Unfettered Blather

Even though I purchased fewer titles than last month (and to be fair, 5 of those titles were in the Orange Box alone) there has just been a slew of good games this month. Portal, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Elebits were all great titles and I’ve also found that Half-Life 2 was definitely worth playing through despite its age. Test Drive Unlimited is my racing game of the moment, which is good because I have driven Midnight Club 3 to death and really was ready for something different that didn’t suck.

Overall I’m noticing a tendency to prefer the 360 as a platform over the Wii, even though the 360 is hooked up to the worst TV set in the house. The Wii has some fun games, but the tendency for developers to over-emphasize “the waggle” has been a turn off for me. I’m hoping that a lot of developers take a cue from Super Smash Bros. and realize that they don’t necessarily have to do anything special with the Wii Remote to make a good game.

BEST OF THE MONTH
	#1 Portal (X360) Portal is actually a game I would have paid money for all by itself. The fact that it comes in the Orange Box with 4 other games is just a bonus. This game was excellent and the description of a “First Person Puzzle Game” is dead-on. A lot has been made of its length, but I actually thought it was another one of those titles that was planned out and paced well from start to finish. I absolutely loved this game, and I think it has broad appeal even if you don’t like puzzle games or first-person shooters. Truly a unique game.
	#2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (WII) Placing a game like SSBB is a challenge because it’s iconic and made with the expected level of Nintendo quality. I love the game and I love the many little touches and details they’ve done, from outstanding cutscenes to the ability to use practically any Nintendo controller of the past two generations with the game. What really keeps this title back is that it is essentially the same game as Super Smash Bros. Melee, which itself is essentially the same game as Super Smash Bros. This is not a bad thing, all are great games and we see additional polish as well as more content. SSBB practically shines. With that said, no matter how high quality the game is, I simply cannot bump Portal from the top spot for the month. Portal has given us a whole new experience where SSBB is just more of something we love. A great game, but just not enough to snag the top spot for the month.
	#3 Elebits (WII) I never thought you could sell a game by saying “It has Katamari Damacy’s style of gameplay”. This is actually true, even though the game couldn’t be more different than Katamari, and that’s a good thing. It’s more like the first-person shooter version of Katamari. This is also the second First Person puzzle game I have bought this month. What’s going on here?
	#4 Viva Pinata (X360) Really a game I bought for my kids but I’ve been encouraged to try it anyway. It’s a fun game that’s not afraid to try something different and redefine what gameplay should be. I know I said a lot of the same things about Endless Ocean and gave it a much higher place, but I think it’s the execution of how each one approaches its play style that gets Viva Pinata lower on the list.
	#5 Half-Life 2 (X360) Overall it strikes me as a good game, but it is definitely just more Half-Life but with a facelift. So far there is nothing about the game that really makes it stand apart from the original or the expansions. Valve has not learned some lessons (Jumping challenges are NOT fun in FPS games and I am tired of beating up crates with a crowbar) but this is still a solid game.
	#6 Test Drive Unlimited (X360) A game I nearly passed on due to the demo not really giving a good feel for the game. Someone described this as more of a driving game then a racing game, and that’s a good way of looking at it. With tons of downloadable cars, many of them free, not to mention an impressive assortment that comes with the game, there is bound to be something for everyone here. A very nice casual game that I’d highly recommend to automobile enthusiasts but not a high competition sort of game. The open island environment is kind of a nice touch and I like that some of the side missions are a little less race oriented.
	#7 History Channel Civil War: A Nation Divided (X360) Not a spectacular game by any means, but unique in its setting. The best Civil War shooter I’ve ever played. A game that stands on its own. Ok, enough with the corny jokes. If you ever wanted to play a first person shooter in a Civil War setting this is probably your only option outside of some user made modification to another game.
	#8 Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (X360) Some graphical improvements have made character interactions even better, which is saying something because I thought they were pretty good in Half-Life 2 despite it’s age. Seriously, Valve set the bar 4 years ago and other companies have still not caught up. Even so, Episode 1 plays a lot like Half-Life 2 in reverse. At the end of HL2 your only weapon is a super gravity gun and you’re trying to get into the Citadel. In Episode 1, you start out with only the super gravity gun and you’re trying to get out of the Citadel. Gameplay is essentially unchanged, though Valve is obviously trying to do even more with the environment, and for them it works. I’m actually placing this underneath the mediocre Civil War shooter because at least the Civil War shooter is trying a new premise and also there is no real serious leap in terms of improvements of this game over its predecessor.
	#9 Just Cause (X360) This is a game I probably would have bought way back when for the X-Box if they had done a better job of marketing the game. The packaging doesn’t bother to tell you what kind of game it is and the Che-style graphic on the front was not a selling point. As it turns out, it’s a decent little sandbox style game where you work to lead a revolution on an island. The overall style is more like an action movie, which allows you to do a lot of over the top stunts. The incorporation of a parachute as a regular piece of equipment was a nice touch, and it becomes a surprisingly versatile tool in your arsenal.
	#10 Smash TV (X360) An X-Box Arcade purchase, a game I had fond memories of from the old arcade days. Apparently my skills have degraded from disuse, I don’t remember dying so much and yet the game seems to be exactly the way it was in the arcade. I like the faithful translation and the dual analog set-up of the modern gaming console is a perfect alternate to the old twin joystick days.

WORST OF THE MONTH

#1 Bankshot Billiards 2 (X360) We haven’t had a worst of the month in awhile! Another X-Box Arcade game, I received this free with my Gold membership to Live. Not a bad game, but nothing about it stands out. If you’re a pool enthusiast I could see the appeal. I grew up with a pool table in the house and I love the game, but it’s never been something that translated well to videogames in my opinion.

GAME OF THE MONTH Portal
It’s so rare when a game gets everything right. Even games I love tend to have some kind of irritating design quirk or bad decision made at some point. I could nitpick Portal to death, but what would be the point? Aside from some really minor nits, the game has no standout flaws. The game is a total blast to play, and while challenging it doesn’t go out of its way to punish the player. If anything, Portal is extremely forgiving even when actions result in player death. This is also a game that rewards thinking outside the box. The developers set up the puzzles but they don’t really care if you solve them in an unexpected manner. I like the combination of truly original gameplay coupled with increased player control and rewards for ingenuity.

BEST SO FAR

1. Portal (X360)
   This was actually a tough call. Crackdown was an excellent game and there is a lot more to do, but Portal practically tickled my brain. In the end, Portal wins for being such a unique approach to gaming in general.
2. Crackdown (X360)
3. Endless Ocean (Wii)
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
   This was a tough one to place, and my initial thought was to put this in the #2 slot but I thought about it for a bit. Crackdown, like SSBB, is a derivative of another game (GTA III), but like SSBB it takes its predecessor and improves on it greatly. I also found that Crackdown took chances and tried new styles of play. SSBB includes a story mode, but it’s really a revamp of the old adventure mode. The core gameplay mechanics are the same. Really it’s a larger roster and bigger maps but not really a “new” game. Likewise, Endless Ocean is not near as dynamic or exciting as SSBB but it dares to take a new direction with gaming and is a surprisingly rewarding game. On the bright side, I feel good that I could struggle this much with the top of the list so early in the year. This is an outstanding game, and to debut at #4 really says something about the game choices that are out there.
5. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
6. Guitar Hero: Rock the 80’s (PS2)
7. Elebits (Wii)
   It’s unique gameplay and accessibility to all ages gives it a unique charm. A must have for people who enjoy games like Katamari Damacy where you have a ridiculous premise but ultimately end up decimating your environment in fun and silly ways. I’m still looking forward to picking up entire houses with the gravity gun.
8. Viva Pinata (X360)
   This is just a banner month for unique gameplay experiences. Honestly, this game has been on my radar for awhile and as expected it was a huge hit with the kids. I enjoy it and I appreciate what it’s trying to do. Definitely one of the better games for the X-Box 360 even if it is targetted for children. Actually, what I appreciate about the game is that you can make it for children while still being enjoyable for adults. Only bad game design says that a kids game should be dumbed down to the point of being unplayable.
9. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (GCN)
10. Guitar Hero (PS2)

WORST SO FAR

1. Call of Duty 3 (Wii)
2. Road Trip: Arcade Edition (GCN)
3. Carnival Games (Wii)
4. Yaris (X360)
5. Virtual On Marz (PS2)
   In hindsight, too many games were ahead on the list that I really did enjoy more. This is really just a bad game and I can’t heap enough scorn on it.
6. Hexic HD (X360)
7. Pac-Man: Championship Edition (X360)
   I’m still not a fan, but I think my initial assessment was too harsh. I’ve moved it to a place I think is more appropriate on the list.
8. Bankshot Billiards 2 (X360)
   A solidly mediocre game that probably suffers more because of its subject matter than anything. Not bad if you just want a simple game of pool, but there is nothing compelling about this title if you’re not a fan of virtual billiards.
9. Uno (X360)
10. Smash TV (X360)
    The problem with a faithful translation of the original arcade game is that there was nothing really spectacular about Smash TV other than its over-the-top premise of winning fabulous prizes while trying not to get whacked by a guy with a baseball bat.

YOU’RE OUT OF THE RUNNING
And now we bid farewell to those games that won’t make either list.

• Boom Boom Rocket (X360)
  A victim of unfortunate timing, I’m glad to see Boom Boom Rocket off the Worst Of list. I’ve pretty much played the game all I care to, earning some basic achievements and giving it a decent run, but I still find it to be more of a poor man’s rhythm game. I may yet give it another go when I get some guitar controllers for the 360, but until then I think this game is tapped.
• Half-Life 2 (X360)
  This debuts at a time where competition is already pretty high and it’s got to compete with Portal, a game that comes on the same disc! It’s a good entry into the Half-Life story and a must play for fans like me that maybe never wanted to mess with Steam and also gave the X-Box port a pass. It just doesn’t stack up against more modern games, after all this is essentially a 4 year old game now!
• Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (X360)
  While Valve has done a lot of improvements to the actual game engine, the gameplay remains essentially the same. This is fine as story continuance but it doesn’t show any strong improvements. If Half-Life 2 couldn’t make the list, how could this?
• History Channel Civil War: A Nation Divided (X360)
  No great surprise here. It’s not a terrible game, but when you see “History Channel” on a game it doesn’t get you all excited even if Activision is involved. It’s a unique take and there is simply too much rehashing in the FPS genre. Thus I am happy to have it and I’m enjoying it so far even though there were some weird design decisions being made.
• Just Cause (X360)
  A solid game and it’s also going dirt cheap right now. While Just Cause manages the “sandbox” gameplay and does it right for a change, it is the epitomy of the open world problem. Many reviewers and gamers alike have pointed out how these open worlds try to feel alive but can often seem empty when the player isn’t actively on a mission. This is magnified in Just Cause because your environment is a third world island country, so there is lots and lots of nothingness to be had. The game itself plays great and exploration can have pay-offs, but a lot of time I spent on the game was actually zooming between missions simply because I didn’t feel the need to do much else. While it’s a game I would recommend to others, it’s not going to make the list.
• Star Wars: Republic Commando (XBX)
  Ending last month as the #10 Best Of title made it vulnerable and then I played Portal and it was all over for this title. No regrets, this is a quality title and possibly one of the best Star Wars based shooters on the market. I say that with no lack of experience with Star Wars shooters as well. I hate to see it drop off the list, but I think it speaks well of my gaming choices that I have managed to continue to find quality games.
• Saint’s Row (X360)
  A largely derivative game that owes more to the Grand Theft Auto series than it should. Also, probably a better game than any of the Grand Theft Autos with the possible exception of Vice City. I enjoyed it and recommend it if you like that style of gameplay and the thug elements don’t bother you. What really holds this game back is forcing the player to do side missions to advance the main story. That is one sin GTA never committed.
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (Wii)
  I knew this day would come. In some ways I shouldn’t like Super Mario Bros. 3 because it ruined platform games for me. It was such a good game that I actually couldn’t enjoy other platform games after playing it. At least until Ratchet and Clank. It’s an excellent platformer and really it’s only dropped off the list because of the limits of the technology when this game was first developed. There has simply been too many deep and innovative gaming experiences done since then. Still one of the best games you can get for your Wii Virtual Console.
• Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
  I’m not in love with this game and certainly I have very little tolerance of the platformer formula which has changed little even with the transition from 2D to 3D. That said, despite my biases it’s not a horrible game and certainly not lacking in quality enough to keep it on the Worst Of list. At least now I won’t get burned in effigy by the Nintendo fanboys.
• Test Drive Unlimited (X360)
  A fun little driving game with lots of variety and a lot to do, but it suffers from a very floaty physics model that can make car control a real chore at times. Also, while the concept is neat, this is an evolution of the open world racing model that Midnight Club introduced and has been done in other game series as well. Test Drive Unlimited is the first good application of this model but we’ve already got Burnout Paradise and a new Midnight Club on the horizon. While I enjoy this game I think it’s kind of niche oriented. I’m a minor car enthusiast and I love racing games. I think a non-racer and non-car enthusiast wouldn’t find much to like about this game.
• Wii Sports (Wii)
  It had a good run, but finally got bumped from the Top Ten. An excellent game all the same, I would have paid actual money for it even if it had not come bundled with the Wii. This was a great addition for Wii buyers and really sets the standard for how the Wii Controls can and maybe should be used.

UNDETERMINED

• Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (X360)
  You gotta give me a break here! I bought the Orange Box at a time when I already had a lot of games on my plate. I simply don’t want to get into this until I have either finished Half-Life 2: Episode 1 or gotten far enough into it that I won’t feel guilty for starting this. I will attempt to tackle it next month.
• Skies of Arcadia: Legends (GCN)
  Well, yes, I do plan to play this someday. However, being an RPG I simply don’t have the time to dedicate to it when there are other games to be played. I still plan on getting to it eventually.
• Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix (XBX)
  Unless they release a backwards compatibility update for this game, I think I’m going to have to drop it. It simply will not run on my X-Box for some reason.
• Team Fortress 2 (X360)
  As an on-line only game I haven’t had the chance to give this a good go. I’d really only consider playing on-line with people I know and so I have little incentive to try this until someplace like Gamers With Jobs organizes something. Until then, it will have to wait.

MARCH STATISTICS -
Average Cost: $14.92
Wii - 2 Titles (15.4%)
X-Box 360 - 11 Titles (84.6%)
13 Titles

STATISTICS SO FAR -
Average Cost: $14.39 per game
Gamecube - 5 Titles (7.8%)

Playstation 2 - 9 Titles (14.1%)
Wii - 12 Titles (18.8%)
X-Box - 15 Titles (23.4%)
X-Box 360 - 23 Titles (35.9%)
64 Titles

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