Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 177
August 28, 2014
PL vs. AA: One Day Left!
Tomorrow, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will finally be available in North America. Are you as excited as I am?
Here's the launch trailer, to get you in the right mood:
If you're like me, you've heard all sorts of reviews by now, from people who loved it, to those who hated it, to those who thought it was fine and missed its potential. Normal enough for reviews--but responses are just as mixed when you ask which style it favors more.
Is Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney an Ace Attorney game with Professor Layton elements?
Is it a Professor Layton game with Ace Attorney elements?
Is it a 50/50 split between the two franchises?
We'll all know soon enough, and you can bet this is one I'll review!
To tide you over until tomorrow, here are the translated answers from a new interview with the producer of Dual Destinies.
Here's the launch trailer, to get you in the right mood:
If you're like me, you've heard all sorts of reviews by now, from people who loved it, to those who hated it, to those who thought it was fine and missed its potential. Normal enough for reviews--but responses are just as mixed when you ask which style it favors more.
Is Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney an Ace Attorney game with Professor Layton elements?
Is it a Professor Layton game with Ace Attorney elements?
Is it a 50/50 split between the two franchises?
We'll all know soon enough, and you can bet this is one I'll review!
To tide you over until tomorrow, here are the translated answers from a new interview with the producer of Dual Destinies.
August 25, 2014
Tomodachi Life Romance: Shipper On Deck
Last time we visited the strange world of Tomodachi Life, we witnessed many strange activities, including the romance of Albert Wesker and Franziska von Karma, encouraged in part because the benevolent island overseer known as Sam's lookalike favors that crack pairing.
Since then, she has continued to interfere with her islanders' lives. As Miis continued to pair off, she became determined to see Simon Blackquill and Juniper Woods together. All Miis beware, we have a Blackwoods shipper on deck.
While she discouraged romantic thoughts toward those two from any other Miis, island life continued as usual. Desmond Sycamore found a new love. Fulbright was attacked by crows. Little Hunter Edgeworth grew up and left the island to travel the world.
Miis made new friends, discovered new activities, and tried new foods... not always with the best of results.
There were more strange dreams, bizarre news stories, weddings, and shared hobbies. And as Miis leveled up, more of them received video game consoles as gifts, which brought an increased love of Nintendo to the little island.
Everyone loves the 3DS!
Everyone loves the Wii U!In fact, Sam's lookalike hit upon a great idea, once she realized Simon liked the Wii U. She gave Juniper a Wii U, in the hopes that it would bring them together.
Juniper loved her Wii U.
Next door, Simon sat alone.
Juniper and her friends really loved the Wii U!And so, the Wii U party continued, without Simon, for a long, long time. Time passed, and Sam's lookalike checked in again.
Juniper continued to enjoy the Wii U without Simon.Sam's lookalike had a lot of time with nothing to do but try to drive her Miis together, so she visited some others. All were engaged in their own unique activities, while Simon sat alone in his apartment. For example, vampire hero Barnabas Collins put on a strange outfit and took up the guitar.
Well, to each his own. He's Simon's best friend, you'd think he'd set down the guitar and tell him about Juniper's Wii U. Speaking of which, how is she doing?
Playing alone? Really, Juniper? Wouldn't you like someone else to join you?
Simon sat alone in his apartment.
And then... just as Sam's lookalike was about to give up... it happened. Maya Fey decided her good friend Simon needed a sweetheart.
All right! And so, after all the troubles, it was a happy ending for Simon and Juniper after all. The overall happiness of the island increases, Sam's lookalike is satisfied, and--best of all?--the Miis have been filled with a strong love for all things Nintendo.
So let's just see what...
Um.... Guys? I think you might be taking this a little too far.
Well, that was... strange. Ah well, let's just move on. Life continues, after all. What will be the next big romantic drama of Tomodachi Life?
Hmm...
Wait, WHAT??
If the insanity presented in this article appeals to you, the author, sometimes known as Sam's lookalike, suggests you read her previous Tomodachi Life article and consider buying the game. If you already own Tomodachi Life, what strange adventures have your Miis had?
Since then, she has continued to interfere with her islanders' lives. As Miis continued to pair off, she became determined to see Simon Blackquill and Juniper Woods together. All Miis beware, we have a Blackwoods shipper on deck.
While she discouraged romantic thoughts toward those two from any other Miis, island life continued as usual. Desmond Sycamore found a new love. Fulbright was attacked by crows. Little Hunter Edgeworth grew up and left the island to travel the world.
Miis made new friends, discovered new activities, and tried new foods... not always with the best of results.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
There were more strange dreams, bizarre news stories, weddings, and shared hobbies. And as Miis leveled up, more of them received video game consoles as gifts, which brought an increased love of Nintendo to the little island.
Everyone loves the 3DS!
Everyone loves the Wii U!In fact, Sam's lookalike hit upon a great idea, once she realized Simon liked the Wii U. She gave Juniper a Wii U, in the hopes that it would bring them together..JPG)
Juniper loved her Wii U.
Next door, Simon sat alone.
.JPG)
Juniper and her friends really loved the Wii U!And so, the Wii U party continued, without Simon, for a long, long time. Time passed, and Sam's lookalike checked in again..JPG)
Juniper continued to enjoy the Wii U without Simon.Sam's lookalike had a lot of time with nothing to do but try to drive her Miis together, so she visited some others. All were engaged in their own unique activities, while Simon sat alone in his apartment. For example, vampire hero Barnabas Collins put on a strange outfit and took up the guitar.
Well, to each his own. He's Simon's best friend, you'd think he'd set down the guitar and tell him about Juniper's Wii U. Speaking of which, how is she doing?
.JPG)
Playing alone? Really, Juniper? Wouldn't you like someone else to join you?
.JPG)
Simon sat alone in his apartment.
And then... just as Sam's lookalike was about to give up... it happened. Maya Fey decided her good friend Simon needed a sweetheart.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
All right! And so, after all the troubles, it was a happy ending for Simon and Juniper after all. The overall happiness of the island increases, Sam's lookalike is satisfied, and--best of all?--the Miis have been filled with a strong love for all things Nintendo.
So let's just see what...
Um.... Guys? I think you might be taking this a little too far.
Well, that was... strange. Ah well, let's just move on. Life continues, after all. What will be the next big romantic drama of Tomodachi Life?
Hmm...
.JPG)
.JPG)
Wait, WHAT??
If the insanity presented in this article appeals to you, the author, sometimes known as Sam's lookalike, suggests you read her previous Tomodachi Life article and consider buying the game. If you already own Tomodachi Life, what strange adventures have your Miis had?
August 21, 2014
Detective Grimoire: A Charming Mystery Game
Two days ago, I checked the recent Playfire Rewards and saw the name "Detective Grimoire." I like detective games, so I looked it up and found out that Detective Grimoire, by SFB Games, was a new addition to Steam. It didn't have any reviews at the time, but it had already been out for iOS and Android for a while. (And it's the sequel to a smaller flash game, but you don't need knowledge of that to play this one.)
I looked up some reviews of those versions, and one compared it to "a late-game case from an Ace Attorney game." Well, if your game can be compared to one of my favorite series, that's enough to get me interested! As soon as I finished my work for the day, I bought Detective Grimoire.
Grimoire may be the Only Sane ManThe first three words that come to mind when I try to figure out how to describe Detective Grimoire are:CharmingAdorableFunnyIts charm and adorableness go hand in hand. The graphics and presentation are pleasant, the soundtrack is haunting and very reminiscent of Danny Elfman's music, and while I didn't find the characters as compelling as those in an Ace Attorney game, none of them were bland. The excellent voice acting helps.
Of all the characters, Detective Grimoire himself stands out. He provides a lot of the humor, especially as he tries to understand why anyone would visit a tourist attraction in the middle of a swamp. You see, he's a homicide detective called to investigate a murder at Boggy's Bog. The top suspect? Boggy, the mythical creature said to live in the swamp, who hasn't been seen in 60 years.
Gameplay involves straightforward point-and-click mechanics. You'll spend much of the time searching for evidence and questioning the bizarre group of witnesses, with an interface quite similar to that of the Ace Attorney games. As you talk to people, you'll want to pay attention to clues, which will be added to your case file, and decide which facts are suspicious and which aren't.
In addition to the topics you can ask about, as well as presenting clues and profiles, each character also has a secret or "challenge" you can question them about, once you pick up enough information.
At other times, you'll be asked to choose options to fill in the blank mad-libs style, and create a coherent statement of logic--or an incoherent one for giggles. If you make the wrong choices, our poor detective will spout nonsense and then admit what he said made no sense.
A few moments reference SFB's "Haunt the House: Terrortown"Some conversations allow you to choose from dialogue options. This only occurred a handful of times, which is a pity. One of the moments that really defined the game's tone for me was when a character asked if Grimoire was his first name or his last name. When I read the options, I laughed out loud. (For the record, I said it's his 23rd name, but the one he likes best.)
These conversations are the primary way the story is told. The murder mystery itself is fairly straightforward, but the plot surrounding it has some twists and turns. It also includes a sequel hook, and SFB has another Detective Grimoire game planned.
A few minor puzzles stand in your way, though none are as tough as those in the Professor Layton series... no matter what Grimoire thinks!
Detective Grimoire is an easy game, and it's also quite short. Steam says I completed it in 2 hours, although I think it might have taken a little longer than that. While it's a great experience while you're playing it, it doesn't last long.
The only other negative is a design flaw--it allowed me to get all the way to the end without picking up an important piece of evidence, but continues on as though I had that piece of evidence and even referenced it. I didn't realize it until I returned to the game after the ending to try for 100% completion and realized I was missing something I had plot-wise just a few minutes ago.
Bottom line: if you're looking for a couple hours worth of charming entertainment, look up Detective Grimoire. I hope the sequel expands the gameplay and story into a longer, more challenging experience.
I looked up some reviews of those versions, and one compared it to "a late-game case from an Ace Attorney game." Well, if your game can be compared to one of my favorite series, that's enough to get me interested! As soon as I finished my work for the day, I bought Detective Grimoire.
Grimoire may be the Only Sane ManThe first three words that come to mind when I try to figure out how to describe Detective Grimoire are:CharmingAdorableFunnyIts charm and adorableness go hand in hand. The graphics and presentation are pleasant, the soundtrack is haunting and very reminiscent of Danny Elfman's music, and while I didn't find the characters as compelling as those in an Ace Attorney game, none of them were bland. The excellent voice acting helps.Of all the characters, Detective Grimoire himself stands out. He provides a lot of the humor, especially as he tries to understand why anyone would visit a tourist attraction in the middle of a swamp. You see, he's a homicide detective called to investigate a murder at Boggy's Bog. The top suspect? Boggy, the mythical creature said to live in the swamp, who hasn't been seen in 60 years.
Gameplay involves straightforward point-and-click mechanics. You'll spend much of the time searching for evidence and questioning the bizarre group of witnesses, with an interface quite similar to that of the Ace Attorney games. As you talk to people, you'll want to pay attention to clues, which will be added to your case file, and decide which facts are suspicious and which aren't.
In addition to the topics you can ask about, as well as presenting clues and profiles, each character also has a secret or "challenge" you can question them about, once you pick up enough information.
At other times, you'll be asked to choose options to fill in the blank mad-libs style, and create a coherent statement of logic--or an incoherent one for giggles. If you make the wrong choices, our poor detective will spout nonsense and then admit what he said made no sense.
A few moments reference SFB's "Haunt the House: Terrortown"Some conversations allow you to choose from dialogue options. This only occurred a handful of times, which is a pity. One of the moments that really defined the game's tone for me was when a character asked if Grimoire was his first name or his last name. When I read the options, I laughed out loud. (For the record, I said it's his 23rd name, but the one he likes best.)These conversations are the primary way the story is told. The murder mystery itself is fairly straightforward, but the plot surrounding it has some twists and turns. It also includes a sequel hook, and SFB has another Detective Grimoire game planned.
A few minor puzzles stand in your way, though none are as tough as those in the Professor Layton series... no matter what Grimoire thinks!
Detective Grimoire is an easy game, and it's also quite short. Steam says I completed it in 2 hours, although I think it might have taken a little longer than that. While it's a great experience while you're playing it, it doesn't last long.
The only other negative is a design flaw--it allowed me to get all the way to the end without picking up an important piece of evidence, but continues on as though I had that piece of evidence and even referenced it. I didn't realize it until I returned to the game after the ending to try for 100% completion and realized I was missing something I had plot-wise just a few minutes ago.
Bottom line: if you're looking for a couple hours worth of charming entertainment, look up Detective Grimoire. I hope the sequel expands the gameplay and story into a longer, more challenging experience.
August 18, 2014
Looking Ahead to Fantasy Life
In the final part of my overview of E3 2014, I mentioned a game I was very happy to see receive a localization announcement, one of the games I already pre-ordered, Fantasy Life.
Fantasy Life is a role-playing game for the 3DS. It was developed by Level-5, the creators of the Professor Layton series (among others, like Dark Cloud and Ni No Kuni). Development was aided by 1-UP Studio (previously Brownie Brown, which worked on Mother 3, Sword of Mana, Magical Starsign, Layton's London Life, Super Mario 3D Land, among others) and h.a.n.d. (Final Fantasy Fables, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and The World Ends With You Solo Remix, among others). Nintendo is the publisher. Nobuo Uematsu is handling the music, which is awesome.
We've got an interesting crew behind this, then. Fantasy Life's graphics just scream "Level-5" at me, and the trailers suggest it will have the same sort of charm common to their games. 1-UP seems to have a knack for cooperating with other developers on small RPGs. While it's by no means the biggest name in their history, they also worked on London Life, the small RPG included with Professor Layton and the Last Specter in the Japanese and North American versions.
London Life was described from the start as a test for the framework of Level-5's upcoming Fantasy Life. Even though life sims aren't really my thing, London Life's RPG nature and use of Layton characters won me over, so I was interested in Fantasy Life from the start. (Another one? Do I need to reconsider an entire genre?)
h.a.n.d., meanwhile, seems to work with small/spin-off RPGs and co-develop more major RPGs.
Fantasy Life isn't a major RPG on the scale of Final Fantasy, but it isn't a mild adventure in a city like Layton's London Life. What exactly is it?
Maybe the announcement trailer will help. At the very least, it will remind you who the composer is and show you those adorably Layton-esque graphics.
In Fantasy Life, you choose a class, or "life," which gives you certain skills and bonuses. You'll be able to switch to a new one if you want to, while keeping skills from the previous ones. This is reminiscent of Job systems from Final Fantasy, expanded to involve the life sim elements as well as combat.
You also fight monsters and engage in traditional RPG activities.
A new trailer was released today, so let's take a look. Note, Fantasy Life releases on October 24 in North America. The September 26 date given in this trailer is for Europe.
This trailer shows more of the lives and gameplay, and highlights how switching between different lives works.
It also emphasizes that you will "explore Reveria far and wide," making it clear this isn't life London Life where you have a single city to deal with. Exploration is fantastic. I hope it isn't open world, but I'm afraid it will be.
This trailer reminds us of the more epic RPG aspect by suggesting you'll save the world. It also shows a decidedly Layton-esque creepy tower. Then it focuses on multiplayer, which is great, but doesn't really matter a lot to me.
If this were Professor Layton, I'd bet it moves, too.Now, Fantasy Life has been out in Japan since December 2012, so there are more details out there if you dig around. It has a plot with party members and new areas, although there are so many things to do on the side, it's easy to be distracted from it. You don't have to play as the combat classes if you prefer not to fight, so it's actually possible to complete the story without battling.
I really couldn't find solid details on what the story is, other than "charming." However, there are a ton of quests and sidequests, and enough stuff to drive completionists to madne--uh, keep completionists busy for a while.
So, what do you think? Do you plan to play Fantasy Life this October?
Fantasy Life is a role-playing game for the 3DS. It was developed by Level-5, the creators of the Professor Layton series (among others, like Dark Cloud and Ni No Kuni). Development was aided by 1-UP Studio (previously Brownie Brown, which worked on Mother 3, Sword of Mana, Magical Starsign, Layton's London Life, Super Mario 3D Land, among others) and h.a.n.d. (Final Fantasy Fables, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and The World Ends With You Solo Remix, among others). Nintendo is the publisher. Nobuo Uematsu is handling the music, which is awesome.
We've got an interesting crew behind this, then. Fantasy Life's graphics just scream "Level-5" at me, and the trailers suggest it will have the same sort of charm common to their games. 1-UP seems to have a knack for cooperating with other developers on small RPGs. While it's by no means the biggest name in their history, they also worked on London Life, the small RPG included with Professor Layton and the Last Specter in the Japanese and North American versions.
London Life was described from the start as a test for the framework of Level-5's upcoming Fantasy Life. Even though life sims aren't really my thing, London Life's RPG nature and use of Layton characters won me over, so I was interested in Fantasy Life from the start. (Another one? Do I need to reconsider an entire genre?)
h.a.n.d., meanwhile, seems to work with small/spin-off RPGs and co-develop more major RPGs.
Fantasy Life isn't a major RPG on the scale of Final Fantasy, but it isn't a mild adventure in a city like Layton's London Life. What exactly is it?
Maybe the announcement trailer will help. At the very least, it will remind you who the composer is and show you those adorably Layton-esque graphics.
In Fantasy Life, you choose a class, or "life," which gives you certain skills and bonuses. You'll be able to switch to a new one if you want to, while keeping skills from the previous ones. This is reminiscent of Job systems from Final Fantasy, expanded to involve the life sim elements as well as combat.
You also fight monsters and engage in traditional RPG activities.
A new trailer was released today, so let's take a look. Note, Fantasy Life releases on October 24 in North America. The September 26 date given in this trailer is for Europe.
This trailer shows more of the lives and gameplay, and highlights how switching between different lives works.
It also emphasizes that you will "explore Reveria far and wide," making it clear this isn't life London Life where you have a single city to deal with. Exploration is fantastic. I hope it isn't open world, but I'm afraid it will be.
This trailer reminds us of the more epic RPG aspect by suggesting you'll save the world. It also shows a decidedly Layton-esque creepy tower. Then it focuses on multiplayer, which is great, but doesn't really matter a lot to me.
If this were Professor Layton, I'd bet it moves, too.Now, Fantasy Life has been out in Japan since December 2012, so there are more details out there if you dig around. It has a plot with party members and new areas, although there are so many things to do on the side, it's easy to be distracted from it. You don't have to play as the combat classes if you prefer not to fight, so it's actually possible to complete the story without battling.I really couldn't find solid details on what the story is, other than "charming." However, there are a ton of quests and sidequests, and enough stuff to drive completionists to madne--uh, keep completionists busy for a while.
So, what do you think? Do you plan to play Fantasy Life this October?
August 15, 2014
Two Weeks to Go! Feel the Excitement!
That's right, in two weeks, it'll be August 29, and you know what that means!
The next 30 pages of my thesis novel are due.
Well, yes. But besides that...
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will be released in North America!
I just checked Amazon, and my order is on schedule to be delivered on the 29th. If I ever wait until the last minute to finish my thesis submission, it's not going to be this time, I can tell you that.
Speaking of writing, my ChoiceScript adventures are also going well. Even though it's set up for text-based, choice-driven games, I'm trying to use ChoiceScript to make a survival horror-esque game... and it's actually going pretty well. Adding exploration and backtracking creates some complications, but I've found ways to handle it.
So far, I've made a working inventory (with health items, equipment, and key items), a combat system through which you can either fight enemies or run from them, and a safe room/save system. I've created a framework for solving puzzles, as well as the potential for chases.
It's really a lot of fun!
Now I need to map out my story and gameplay progression (recursive unlocking, anyone?) so I can continue forward. Don't worry, I'll make an announcement as soon as I have a working demo!
The next 30 pages of my thesis novel are due.
Well, yes. But besides that...
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will be released in North America!
I just checked Amazon, and my order is on schedule to be delivered on the 29th. If I ever wait until the last minute to finish my thesis submission, it's not going to be this time, I can tell you that.
Speaking of writing, my ChoiceScript adventures are also going well. Even though it's set up for text-based, choice-driven games, I'm trying to use ChoiceScript to make a survival horror-esque game... and it's actually going pretty well. Adding exploration and backtracking creates some complications, but I've found ways to handle it.
So far, I've made a working inventory (with health items, equipment, and key items), a combat system through which you can either fight enemies or run from them, and a safe room/save system. I've created a framework for solving puzzles, as well as the potential for chases.
It's really a lot of fun!
Now I need to map out my story and gameplay progression (recursive unlocking, anyone?) so I can continue forward. Don't worry, I'll make an announcement as soon as I have a working demo!
August 13, 2014
Great Games From Gamescom
Before I get into the main topic of this post, I'd like to talk about something else. This has already been a sad week, and it's only Wednesday. We've lost two major actors in the past two days. On Monday, Robin Williams died. I haven't seen as much of his work as most people have, but still enough to be saddened and shocked that he's gone. Then yesterday, Lauren Bacall died. Although it's unusual for someone from my generation, I've seen more movies with Lauren Bacall in than Robin Williams.
Let's take a moment to remember and pray for these two, along with all others who have died.
Now that I've started this off on an unhappy note, don't worry. We're going to brighten our moods by discussing something fun--video games! Most of these will be from Gamescom, a big gaming event currently in progress in Germany, but before we get to that, I want to show you the first trailer for A Bird Story.
A Bird Story is a short game, the spiritual follow-up to one of the best games I played last year, To the Moon. This will bridge the game with its eventual sequel, and I can't wait. If it's anything like To the Moon, it will be amazing.
Now, onto Gamescom! Gamescom isn't as big as E3, so my feature for it won't be nearly as extensive. In fact, I'm not going to discuss every game that was shown, and I'm not even going to go in order. I'm going to discuss the games and news that mean the most to me.
Let's start with EA's press conference, which occurred this morning. Believe it or not, I enjoyed it less than their E3 show. They started off strong, with more footage from Dragon Age: Inquisition and a new trailer. I'm excited for this game. I just need to play DA2 already.
Am I the only one who thought of Harbinger during this trailer? ...Yes? Okay, moving on.
EA also discussed Star Wars: The Old Republic, which I'm almost interested in (since it's a Star Wars RPG), but not enough to actually try it. I wish they'd announced a third Knights of the Old Republic game. That would catch my attention.
Then, there was a piece of news that disappointed me. BioWare has been releasing short trailers for something with the tagline "You've Been Chosen," and it looked like it was going to be a horror game. Well, apparently it's a 4-versus-1 online multiplayer fantasy RPG. Huh. I'm much less interested now--but don't worry, because we've got a lot of great horror news coming up.
Yesterday morning, I missed Microsoft's show, but I don't mind too much, since there were only a few announcements that interested me. There's a Sunset Overdrive bundle, more information was given about the Master Chief Collection and the Halo 5 beta, and new trailers were released for Below and Ori and the Blind Forest, the latter of which interests me the most.
Then the Internet exploded, as Rise of the Tomb Raider was revealed to be an Xbox exclusive, but Microsoft's Phil Spencer has since confirmed the exclusivity "has a duration." This means it probably will appear on other systems after all.
Onwards!
Sony's press conference has been the best for me so far. We got to see more of Bloodborne, which looks delightfully dark. It also reminds me that I need to finish the Souls games. Speaking of series I need to finish before the new one comes out, LittleBigPlanet 3 looks as cute and fun as it did at E3.
More gameplay from Middle-earth: The Shadow of Mordor was shown. I'm interested in that, in part because of its use of Lord of the Rings lore, but I'm not quite sold just yet. For one thing, it's open world, which isn't quite my favorite thing.
New trailers were shown for a couple of games I've been following for a while--Volume, a futuristic Robin Hood stealth game by the makers of Thomas Was Alone, and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, a horror adventure game that looks very promising.
I was happy to see that, and I can't wait to play it! But now, enough of games we already knew about--are you ready for some new game announcements?
A PS4 exclusive called Rime (which apparently was announced a year ago, but it's new to me) has an art style similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and looks like it could really be fun. I've also heard it's open world, though, so we'll see.
Next up, Hellblade. Ninja Theory hasn't released a lot of details about its new game, but the trailer gave off a dark fantasy vibe. I'll keep my eye on it. Another one I'll keep my eye on is a cute Vita platform game called Tearaway, which is being remade for the PS4 as Tearaway Unfolded. I don't have a Vita, so I never played the original, but it looks interesting.
The next game I'm going to show you sounds like the antithesis of games I like. It's a multiplayer (eh) sandbox (boo) crafting/building simulator (meh, I don't even play Minecraft). So why am I showing it here even though I skipped over all the other games I'm not interested in? Mainly because, kind of like Tomodachi Life, you need to experience the weirdness of this trailer for yourself.
All right, let the debate begin! Is this pro-Communism, or is it making fun of it through the age-old art of parody? Whatever it is, the trailer has awesome music and is weirdly entertaining. It may be a multiplayer sandbox crafting/building sim, but thanks to GameInformer's preview, I know it's also an alternate history in which "projected clones" try to build a town at the same time after a 1960's era Soviet experiment goes horribly wrong. You can vote for the buildings you want your town to build... and bribe officials to steer the vote in your direction. There are also turret battles with giant monsters. And then you mine the monsters.
I really don't know what to say about it.
Anyway, enough of that. I promised you some horror! First up, a cancelled horror game is getting another chance. Until Dawn, a horror game based on slasher films, was supposed to come out for the PS3, but it was cancelled. Now, it's been reinvented for the PS4.
It's unclear to me if it's going to be a true survival horror game, or an action game more along the lines of Alan Wake, but I'll watch for more news.
But now, the biggest moment so far! During Sony's press conference, they announced a horror game called P.T., by a mysterious developer called 7780s studio. To be honest, it didn't impress me. Just another first-person horror game that ended with a shot of screaming people to prove its scariness.
There's a demo out now for the PS4, but I didn't really care... until I learned the demo was actually a teaser for something else... Check out this footage from one of the first players to finish the demo and learn the truth.
Hideo Kojima? Guillermo del Toro? Norman Reedus (I've never seen him, but it seems he's a big deal).
In... Silent Hill? Wait, Silent Hills, plural? What is going on??
This raises so many questions. What is this about? Why was it hidden in a first-person demo? (I can't imagine a Silent Hill game being first-person like that.) Is there more than one Silent Hill now? Does Kojima prefer playing little tricks on fans to announce his new games than making big announcements?
And the biggest question of all, will this be an amazing survival horror experience?
Share your thoughts, hopes, and reactions in the comments below, and be sure to tell me if I ignored your favorite Gamescom announcement.
Let's take a moment to remember and pray for these two, along with all others who have died.
Now that I've started this off on an unhappy note, don't worry. We're going to brighten our moods by discussing something fun--video games! Most of these will be from Gamescom, a big gaming event currently in progress in Germany, but before we get to that, I want to show you the first trailer for A Bird Story.
A Bird Story is a short game, the spiritual follow-up to one of the best games I played last year, To the Moon. This will bridge the game with its eventual sequel, and I can't wait. If it's anything like To the Moon, it will be amazing.
Now, onto Gamescom! Gamescom isn't as big as E3, so my feature for it won't be nearly as extensive. In fact, I'm not going to discuss every game that was shown, and I'm not even going to go in order. I'm going to discuss the games and news that mean the most to me.
Let's start with EA's press conference, which occurred this morning. Believe it or not, I enjoyed it less than their E3 show. They started off strong, with more footage from Dragon Age: Inquisition and a new trailer. I'm excited for this game. I just need to play DA2 already.
Am I the only one who thought of Harbinger during this trailer? ...Yes? Okay, moving on.
EA also discussed Star Wars: The Old Republic, which I'm almost interested in (since it's a Star Wars RPG), but not enough to actually try it. I wish they'd announced a third Knights of the Old Republic game. That would catch my attention.
Then, there was a piece of news that disappointed me. BioWare has been releasing short trailers for something with the tagline "You've Been Chosen," and it looked like it was going to be a horror game. Well, apparently it's a 4-versus-1 online multiplayer fantasy RPG. Huh. I'm much less interested now--but don't worry, because we've got a lot of great horror news coming up.
Yesterday morning, I missed Microsoft's show, but I don't mind too much, since there were only a few announcements that interested me. There's a Sunset Overdrive bundle, more information was given about the Master Chief Collection and the Halo 5 beta, and new trailers were released for Below and Ori and the Blind Forest, the latter of which interests me the most.
Then the Internet exploded, as Rise of the Tomb Raider was revealed to be an Xbox exclusive, but Microsoft's Phil Spencer has since confirmed the exclusivity "has a duration." This means it probably will appear on other systems after all.
Onwards!
Sony's press conference has been the best for me so far. We got to see more of Bloodborne, which looks delightfully dark. It also reminds me that I need to finish the Souls games. Speaking of series I need to finish before the new one comes out, LittleBigPlanet 3 looks as cute and fun as it did at E3.
More gameplay from Middle-earth: The Shadow of Mordor was shown. I'm interested in that, in part because of its use of Lord of the Rings lore, but I'm not quite sold just yet. For one thing, it's open world, which isn't quite my favorite thing.
New trailers were shown for a couple of games I've been following for a while--Volume, a futuristic Robin Hood stealth game by the makers of Thomas Was Alone, and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, a horror adventure game that looks very promising.
I was happy to see that, and I can't wait to play it! But now, enough of games we already knew about--are you ready for some new game announcements?
A PS4 exclusive called Rime (which apparently was announced a year ago, but it's new to me) has an art style similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and looks like it could really be fun. I've also heard it's open world, though, so we'll see.
Next up, Hellblade. Ninja Theory hasn't released a lot of details about its new game, but the trailer gave off a dark fantasy vibe. I'll keep my eye on it. Another one I'll keep my eye on is a cute Vita platform game called Tearaway, which is being remade for the PS4 as Tearaway Unfolded. I don't have a Vita, so I never played the original, but it looks interesting.
The next game I'm going to show you sounds like the antithesis of games I like. It's a multiplayer (eh) sandbox (boo) crafting/building simulator (meh, I don't even play Minecraft). So why am I showing it here even though I skipped over all the other games I'm not interested in? Mainly because, kind of like Tomodachi Life, you need to experience the weirdness of this trailer for yourself.
All right, let the debate begin! Is this pro-Communism, or is it making fun of it through the age-old art of parody? Whatever it is, the trailer has awesome music and is weirdly entertaining. It may be a multiplayer sandbox crafting/building sim, but thanks to GameInformer's preview, I know it's also an alternate history in which "projected clones" try to build a town at the same time after a 1960's era Soviet experiment goes horribly wrong. You can vote for the buildings you want your town to build... and bribe officials to steer the vote in your direction. There are also turret battles with giant monsters. And then you mine the monsters.
I really don't know what to say about it.
Anyway, enough of that. I promised you some horror! First up, a cancelled horror game is getting another chance. Until Dawn, a horror game based on slasher films, was supposed to come out for the PS3, but it was cancelled. Now, it's been reinvented for the PS4.
It's unclear to me if it's going to be a true survival horror game, or an action game more along the lines of Alan Wake, but I'll watch for more news.
But now, the biggest moment so far! During Sony's press conference, they announced a horror game called P.T., by a mysterious developer called 7780s studio. To be honest, it didn't impress me. Just another first-person horror game that ended with a shot of screaming people to prove its scariness.
There's a demo out now for the PS4, but I didn't really care... until I learned the demo was actually a teaser for something else... Check out this footage from one of the first players to finish the demo and learn the truth.
Hideo Kojima? Guillermo del Toro? Norman Reedus (I've never seen him, but it seems he's a big deal).
In... Silent Hill? Wait, Silent Hills, plural? What is going on??
This raises so many questions. What is this about? Why was it hidden in a first-person demo? (I can't imagine a Silent Hill game being first-person like that.) Is there more than one Silent Hill now? Does Kojima prefer playing little tricks on fans to announce his new games than making big announcements?
And the biggest question of all, will this be an amazing survival horror experience?
Share your thoughts, hopes, and reactions in the comments below, and be sure to tell me if I ignored your favorite Gamescom announcement.
August 11, 2014
Mad Adventures in Tomodachi Life
Once upon a time, there was a Mii named Albert Wesker. He moved into an apartment building on a wonderful little island run by a lookalike of the island's first inhabitant, Sam. Wesker wore a pink lab coat because the white ones hadn't shown up in the store yet, made friends, and spent his free time singing about the Umbrella Corporation at the island Concert Hall.
Wesker made a lot of friends, although none was as close as his best friend, Professor Hershel Layton.
He and Layton hung out often, but they had many other friends as well. All of the islanders accepted Wesker. If someone needed help, he was there! His heroics even made it onto Mii News, right up there with announcements about avocado makers and baked bean thefts.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Sometimes he and his friends disagreed. Sometimes they even fought. He and Juniper Woods once screamed and threw things at each other until Sam's lookalike stopped laughing and intervened.
One day, however, Wesker couldn't concentrate on anything. All he could think about was Franziska von Karma. He was in love.
Distraught, he asked Sam's lookalike if he should confess his feelings. She knew her friend's Mii was already involved with Franziska, but since she was a secret Franzesker shipper, she told him to go ahead.
Poor Wesker was rejected.
He was so sad. He drooped in his apartment, a storm cloud formed over his head, and he lamented his unrequited love without end. Fortunately, Sam's lookalike knew his Super All-Time Favorite Food. One stick of chewing gum later, Wesker felt a lot better.
Several days later, he fell in love with Josette DuPres. Josette, however, was in love with Apollo Justice.
Sam's lookalike had pity on Wesker and told him about the happy couple before he tried to break them up. She hoped this would spare him the pain of rejection.
More gum.
And so, time passed. Wesker didn't pursue Franziska or Josette. He didn't dare to hope Apollo was doomed by Josette's canon. He didn't fall in love again.
Life on the island continued in its typical absolutely-sane fashion. There were weddings, monster sightings, creepy invitations to meet anonymous people on the roof, concerts, and so much more. Wesker's best friend, Layton, fell in love with Maya Fey.
Meanwhile, Professor Desmond Sycamore also learned the meaning of rejection.
At a glance, it might look as though every Mii was falling in love, but while some preferred to enjoy quiet dates alone as a couple, other Miis just got together at a friend's house to dance around for hours!
And Wesker was alone.
He didn't even notice when his first love left her relationship.
Someone noticed, though.
A gentleman never leaves his friends to wallow in heartbreak! Professor Layton asked Sam's lookalike if she agreed Wesker and Franziska would be a good match, and together, they set them up on a date. Layton put on a disguise and spied on their fun-filled day together, and thus he witnessed a happy conclusion to Wesker's tale of woe.
Wesker's story covers just some of the wacky events that have happened to me in Tomodachi Life. Tomodachi Life isn't my typical sort of game. Even the wildly popular Animal Crossing series doesn't appeal to me. I've had Tomodachi Life for a little over a month now, with a playtime of about 26 hours. It's the sort of game you play in short spurts.
At this point, I don't feel as compelled to play it. In the beginning, I could barely think about anything but Tomodachi Life. Now I just check in every now and then to see what adorably weird things my Miis will do.
Like most players, I was introduced to the game when Nintendo announced it through a special Nintendo Direct that made me wonder if the creators were on drugs.
Whatever was behind its creation, it was awesome. That video is the main thing that made me want this game. It convinced me to branch out into a genre I normally disliked for the sheer insanity of Tomodachi Life.
And I don't regret my decision one little bit.
There isn't really a lot to do in the game. You'll mainly spend your time taking care of your Miis--you'll buy them food, clothes, and new apartment interiors... you'll play little mini-games with them... you'll help them out when they're sad, sick, or just troubled... At different times during the day, you can buy things from special markets, participate in events, or play a simplistic, retro-style RPG called Tomodachi Quest.
Then there are dreams. Mii dreams are even stranger than actual dreams, and they give you items.
A lot of the entertainment comes from just watching your Miis and listening to the crazy stuff they say. Of course, part of the appeal is watching them (whether they're based on people you know or on fictional characters, like most of mine) do things completely out of character, like when Wesker and Layton became best friends.
At the same time, since you set their personalities when you create them, there are times when a Mii does something so in character, it's startling. Franziska worries she's too cold but decides not to do anything about it. Professor Detective Bobby Fulbright... is just Fulbright...
I've since gotten him a white suit.Since you can give them custom phrases to use, it gets even weirder. Layton randomly declares, "Look, a puzzle." I'll pass Apollo's apartment and hear a distant, "I'M FINE!" I'll stop in at Prosecutor Blackquill's apartment and be greeted as Sam-dono, or receive an "Objection!" from Phoenix Wright. It never ceases to make me smile.
And there's just something sweet about Miis expressing their relief that I'm all right when I haven't played for a while.
It may not be a game for everyone, but if you're interested in the humorous antics of an island full of Miis and a game you can pick up for a few minutes here and there, I definitely recommend Tomodachi Life.
Let me just leave you with one last image from my island--an Ace Attorney group shot!
Wesker made a lot of friends, although none was as close as his best friend, Professor Hershel Layton.
He and Layton hung out often, but they had many other friends as well. All of the islanders accepted Wesker. If someone needed help, he was there! His heroics even made it onto Mii News, right up there with announcements about avocado makers and baked bean thefts.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Sometimes he and his friends disagreed. Sometimes they even fought. He and Juniper Woods once screamed and threw things at each other until Sam's lookalike stopped laughing and intervened.
One day, however, Wesker couldn't concentrate on anything. All he could think about was Franziska von Karma. He was in love.
Distraught, he asked Sam's lookalike if he should confess his feelings. She knew her friend's Mii was already involved with Franziska, but since she was a secret Franzesker shipper, she told him to go ahead.
Poor Wesker was rejected.
He was so sad. He drooped in his apartment, a storm cloud formed over his head, and he lamented his unrequited love without end. Fortunately, Sam's lookalike knew his Super All-Time Favorite Food. One stick of chewing gum later, Wesker felt a lot better.
Several days later, he fell in love with Josette DuPres. Josette, however, was in love with Apollo Justice.
Sam's lookalike had pity on Wesker and told him about the happy couple before he tried to break them up. She hoped this would spare him the pain of rejection.
More gum.
And so, time passed. Wesker didn't pursue Franziska or Josette. He didn't dare to hope Apollo was doomed by Josette's canon. He didn't fall in love again.
Life on the island continued in its typical absolutely-sane fashion. There were weddings, monster sightings, creepy invitations to meet anonymous people on the roof, concerts, and so much more. Wesker's best friend, Layton, fell in love with Maya Fey.
Meanwhile, Professor Desmond Sycamore also learned the meaning of rejection.
At a glance, it might look as though every Mii was falling in love, but while some preferred to enjoy quiet dates alone as a couple, other Miis just got together at a friend's house to dance around for hours!
And Wesker was alone.
He didn't even notice when his first love left her relationship.
Someone noticed, though.
A gentleman never leaves his friends to wallow in heartbreak! Professor Layton asked Sam's lookalike if she agreed Wesker and Franziska would be a good match, and together, they set them up on a date. Layton put on a disguise and spied on their fun-filled day together, and thus he witnessed a happy conclusion to Wesker's tale of woe.
Wesker's story covers just some of the wacky events that have happened to me in Tomodachi Life. Tomodachi Life isn't my typical sort of game. Even the wildly popular Animal Crossing series doesn't appeal to me. I've had Tomodachi Life for a little over a month now, with a playtime of about 26 hours. It's the sort of game you play in short spurts.
At this point, I don't feel as compelled to play it. In the beginning, I could barely think about anything but Tomodachi Life. Now I just check in every now and then to see what adorably weird things my Miis will do.
Like most players, I was introduced to the game when Nintendo announced it through a special Nintendo Direct that made me wonder if the creators were on drugs.
Whatever was behind its creation, it was awesome. That video is the main thing that made me want this game. It convinced me to branch out into a genre I normally disliked for the sheer insanity of Tomodachi Life.
And I don't regret my decision one little bit.
There isn't really a lot to do in the game. You'll mainly spend your time taking care of your Miis--you'll buy them food, clothes, and new apartment interiors... you'll play little mini-games with them... you'll help them out when they're sad, sick, or just troubled... At different times during the day, you can buy things from special markets, participate in events, or play a simplistic, retro-style RPG called Tomodachi Quest.
Then there are dreams. Mii dreams are even stranger than actual dreams, and they give you items.
A lot of the entertainment comes from just watching your Miis and listening to the crazy stuff they say. Of course, part of the appeal is watching them (whether they're based on people you know or on fictional characters, like most of mine) do things completely out of character, like when Wesker and Layton became best friends.
At the same time, since you set their personalities when you create them, there are times when a Mii does something so in character, it's startling. Franziska worries she's too cold but decides not to do anything about it. Professor Detective Bobby Fulbright... is just Fulbright...
I've since gotten him a white suit.Since you can give them custom phrases to use, it gets even weirder. Layton randomly declares, "Look, a puzzle." I'll pass Apollo's apartment and hear a distant, "I'M FINE!" I'll stop in at Prosecutor Blackquill's apartment and be greeted as Sam-dono, or receive an "Objection!" from Phoenix Wright. It never ceases to make me smile.And there's just something sweet about Miis expressing their relief that I'm all right when I haven't played for a while.
It may not be a game for everyone, but if you're interested in the humorous antics of an island full of Miis and a game you can pick up for a few minutes here and there, I definitely recommend Tomodachi Life.
Let me just leave you with one last image from my island--an Ace Attorney group shot!
August 7, 2014
With Your Help, I Could Win!
Over the past few months, six of my drabbles were published at SpeckLit. A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words--sort of super-specific flash fiction. These six stories are:ScarfNumbCursedMonstersAcross the RiverMagicThey're horror and dark fantasy, except for "Across the River," which is somewhat lighter in tone and based on mythology. If you haven't read them before, go take a look. Each is only 100 words long, after all.
Now, my drabbles have a chance at winning "The Best of SpeckLit 2nd Quarter 2014," if they get enough votes. Readers can pick their top 3 drabbles, and the 3 with the most votes at the end of the month will win! Winning would be fantastic, but I can't do it without your help.
So please, take a couple of minutes and vote for three of my stories. If you can spread the word, that would be fantastic, too.
Thanks everyone! Any and all votes are appreciated!
Now, my drabbles have a chance at winning "The Best of SpeckLit 2nd Quarter 2014," if they get enough votes. Readers can pick their top 3 drabbles, and the 3 with the most votes at the end of the month will win! Winning would be fantastic, but I can't do it without your help.
So please, take a couple of minutes and vote for three of my stories. If you can spread the word, that would be fantastic, too.
Thanks everyone! Any and all votes are appreciated!
August 5, 2014
Classic Resident Evil Gets Another Chance With REmake Remake
By now, you probably know I love survival horror. I'm very outspoken in my displeasure with what the Resident Evil series has become. I never played or even watched Resident Evil 6, I consider Revelations a halfway attempt to return to series roots, and my enthusiasm for Resident Evil 7 is... low, to say the least.
But today, Capcom announced a remake of REmake!
Those of you who aren't Resident Evil fans might think I'm crazy now, so let me explain. In 2002, Capcom completely re-made the original Resident Evil. The new version came out for the GameCube and is generally considered to be one of the best Resident Evil games. Since it was a remake of "RE," fans nicknamed it "REmake." It was ported to the Wii in 2009 as Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil. That's the version I played. It's truly superb.
And now it's being remade again. Wii U owners might want to look into the Wii version, though, because the remake of REmake is coming out for the PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
It will be released in early 2015, and it will only be available digitally.
So far they've only mentioned updates to graphics and audio, as well as an alternate control scheme (in case you don't want to play with tank controls), and promise "no unnecessary changes." Additionally, the "tempo and flow" of the game have been left alone. This means it'll be classic survival horror at its finest, brought to a new audience.
All right!
Okay, it's not a REmake-style remake of RE2, which is what I really wanted, it's not a brand new survival horror game, and it's not coming out for the Wii U (at least the Wii U has a different big-name survival horror title). But it's still a classic survival horror game. To me, this means Capcom is willing to give the classic style another chance.
If it does well, who knows? We could see RE2make or even a classic-style RE7.
The Resident Evil Facebook page posted a lot of great screenshots. I'm sure more updates will be posted there first, so check it out.
August 4, 2014
Games People Want: Current Best-Sellers
If you ask me, the #1 best-selling game right now should be Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. A crossover between two of my favorite series, with what looks like an exciting storyline and great features--what could be better than that? If you haven't ordered it, you should.
But no, this isn't another Professor Layton/Ace Attorney post, although I certainly make enough of those. This time, I'm going to take a look at what the best-selling games really are right now.
Now, I like to think I'm in touch with the mainstream gaming market. On the other hand, I play Halo for the story, enjoyed Amy, and pre-ordered a pigeon dating sim. Don't worry. I'll review it.
So let's take a look at Amazon's video games Best Sellers list and see what the majority of gamers are buying today.
Of the top 20 best sellers... only 11 are actually games. Let's get the non-game items out of the way first. The top 3 best sellers are all PSN gift cards, for various amounts, with an Xbox gift card in 5th place. A 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership is 7th, with the 12-month membership in 18th. Sounds as though a lot of PlayStation owners are buying digital games, while Xbox owners are more interested in playing online. Or maybe this month's Games With Gold selection is just a big draw.
The PlayStation 4 console is currently the 6th best-selling video game product, with its controller in 10th place. Just before it, in 9th place, is an Xbox 360 controller. The Xbox 360 has been out for a lot longer, so it makes sense a lot of people would need a new controller but not the console.
Now, onto the best-selling games!
First up (4th place in the list) is The Last of Us Remastered, for the PS4. I have never played The Last of Us on any console. I'm really not sure what to think about it. If I had nothing to go by other than the videos and trailers I saw of it, I'd probably never get it. I was possibly the only person on the planet it didn't appeal to when it was shown off before its release.
But since it came out, everyone's just raved about it. Greatest game ever, great storytelling, great mechanics... Metacritic score of 95, critics giving it a 10/10... Tons of people claim The Last of Us Remastered will win Game of the Year, making The Last of Us Game of the Year for two years in a row.
And it's the best-selling game on Amazon right now. In fact, it's on the best-selling list twice, because the PS3 version is in 19th place. Crazy. Maybe I should play it after all.
Moving on to the next game on the list, in 8th place, we've got one I actually own and have played! I haven't played Mario Kart 8 a lot yet, but it seems like it'll be a fun game. There's still no Fawful (I want Fawful in a Mario Kart game so badly), but that doesn't matter too much. I started playing the series back with Mario Kart 64, and I haven't missed a single entry since!
I'll get back to playing it one of these days. Maybe I'll even play it with friends.
But enough of that, let's get back to games everyone seems to be buying but me.
Destiny! Destiny actually claims three spots on this list. The Xbox One version is in 11th, the PlayStation 4 Destiny Bundle is in 14th, and the PS4 version is in 20th.
Destiny is one of those games I wish I would enjoy. It sounds really cool. When I see things about it, it really appeals to me. I like the sci-fi setting, the mysterious storyline, and what I've seen of the gameplay. However, I'm not a big fan of online games, and I don't like the idea of having to be online to ever play it. So, as much as everyone loves it, I'm afraid Destiny is a "pass" for me, at least for now.
Next up, in 12th place, is the Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix... or II.5 Remix, as it's apparently written. This collection follows the 1.5 Remix, and contains the Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.
I don't know what a lot of that means. I haven't actually played the Kingdom Hearts games yet. I own the 1.5 Remix (I.5, maybe?), but haven't had time to play it yet. If I had, maybe I'd have this one pre-ordered already. Friends assure me I'll love it, after all.
As it is, I won't be getting the II.5 Remix this soon.
The repeat games have knocked out a lot of the remaining spots, so all we have left are four games I have no interest in: Minecraft for the Xbox 360, Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Xbox 360, Grand Theft Auto V for the Xbox 360, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag for the Xbox 360. (Is that just how they're writing it, or are there a lot of Xbox 360 players buying games to go with that extra controller in 9th place?)
In case I lost you when I jumped from number to number, here are the top 20 best sellers in Amazon's video game category:$20 PSN card$10 PSN card$50 PSN cardThe Last of Us Remastered$10 Xbox cardPS43-month Xbox Live Gold membershipMario Kart 8Xbox 360 controllerPS4 controllerDestiny - Xbox OneKingdom Hearts II.5 RemixMinecraftDestiny PS4 bundleCall of Duty: GhostsGrand Theft Auto VAssassin's Creed IV: Black Flag12-month Xbox Live Gold membershipThe Last of UsDestiny - PS4Of course, this list is changed hourly, so feel free to chime in with what the best sellers are when you read this. In the time it took me to write this, several things swapped places, the 12-month Gold membership and The Last of Us (original) dropped off the list, and a $20 Xbox gift card and the Dead Space 3 Complete Pack jumped up.
But I swear those first 3 never move.
But no, this isn't another Professor Layton/Ace Attorney post, although I certainly make enough of those. This time, I'm going to take a look at what the best-selling games really are right now.
Now, I like to think I'm in touch with the mainstream gaming market. On the other hand, I play Halo for the story, enjoyed Amy, and pre-ordered a pigeon dating sim. Don't worry. I'll review it.
So let's take a look at Amazon's video games Best Sellers list and see what the majority of gamers are buying today.
Of the top 20 best sellers... only 11 are actually games. Let's get the non-game items out of the way first. The top 3 best sellers are all PSN gift cards, for various amounts, with an Xbox gift card in 5th place. A 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership is 7th, with the 12-month membership in 18th. Sounds as though a lot of PlayStation owners are buying digital games, while Xbox owners are more interested in playing online. Or maybe this month's Games With Gold selection is just a big draw.
The PlayStation 4 console is currently the 6th best-selling video game product, with its controller in 10th place. Just before it, in 9th place, is an Xbox 360 controller. The Xbox 360 has been out for a lot longer, so it makes sense a lot of people would need a new controller but not the console.
Now, onto the best-selling games!
First up (4th place in the list) is The Last of Us Remastered, for the PS4. I have never played The Last of Us on any console. I'm really not sure what to think about it. If I had nothing to go by other than the videos and trailers I saw of it, I'd probably never get it. I was possibly the only person on the planet it didn't appeal to when it was shown off before its release.But since it came out, everyone's just raved about it. Greatest game ever, great storytelling, great mechanics... Metacritic score of 95, critics giving it a 10/10... Tons of people claim The Last of Us Remastered will win Game of the Year, making The Last of Us Game of the Year for two years in a row.
And it's the best-selling game on Amazon right now. In fact, it's on the best-selling list twice, because the PS3 version is in 19th place. Crazy. Maybe I should play it after all.
Moving on to the next game on the list, in 8th place, we've got one I actually own and have played! I haven't played Mario Kart 8 a lot yet, but it seems like it'll be a fun game. There's still no Fawful (I want Fawful in a Mario Kart game so badly), but that doesn't matter too much. I started playing the series back with Mario Kart 64, and I haven't missed a single entry since!I'll get back to playing it one of these days. Maybe I'll even play it with friends.
But enough of that, let's get back to games everyone seems to be buying but me.
Destiny! Destiny actually claims three spots on this list. The Xbox One version is in 11th, the PlayStation 4 Destiny Bundle is in 14th, and the PS4 version is in 20th.
Destiny is one of those games I wish I would enjoy. It sounds really cool. When I see things about it, it really appeals to me. I like the sci-fi setting, the mysterious storyline, and what I've seen of the gameplay. However, I'm not a big fan of online games, and I don't like the idea of having to be online to ever play it. So, as much as everyone loves it, I'm afraid Destiny is a "pass" for me, at least for now.
Next up, in 12th place, is the Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix... or II.5 Remix, as it's apparently written. This collection follows the 1.5 Remix, and contains the Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.
I don't know what a lot of that means. I haven't actually played the Kingdom Hearts games yet. I own the 1.5 Remix (I.5, maybe?), but haven't had time to play it yet. If I had, maybe I'd have this one pre-ordered already. Friends assure me I'll love it, after all.
As it is, I won't be getting the II.5 Remix this soon.
The repeat games have knocked out a lot of the remaining spots, so all we have left are four games I have no interest in: Minecraft for the Xbox 360, Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Xbox 360, Grand Theft Auto V for the Xbox 360, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag for the Xbox 360. (Is that just how they're writing it, or are there a lot of Xbox 360 players buying games to go with that extra controller in 9th place?)
In case I lost you when I jumped from number to number, here are the top 20 best sellers in Amazon's video game category:$20 PSN card$10 PSN card$50 PSN cardThe Last of Us Remastered$10 Xbox cardPS43-month Xbox Live Gold membershipMario Kart 8Xbox 360 controllerPS4 controllerDestiny - Xbox OneKingdom Hearts II.5 RemixMinecraftDestiny PS4 bundleCall of Duty: GhostsGrand Theft Auto VAssassin's Creed IV: Black Flag12-month Xbox Live Gold membershipThe Last of UsDestiny - PS4Of course, this list is changed hourly, so feel free to chime in with what the best sellers are when you read this. In the time it took me to write this, several things swapped places, the 12-month Gold membership and The Last of Us (original) dropped off the list, and a $20 Xbox gift card and the Dead Space 3 Complete Pack jumped up.
But I swear those first 3 never move.
