Nintendo Media Summit

Good for Nintendo!

They are ready for 2010, which should get everyone excited to dust off their Wii. Honestly, I mainly use my Wii to play Guitar Hero these days.

So we've got three big games on the way (maybe two, but should be three): Super Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid: Other M, and Sin and Punishment: Star Successor.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 at IGN.com

Yeah, Super Mario Galaxy 2 looks sweet. The first one was sweet, and this one will probably be twice as sweet. There were soo many new gameplay features that hadn't been tried before SMG, and now with the inclusion of Yoshi, you can expect those to double for SMG2.

And the release date? In time for my birthday: May 23, 2010. BAM.



Metroid: Other M was my favorite game from last year's E3. Total surprise and totally awesome. It will take a turn away from more adventure-type Metroid games and focus on action. It blends 2D sidescrolling in completely 3D environments. Control will be handled digitally with the Wiimote turned sideways, but when it is aimed at the screen, a first-person view will allow Samus to aim precisely at enemies' weak spots, and possibly find hidden paths/items. Release date: June 27, 2010.

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor Nintendo Wii Trailer - Nintendo Summit 2010: Trailer

Woo! Sin and Punishment! Immediately after I started playing the N64 game from Virtual Console, I thought "This would handle so well with a Wiimote and Nunchuk." Voila, it was done. I think putting S&P on VC was just that tease gamers needed to get excited about an incredibly Japanese looking and playing arcade shooter. Release date: June 7, 2010.

Modern Warfare 2 - Controversy

You must have heard by now the controversy surrounding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Leaked videos showed the player engaging in taking over an airport as a terrorist and shooting innocent civilians.

Well, to expand on it, the player is an undercover CIA agent, and the player does have an option to shoot or not. That simple.

I can not say it any better than Rus McLaughlin from IGN.com in his column.

Make sure you give that a good read; now for some brief commentary.

Yes, the game does not force you to shoot civilians. It is a moral dilemma that the player must face. The developers do not force you to shoot the civilians. They are not to blame. I have a strong stance that games will not make somebody grab a gun and beat up hookers and what not.

In fact, something that Rus doesn't mention is this: we should thank Infinity Ward for this level. Why? Well, we know it is violent; the whole damn game is going to be violent. The past two CoDs are extremely violent. Almost three times in Modern Warfare does your player-controlled character kick the bucket. In World at War, Japanese soldiers are burned out of hiding in the grass as you hear them scream. Violence is a hot issue.

But to pick up on what I was saying, it is best that Modern Warfare 2 have a level like this now. Right now. In 2009. These ideas are so fresh in our mind: that videogames are violent and so is real life. There is still conflict in the Middle East. It is best that we examine the situation now to give ourselves better ideas of what is going on today, and what shouldn't happen in the future.

Why is it best that we have a level where we could kill civilians? If it happens any later down the line (who knows, 5? 10? 15 years?) then our society may be too desensitized to the violence and won't think any better of it. Violence in games could gradually become worse, and the shift may be slow to start, but the end result will be so drastically different than from what it is now.

Twenty years ago it was Mario jumping on turtles. Today it is running through a crowded airport with terrorists and an AK-47.

Let this scene cause debate. Let it fire up gamers and parents and politicians. Let this happen now so we know the difference between right and wrong before it is too late.

Wii Price Cut

Wii price cut is official. Dropping down from $250 to $200, the Wii will still be packaged with a Wiimote and Wii Sports.

This is most likely, but not entirely, due to the fact that both XBox 360 and Playstation 3 have slashed prices very recently. It really was not necessary for Nintendo to cut the price, since they have literally held the top position in sales for about three years. But this only means that Nintendo will sell more consoles.

While the XBox 360 has head steady sales thanks to its game library, the PS3 has struggled because of its price and low number of exclusive games.

I have to say, though, that PS3 will definitely be on the rise this season. The impressive release of the Slim model at $299 is an attractive temptation for gamers. Not only is the PS3 an incredibly powerful gaming system, it is also a Blu-Ray player. It may be the best media player today.

It also has hot games like Uncharted 2, Infamous, and of course, MGS4.

Super 16 - Bracket B - Match 2

Wow, this is an odd matchup.

Match 2

Syphon Filter

Vs.

NHL '94

Syphon Filter is unique; it's a bit of a dark horse on this overall list of favorite games. But it does have this special place in my heart. By comparison, games from the past generations blow it away. Graphically, it is awful. Control is ehhhhhh. But its story is interesting; interesting enough to make the most recent season of 24 extra bland and pretty bad.

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NHL '94 and NHL 09. The two best hockey games ever made and ever played. What makes '94 special is the simple gameplay, quick games, sweet rosters, and Brian Leetch and the New York Rangers. Would I love the NHL as much as I do now had I never played NHL '94? I think it is obvious that my love for the game would hardly even stretch past the Red Wings.

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I sit here and think: Which of these games do I love more? After the reasoning I gave behind NHL '94, it is hard to go the other way. Even its menu theme song is cooler.

Winner: NHL '94

Super 16 - Bracket B - Match 1

It's been a long time, huh? Well, I am going to super charge this one, with a very quick dual match up to cover both challenges from Bracket B. No images to dress this post up, sorry. I have no excuse for not updating this bracket. It's been over a year, I should have gotten done with it in two months.

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Match 1

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Vs.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

MGS4 is storytelling at its finest. Video games used to be solely about playing them, until this franchise came along. Many gamers can argue about long cut scenes interrupting play, but the story drives this game. The graphics are top notch. Raiden is not a bitch.

This has favorite written all over it. I foresee it reaching the finals. (No promises though) I bought a PS3 because of this game. I do not regret it. PS3 is a quality and under appreciated game console. MGS4 is not under appreciated. It is respected by critics and gamers alike. It's earned perfect scores from many sites and magazines. It's earned a perfect score from me.

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl is amazing. This is the best local multiplayer known to man. The extended roster boosts replayability through the roof, but then again, once you find your best fighter (or for me, my best 6) its hard to change your ways.

I will say this is my favorite local multiplayer game. Better than a local Guitar Hero band, since you do not get tired of the set list, and you don't need to be a pro to play Brawl. Button mashing is a tactic, but come on! You only need to use two button! It's brilliant!

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Sadly, for Brawl, I got all reminiscent of it typing that. But I haven't been around the people I play it with in months. MOOOOONTHS. Even if it hadn't been, it would be hard to justify why this game is "better" than MGS4. Brawl doesn't have that groundbreaking, horripilating experience when you play it. And I love my games to tell me a story (which is also why I love RPGs (and I'm not knocking down Brawl's Adventure mode)).

Winner: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

E3 2009 - Wrap Up

I cannot think of a better way to wrap up an incredible week than this "Hype Montage" that was put together by IGN.

I still love that track that plays during the Final Fantasy XIII trailer.