The Superficial Game of the Year Awards

2009 represented something of a gaming renaissance for me, particularly the latter portion of the year. Spending a week with Jim S. will do that to a guy. So I thought it fitting to close out the year by assembling a list of the games that occupied most of my time.

If you're looking for insight and in-depth commentary, scroll on down to Jim's excellent GOTY pieces posted over the last month or so. You'll find none of that here. Nope, these are quick and dirty takes on the games that impressed me most, many based on limited gameplay, not all of which were released this year, but collectively consumed most of my gaming time. They're ranked in rough order of how much time I spent with each. Ground rules out of the way, herewith, The Superficial Game Of The Year Awards...

The Dominators

MLB 08 (PS3)

Yes, you read right. That’s MLB 08. Picking up right where it left off last year, this superlative game occupied all of my gaming time for the entire first half of the year. In terms of sheer number of hours played, nothing else came close.

NHL 10 (PS3)

So disappointed was I in this game that I had it posted for sale mere days after purchase. The player control is an outright abomination in terms of physics and realism. Still, we Canucks love us some puck, and after granting the game a second lease on life, I came to appreciate the fun factor lurking beneath its faux sim exterior.

Rock Band 2 (PS3)

As a guitar player, I had zero interest in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises. I briefly attempted GH once with my 10 yr. old nephew (who ruled!), and failed miserably. Then, Jim insisted on dragging out RB2 while we were there. I opted for drums instead of guitar, and it wasn’t long before I was posting good scores and having a ton of fun. But it was my wife, Joyce, who liked it even more than me, suggesting that we get it for Christmas. Well, Christmas comes early in Canada, and it wasn’t long after we returned from St. Louis that The Huckleberries were born. The rest, as they say, is history. Easily the most expensive game (considering peripherals and downloads) I’ve ever owned, and the only game that the two of us play together. That alone makes it worth every penny.

Peggle (PS3 download)

I’ve been searching for an action puzzler for my wife, The Zuma Queen, to supplement, well, Zuma. Peggle is that game. I first fired it up one night after she had gone to bed. Three hours later, I had to force myself to quit. Yes, it’s that addictive. The situation was no different when she tried it out the next day. She was giggling like a schoolgirl. And that, my friends, is worth $9.99 any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

WipeOut HD/Fury (PS3 download)

An old favorite done up just right. A sprawling racer (especially with the Fury add-on), and 1080p eye candy of the very highest order. Only available as a (quite affordable) download from PSN. What are you waiting for?

Need for Speed Shift (PS3)

It’s been a while since a racing game has hooked me as quickly as Shift did. The perfect balance between sim and arcade, and even better with a wheel (a Logitech wireless force feedback in my case). A must for anyone with even a passing interest in video game racing.


Second Helpings

Fallout 3 (PS3)

A late charge nearly landed this in the upper echelon, but no matter. Jim's 2008 Game of the Year came highly recommended, and doesn't disappoint. Though I've barely scratched the surface of this massive game, the compelling mix of FPS and RPG, interesting story, and excellent combat system have already deprived me of much sleep. Fallout 3, along with inFamous and Bioshock, are like gateway drugs to the world of FPS and action games for me. I like!

inFamous (PS3)

Play through the opening segment of this game then come back and tell me you’re not hooked. I dare ya. The graphics may not be as polished as some of its contemporaries, but they perfectly complement the gritty post-apocalyptic cityscape that’s created here. The concept is fantastic, the single cell, graphic novel style cutscenes well realized and sharp as a knife, and the control while a bit touchy is more than manageable. If there’s to be an Infamous 2, you can sign me up here and now.

IL2 Sturmovik (PS3)

I am utterly useless when it comes to flight games. Always have been. They disorient me to the point where I don’t know whether I’m flying right side up or upside down. The only constant is the end result…a fiery death. So imagine my delight when I tried the demo of IL2. An air combat game where I could actually fly? Inconceivable! Great graphics and control, interesting and varied missions and aircraft, and huge fun factor combine to make me a very happy pilot.

Bioshock (PS3)

I’m obviously way late to this particular party. Another former Jim Schmaltz GOTY award winner, he was more eager to demo Bioshock for me than I was to see it. Just not going to be my cup o’ tea, I thought. Wrong. It was mere minutes before I knew that I had to own this game. I pleaded with Jim to stop the demo, preferring to preserve as much of the experience as possible for myself, but I think he was having too much fun to quit. The jaw-dropping art direction alone is worth the price of admission, but so much more awaits. I’m savoring every moment. Needless to say, the upcoming sequel will be a slam dunk, release day purchase.

Assassin’s Creed 2 (PS3)

Thanks to Jim for hipping me to another of his obsessions. I never would have thought of this one on my own. I agree that the game could do without the modern day element of the storyline, but the medieval world more than makes up for it. Great visuals, a gentle learning curve, and spot on control. It was love at first jump.

Left 4 Dead 2 (360)

What could be more fun than laying waste to hordes of zombies? Nothing, that’s what. Though I’m not into online multiplayer (which is clearly L4D2’s target audience), I couldn’t resist snatching this up when I spotted it at a heavily discounted price. The single player campaign may be short for the experienced, but I don’t fit that profile so I’m sure I’ll get my money’s worth. So far, so good. Kudos for the coolest video game TV ad in, like, maybe ever.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

It was Jim’s son Zach, a video game deity, who demoed this one for me. Impressed as I was with the production values, I didn’t envision a purchase. That was until I played the demo. Not only do the visuals tickle the eyeballs, but the tight control makes it a pleasure to play. Beating baddies into submission has never been this much fun. A button masher’s delight.

Motor Storm Pacific Rift (PS3)

Another racer? You bet! I'm a sucker for them, all colours and stripes. I liked the original a lot, and had my eye on this one for a year waiting for the price to drop. When it finally did, I pounced. Load times are much improved (thankfully), the graphics are splendiforous, tracks are creative, challenging and plentiful, and the racing as exhilarating as ever. Still, there's a little something missing this time around, and I think it comes down to atmosphere. The rave aesthetic that suited the first game so well is replaced by lush, tropical landscapes here, and takes away some of the edge. Granted, it's a minor quibble in an otherwise fine racing package.

Fight Night Round 4 (PS3)

A longtime fan of the Knockout Kings/Fight Night franchise, I always have a spot in my game library reserved for a boxing title. Like Pacific Rift, I held out for a price reduction on this one, and Round 4 was worth the wait. This is a recent addition, and I'm only beginning Legacy mode, but for straight up rock 'em sock 'em fun, FNR4 is the best yet (despite some annoyingly slow load times on the setup screens). If boxing turns your crank, you owe it to yourself to at least check out the demo.


Batter Up!

On deck for '10...

Borderlands (PS3)
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time (PS3)
Uncharted 2 (PS3)
Halo 3 (360)
Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

Impressions to follow in the weeks to come. In the meantime...

A very Happy New Year to all!!!

The Christmas haul

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas (or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate).  Ours was great as we got to spend time with Barb's family from out of town and my own family as well.  The kids were great and Santa was very good to them as always.

Santa was also good to me.  I got some outstanding gifts including sweaters from Barb and the kids, a really nice blanket and Beatles Trivia Pursuit (as if anyone is gonna play me in that) from Barb's parents.  Barb also got me an outdoor fire pit so we can enjoy ourselves during the cold season with a nice fire.  Awesome gift!

Of course I also scored some great movies including the new Criterion Collection release of The Human Condition (perhaps the greatest portrait of humanity on film and one of the staggering achievements in cinema history) and Downfall, which I finally got around to seeing.  That's also a wonderful film, with a tremendous performance by Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler during his final 10 days.  Highly recommended.

I also scored a couple of CDs (Norah Jones, including her latest) and of course I got some games.  I got Mass Effect, which I have played through once already.  I wanted to play through it again to have a saved file for when the sequel is released early in 2010.  I also got a couple of PS3 games (Pete, take note), the God Of War Collection and Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack in Time.  I used a gift card I received for 2 more games (both PS3 games Pete!), InFamous and Motorstorm: Pacific Rift which was on sale for $20.  I got a chance to mess around with InFamous, Motorstorm and Ratchet And Clank last night.  All 3 were great fun.  InFamous is really gonna draw me in, I can see that already.  Motorstorm is more of the same, a lot like the original.  It's not the deepest racing game around but it is gorgeous, fun and a great pick-up and play game.  And I have a real soft spot for Ratchet And Clank.  I loved their last PS3 game (Tools Of Destruction) and this one picks up right where that one left off.  It's great fun and something with a much lighter tone than what I have been playing lately, so that is a welcome relief.

So that's about it.  As you can see, someone thought I was a very good boy last year.  I still have an iTunes gift card from last Christmas and I think I am gonna use that to download the latest album by Grizzly Bear.  I have heard a lot of great things about it. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

Inglorious Fallout

A couple of quick hits for ya...

We finally got around to seeing Inglorious Basterds yesterday. Tarantino fan that I am, I'd been looking forward to this one for a while. IB is less of a direct homage than some of his more recent efforts (though did anyone else notice a nod and wink to Mel Brooks?), and marks somewhat of a return to form for the once renegade director. The pacing is deliberate and the tone uneven, which is typical of QT at his best, and the kind of thing he can usually pull off in his sleep. But that's not quite the case here. Tarantino's trademark contrast of absurd humor against explosive outbursts of violence isn't nearly as deftly integrated as it was in Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, or even Kill Bill 2. The performances are uniformly excellent, the dialogue sharp (if not quite on par with QT's finest), and the direction impressive. Where IB missteps, IMO, is the story and editing. While it's hard to pick at any particular scenes (as they're all well executed), this film would have worked better and had even greater impact had it been more compact. And that comes back to story - entertaining though it is, it simply lacks the scope to justify a 2:30 running time. As a result it, at times, feels like a film that's strangely disconnected from itself. As IB unfolded, I couldn't help but think of how it may have turned out in the hands of the Coen Brothers (for starters imagine George Clooney in the Brad Pitt role, and a tad less graphic violence). Perhaps subsequent viewings will reveal greater cohesion and appreciation but, for now, Inglorious Basterds feels like a glorious mess.

On either side of viewing IB, I put some initial time into Fallout 3. I know this one's been around for a while, but it came highly recommended by Jim, and furthers my indoctrination into the world of gaming outside of sports and racing. From the moment I stepped outside Vault 101 (an entertaining level in its own right, and clever tutorial), it became obvious how massive in scope this game is. It's already almost overwhelming to think about how much time you'd have to invest in order to explore every corner of this world. I knew going in that Fallout 3 was an FPS with RPG elements but, so far, it feels like the other way around. I'm not complaining though. It's been a looong time since I played an RPG, and there's an exciting and addictive balance between thought and flat out action that's integrated here. And, like Infamous (which I'm currently enjoying), the moral decision making isn't obvious, and will no doubt affect the story as it progresses. Do you put your trust in Butch and help him, or beat him to death? Assassinate the Overseer, or take your chances? Help the young woman disarm the bomb that's strapped to her body, or run for safety? Heck, even a surreptitious pickpocket attempt (evidently failed) erupted into an unexpected gunfight with a Megatron dweller! How will the denizens view me now? It's all very engrossing. Speaking of which, I'm off to perfect my lockpicking skills. Anyone have any spare bobby pins?

Thanks Santa!!!

On December 25th, I always like to celebrate by saying...

Happy Birthday Pete!*

Barb, the kids and I wish you a very happy birthday and a very merry Christmas.  We hope to see you and The Lovely Joyce(tm) sometime in the new year!

*For those that aren't in the know, Pete actually was born in a manger on December 25th, unlike that Jesus character, who was apparently born sometime in May.  But in a manger.  Jesus, I mean, not Pete.  I really don't know if Pete was born in a manger or not.  I just always assumed his "condition" was caused by being kicked in the head by a donkey at birth, so the manger thing just kind of grew out of that.  But I digress.  Happy Birthday, buddy!!!  And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone else out there!

PS3 Rules the Roost

The original Playstation represented a major turning point for me as a gamer. Until then, my gaming time had been focused on no more than a small handful of games on each generation of console I’d owned. It was the PSX that really opened the floodgates, and I haven’t looked back since.

The Sega Dreamcast was the first of the post Playstation consoles to hit the market, and was a release day purchase for me. It’s a shame that Sega dropped support for it, as it truly was a great system. Regardless, there was no question that I’d be supplementing the DC with the hotly anticipated Playstation 2 when it arrived on the scene. Much to my disappointment, I was completely underwhelmed with the PS2. I expected it to be a noticeable step up from the Dreamcast, and it simply wasn’t. It wasn’t long before an Xbox sat in the space previously occupied by the PS2.

I was much more impressed with the Xbox, and even more so with the 360 that succeeded it. In fact, I was so satisfied with the 360 that I never saw myself owning a Playstation 3, especially at the price. Well, I should have learned long ago never to say never. When my DVD player went kaput, I started to think about upgrading to blu-ray. In researching blu-ray players, I discovered that the PS3 was the most affordable point of entry. That was all the rationalization I needed to spring for another gaming console.

As expected, blu-ray knocked my socks off, even at 1080i (and better still at the 1080p I’m running now). However, I wasn’t quite prepared for how powerful a gaming platform the PS3 is. MLB ’08 was, at the time, the most impressive game I’d ever laid eyes on, and represented a noticeable step up from what I’d become accustomed to on the 360. A year and a half later, virtually all of my movie and gaming purchases are for the PS3, and the system continues to amaze. So much so, in fact, that I just bought a second one for the bedroom!

Kudos

· Blu-Ray!!!
· Processing power for gaming
· Multi-Media capability (movies, gaming, music, photos, video)
· Tons of great downloadable content, and a very nice interface (Playstation Store)
· Ease of upgrading hard drive, ample storage capacity (my entire 16,000+ song music collection is now stored on the PS3)
. DS controller is compact, familiar and doesn't require batteries
. Wireless connectivity to internet and compatible devices (e.g. Bluetooth)

Quibbles

· Music management could be better, especially when dealing with a large volume of files
· Can’t be used as a media server, only a client – I’d like to stream music from one PS3 to another
· The ability to automatically update and share game save data between PS3’s would be nice
. Not much comes in the box, so plan on shelling out for an HDMI cable and, possibly, a headset
· Upgrading hard drive, if necessary, can add a lot to overall cost
· Online community growing, but not as large or established as Xbox Live

Congratulations Jessica!!!

My lovely 15 year old daughter Jessica passed her written driving test and got her learner's permit today.  She is very excited and we are very proud.  Way to go Jess!