Revival of the Action Thriller Genre: Alan Wake

It's been a number of years back, but I still remember the first time I was playing the first Silent Hill game in my Sony PlayStation. The eeriness of the dark plus unknown forces walking about and attacking my character definitely scared me and on certain instances made me scream specially those moments like when a dead body came out of a locker. But since then, I have yet got the same feeling again in this genre which is sad.

Then came Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake for the XBOX 360. The game used elements from the Silent Hill franchise like the darkness and the unknown forces and gave somewhat the same feeling for me (although I still find Silent Hill scarier). But I believe there were things done correctly which I want to list out.

The setting is brilliantly dark

The story starts with Alan Wake a successful writer going for a vacation trip with his wife into Bright Falls. The environment is breathtakingly beautiful and felt very much alive (well its actually alive in certain instances). In different parts of the story, you will be found in the very much alive and well lit places in Bright Falls and most of the time you will be in dark places at night with only your flashlight as your main source of light to traverse the levels. There are a handful of locations where there will be other sources of light but still once you leave those spots you will be relying on your good ol' flashlight for light. In some scenes, I was just filled with awe looking at how beautiful they are.

Fighting the\in Dark

Another very creative aspect of this game is the action part. Where in its using the standard 3rd person shooter mechanics and changed some aspects to make it feel new. Like using the flash light beam as a replacement for the traditional targetting reticle. Another thing is to make the flash light into a weapon rather than just a light source. As possessed towns folk and other objects get controlled by the darkness, Alan's best weapon is the flash light to cause the zombie like towns folk weaken and ready to be killed by the various guns available then for other objects prolonged exposure to the light will cause it to explode. The variety of weapons that can be used are pretty much ok and believable (that they can be found in a small town like this). Enemies can be from any towns people you meet in the game to any objects including bulldozers and other big machines (Yikes!).

Story that will make you thinking and guessing

The story is one of the best points of this game as well. Dividing the game into episodes and making it really feel like a series was a good touch. Complete with the ending songs and the recap of the previous episode upon starting the new one. Another very interesting bit about the game is how they used the manuscript pages (collectibles in the game). It sometimes tells you about what happend previously (Past), what is about to happen (Present) and what is going to happen in the long run (Future). There were even times that the manuscript talked about certain dangers before you actually face them which will make you paranoid on every little thing because somehow you are anticipating a certain attack. The overall plot is not too shabby as well (although I am still 1 more episode to go). My wife is actually enjoying watching me play and guessing what is about to happen next just like watching an action series on television.

Soundtrack that will make you sing a long

I am not really a very soundtrack listening type of guy. But there are certain games that really have great soundtracks and Alan Wake is one of those. Mostly used for ending songs per episode but there are also some songs that plays during play time. These are specially the songs of the in game band "Old Gods Of Asgard". It has a very catchy song that makes you sing a long. I even had to stop my wife from singing as she kept on singing one particular song. You can try to listen to that particular song on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOxSqSxRy-4&feature=related but please be warned that it contains some spoilers so listen at your own risk.

In conclusion, Alan Wake is a pretty good action thriller game that will keep you a little bit scared to be out at night without your handy flash light. Although it still has some way to go if it wants to attain the same level of scariness as Silent Hill. This is definitely one of those games that you would want to buy and play atleast 2-3 times to complete everything.

If you are interested to purchase this game, you can find different regions of this game selling cheap below:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-19-71-f5-15-alan+wake-43-f5.html

Motion Control Wars: PS Move vs Kinect

Being an owner of both XBOX 360 and PS3, I am now having a dilemma of which motion control accessory I should buy. Tough question right? To help the readers and myself decide, I have made some review about the 2 below based on my perception from trying them out (Please click on the image as the table won't fit properly).

In the end, both sensors needs you to be a bit distant from the sensor for it to work better. Thus, players having small LCD TVs or monitors may have to upgrade to a bigger one to enjoy these new accessories.

Want to buy now?

PS Move: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-ev36-71-bm-15-move+pack-84-p-43-bm-18-2.html

Kinect: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-ev36-71-18a-49-en-84-k.html

Final Fantasy XIII Complete Edition (UK)

The English version of Final Fantasy XIII was released March 9, 2010. But due to the lack of Collectors Edition package coming from North America(Region1) and Asia(Region3), I was forced to order online for a UK(Region2) Collectors Edition from a UK online store. And despite the fact that I usually get my online stuff on time, there are times the package comes very late, and sometimes it doesn't come at all (lost in whatever wormhole or blackhole out there).

Long story short, my game came 3 weeks after. By this time, a lot of players already finished playing the game before I even had it. :S Due to the long wait, I decided to buy a Limited Collectors Edition guide book from another UK online store. The quide book is part of a numbered collection and like I said it's a limited edition. And guess what? The guide came WAY earlier than the game which made the waiting for the game even feel longer.

Anyway, just want to share about my two hoots for March 2010.

The collector's edition game come with the following:

Special fliptop box (the box is like the one used for Modern Warfare2) and the game. The game cover is pretty much the same as other regions except for the fact that the Asia region looks a bit holographic and once you open the case the other side has an image also.

The UK version of the game comes with a code that you can enter online to either get a chance to be one of the beta testers of the upcoming Final Fantasy XIV mmorpg game or get a free item once Final Fantasy XIV is live.

Hard bound booklet called "The World of Final Fantasy XIII" which contains artwork, images, and screens from the game.

The images are not so special since most of them are available online, but the overall quality of the booklet makes it worth it.

3 collectable art prints showing the characters in the game with their eidolon (guardian) counterparts.

The images are also available online but having the hard copies printed in glossy paper make me appreciate them more.

2 pcs Brand of the L'Cie decals (sticker) which you can stick in your laptop, PS3 or anywhere you want.

 Last but not the least, the original soundtrack selection. 10 tracks from the soundtrack selected by the composer himself (Masashi Hamauzu).

The sountrack is okay especially if you loved the music accompaniment of the game.  However, it's better you buy the complete collector's edition original soundtrack which contains 5 discs of FFXIII soundtracks.



I am pretty much happy with my collector's edition specially since Doll gave it to me as her anniversary gift to me (yahoo! free game, collector edition some more :p ).

As for the limited collector's edition, you can view (or download if you like) a preview of the guide in the official website (http://www.piggybackinteractive.com/en/). If you like it, then order your copy immediately as stocks for this one are limited.

Will post a separate review for the game once I played more of it.

In Search of the Origami Killer: Reprise

R finally finished the game and unlocked all the 7 different endings, and each ending with different epilogues totalling 22 epilogues.  He's now the Heavy Rain Master! :P I don't want to be a spoiler but after a few tries playing the game, all I can say is that you'd get sick of playing some similar scenarios.  But like what I previously said you want to set the Origami killer free or beat him, it's all up to you.

In Search of the Origami Killer

Disclaimer: Don't worry, no spoilers.

It's been a while since I've enjoyed a game story.  This one irked and poked my curious little mind.  It's Heavy Rain by Quantic Dream, released by SCE.  R let me play the demo a day before he actually bought it.  I wanted it more than him cause the story intrigued me.  The following day, he was able to purchase the game despite it being out of stock in most gaming stores.  In fact, this game almost didn't make it to Singapore (where we live) due to its mature content (sex, violence, nudity, yada-yada).  But it did, that's why we have it in our hands.   We planned a lazy Friday night game date with pizza and Heavy Rain after. Just perfect!

The gameplay is quite different from the usual video games.  It kinda feels like role-playing game but based on wikipedia (woot*) this is called an interactive video game.  It urges players to follow commands that will pop-up around the character, place, or item. This game utilises much of the PS3 controller from the joystick to all the R1s to L2s.  You have to either hold the requested button longer, slower, or even simultaneously to perform a certain action. The challenge of this game is to make the right choices that will lead you to different branches of the stories.  Do you want the good conquers all? Or the evil gets away bwahahaha storyline?  But wait! These are only 2 scenarios.  It is said that there are actually 6 different endings so it's a game that you'd want to try again and again. 

You have a choice. This could be a decision that can change the course of the story.

Our first game was the "good conquers all" ending or that's what I call it.  I wanted the heroes to do the "good" choices, relatively speaking of course. It's quite a nerve-racking game.  One scene, R and I had a debate on a decision to a point that I had to use moral reasoning to goad him.  In his defense, I believe he can be right in saying that some sacrifices are necessary. Basically, you have to do the "bad" thing to get the "right" thing.  The Machiavellian way of saying the end justifies the means. Gawd, it came to a point that it felt like we were the characters themselves.  I'm not too sure if that is good or bad for our health.  We were a couple of loons wanting to find out who the Origami Killer, especially me.  I'm such a sucker for movies and this game feels like the movies so I needed desperately to find out what the ending is. The difference is you get to choose the path the movie is gonna take. 

Very cinematic feel to it. Angled shots to show both characters interaction.

I find it's easy to finish the game and the hard part is just to complete it.  If you have that curiousity in you (or you want to hoard PS3 trophies), then you need to play it again and again choosing different answers/actions. 

The story is very inquisitive.  It makes you wonder what's gonna happen.  The location designs and soundtrack all contribute to the whole look and feel.  The game is designed to tell you a well-written story of not only how desperate are you to save someone, but how can you convince yourself that you are choosing the right action to the result that you want. You want a mystery, then you have it here.

Gritty walls, cluttered floors, and, ominous sound all contribute to the gameplay..

Together with the main story, you get to unlock bonuses and videos after passing certain storylines.  I saw one clip about how the visual actors were directed.  The game creators used motion capture technologies to follow real people's movements and emotions. This is one of the reasons why the game feels real since you actually see actual rendition of movements and emotions. You'll get to see a lot of close-ups of the characters, just like this one.

Ethan: Is he desperate enough to save someone he loves?

 
In conclusion, it's LGS! (Last Game Syndrome). This game can get totally engrossing but not in a bad way (well, except if you just spend the whole 2 days finsihing it :P).  I hope there will more games like this. I know for some that this kind of game can get boring.  If you're into more action and quick storyline movement rather than a slow pacing yet intriguing story, then this might not be the game for you.  However, it's still a good game to try. I always say, to each his own, and for me, it's hands down one of the best story games I've played.

Best Game of 2009(IMHO) - Batman: Arkham Asylum

What a better way to start 2010 than to play one of the best games of 2009.

Only word I can say is "Amazing!". It is by far the best Batman game ever released (at least from my perspective). From start to finish you will definitely be hooked. My housemate was so hooked, that he finished the game in one day (yes, one whole day). Just wanted to share some points below on what made this game great.

Art of fighting

In Batman, there are a lot of times where you will be faced with a lot of baddies that wants to give Batman a beating like every other game available. The big difference is how the fighting mechanism was done. Each action was mapped to a single button, making it simple (it may need a bit of time to get used to) but it doesn't take the fun out of it. Imagine if you can use all the techniques properly without breaking the chain, then Batman can just beat up all the baddies without even taking a single hit, which gives players a little "helping hand" by giving some indications when to counter or when to go for an attack. This "helping hand", however, is not there if your playing the game on hard mode. That's why you really need to pay attention to your enemies' body movement and distance. Not only is it easy to control, it's also really good to look at. It's so much good to savor every successful command you input and you can watch how Batman beat up the heck out of the baddies as if it was a piece of art. This fighting mechanism is the one thing that makes this game unique from any other action adventuregames .

Tools of the trade

Who is Batman without his signature gadgets like the Batarang, bat claw, etc. This is not only useful for taking out or avoiding baddies but also really useful in other aspects of the game such as remote switch flipping and breakable-wall crushing to gain access to the next areas. Having all these gadgets available really makes the experience of playing Batman realistic and unique.  This is unlike other Batman games where most of the time only the Batarang is available. Some of the signature Batman vehicles are also found here, like the Batmobile and the Batwing. However, you cannot really ride them in any point of the game but these vehicles are there to provide the very much needed help such as delivering some new goodies to Batman.

The Great detective

Batman is indeed one of the best fictional detectives (except for Sherlock Holmes, I guess).  The secret is to look outside the box with an extra help from the detective view. From following smoke residues to spotting DNA residues to searching for an item's scent. But it doesnt stop there, you can also plan on how you take out your enemies efficiently thru this view. It also helps you detect some of the collectibles inside the game - specially riddlers' stuff. These features also adds up to the overall feel of the game.  For other similar genre games, they just make you collect for the sake of finishing the game 100% or getting the platinum trophy.  This Batman game makes collecting the PSN trophies fun. It also gives you unlockable things like in-game trophis (exclusive of the PSN trophies).  It's already a great game to find out facts about the different characters in Batman's story and unlocking the challenges. This makes riddle solving or collecting totally fun. Also, the riddles does make you use your brain once in a while and if your an avid fan of Batman, I'm sure you would love the riddles as most of them are about baddies that Batman has faced.

Dark Knight

Batman has been given the nickname "Dark Knight" because basically he wears a black costume and take out baddies in the dark without people noticing. Thus, he strikes fear to the baddies especially at night when they don't know where Batman will be coming from. This was indeed what Batman: Arkham Asylum had. Giving the players the chance to experience dealing instant kill blows while striking fear to those remaining baddies. This also gives the game an espionage feel to it similar to Metal Gear and Splinter Cell.

Last but not the Least,..

Amazing Re-imagination of Batman characters

Eidos did a great job on making the re-imagination of batman characters and putting a brand new life to Batman and his foes - making Joker have a more sinister and scary look together with really annoying lines and laughs.  Also, making the female foes like Poison Ivy and Harley really gorgeous and dangerous at the same time.

All these factors make this game the best Batman game so far (but I guess we can now expect another better one when Eidos releases a sequel?). If you are an avid Batman fan, then you would surely love playing this game over and over again. But if your not a fan, I'm sure you will still love it as I loved it even though I am not a Bats guy. This is still one of those games that you can easily give a 10/10 rating.

Robot

Currently playing: Darksiders(PS3), COD:MW2(PC)

Revival of the Blog: The Sims 3

First of all, this blog has been sorely neglected.  I have mentioned to R to finally post something.  The whole reason for this blog is to find an outlet for all the gaming, toy hobbies, and what-not.  Let's not start something and not finish it.

Okay, to start off. I've decided to blog about a game that I've been playing.  It's not new as you all know, but it's still as addictive as when I started playing it.  If you enjoyed playing all the previous Sims game, then you would definitely enjoy this one, the 3rd installment of The Sims.  It has also more options for you to work on - traits to assign, opportunities to explore, rewards to unleash, and so on.  Of course, the whole 'playing God' is still very evident with such instances to choose a lazy-ass, rude & inconsiderate characters to having multiple love interests at a time to even killing off own characters by switching to buy mode and suddenly having the character drown on the pool or get stuck inside walls.   These are just the minor situations.  You can go as far as creating a multitude of scenarios.  I'm still on a normal mode type of game play which is trying to see through the whole life cycle of my first character.  On a whole, the latest Sims is much more interactive than before and it really makes you stay hooked for hours at a time.

Just a quick summary of my Sims char., Her name is Alezandra, and she's married to a musician (who's about to die by the way, he is an older man. haha).  She has a son who's a teen now.  This is her preggy for the 2nd time with her teen son talking to her tummy.


      Teen son's name is Vash (named after someone) 

And she has just recently gave birth to twins.  Yes, twins! Can you imagine?  I didn't know it was possible but I got them.  I was surprised when a window popped up asking for a second girl's name when I already input the first one.  I had to stop and think of another name which took me a bit of time.  Anyway, here's an image of the twin girls now grown up to toddlers.


    The girls' names are Kaori & Aerith

I did stop for a while with playing Sims but when the twins came out, I got excited to play again.  For now, the addiction is coming back.  But I guess once it runs out, I might have to come up with another scenario for me to get excited about.  But until then, I'll savour being a mother, even if it's only in virtual reality.  Haha.


    Snuggling Aerith (and it's hard to tell them apart, 
       I got identical twins instead of fraternal twins :P)