Sonic Cycle! Ha! This is Sonic Colours for Nintendo Wii

I recently finished Sonic Colours for Wii. I have to let you know, I'm not a huge Sonic fan. Well that's not entirely true. I love the original trilogy on the Megadrive (Genesis for North America) and Sonic Adventure 2 wasn't too bad, as well as some of the handheld titles, but on the whole I haven't liked his 3D outings. Not at all. Something just wasn't right with the transition of the game from 2D to the third dimension. If you look at games like Mario, Zelda and even Metroid from a consumer's view, their progression into 3D was so seamless. In fact for those series, games such as Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Metroid Prime are considered by some to be the best in their respective series. That's why it always irked me that Sonic has had such a rough time in this regard. The Megadrive titles provided a great platforming experience, because rather than cloning the Mario experience, they tried something new. The end result was a game filled with exploration, twists and turns, multiple pathways and plenty of fascinating, if sometimes quirky level design. It was a classic, and it was all rooted in the fact that it was fast. Like, super-sonic fast. Heh.

I'm actually a little disappointed that out of the multitudes of 3D Sonic games that were released prior to Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast, one of the one's that looked most promising, Sonic Xtreme for the Sega Saturn was cancelled. If you have a look at the video below, you'll notice that it not only had a solid engine running, but it was unique as it basically ran on a 2D plane of movement, but in certain spots the player could experience some depth. It seems that with a bit more time and polish, Sega may have been onto something. Ah well, no use crying over split milk though is there? Also, you may get nauseous from the loops in that video. Just a warning. I'm feeling dizzy.

However, this is not really the point. I just wanted to illustrate how difficult Sonic's transition to 3D has been. Even after the pretty successful Adventure titles, things collapsed. I've only played one 3D Sonic game to be released since Sonic Adventure 2, and that was Sonic and the Secret Rings. That game was okay, but the fact that it was on rails killed it for me. Where is the exploration? Gone. Where is the control? Gone. Don't get me wrong it was solid, but it didn't feel like a Sonic game. I've heard the other titles were just as appalling, although several gamers and critics alike praised the "day-time" levels of Sonic Unleashed (you know, that game with the.. arrrrrrrgh WERE-HOG! What were they thinking?!). Many even said that if a game focused solely on these sort of level designs, it could be a truly great Sonic game. So skipping ahead a couple of year's brings us to Sonic Colours' release. To be blunt, it's amazing.

So, why is Sonic Colours so awesome? Well for various reasons. Firstly, the aformentioned level design of Unleashed's "day-time" levels if indeed Colours follows that formula, are superb! They're somewhat similar to the Adventure games, but they focus more on maintaining speed and collecting rings. Sound familar? It should. That's pretty much what makes Sonic games... what's the word... oh yeah, FUN! However, in addition to this truly brilliant 3D levels, the game also seamlessly transistions to 2D side-scrolling sections, which funnily enough borrow HEAPS from the Megadrive games. If you're still wondering why I love this game so much... well, that's the reason. I've played a couple of the handheld titles, developed by Dimps, and don't get me wrong, they're really fun. However, they never felt like the original games. Sonic Colours' 2D sections do. They're brilliant. They're amazing. It even gets better with the addition of the Wisps, alien-like creatures that serve as the game's power-ups. They are unlocked gradually, allowing the player to return to previous worlds and acts with their powers in hand. These powers can then be used to find secret items, collect more rings, or even discover completely new sections of the level. Obviously they all lead to the same destination, but one of the greatest things about the original games was the multiple pathways. Sonic Colours nails this.

So basically, the gameplay is aweome. That's the thing that matters here, because as usual (even with the lackluster titles) Sega have delivered on the presentation. The graphics are some of the best on the Wii. Period. They definitely give Super Mario Galaxy a run for it's money (although that game is equally gorgeous... so don't hurt me. It's more a compliment towards Sonic Colours than an insult to Super Mario Galaxy, trust me). In addition the soundtrack... oh boy the soundtrack is great! Another thing that was so awesome about the original Megadrive games was how the first Act of a Zone would introduce a piece, and then Act 2 would essentially be a remix of the previous track. Sonic Colours does this too! There is a little over-lap however as there are many Acts in each world, so you usually have two acts sharing the same piece. Still that's about 3 different tracks per world, not including the boss stage. The variation is great, and it's probably the best soundtrack in a Sonic game since the Megadrive era. It's almost like all the planets finally aligned and Sega finally got their shit together. Thank god is all I can say. What we're rewarded with is, in my opinon, the greatest 3D Sonic game ever, because it doesn't ignore the fact that 2D Sonic is so awesome. It integrates what is fun about 3D Sonic and blends it perfectly with the winning 2D style. It's certainly one of the best games on Wii, and I'd also say it's one of the best games of this generation. Period. I haven't played Sonic Generations, but I'm very keen to. I hope Sega have managed to follow up this amazing entry in the Sonic franchise. Not convinced? Here's an excellent video review from TreavorClark, youtube reviewer/entertainer and games design student. If you like his review check out his channel (<--- click) as all his videos are of the same quality.

So yeah. Go buy Sonic Colours. Or.. or... I'll... *sigh* Just buy it, please? For once Sonic Team actually deserve your money. I swear.

So have you played Sonic Colours? Still skeptical? Have some thoughts on Generations you think I'd like to hear? Please leave a comment below :)

Top 5: Upcoming 3rd Party Wii Games

It's about time, too!

Nintendo are making a point with their upcoming Wii releases over the next 12 months. With games like Metroid: Other M just being released, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Donkey Kong Country Returns due out in the next few months, and Zelda: Skyward Sword to follow in 2011 - there is a clear focus on the needs of the dedicated Nintendo fan. All of these titles will have the high level of quality in both presentation and gameplay that Nintendo are known and adored for. However, at the same time one thing that has always held Nintendo back, basically since the Nintendo 64 is the lack of quality 3rd Party titles, and I think I've compiled a list of 5 games being made independent of Nintendo for Wii, that look like they could be something special. Of course, this list and indeed anything I believe about the games listed, are just predictions - but take them with the knowledge that I've done some research, and there will be a list of honourable mentions.

Number 5: Disney's Epic Mickey

That rabbit... horror

This is a game a lot of people are talking about, and let's be honest - why wouldn't we? It's true that Mickey has starred in various video games in the past - but nothing quite to the scale of Disney's Epic Mickey. Add the fact that Warren Spectre (known for his work on the System Shock series, the predecessors to Bioshock), is the director of the title and he's ensuring a high level of production which is certainly being shown in the game's presentation. Take a look a these screenshots - it's hard to ignore.

One of the most beautiful environments revealed so far

So naturally I'm very impressed by the level of detail going into this title, it's certainly top notch. So what's holding me back from placing this higher on the list? Well, I'm just not sold on the gameplay. Conceptually it sounds awesome, but Spectre has been keeping the true mechanics a little too much under wraps for my liking. For those who don't know, the basic game design for Disney's Epic Mickey is to make use of paint and paint thinner, to either create or destroy things in the world, a little like an artist - clever, isn't it? I really like this concept, but I've yet too see how it really translates into gameplay. That being said, I'm very keen to see reviews of this game, as I'm still quite sure it would be worth a purchase. They're keeping all the juiciness locked away!

Number 4: Flip's Twisted World

An epic game of hop-scotch indeed

In stark contrast, Flip's Twisted World's level of production is probably a little B-Grade when compared to Disney's Epic Mickey, but the gameplay looks challenging and innovative. A lot of people will slam this game for being too similar to the Super Mario Galaxy series, due to it's heavy use of gravity and "planets". However a distinct difference is the player is always in control of the gravity, and that gravity can be used to move not only the player, but objects in the world as well - opening up what I believe to be some unique opportunities for physics-based puzzles.

It hurts my brainzzzz

Another thing about this game that interests me, is it was initially planned for release around the time of Super Mario Galaxy 2 but was held off. This means the developer has had about 2 extra months to jam this game with extra content, give it finishing polish etc. That's naturally exciting because sometimes games with unique concepts get ruined due to time restraints, but Flip's Twisted World will hopefully not suffer that fate. The game is due out this month in the United States, but hopefully we're receive a local release here in Aus - it's on my watch list.

Number 3: Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions

Time for a fist full of Neil Patrick Harris!

Don't even try to tell me this game doesn't interest you - it's like denying your childhood. This is the first comic-book game I've been excited about since Arkham Asylum and with good reason. It's one of those games that pulls a "what if" scenario on you, and this time it's being able to play as four different Spider-Men from different dimensions. Naturally the Amazing Spider-Man Universe is here, but there's also the Noir Universe (set in the 1930's) the 2099 Universe (a.k.a THE FUTURE) and the Ultimate Spider-Man Universe (an alternate reality to the Amazing Spider-Man). The game looks wonderful, with different styles taken to reflect the different comic-book appearances of the four universes. On top of that there's some pretty impressive voice actors on board including Christopher Daniel Barnes (as Spider-Man Noir), Dan Gilvezan (as Spider-Man 2099) and Josh Keaton (as Ultimate Spider-Man). My favourite, however has to be Neil Patrick Harris as the Amazing Spider-Man - seriously, what an great way to inject some extra awesome into that cast.

Cool and methodical - stealth at its best

Of the universes, my nod will have to go out to the Noir Universe. In a word, it looks great. So stylised, that is looks just like a film noir - which is the obvious intention. However, it's not just the looks that get it across the line for me, it's the gameplay. Whilst the other three universes are based on classical super hero beat-em ups, Noir focuses on stealth and I can't help but be reminded of Arkham Asylum which utilised excellent stealth mechanics. There's just something great about creeping around the shadows, web slinging someone in and beating them senseless (no really, try it.)

Number 2: Sonic Colors

Looks promising, no?

Let's get one thing straight - I'm not a Sonic fanboy. I'll concede that I've enjoyed about four titles in the franchise (being Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advance) but Sonic and the Secret Rings really threw me off the bandwagon and I haven't bothered with Sega's blue mascot since. However Sonic Colors (which I always spell "Colours", and it annoys me to no end) looks like it could be the deal. Sonic Unleashed was praised for it's "day levels" which were fast and hectic, similar to the Sonic/Shadow levels found on Sonic Adventure 2. What held it back from being a true return to form for Sonic was the completely unnecessary and gimmicky inclusion of the "Were-Hog" which completely destroyed what the title had going for it by slowing the game to a clunky beat em-up.

Drillin', drillin' ma way south!

This game seems to have rectified that, and the only "addition" to the gameplay are the Whips, which act as power ups. However they're nothing ridiculous like a bazooka - they're nicely integrated power ups such as the Rocket or Drill Whips, which let you traverse environments better. So they simply add to the gameplay, rather than detract. This is probably the sole reason I have so much faith in this game. I'm not sold on it, but as long as Sonic Team manages to continue the level design found in the day levels of Sonic Unleashed (although they did have the help of Dimps) I don't see any reason why this couldn't be one of the best 3rd party released for the Wii.

Number 1: 007 Goldeneye

*Insert Wilhelm scream here*

I've only played about half of the original Goldeneye for Nintendo 64, but I've found it to be a most enjoyable and unique experience. A lot of people think this game will be a flop, because it's moving away from the archaic design of the original. Well there's a reason for this - the game's a re-imagining, not a remake. You can't remake a game that's over 10 years old, at least not at a level to do the original title justice. Technology simply advances to much, and things need to be changed in order to fit with the times.

"Like, oh my God! No way!"

I think this will be the most impressive shooter on the Wii. Period. Even better than Metroid Prime 3 and The Conduit. It's having a lot of time put into it, and it's running off a Call of Duty engine, and like them or not, Call of Duty games are quality in terms of production rate. Not only is it looking beautiful, but the fact it supports multiple peripherals for control and both local four player split-screen and online multiplayer, means it could be the defining multiplayer shooter experience on the Wii.

Honourable Mentions:

Honourable Mentions are extended to the following titles that made the shortlist for this blog (in no particular order):

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
De Blob: Underground
Raving Rabbids Travel in Time
Pearl Harbour Trilogy (WiiWare)
The Last Story
Conduit 2

The Bad, the Ugly, the Brutal

You're playing a game and you're fighting an enemy, however something is different than usual. This enemy is the real deal and he's not taking chalk from you, or any other hero that walks in after he turns your insides out. You know what I'm talking about. Those enemies that are completely brutal, chew you up, spit you out and then say, "Alright chump, round 2". They're the epitome of difficult (even though once you know they're secret they're not too tough) - but they're rare in gaming today. So starting with my first true gaming console, the Nintendo 64 as well as a few other systems - I give you (in a nice top 5 format - not 10 because I'm lazy) "The Bad, the Ugly, the Brutal".

5. Dark Link - (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

 

Those eyes pierce into your soul, and make you question your courage (ho, ho - see what I did thar?)

The entire mini boss fight with Dark Link is terrifying. First of all, you enter a room which is completely void of anything, save a small island home to a leafless tree. The musical score dies down. Eerie atmosphere, check. You walk around aimlessly, with no clue what to do. False sense of security, check. Finally  you decide to backtrack to the small island and this black, shadowy figure jumps out of the water, drawing his sword. Sudden shock, check. Just what is Dark Link? A parallel version of the Hero of Time, or a shadowy phantom conjured by Ganondorf? It's hard to tell - but either way, he's a pain in Link's posterior. He can dodge all of Link's sword attacks, and if the hero attempts a thrust attack Dark Link aptly hops on top of the Master Sword and has a free slash at Link's face. Once the player works out the secret to defeating him, Dark Link isn't so bad - however until that point, he strikes fear into the player's heart, and makes you second guess your every move.

4. The Elite 4 - (Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow) 

Is he big and scary? No. Should you fear him? Bloody oath!

So you've managed to clamber through the world of Kanto, defeating all 8 Gym Leaders as you go. You've even tackled the Power Plant, the Seafoam Islands and slugged your way through Victory Road. However, after all this trial and hardship, you learn that the real difficult is about to begin. Enter four elite Pokemon Trainers, whose sole purposes in life is to kick your arse from here, back to Pallet Town - with a cadre of battered, unconscious and utterly defeated Pokemon. These guys mean business. Unless you've given your Pokemon killer movesets, or trained into, at minimum the high 50s - these guys will wipe the floor with you. You might beat Lorelei comfortably, handle Bruno and even slug your way past Agatha, but then you have to face an absolute monster. The master of Dragon Pokemon; Lance doesn't show you any mercy and his two Dragonites are equipped with Hyper Beam to reign down on your parade. What made these guys so tough is, you either needed to be an ace battler, or you had to invest another 5 or so hours in training, just so your Pokemon even stood a chance against their beasties. Fittingly at number 4, I'm featuring a quartet.

3. Psycho Mantis - (Metal Gear Solid/The Twin Snakes) 

Oh-mi-gosh! Who told you?

Hideo Kojima is a strange, strange man. This isn't a bad thing, but he did spawn one of the most frustratingly bizzare enemies to ever appear in a game period. Psycho Mantis wasn't about being difficult neccessarily, but rather causing you to believe he was invincible and a complete badass, through a series of mind games. The list is huge. And yes, it is spoiler heavy so don't read on if you haven't experienced the Mantis yet.

1. Causing your in-game love interest to seduce you, then kill you
2. Forcing you to knock out said love interest to avoid aformentioned attempts against your life
3. Waking up your love interest and forcing her to attempt suicide
4. Forcing you to knock out your love interest a second time to avoid said suicide
5. Causing the furniture to attack you - Mantis is no stranger to domestic violence
6. Causing you to believe your television has changed channels
7. Reading your memory card and commenting on the games you've played
8. Being able to read your every move unless you plug your controller into an alternate port.

If all that wasn't enough - after you defeat him, he even manages to make you feel sorry for him. Master of psychotherapy? Yup. He's also one of the most unique enemies ever crafted in video game history, and he's damn ugly to boot.

2. Meta Ridley - (Metroid Prime)

Oh. My. God.

Samus has obtained all the Chozo artifacts and is on the way to prevent the complete destruction of Tallon IV, but Ridley has other ideas. He appears at of no where, raining missiles down on the heroine as he flies around the battlefield, stopping to land, breathe fire and claw at her face. This guy told us that we were at the business end of Metroid Prime, and that he was going to make our life a living hell to make sure we didn't pass, if he had to. The thing about Ridley is, he doens't seem to have any clear motives - the only reason he hunts Samus is because he hates her to his core. This fight showed that clearly, with many of the encounters ending with a fade to black and scream as Samus' suit systems shut down - how's that for a tongue twister?

1. Master Stalfos - (The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening) 

Horror.

Here we have the inspiration for this entire feature. Why you ask? Because this Stalfos doesn't muck around. Everytime you risk an attack on him, he's almost garuanteed to hit you in the process. There's also a chance you'll miss and still take the hit. Until you realise the correct way to approach him, this guy continually slaughters Link and it makes you want to go home and cry to mummy. Even if you're adopted. The most horrifying thing about the entire ordeal, is this guy is just a mini-boss, a la Dark Link. You also have to chase him around the entire dungeon, defeating him multiple times. It's well worth the reward though as he coughs up the Hookshot, which proves an invaluable tool for the dungeon and indeed, the rest of the quest on Koholint Island.

Video Game Journalism and me

I haven't written anything post E3, but believe me - it is coming, and those of you of Nintendo persuasion will like it a lot.

This however is just a short update to announce that I'm now a volunteer news writer at Vooks.net

My first article, 3DS Metal Gear may not be Snake Eater remake, just went live, so go check it out!

Whilst my new position may take a little away from blogging, I assure you it will not stop. This is a positive, and progressive step torwards realising my goals.

Thanks to all my readers, your support is invaluable.

E3 Nintendo - Thoughts, wishes and predictions

I try not to be biased, but when it comes to E3, it's always Nintendo that gets me the most excited. They always seem to have something that gets your jaw dropping and your heart pumping. This year there is one particular piece of software that is certainly a part of this. Guessed it yet? Why yes, it is Zelda. Make no mistake, I'm a big fan of The Legend of Zelda, and you can mainly thank the Nintendo 64 for that. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask would both rank in a top ten video game list of mine - although perhaps I'd rank them at the same spot together, as the really build upon and reflect each other so perfectly. The last Zelda outing was at the Wii's launch with Twilight Princess, but that was originally developed as a Gamecube game. In contrast the new Zelda Wii (officially confirmed to be called Skyward Sword), has been built for the Wii from the ground up. For me this means better motion control implementation, most likely improved graphics, and hopefully, a left-handed Link (yes, I did get pretty annoyed that he was right-handed in Twilight Princess, particularly considering I myself am left-handed). This series has such a reputation and legacy, it would be difficult for anyone to not, at the very least take notice of it during this year's E3. For those of you who rate this series highly, it's almost the real chunk of E3 you're interested in, and rightfully so - after all, software makes the system, and this could be one of the best pieces for the Wii.

 This is all we had - prior E3

However Nintendo have some competition in the industry. With Microsoft and Sony both tearing down the wall separating them and Nintendo from motion control, the forerunner of motion technology needs something to impress the masses with. In lieu of Sony's decision to implement 3D gaming with the PS3, Nintendo has decided to do the same, but through the handheld market. Enter the 3DS. It's debatable how effective 3D will be on the tiny handheld screens, but if anyone is going to make an impact with such seemingly insignificant hardware, it's Nintendo. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the software in action - it's been a while since we've seen a true upgrade to Nintendo's handheld range and I don't think we're going to be let down. Just what kind of software? Well, I'm pretty clueless there. It seems unlikely it will be Mario, or Zelda. Perhaps a new IP? Time will tell. On the note of hardware, wishes of a HD enabled Wii are floating around, but I find it an unlikely prospect. It simply isn't Nintendo's best time to do so, from a business standpoint - they'll wait for the Wii's successor to enter the HD market on an even standing next generation.

What does the 3DS offer for gamers?

However, there is more than just a stellar title and a new handheld to get excited about. For me one of the biggest rumours, is that Retro Studios (pedigree of the Metroid Prime Trilogy) has been working on an entry into the Donkey Kong franchise. The gaming world hasn't really seen a true successor to Donkey Kong 64, and that's why I'd be quite pleased if this were indeed the title that Retro have been working on since completing Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Outside of this, people are hoping for some news on Pikmin 3, as both the Gamecube games were highly successful, and both were brought to the Wii via the new-play control line, so it only seems logical that a sequel will follow. I for one, contrary to many, would like to see the time restriction brought back into the game, as it made the original much more challenging than its successor, commanding planning and time management. Speaking of Metroid, Team Ninja have their spin-off game, Other M, which tries to take elements of Metroid Prime and fuse them with high-action gameplay, akin to that of Ninja Gaiden. I'm quite excited for this as I love it when franchises are taken in new directions - that being said, the verdict is still out on this one, and we'll need to wait for some hands on impressions to be sure it's doing the Metroid name justice. Also of note are Conduit 2 and Epic Mickey, both of which seem to be some good quailty, third party developed titles. The original Conduit was a fun game, but lacked unique art direction and needed a stronger narative. The gameplay itself was actually very intuitive and probably the best of any shooter available on Wii. I dare say it would even rank amongst the top shooter controls across all platforms. Obviously developer High Voltage Software's biggest challenge is to add some scope and character to their established universe in the upcoming sequel. The team hopes to implement Wii Motion Plus, but no details have been released as to how they will go about this. However, it has been confirmed that the title will utilise split-screen multiplayer, something that has slowly begun to die out in recent years, amongst all platforms. Epic Mickey seems to be the kind of game that will either soar or flop, with a great art direction and rich background to source its game play elements from. Hopefully some light will be shed on in, because I personally find its dark nature and take on the Disney mascot to be appealing.

Epic Mickey has impressed, but so far only with artwork

However, the Wii isn't the only platform getting attention during Nintendo's E3. Let us not forget the DS, which is still reeling out some quality titles in the highly anticipated Golden Sun DS, Okamiden, Super Scribblenauts and Pokemon Black & White. Obviously the first of these has been a long time coming. I was huge fan of the two original games on GBA, and rate them as two of the best RPGs, on any system.Considering how short (and pointless) the E3 2009 demo was, hopefully this year Camelot will give us a taste of the true meat of the title, and a juicy release date. Okami was a successful title, so successful it made it to both PS2 and then later, the Wii. It seems Capcom have wised up to the fact it appeals to the Zelda audience, and decided to make the sequel for the DS. The paintrbush mechanics should translate well with the DS's interface, and I think it would be a great title for the DS to go out on. Super Scbribblenauts is the sequel to the highly successful and creative title, Scribblenauts. Hopefully this sequel equips the player will more levels of creativity for solving its challenges. It seems that increasing the noun list, and improving the control of hero Maxwell are among the developer's top priorities, so they've definitely listened to the complaints of the critics, which is a great sign from any developer. Obviously Pokemon will be a big thing, as it always is. However for it to be a stand out, we'd have to see some very dynamic changes to the gameplay, which is not something the series is famous for, and I doubt will happen. Some new Pokemon reveals would be nice, apart from that, everyone is just expecting the little gameplay enhances, the come welcomed in every new iteration of the series. See you after E3!

Golden Sun DS - It's finally time for some real answers