Is it me or is the Megadrive collection growing stale? There was a collection on Xbox and PS2, that eventually ported to PC. Almost the same collection appeared on Xbox 360 and PS3. And now there's a GOLD EDITION arriving on PC shortly.
As quoted from Sega's website "This special edition consists of all 45 titles from the previous Mega Drive Classic Collection™ Volumes 1-4". What? So this isn't a new collection? In fact there aren't ANY new titles on the disc?! If you owned any of the previous collections on PC or on any games console, then you've pretty much already got these games. And whilst I agree that the MegaDrive was an amazing games console with a massive list of exceptional games, why would anyone want to buy the same games again and again and again?
These collections are supposed to be 'Classic' or 'Ultimate' or whatever buzz word sells, but I can think of plenty of MegaDrive games that haven't been included in any of the collections I've seen. How about Flashback? Now that was a classic that pushed the limits of the console. It had a fantastic story and excellent gameplay. Not to mention the lush graphics. Or how about NBA Jam? My brother and I loved that game as kids.
I understand that there may be some developers who refuse to let Sega use their games in these collections. It's their creation after all so why should Sega make extra profit from it? But to have no new games in this Gold Edition collection just feels like they haven't even bothered trying.
Read the full list of games at Sega's site here.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Review: TMNT
TMNT, not to be confused with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (it's a different game), follows the crime-fighting turtles on yet another adventure. This time retold by the turtles themselves as we play through the story from each of their perspectives. The story of the game is told through a series of comic strips with narration from each of the turtles. Their story is of an event in their lives that almost tore the gang apart, but ultimately leads to them growing closer as a family and stronger as a crime-fighting quartet.
Initial impressions of the game is that the developers have gone for a cel-shaded cartoony style. Everything has quite strong black outlines and feels very much like a comic book or the original cartoon series. However, it's done with style and doesn't at all detract from the gameplay. Different levels are given different shades of colour to add atmosphere to the game. For example in the first level you play as Leonardo as he navigates his way through a lush green jungle full of beautiful natural colours. In the next level you take to the city streets at night and suddenly the city takes on much darker shades of gray, with the little colour around being the red streak left by Raphael's mask as he runs through the streets.
TMNT is made by Ubisoft and feels a lot like their Prince of Persia games. The turtles can run, jump and perform combinations of attacks as is standard in most platform/fighting games. However they also have the ability to swing from pole to pole, run short distances along walls to navigate holes, and wall jump to gain extra height. The Prince of Persia games do pull these manoeuvres with a touch more finesse than TMNT but then TMNT does feel like it's been slightly toned down to appeal to a younger audience. Not to say that it is in any way an easy game to complete. TMNT proves challenging to novice and expert gamers alike. Using the wall running ability to navigate holes takes some work as it's all too easy to overshoot the platform you are aiming for and end up falling into the next hole.
TMNT distinguishes itself through the special move that each turtle has and the team attacks that can be performed. Leonardo can phase through certain walls and doors (not sure about this ability personally, it doesn't really fit in with the reality of the turtles). Raphael can use his sai to climb certain walls. Michaelangelo can spin his nunchucks to fly short distances. And Donatello can use his staff to launch himself across gaping chasms. Team attacks depend on the active turtle but can be very useful in boss fights, in fact some bosses can't be beaten without them.
Perhaps this is my only criticism of the game; that some bosses can only be defeated by using the turtles combined attacks and it's not always obvious which ones. I may have missed the moment when team attacks were introduced but I went all the way through the game without understanding how they worked or what purpose they served, until I came face to face with a boss who could only be defeated with a combined attack. Of course once I knew what I was doing everything made sense!
The game doesn't take too long to complete. I finished in about 6 hours but I'm sure it can be done in less if you know how to defeat the bosses. There are some extras to unlock, mostly the in-game videos and some artwork, but there's a couple of unlockables to invest in: the Weekend Weapons and the Halloween Enemies. I won't spoil the fun by telling you what they are, but they are the best unlockables that I've found in the game. There are also challenge levels that are unlocked by achieving A ratings on each level.
Overall, TMNT is a great game for younger games and fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's a well made game without any major flaws but it is relatively short, even with the unlockable content. If you are looking for a more challenging similar game I would recommend trying any one of the Prince of Persia games, I'm currently playing through Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. But if you happen across TMNT in a bargain box or at a car boot sale then definitely pick it up.
Initial impressions of the game is that the developers have gone for a cel-shaded cartoony style. Everything has quite strong black outlines and feels very much like a comic book or the original cartoon series. However, it's done with style and doesn't at all detract from the gameplay. Different levels are given different shades of colour to add atmosphere to the game. For example in the first level you play as Leonardo as he navigates his way through a lush green jungle full of beautiful natural colours. In the next level you take to the city streets at night and suddenly the city takes on much darker shades of gray, with the little colour around being the red streak left by Raphael's mask as he runs through the streets.
TMNT is made by Ubisoft and feels a lot like their Prince of Persia games. The turtles can run, jump and perform combinations of attacks as is standard in most platform/fighting games. However they also have the ability to swing from pole to pole, run short distances along walls to navigate holes, and wall jump to gain extra height. The Prince of Persia games do pull these manoeuvres with a touch more finesse than TMNT but then TMNT does feel like it's been slightly toned down to appeal to a younger audience. Not to say that it is in any way an easy game to complete. TMNT proves challenging to novice and expert gamers alike. Using the wall running ability to navigate holes takes some work as it's all too easy to overshoot the platform you are aiming for and end up falling into the next hole.
TMNT distinguishes itself through the special move that each turtle has and the team attacks that can be performed. Leonardo can phase through certain walls and doors (not sure about this ability personally, it doesn't really fit in with the reality of the turtles). Raphael can use his sai to climb certain walls. Michaelangelo can spin his nunchucks to fly short distances. And Donatello can use his staff to launch himself across gaping chasms. Team attacks depend on the active turtle but can be very useful in boss fights, in fact some bosses can't be beaten without them.
Perhaps this is my only criticism of the game; that some bosses can only be defeated by using the turtles combined attacks and it's not always obvious which ones. I may have missed the moment when team attacks were introduced but I went all the way through the game without understanding how they worked or what purpose they served, until I came face to face with a boss who could only be defeated with a combined attack. Of course once I knew what I was doing everything made sense!
The game doesn't take too long to complete. I finished in about 6 hours but I'm sure it can be done in less if you know how to defeat the bosses. There are some extras to unlock, mostly the in-game videos and some artwork, but there's a couple of unlockables to invest in: the Weekend Weapons and the Halloween Enemies. I won't spoil the fun by telling you what they are, but they are the best unlockables that I've found in the game. There are also challenge levels that are unlocked by achieving A ratings on each level.
Overall, TMNT is a great game for younger games and fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's a well made game without any major flaws but it is relatively short, even with the unlockable content. If you are looking for a more challenging similar game I would recommend trying any one of the Prince of Persia games, I'm currently playing through Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. But if you happen across TMNT in a bargain box or at a car boot sale then definitely pick it up.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Spider-Man Reboot
Okay, so it's not technically a video game blog, but I have to comment on the progress of the new Spiderman movie. After hearing the sad news that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire would be leaving the films I was concerned and curious about how a reboot of the series would turn out. In some cases the reboots have been fantastic for the series; think about Batman Begins or X-Men: Origins. But it's a big gamble to take.
However, I've today learned more about the Spiderman reboot and the great news is that it's going to stick much more to the plots of the original comics (and hopefully therefore to the cartoon series I was engrossed by as a child!). Spiderman is getting back his web shooters (and hopefully some of the challenges of the original comics, when his web cartridges ran out!). He's also kitted out in a slightly less Lycra based costume and his love interest is going to be his high school sweetheart Gwen Stacey.
I'm looking forward to some teaser trailers of shots from the movie, but it could be a while as filming is currently in progress. I guess we'll be anticipating a release date next year.
Check out that full article on Yahoo Movies
However, I've today learned more about the Spiderman reboot and the great news is that it's going to stick much more to the plots of the original comics (and hopefully therefore to the cartoon series I was engrossed by as a child!). Spiderman is getting back his web shooters (and hopefully some of the challenges of the original comics, when his web cartridges ran out!). He's also kitted out in a slightly less Lycra based costume and his love interest is going to be his high school sweetheart Gwen Stacey.
I'm looking forward to some teaser trailers of shots from the movie, but it could be a while as filming is currently in progress. I guess we'll be anticipating a release date next year.
Check out that full article on Yahoo Movies
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Activision and Blizzard?
Activision and Blizzard; when did that happen? I've only just caught a whiff of this one!
Is this going to be a match made in heaven or does this spell disaster for one, two or all three of the companies involved in the buyout. I guess it means more financial power but if Activision are currently ditching some of the best series (Guitar Hero, True Crime, Tony Hawks) they have you only begin to imagine that they intend to survive off of the profits of World of Warcraft and Starcraft, arguably two of THE biggest online games in existence. And to me this can only end up badly.
On the back of the news that Guitar Hero is being axed, I can only hope that Activision are planning on some big titles to replace them.
Is this going to be a match made in heaven or does this spell disaster for one, two or all three of the companies involved in the buyout. I guess it means more financial power but if Activision are currently ditching some of the best series (Guitar Hero, True Crime, Tony Hawks) they have you only begin to imagine that they intend to survive off of the profits of World of Warcraft and Starcraft, arguably two of THE biggest online games in existence. And to me this can only end up badly.
On the back of the news that Guitar Hero is being axed, I can only hope that Activision are planning on some big titles to replace them.
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