is to INSIST the rest of the family accompany you on a Christmas walk, leave the Wii on, Put the volume up to full and come back an hour later. I guarantee when you get back she will have registered, if only out of pure curiosity. Try it, it works.

6. When playing archery (Wii sports resort) try to pull back the arrow with as much gusto as possible. Sure, It wont help your score one bit, but it will damn sure look impressive and is somehow strangely satisfying… I find pretending I’m an extra in Lord of the rings helps, just watch out for people walking behind you…

7. A lesson on revenge from Birds eye Bulls eye on the Wii fit plus. This game requires you flap your arms wildly to propel your chicken suit clad Mii through the air, whilst leaning your weight from left to right using the balance board to steer towards targets for points. Now for the fun part. Try to convince a family member (preferably mum or dad) that if you flap only one arm your character will turn. I must mention at this point that ONLY leaning on the balance board will in fact turn the character. Meaning that if they take your advice their frantic one armed flapping will be doing about as much use as the obscenities they are sure to be shouting at the Tv. The longer you can keep them convinced the funnier it is, so bonus points for combining one armed flapping with a tactical lean on your own turn to keep up the pretence. Its so mean, but its worth it.

8. If you get lucky on the first round of frizbee golf leave it at that. If I have learnt anything this Christmas is that the Wii thought more accurate than ever, is still a cruel mistress. In fact, if you can throw one lucky round and then escape you will ever be referred to as the ‘Frizbee King’ However this nickname will soon revert back too ‘Edward Spazhands’ if you fail miserably in round two. Think about it.

9. DON’T play family members who have played before on the same difficulty level, especially in the balance and fitness games. I don’t care what they say, 8 hours practice at the hula hoop does make a difference, and no making me laugh when I’m trying to balance my penguin is NOT funny. Anyone with a Wii will know what I mean, anyone without, you’ll find out one day…

10. If taking the Wii fit fitness test for the first time DON’T go first. Make a more enthusiastic family member go first so that you, the more cunning (Or should I say intelligent) individual can see where they fail, and correct for your own attempt. It pays to be polite, so go on, ladies first!

11. Buy an extra Motion Plus. It really does make a big difference to the gaming experience and will save hours of family arguments started by disgruntled family members insisting they only lost because their controller was ‘the Naff one’. Spend the extra cash, level the playing field, and beat them fair and square.

12. And finally, Remember, its Christmas, so just enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if you have practiced for hours and your mum gets lucky beats you on her first go, these things just happen. We found these games were more luck than judgement, and in fact sometimes the harder we tried the worse our attempts got. Sure endless practice would lead to some level of improvement, but what’s the fun in that? So my final advice, and the biggest lesson learnt is simply to put as much energy in as possible. Sure you may end up failing miserably, and perhaps even falling over taking the Tv with you but hey, the Wii has always been, and Will always be about family entertainment, and after all nothing says family entertainment like watching your virtual self careering down a ski slope on your face.

Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy new year!

I’ll be back in 2010 with more news, reviews (and probably some complete rubbish)
Until then thanks for reading!

GuitarGirl 24

Nov

Band Hero Demo Review

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Preview and Review
Tags: Activition, band hero, guitar hero, LIVE, Xbox 360

The good, the bad and the ugly

Anyone who read my initial post concerning Band Hero will know that my personal expectations of this game were, well shall we say, just ever so slightly, just a little weenie bit low. Being a complete worshipper of the original Guitar Hero series, when Band Hero was announced I had to shed a tear at the thought of my beloved rockathons being corrupted by mainstream pop. The mere fact that It was called ‘Band Hero’ quite frankly gave me shivers, and when asked to play the online demo I will admit I took on the task limited enthusiasm. However it is my duty to report on such matters, and as many people seem to believe that where there is darkness there is inevitably light, I feel I must give this game a fair hearing. Therefore to keep it simple I present to you Band Hero, The good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Firstly some good points about this game. As a descendant of the Guitar Hero series this game is very well animated, easy to pick up, has enjoyable gameplay and is very pretty. Though it was not rock themed (shame) It had good venus and atmosphere, with a much more colorful pop orientated feeling than the GH series. The party play feature was also excellent allowing players to swap modes and instruments at any point, which proves very useful when the drinks need refilling. The graphics were similar to that of DJ Hero in the sense that everything was very neon and slightly trippy, which I felt was quite fitting for a pop based game. I also noticed that a lot of effort had been put into the animation of the characters, especially the movements of the lead singer which I must say brought a small smile to my face. On that note my main good point of this game is that the set-list is much more accommodating to female singers, and about time too. Often I have found that my more girly friends would prefer to sing than play guitar, and so I am guessing this will be right up their street. I have often struggled through various singing careers either pushing the notes to extreme highs to survive or imitating a male voice, both of which sound quite frankly stupid. I suppose in an odd way Band Hero solves this problem for girls everywhere, but I am no raging feminist and so the review continues…

The Bad

Now for the bad stuff. Its too easy! I may be being a GH snob here, but I was able to play through this demo whilst taking happily about dinner at the same time. I had it on expert mode for all 3 songs, but it simply didn’t require that much concentration. I suppose this game is aimed at the younger, less experienced market (Aww bless their cotton socks) however this makes it a step down rather than a step up for experienced GH ‘musicians’. I suppose it’s to be expected, but its a bit of a shame. Also, since when could a guitar make a sound like a saxophone? Look I know with the right effects pedals it can be done, but there are points in this game where you are constantly switching from being a keyboard, to a trumpet to a guitar. I know GH5 did this a little too, but this game does it to the extent where it becomes completely ridiculous. At this point I find myself asking the question, Why make a game which is an offshoot of Guitar Hero and then include songs where there is simply not enough guitar to make the game playable? Its simple really. Its called ‘Guitar Hero’ because It includes songs with strong guitar riffs. Pop songs do not often have such strong guitar riffs, therefore why include them in a game where the whole concept is based around a guitar shaped controller. Think through your concept more thoroughly next time people!

The ugly

Now for the ugly part of this game. And my is it ugly… For me this game seems to be completely lacking in theme and identity. Though it boasts a diverse set-list I found the mixing of the genres in the demo made the game feel disjointed and very strange to play . For example the demo moved from happy clappy pop, to modern country style pop, to soft rock, with the same band members and gig set up. Now I know previous titles also did this, but not to this extent. To be honest I found it a little unnerving to see a massive heavy metal rocker happily singing along to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ By Catrina and the waves, especially seeing as this was a standard part of the demo not someone’s personal joke. In fact the completely random mix of band members chosen for the demo put me off a little too. When I played, my band consisted of 2 mature characters, (a sexy punk lead singer and a heavy metal lead guitarist) and two very young looking young teens (an Avril Lavigne style drummer and an alternative base player). This random combination of band members to me looked very odd. More worryingly still, with the differences in age and genre leading me to question weather if this band truly existed, it would actually be legal for them to go to the bar after gigs for drinks, let alone ever want to play together. Though the characters were probably meant to be diverse to show the diversity of the character creation feature, the lack of consistency in characters was to me direct proof of this games lack of direction. After reviewing the set-list more carefully I have come to the conclusion that it would have given the game more of an identity if older, more famous pop acts had been used. If the set-list had been more cheesy with more famous pop acts they may just have got away with the pop theme, however the mismatch of pop and rock chosen lead me to think that it might have been more appropriate to just bring out another true guitar hero with some pop songs on it, call it ‘Guitar Hero Pop hits’ and do away with the ambiguity. I imagine that if this would done it would feel a little like Guitar Hero Rocks the 80’s, which in my opinion worked a lot better than this confused little title. I hate to say it but in comparison DJ Hero has much better theming. I don’t want to be a DJ but at least the Characters, sets and music all fit together and create a real atmosphere.

Though I did to some extent enjoy playing this demo, I feel that it is very obviously aimed at the younger teen market, and not the true GH worshippers. The combination of younger band members,colorful settings, easier gameplay and tame pop set-list make an experience associated much more with the young teen scene than the heavy metal and grunge fantasy lands we are used to. Though this is not for me, I suppose not all games can be everyones cup of tea. Therefore if you are a 13 year old girl with a Taylour Swift poster on your wall you will love this game, and more power to you for buying it. As for everyone else, try it yourselves and see what you think. Oh but be sure to get the drinks in first, your really going to need them…

Until next time

GuitarGirl24

P.S. On an Un-related note, I have finally completed Gh5 (Work has been keeping me VERY busy!!) Its not as difficult as I expected, though I did have to re-play 3 of the songs in the end set-list through twice. The highlights for me were definitely “Sultans of Swing” Dire straits, “No one to depend on” Santana, “Do you feel like we do” Peter Frampton and “American Girl” Tom Petty & The heartbreakers. Not the hardest songs but definitely the ones I enjoyed plying the most. Shame its not as difficult as expected, but still as good play and definitely one to add to your christmas list if your not into DJ/Band hero and haven’t splashed out already.

Nov

Eurogamer summary

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Article
Tags: Aliens Vs Predator, Assassins Creed 2, Dante's Inferno, Eurogamer 2009, God Of war III, Heavy Rain, Left 4 Dead 2, super mario bros wii

Dear Santa…

Dear Santa,
I know I have been a bad girl this year. I know that the incident with the kitten and the toaster was wrong, and that I could have been a little more sensitive of my flat-mates. I mean how was I to know their nan was visiting, and anyway I can’t help it if my room is next to the front door can I? I also really didn’t mean to trip the electricity with my amplifier, and when was I ever told that metal and microwaves don’t mix? With hindsight I even admit that it was wrong of me to challenge complete beginners to guitar hero matches whilst pretending I had never played before. I still to this day don’t know why this makes people so unhappy…. but I’m sorry anyway. I could go on, but the truth is Santa, you see all from that big Coca cola lorry of yours, so there is not point lying about it now. Still, Christmas comes but once a year, and just in case you feel like making this bad girl very very happy here are a few things you could pull out of your sack on christmas day. If you do I promise to try my very best to be extra good next year…Or at least I’ll clean out the toaster…

So here it is. The pick of the bunch, the cream of the crop. My ultimate list of all the Eurogamer titles I’m wishing for this christmas.

Brutal Legend
Well who doesn’t want to slay enemies with their electric guitar this christmas? With a great Heavy metal throughout, addictive gameplay, guitar power and Jack Black this has to be at the top of my christmas list this season. I mean sure, the whole guitar thing makes me just a tad biased, but this game is honestly a lot of fun. Definitely one to rock out to on those cold winter nights. Allllriiight!

AVP
How could I create a wish list and not mention Alien Vs Predator. The boys were addicted to this game and its easy to see why. I found it a bit like Halo, but with more diversity in the playable characters and the ability to run up walls at will. Nice. This game promises hours of solo and multiplayer fun. Easy enough to play but with enough possibilities for strategy and fighting dirty to keep even the most hard core gamers entertained. Definitely one to watch this christmas, but if you want to live past christmas morning here is a hint from me…don’t be a Marine!

Heavy rain
After seeing this played for the first time at Eurogamer I really can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Though the story line looks very dark and quite depressing in places (No festive cheer here, no sir!) this title really does give you the feeling that you are not so much playing a game, but more the lead character in a playable movie. The great characters and setting aside, the most exciting bit about this game to me is that each choice you make affects the story line. This means that the consequences of your decisions change the path your character takes, to the point where game can have endless outcomes. The developers aim was that no two people will play this game through and have the same experience. Instead they will each have their own unique way of reaching their end goal. An Impressive concept, and one I really hope will live up to our now very high expectations.

Left 4 Dead 2
Just as compelling and Zombieful as the first edition. With new characters, modes, weapons and creatures this title is sure to please all of those get their christmas cheer from whacking zombies over the head with a frying pan. I know I do…

Assassins Creed 2
This season sees the return of our favorite hooded hit-men. If you want to practice stealing sneaky mince pies right from under your mum’s nose this christmas, I suggest you use this game as practice. With the same winning combination of stealth and running for your life (as well as diving into the occasional hay bale) Assassin’s creed 2 is a welcome addition to shelf of all those who enjoyed the first title. Oh, and that new guy. Ezio, man he has style. Plus he also knows how to swim, a useful ability to have especially when in Venice. Perhaps he should give Altair some lessons. It would be nice to give them both a break from all that throat slitting…just because its Christmas.

God of War 3
Just so pretty and yet so angry…A bit like holly or faulty christmas lights. Though I didn’t get much time with this (a great pity) I found myself actually stopping and gawping at the beauty of this game, almost causing a mass gamer pile up…Ooops. If nothing else I would like a copy of this just to stare at, though I also have it on good authority that this game is very compelling, lovely and violent and plays beautifully. A worthy addition to the God of War series and a must for any fan.

Dante’s Inferno
Baby its cold outside….So how about a nice warming trip to hell? Though this game is not as pretty as God of War 3 (Then again what is?) it is still full of gory, surreal and slightly disturbing hack and slash goodness. Taking you through the nine circles of hell, this game does not hold back on the gore factor, especially seeing as in places the walls are made out of screaming corpses and the floor is a giant bleeding spine. This aside, the deadly sin theme is quite compelling and if you like a good dose of gore (and are not squeamish) this is one for you. With weaponry and gameplay I found similar to the Devil may cry series, and so many enemies I don’t know how they are all going to fit in Santa’s sleigh, this is one I throughly enjoyed getting my hands on at the Expo.

Super Mario Bro’s Wii
Mario is back! and just in time for Christmas! This was by far my favorite party play release of the year, making it to me the most appropriate stocking filler. A fail safe theme and beloved characters plus simple but addictive gameplay well executed throughout. In short the perfect recipe for family fun this Christmas. With four player co-op being my mode of choice, everyone from your brother to your nan is sure to enjoy this one. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if even the dog had a go…and enjoyed it….

Now santa. You know I will always be grateful for any gifts you give me, however if these titles were to accidently fall out of your sleigh it would be no terrible loss.

Rabbids go home Wii, I just didn’t get on with the controls. Avatar *cough* Lost planet *cough*. Fairytale fights, nice concept, badly executed. Saw the game, mini games….Really? Dragon age, It’s just s**t. Sorry.

And thats about it. Sorry its such a long list. Eurogamer showed us that we really have an awful lot to get excited about this year, I’m not sure you will even be able to fit it all in your sleigh. Still, if you take pity on me I’ll be a really good girl. Or at least I’ll try to be good. After all, being bad really is so much more fun…

I will leave the brandy and mince pie by the fireplace as usual.
Until Christmas Eve,
Lots of love,

GuitarGirl24
x

Nov

Eurogamer 2009: Rabbids Go Home.

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Preview
Tags: Eurogamer 2009, Rabbids Go Home, Raving Rabbids, Rayman, Ubisoft, wii

and I really hope they make it….

I suppose my title really says it all. It is customary to save the best until last, but as I have never been one for tradition I now bring you my Expo experience of Rabbids go home on the Wii. I must say at this point that I only had a very limited amount of time to play this game, so these are just initial thoughts. Rabbids, if your out there, please don’t hurt me…you scare me….

Firstly, and in the interests of fairness, I will say that this game has a very cute (and surprisingly logical) story line. In a nutshell the Rabbids come from the moon and want to go home. In order to do this they are running wild in the city, collecting all sorts of useless objects in their shopping trolly. They are then transporting these objects via the sewers to a secret location and using their spoils to build a massive pile of stuff which they hope will stretch all the way to the moon. ET eat your heart out. Though I generally did not get on with this game I have to admit that I found the story line and objectives refreshing. The game is as crazy and disturbing as its predecessors, with the Rabbids using pretty much any means to, run things down with their trolly, collect stuff and cause as much mayhem as possible along the way. Most of the demo was spent pushing a trolly madly around the city before using an old mattress in the sewers as a secret highway to new parts of the game. The bottomless shopping trolly allows you to pick up anything from furnishings to food and pets, all of which can be saved up and added to your ever growing mountain of random stuff. As the mountain gets bigger you are able to survey more of your surroundings, opening up more possibilities for exploring, scavenging or just running around knocking things over if you like. The game does have some specific objectives should you feel inclined. One challenge the game gave us during the demo was to stun and then pick-up a collection of Chiwawas to add to our trolly. Yes. This confirms it. This game is officially just as mad as ever. With the Rabbid characters the same odd mix between strangely frightening and somehow cute this game has the same feel as the rest of the series without simply being an add on. I feel that Ubisoft have been very brave in taking a step away from the popular Rabbid mini games, which can only be commended.

You may wonder at this point what my problem is with this game. So far I have spoken only positively about the story line and characters, so what could my problem possibly be? Well to be honest what really put me off this game was to poor positioning and tricky nature of the controls. Playing this game simply did not feel natural, and when compared to the slick, easy to use gameplay of other titles we sampled this year (such as Super mario Bro’s) Rabbids just does not cut it for me. Though this game makes full use of the motion aspects of the wii remote, the shopping trolly you push around the level feels as though It has a wonky wheel forcing it to constantly turn towards you. I’m serious, If you picked up this trolly in Tesco you would throw it back. Though players would probably adjust to the trollys wicked way in time, who needs the hassle? Especially seeing as the story line involves a lot of trolly dashes. Another thing which bothered me was the method of firing at enemies. In the demo we played we were able to fire other Rabbids from the safety of our trolly into enemies (Or the general public) to stun them. This seemed like a good feature, until we came to use it. In order to fire a Rabbid you have to aim the little dot on screen at the enimy with your left hand and then fire with your right hand trigger. Though this seems simple enough, It really doesn’t feel natural. I found myself wanting to hold my hands as if I had a rifle, and though this made shooting easier it made steering more difficult. I really don’t know whey the decision was made to separate the firing motion between two hands, perhaps there is a secret reason I am not aware of. Don’t get me wrong, this game isn’t the most complicated out there, its perfectly possible to play. Still, I feel that it would have made the game feel a lot smoother if they had kept it simple. This kind of game really relies on the fun factor, and with frustrating cointrols it is hard to have a lot of fun.

So in summery. This game is very cute, and a little disturbing but not one which I will be favoring this year. Its worth a play purely for seeing what destruction can be caused with a humble shopping trolly, but to me it is just not in the same league as some of its fellows. Perhaps after continual gameplay the controls would begin to feel natural, who knows. All I know is the entire team found it difficult to grasp, and this stopped any of us really being able to enjoy the game to the full. Which seeing as the concept of the Rabbids is so good is really a great shame. If you have a Wii here is my advice. Buy Super Mario Bro’s this christmas. Its easier to grasp and just as random as the Rabbids with added nostalgia value. A much better one to play with your friends and minus the Wonkey wheels. Rabbids…your cool…but go home…please…

Stay tuned for my christmas list!

GuitarGirl24

Nov

Eurogamer 2009: Fairytale Fights

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Preview
Tags: Eurogamer 2009, FairyTale Fights, Hack and Slash, Platform

Is everyone sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…

Once upon a time there as a little girl called Little Red Riding Hood. Miss Hood lived in a happy fairy-tale land, and though she stood only knee-high was happy in every way. One sunny day she decided to take a walk with her good friend, the naked emperor. It was so sunny outside that the King even decided not to wear any clothes, but Hood did not mind and so they set off into the forest. They ran happily through the lush green landscape for many many minutes but soon they became surrounded by a variable onslaught of bloodthirsty lumberjacks. It looked as if poor Hood was outnumbered, but then, in the distance, she saw a golden chest gleaming in the forest light. Hood ran to the chest and was able to use her powerful fists to smash it open before the lumberjacks drew too near. With one final almighty blow the chest burst open, reviling a host of shiny and sharp weapons inside. What joy Hood felt! Without hesitation she picked up the largest hammer and ran happily towards the lumberjacks, swinging it about her with wonderful speed and agility. Following suit, the emperor picked up a shiny silver saw and began to slice and grate his way through the crowd. Bright red blood as vivid as the cheeks of the happiest of children gushed forth as the lumberjacks flew about them in a sea of dismembered limbs. Hood turned to the emperor, blood rolling down her cheek and laughed merrily. Smiling back, he took her hand and they happily skipped on through the forest.

The End

Well its not really the end, it wouldn’t be a proper review if it finished there now would it! As you have all seen by now, fairytale fights was another of the games on show at this years Eurogamer expo. Advertised under the tag line “Welcome to the Tragic Kingdom” the idea of this game initially confused me slightly. Was it going to be a play on fairytales as I had expected? Or more of a dig at Disney? Well people, you need wonder no more because I am going to try and make sense of this bloody yet cute new release.

Just moments into the game it becomes obvious that the story centers more around traditional fairy-tales than anything else. The tagline may have been eye-catching, but I can now report that I did not see a single Disney reference in the entire time I played. Sorry to disappoint you if you wanted a chance to kill Mickey, I could be wrong so it may yet happen. Instead, the level we played involved journeying through the forest to find the stolen magic storybooks. This was a simple enough quest, though I must say that I was disappointed with a lack of wider context to the story. With random characters including Snow White, The Emperor, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack (and the beanstalk), the story would have been confusing enough if well explained, let alone how it was presented at the Expo. The game charged into the first level with only a brief explanation of characters and scenario, and I would have liked a little more. I am guessing this was merely due to the fact it was a demo, however if the start of the game is the same as it was in the expo, prepare to spend the first few levels a bit confused. Besides that, the game had simple objectives, mainly find the stolen storybooks whilst killing as many evil fairytale characters on the way as possible. Easy really.

As expected the graphics in this game are extremely colorful and over the top. The trees, houses and even characters themselves are robust and chunky, giving the game an extremely childish feel which was obviously meant to make it more shocking when blood begins to flow. Set in a magical fairytale land, the levels are taken straight out of a storybook, and though we only played in the forest setting I am sure that similar inspiration will be taken throughout the game. I liked the way this game had a great sense of depth, making you feel as though you could run far into the distance instead of being restricted as you are in so many 2d platform games. Though I generally liked the look of the game I did feel as though a little more thought could have been put into making the level design more inventive. Everything was as expected, and It would have been nice to include some adult jokes in with all of that childishness.

As for the gameplay… well there is no way of defining this apart from simple hack and slash, with A LOT of added comedy blood. The controls are very easy, with simple actions such as running, jumping and slashing allowing you to progress quite far into the game. One thing about the controls I did like though is that combat is controlled by the right hand stick. This allows you to spin your weapon up down or in full circles really quickly, and adds a much more manic, out of control feel to the gameplay. The game also has an abundance of different weapons, including hammers, saws, clubs, guns, sticks and rolled up newspapers. These weapons can be picked up either from the corpses of enemies or gained by breaking open chests placed frequently throughout the levels. As well as the obvious killing, other challenges along the way include moving saws and swinging axes which block your progression through the level. Though they are well animated and fun to play with, the difficulty level is nothing like that of their ‘Tomb Raider’ pre-decessors, now that really does take us back to our childhoods….

Anyway, where violence is concerned, there were things I liked and things I hated about this game, so time for a sum up. I liked the over bloody violence mixed with the fairytale theme. For example; when there is enough blood on the floor your character actually slides about in it, which is very funny to watch. I also like the variety of weapons, as sometimes you reach for a hammer and end up with a rolled up newspaper. I did however find the game too easy, and if I find it easy I’m pretty every hardcore gamer in the country will think likewise. Another thing which I found distracting was the close up views it insisted upon showing me of my enemies dismembered bodies. I’ll explain. When an enemy was killed in a spectacular way the game would show a massive (and I mean half the screen) shot of the body being flung about with blood flying everywhere. I found this not so much disgusting, but distracting and after a while I ignored the left hand side of the screen completely. I mean everyone loves comedy violence, but there is a limit, and I can’t help but thinking that anyone over ten would find this not so much amusing as confusing. I can’t help feeling that this space could have been put to better use, and therefore I think this is a major failure in the games design.

Overall I enjoyed playing this game at the expo, but I am not sure that I would enjoy playing it all the way through alone. With friends around the novelty of fairy-tale characters beating each other to a pulp makes the game enjoyable, but playing on your own I have a sneaking suspicion that this one could get a tad repetitive. It is as if all of the ingredients for a great game are there, but that it is aimed at an audience much younger than the violence allows it to go on sale to. I hate to say it, but for a dark fairy-tale it could really do with growing up a little.

Not every story has a happy ending, but if your lucky even the worst ones end up with you being tucked in and kissed goodnight.

GuitarGirl24

Nov

DJ Hero

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Article and Review
Tags: Activistion, dj hero, guitar hero, Music & Rythem, Review

Up to scratch?

I love Oxford street. I must say that when in London it has to be one of my all time favorite places to spend a lazy saturday. The shops, the people watching and of course who could forget the massive HMV, which is always kind enough to provide some little gem of new entertainment. This week my personal treasure chest has once again bestowed its bounty upon me, giving me my first taste of DJ Hero.

First off I feel that I must explain where I stand on DJ Hero. Being a true Guitar hero girl I have awaited DJ hero with both curiosity and a little distain. Personally I have never dreamed of becoming a hit DJ, and have not liked the idea of the guitar based games being interfered with. Therefore the idea of this game has generally been causing me a little distress. This aside I have decided to review this game as If i DID dream of becoming a hit DJ. For the sake of this article the next few paragraphs will be as without bias as I can manage, with all of the fading, scratching, techno, dance, hip hop and drum and bass action you can handle. Which could be difficult seeing as I sit here in my leather and lace. Please bear with me.

To state the obvious, DJ hero is basically guitar hero for wannabe DJ’s. The game uses settings and graphics similar to those of the GH series to transport you, the world famous DJ into increasingly cool, clubs, parties gig’s and raves. DJ hero is just as vibrant and creative as the GH series, with a very similar layout and feel. When the game loaded I instantly recognized the graphics from GH world tour/5 and from what I could see the character creation looks similar too (except with a fair bit more bling). Though the look of the game is the same as GH, the feel when played is actually quite a bit different.The objective of the game is to use the three fingers of your right hand to keep the beat using three colored buttons, whilst keeping your left hand on the slider, fading one of the three colored ‘beat lines’ in and out in time with the music. The game also replicates the classic DJ motion by getting you to scratch the mock record along with the beat, which has to be the most fun part of the DJ hero experience. In addition to this you can use the euphoria button to instantly whip up the crowd, increasing your score potential or saving you from an angry crowd should your DJ-ing not quite be up to scratch.

Though all of this may seem very similar to the actin of using a traditional guitar controller, I found that the feeling of the turntable controller gave a very different feeling to the gameplay. Whereas the guitar controller gives a sense of free spirited, reckless power, the Turntable feels much more fiddley and somehow quieter. To me the feel of this game was much more like playing an old style arcade machine, all buttons and switches and compulsion to make it to the last level. The sliding motion of the turntable was a lot of fun, but to me It didn’t really feel as much like playing an instrument as using a controller. I think that though this is perhaps a bit of a shame, it is a little unavoidable as the action of DJ-ing is very different to any of the other plastic instruments. One thing I think could have improved this though is if the decks were a little bigger. Everything feels a little too close together, which to me, when combined with a low table makes it seem as if you are fiddling about your waist doing something secretive and perhaps even quite naughty. If the decks were made larger (as the guitar controllers were) then the experience would become more proud and powerful which I think would certainly improve the gaming experience. Now it may seem like I am being a little harsh on Dj Hero, but honestly, I’m not just saying this because I like the guitar controller. I actually think that this game is very addictive, it is just a lot different and perhaps aimed at a different kind of person. The turntable action is fluid and smooth, and the setup works very well. In fact I would definitely recommend this title to anyone who has ever fancied having a go at being a DJ, so please don’t be put off. It is also worth noting at this point that it is also possible to incorporate a Guitar controller into the game, and though I did not get a chance to try this I am still interested to see how this will bear up to the beloved full rock-band experience.

Though I had mixed feelings about the decks, the music choices were much more pleasing. The game has over 102 songs, presented as 93 mixes, which to anyones standards is quite a generous amount of content. With genres boated including Hip-hop, pop dance and rock, the music you can scratch along to is a little random but surprisingly varied. Though when selecting my set-list I barely recognized any of the song titles, when I started to play it soon became apparent that the selection of songs actually consists of some really good songs. I ended up playing re-mixes of the gorillaz, the jackson five and Rhianna, all of which were (and I am slightly shocked to hear myself saying this) quite good. With more hits from artists such as Queen, The killers, N.E.R.D., Dizzy rascal, Daft punk, 50 cent and Eminem I am sure that the selection of songs will be enough to keep even the fussiest of potential DJ’s happy. Though personally I was a little disappointed there was no prodigy, I suppose you can’t always have everything.

Overall I would say that DJ Hero is a must for anyone who has dreamed of ruling the decks but never had the time, money, energy or commitment to buy the right gear. The controller felt small to me, but other than that the gameplay is very addictive and promises to be a lot of fun when mastered. Though I was playing through the easier levels, this game obviously has the potential to become extremely in depth and complicated, something which can only work to its advantage. Oh and for the true fans also be sure to look out for the renegade edition. This premium edition not only features a useful case which folds out into a portable table, but also promises to include Jay-z and Eminem. I don’t know how they plan to fit them both in the box, but its always nice to get added extras.

On a final note to me the plastic instruments seem to be growing ever closer to the real ones. First the Gh drum kit which basically teaches you how to drum, and now plastic decks which take up almost as much time and energy as real ones. I love my plastic instruments more than so many things, but to me they will always be in addition to learning the real thing, not as a substitute. To me the main value of my plastic friends will always be in party play, and I think it is a shame that the decks were not introduced alongside more of the existing instruments to make what I would consider to be a FULL band. I have a lot of friends who would like to use the decks to do the DJ-ing, effects, mixing, beat or Synth and though it would obviously be very complicated to work into the existing game structure it seems a shame that it has not yet been attempted. Perhaps this is one for the future, who knows. Until then I will silently await the day when a DJ can join my band, perhaps even like an equil. Perhaps.

Until next time

GuitarGirl24

Nov

Eurogamer 2009: Brutal Legend

By GuitarGirl24 Leave a Comment

Categories: Preview
Tags: Brutal Legend, EA, Eurogamer 2009, Heafty Fine

Allllllright! Bringing the metal to Eurogamer…

Being your rock correspondent I felt it my not so solemn duty to visit the Brutal Legend stand at this years Eurogamer expo. After getting hold of the taster demo online, I was keen to see if I could find out any more about this metal odyssey, as well as to see other gamers reactions as they got their first taste of Eddie’s world. So it is without further ado that I proudly bring you the official ‘Girl gamers’ mini summary of Brutal Legend.

For those of you who don’t know, and I am very sorry if I bore you if you do, here is my short breakdown of the story. In Brutal legend you play as the extremely talented but greatly unappreciated Ex-roadie Eddie Riggs. I say that he is an ex-Roadie because in the starting sequence of the game Eddie is tragically killed (or so I assume, who knows) saving a foolish (emo looking) band member. Eddie is a true metal head who despairs for the techno rock world we now live in, so needless to say when he is resurrected into an entirely heavy metal themed fantasy land where he is able to defeat enemies with either this legendary axe or with his electric guitar; he couldn’t be happier. Throughout the demo you get to fight as Eddie, defeating hordes of hooded enemies and meeting his new ally and possible future love interest metal maiden Ophellia.

As you have probably guessed this game is entirely metal themed, something which was met with great excitement at Eurogamer. We know already that the combination of gamers + metal is a winner, but it was not until I was able to observe gamers reactions at the expo that I realized how much this game stood out from all of the other titles on show. Whereas other titles were either for the hard-core gamers with serious themes (Aka AvP or Heavy Rain) or simply quite silly (Aka Rabbids Go Home or Fairytale Fights) this game managed to be playable and funny on many levels, bringing a smile to the face of everyone from kids to hard-core gamers. This is to me entirely down to its strong, tongue in cheek metal theme, which is what truly makes it a winner in this Metal maiden’s books. After-all, Eddie is voiced by the one and only Jack Black, who to me is the absolute best choice for this kind of over-the-top metal adventure. The game graphics and menu screens remind me of a guitar hero title (always good!) with cartoon style, rock imagery being used throughout, and MOST importantly the whole thing is also set to a strong heavy metal soundtrack, which makes the rock theme of this game pretty much airtight.

As well as having a great deal of comedy factor, Brutal Legend is actually a lot of fun to play. The game is fun overall and easy to pick up. On the Xbox 360 most of the initial commands centre around the XYBA buttons, making this game accessible to pretty much anyone. The start of the game consisted mainly hack and slash gameplay, however there was the option to use more complex guitar solo’s to resurrect artifacts, bring down the power of rock upon your enemies and open doors etc, which I think could be interesting. I would liken this ability to the Ocarina in Zelda: Ocarina of Time‘ (Which I seem to be doing a lot recently but never mind) with the right combination of buttons needing to be pressed in order to unlock the guitar’s secret power. These combinations were quite simple in the demos, but I think they will probably prove more challenging during the game’s progression. As well as being able to electrify enemies with his guitar and decapitate with his axe, Eddie is also able to create small earthquakes by jumping, which is extremely useful when surrounded by enemies or in real trouble. I also like the added novelty of being able to choose at varying points in the game whether or not to see the gore, and hear the swearing – or to play a censored game. I have never seen the option to censor a game being presented within actual gameplay before and though I doubt anyone actually chooses the clean option outside of the original Expo showings (I certainly didn’t) I think it is a nice novelty.

An important part of the story tells that Eddie can fix anything, and this aspect of his character comes out during the game as Eddie creates a metal themed car he lovingly names his “Druid Plough’ to mow down his enemies. The addition of vehicles in this game breaks up the action nicely, and my visit to the expo confirmed my suspicions that we have not yet seen the last of Eddies heavy metal DIY. During my time on the stand I was able to see more DIY vehicles and creatures which become playable throughout Eddies quest. The screens to my left and right were teeming with metal inspired creations, everything from intensely cool metal motorbikes to bizarre natural abominations such as Warthogs with bike wheels (Get the irony?). Though I have only has a short time with this game it is clear that you will not be disappointed with the creativity of the level designs, nor the diversity of Eddie’s heavy metal playground.

And there you have it. A fun, loud, metal filled adventure, true to everything that had been promised. Every gamer I saw leaving the stand this saturday did so with a big smile on their faces, and even though it didn’t have the attention of some of the bigger titles (such as AvP and Left 4 Dead 2, the wait for which was enormous!) all of those I found playing it seemed well and truly hooked. It is true that this game was not as complex as some of the others on show, but in my opinion it’s not really about high scores or team battles, it’s about living the metal dream. Personally, and probably not to your surprise I wish I could play as Ophellia (we have a surprisingly similar dress sense already, all I need is a choker….) however that being my only request, this game will definitely be one for my christmas list this year.

More expo posts later in the week, as well as a little video treat. Until then.

GuitarGirl24