3DS Price Cut

For those of you who haven't heard the Nintendo 3DS portable gaming system recently went through a price cut, its now only $169.99 (compared to the old price of $250). Now is a good time to get it, even better if you can find a good bundle or deal. Check major stores Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Frys Electronics)

Downloadable Games

Since I am still struggling to find new and good material for you readers (mostly I have it I'm just looking for visuals) I wanted to discuss downloadable games.
Downloadable games, as the name suggests are games that you download to you Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, or Sony PS3. They can either be completely original games or re-distributions of older classical games. They are reasonably priced and worth it if you don't have enough money for the shiny new games. (sometimes shiny isn't everything, ... or is it?)
Games can range from $5-$60 depending on what classification of game you download. Even better, some game have trials so you don't have to waste your money on a game you think will be good. I encourage you to explore the Nintendo Wii Shop, Nintendo eshop, as well as the playstation network and Xbox live online networks to see what is out there.

Been a long time.

Been a long time since I've done a post, and I'm posting about the biggest thing in Video Game, E3! E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it shows the future of gaming. go over to www.g4tv.com to see videos and other interviews about the new systems and games that are on their way.

The Final of the Trilogy - Metroid Prime 3 Corruption

Once again writing about an older game (life can be so cruel sometimes ... must stay strong) and once again its a Metroid game and even better it is the thrilling finale of a trilogy.

This game follows Samus Aran as she discovers a new power source that makes her incredibly strong, but for a price. Though she gains power, she has become corrupted by this mysterious material that has entered her body. What does this mean? It means if you use this power too much and don't expel the excess energy quickly, its game over. (Which means she dies and you have to start from the last save point, which in this game can be hard to come by.) In addition to that, this game has an incredibly accurate shooting system that allows you to use the Wiimote to point and shoot at the various creatures you will encounter. In addition to these, I must say I was very impressed by how long the game is, and how much there is to it.
As you've learned by now, when I'm done ranting and raving you get to see if the money will be an issue for you (and it always is for me ... moving on). Well you have 2 choices when buying this game. You can buy it in the original form as shown above for a varying price range of $20-$50 or you can buy a combo pack that includes the whole trilogy of Metroid Prime games, used is about $65 at Gamestop, but the new are rare, so most likely you would buy on eBay for a varying price range. I would recommend just getting it by itself unless you know you are a fan of the space-fantasy, RPG, Shooters. Overall I give this game a 8/10 for its amazing game-play  and lengthy storyline.

You've Heard of the Originals, Now Heres the Other - Metroid Other M

As said before my video game funds are low, so here is a game that is only a couple of months old, "Metroid Other M."

This is a fantasy adventure game, where you take on the role of bounty hunter Samus Aran, as she fights evil space pirates, while revealing her past. This game basically plays like a first person shooting game, where you can use the Wiimote to point and shoot at specific targets and see through her eyes, but it also lets you see her from a distance and fight by controlling her from a distance. As a general rule, I don't play shooter games very much, they are okay, but I don't find them as something special and I tire of them quickly, but this game has an intriguing storyline, with a fantasy space theme (my favorite) and like many other good RPG games has cool bosses, and upgrades.
So your staring to agree with my mindset (the brainwashing begins hehehe ...) and your wondering how much. This game is about $50 and for the Nintendo Wii. Overall I think this game was good. The shift from first person to third person, makes this game interesting, it doesn't tire you out quickly like other shooting games do. I give this game a 8/10 for its good game-play and great story and world.

So Epic, the Only Way to Contain It Was with Yarn - Kirby's Epic Yarn

I know there are a lot of new games out right now that are awesome, but like many of you will eventually experience, my video game funds are empty. So here is a game from a couple months ago that will knock your socks off,(you'll understand the joke when you read further) Kirby's Epic Yarn

This game is about the Star Warrior Kirby and his epic adventure through Patch Land. (yes he's pink, cute and round, just deal with it, until you see him in action). Kirby eats a magical fruit and gets sucked into a  magic sock (you cant make this stuff up people, just trust me and keep reading). There he meets Prince Fluff and helps him on his journey to restore Patch Land to its former glory. You can unravel enemies into yarn, or even transform yourself into different shapes and forms to travel through the world. This came also has two player co-op, meaning two people can play at the same time  This all may sound corny, and cheesy to you, but I have played this game and can tell you it is really good. Kirby's Epic Yarn is a game that has a story and characters that are safe and fun for people of all ages, though cheesy its still really good.
So now your wondering "Okay, at least let me hear him through." Well, this game is for the Nintendo Wii, and is about $40-$50. Overall i give this game a 8/10 because it was fun to play, and something I have never seen before and sometimes thats all there is to it.

Back from the days of 2D Sprites - Super Mario Bros. Wii

One of the oldest genres of games (and i mean actual games, not some wanna be like pong) is the side-scrolling game. As the name implies you had a 2D character that would walk from left to right, and occasionally go up or down. They were the beginnings of greatness, because they gave us many titles we know today, such as Metroid, and one of the greatest of all Mario. Recently a game was released that would update the classic genre and use one of the biggest stars in video games to do so, here it is Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Super Mario Bros. Wii uses a 3D world but only allows you to move in 2D (left, right, up and down). The game follows the basic (and cliche) story line of the princess being stolen by the evil King Bowser (no idea what he's the king of). You, playing as Mario, must stop all of Bowser's minions then defeat Bowser and save the princess. This game (unlike many of the past and present) includes a Multi-player story line, meaning you can play with up to four people to progress through the story, but you only need 1 to actually play. In addition to playing in many different worlds, and defeating many different monsters you also get power-ups that make progressing easier, but you lose your power-ups if hit by a monster.
This is a classic Mario game, but I am a fan of that, so I give this game a 7.5/10 because of the fun classic game-play and the interesting updates. This game has been out for a couple of months, but it is still about $50 and for the Wii, but this is a remake of the classic style that is hard to find, so i would say this is a must for all gamers of all ages.

"Super" and "3D" What Else Do You Need? - Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition

The 3DS is out and after all of the hype and such there is a desire for games that match the 3D effects flawlessly. Unfortunately there aren't many games out since it still is somewhat new, but here is a game that is a remake of another game, but has all of the 3D effects you would expect, Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition!

As the name implies with the "3D Edition" this is a remake of a game that was on the Playstation 3, and Xbox 360, so the bar was set kinda high. Well I am here to tell you this game is AWESOME. The graphics are almost as good as the PS3 and Xbox 360, and the 3D effect is pretty good. Back to the game though, this is a fighting game that has about 35 characters, each having their own moves and fighting style. The fighting style is somewhat classic arcade style (with the low, medium, and heavy punches and kicks, and the touch screen is used for shortcuts to certain combos that you may use often.) You play through the arcade mode and story of each character as they enter a tournament to see who is the best fighter in the world. In addition to that there is a new feature where you can collect figurines of the characters and have them fight against the figurines of other players (and obviously you can fight against other players in the normal fight mode also)
Overall i give this game a 7/10 because I am a fan of the fighting game genre, and this game does it well, but also gives you so much to do in the game. Price wise this game is still new so the price is $40 plus tax, but if you want or have the 3DS this game is a good place to start for your new 3DS game collection.

Kinecting us with Video Games- The Kinect and Kinect Adventures

Went a bit out of order with these last two posts (my bad). I wanted to first introduce th Kinect and the game that comes with it. The Kinnect is a motion system (much like the Wii motes, and Playstation Move) for the Xbox 360. It sits on top of the TV (or whatever you want to put it on) and the camera (and other complicated technology that I don't understand) reads your movements and imputs it into the game. The main difference between this motion system and the other motion systems (mentioned above) is that you can do things on other parts of your body besides your arms. So far I have seen this system play dancing games, fighting games and mini games and it does it somewhat well. The only problem with the Kinect system itself is you need a well lit room, about 10 feet of space and minimal background movement (which are possible but not all the time). Okay now onto the game it comes with Kinect Adventures

Kinect adventures is basically a multi-player motion-game, mini-game, party-game game. (try saying that three times fast) You can work together with up to two people or just play by yourself. The games include guiding a raft down a river (trying to collect as many points as possible), using your hands and feet to stop a tank from leaking, and trying to catch floating water in space (all sound kinda weird but they are somewhat entertaining).
Overall I give this game a 6/10 for the initial amazement and fun. Once again this is one of those mini-game party-game games, so it does get old kinda quick and playing alone isn't that fun.
The Kinect comes either in a bundle with the Xbox 360 system (around $300) or by itself and with the game (about $150). If you have an Xbox or want an Xbox this is a definite must, since the Kinect has a bright future.

Dance Like Theres No Tomorrow - Dance Central

One of the most interesting new features of video games is their interactivity (meaning how can I immerse myself in the game even more) With the Wiimote and Playstation Move (the motion system for the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3) you can accurately represent actions of the hands and some of you probably think "What thats it? What about the rest of me?" Well the new motion system for the Xbox 360, the Kinnect, lets all of your actions (more or less) be put into the game. Since it is somewhat new there aren't that many games and those that are out there are not too good. Specifically just for this blog and for no other reason (if you believe me your crazy) I tried the Kinnect system and one of the games that got the biggest hype (at least enough to burst my bubble of a life) Dance Central.

Dance games in the past have been stepping on a panel at a specific time specified on the screen (it was fun, but got old after the initial "Wow what a way to play!" wore off) For Dance central you are given a character on screen that shows you specific dance actions that you have to try to replicate (you are also given a side bar that specifies move names and shows what dance moves will be coming up). Every action you take is rated (such as perfect, good, or bad). Every motion and position of your limbs is taken into account so in order to do well you have to immerse yourself in the game and try your hardest. (meaning you can't be lazy thinking if you only move your arms you will do okay). I was surprised myself by how well the game can track specific movements, and the music you dance to is versatile so everyone can find something that they like. So like most dance exercise games it can get old but there is a solution, there is download content for this game (meaning you can go through the online store and purchase new songs and dance routines SO IT NEVER GETS OLD! (until thy give up on the game, and unfortunately there are additional costs, but it can be worth it)
So your getting excited (at least you should be) and wondering costs and my rating. Well as you can see it is for the Xbox 360 and it costs about $50, but it is worth it, if you still don't like the price then wait a couple months or look for sales. Overall I give this game a 7/10 for making an intriguing game, that immerses you and lets you have fun dancing, (and exercising and trust me it is a good work out).

Though the Devil May Cry ... - Devil May Cry 4

Well as you may have noticed almost all of the games I have rated are for the most part for all ages. I have no problem with that otherwise I wouldn't buy or rate them, however sometimes the "For All Ages" games are not very realistic, which can be annoying. So here is the first in what I hope will be a series of Teen and Mature rated games that I believe are more accurate of how stories should be told. And Here is is Devil May Cry 4

Devil May Cry 4 follows the story of a young man, Nero, who is a knight in an order that worships an ancient demon. Suddenly a man named Dante, the protagonist of the Devil May Cry series, comes and kills the leader of Nero's organization. The story follows Nero in his search for the mysterious man, and the woman he loves, who was taken prisoner. After Nero finds the man and the woman he loves, he is then engulfed by an evil power, and the story follows Dante as he tries to free Nero and save the world. Each character has their own playing style and abilities making this a game that doesn't get old as you progress in the story. You can use swords, guns, other weaponry, or even a demonic arm or a demon transformation
This game sounds good, but there are some catches, such as the blood and gore that appear in the game, along with some foul language, sexual themes, and of course the violence. If you are mature and/or above 17 then this is a good game for you, but if not there may be some content that may disturb or scare you. (I know I sound cliche but i believe you should know what you are going into before you play I made sure I did)
This game is for the PS3 and is somewhat old so it may be hard to find, but I found it for $20 at Frys electronics, which has a wide selection of games. Overall I give this game a 8/10. The story was great, the characters were intriguing, and the game play was epic, but the story line wasn't long enough for me. I am highly recommending this game for fans of the fantasy, RPG genre.

Video Games are Good for the Brain? - Big Brain Academy

One of the cliche sayings is video games (much like TV) will rot your brain, or is bad for you in some way that doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I cant speak for all games, but, for over-concerned parents, there are some rays of hope on the horizon, the next somewhat new genre I call the Brain Teaser genre. The brain teaser genre, like the name implies, is a game based around tasks that help your brain in some way, such as memory. The first big one of this genre was Big Brain Academy.

Big Brain Academy lets you evaluate your mental age, and train in memorization, analyzing, computing, thinking and identification.Your probably thinking by now, "Well I don't care about this stuff so why should I buy this game?" Well I too don't care very much for keeping my mind trained since I am young and my life as it is keeps it pretty well trained, however after playing the memory part of this game (the most important to me) I did notice that I had an easier time remembering, and I had fun playing the mini-games while training my mind. Having fun while training your mind is somewhat hard to do, so when I find something that can do it easily and quickly I cant resist. 

If that isn't enough to convince you the fact that the price is $20 and below and for the DS (one of the best portable systems around) makes it even better. 

Overall I give this game a 6/10. It was a good game and well worth the price, but after awhile it does get kinda old.

The Beginning of Virtual Sports (The Better Ones) - Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort

One of the genres getting an update is the sports genre. Sports games are typically you controlling the movements of a person through your controller (boring) and some still do (not my kinda game but you may like it). Now though, with the new motion technology, sports games can be a lot more interactive. I will start with the first of the interactive sports pages Wii sports, and since it is so similar I will also include Wii Sports Resort

As the name implies you play different sports games, using the motion control of the Wiimote. You can play Tennis, Bowling Archery, Basketball, and more. This is one of the types of games that you can play with family and friends (and by yourself but its not as fun). Using the motion controller you simulate the actions you would normally do when playing the sport in real life (ex. throwing a basket ball, swinging a tennis racket, etc.) This is the type of game that will impress you with its accuracy and amazing attention to detail when simulating actions, but it is also the type of game that you cant play for too long (because it gets old).
I am only mentioning this game because there are not many games in the sports genre that I do play. Also this game comes free with the Wii console if you buy it new (look to Gamestop if your interested in getting a used system and trying to save money, but consider if it s worth it) so i don't need to mention it, but I just wanted to throw the sports genre out there. (hahaha get it?)
I would give this game a 6/10 for the initial amazement, and family fun.

If Its in the Name Its Gotta Be Good - Wii Party

The last of my blast from the past week is the game Wii Party.

Although I like playing by myself, I love playing with family and friends and this is a quick paced easy to learn and play game. As the name implies this game is a party style game meaning its mostly mini games and you get to play with your Mii (a personal avatar created by how you want to look for Mii related games). In addition to mini-games, there are other ways to play the mini games, such as who can get the most money, collect the most items, or who can get to the top of the mountain first, each having the mini-games fit into the bigger game in some different way.
Pretty simple and straightforward for a party game, and as the name implies is for the Nintendo Wii and its $50. Overall i give this game a 7.5/10 because i personally love mini-games and this game has a lot of them, and I still play this game with family and friends.

Play Your Music Your Way - Wii Music

As you can see from the previous posts there are many types of genres, each broad and different from the others. A genre that hasn't been out too long and hit it big was the Music game genre. As the name implies you use the controller (in different shapes for different games) to make music. Most of the time (I would say 99% of the time) you choose a song to perform, and you are limited to trying to recreate that song. And here is where the game comes in.

Wii Music lets you use the Wiimote and the buttons on the Wiimote (and the attachable nun-chuck) to simulate different instruments, then recreate a song with those instruments. You can also record the songs, then call back those recordings to combine them together and create a song made of your different attempts at a song.
Overall, I would give this game a 5/10, because it was fun at first, but after the "Shiny and New" aspect of the game faded away, it was boring and got old FAST. But I encourage you to try this and other music games to see of it is something you like. I admit I've always wanted to play an instrument and this game let me do it just for a little while.
As the name implies this game is for the Nintendo Wii. Unfortunately I haven't seen it around much so i don't know the exact cost, but if you have always loved music and want to try this genre with your own hands, then with a little bit of online searching you can find it.

It Ain't Party Time Without A Party Game - Wario Ware Smooth Moves

When you think of a party (at least some type of parties) you must think of party games. Well ever since the development and use of motion controlers (ex. The Wiimote, the PS3 motion controller, and the Xbox 360 Kinnect) video game are easier and more fun to play at parties. Obviously they have to be multiplayer, but there are many other features a good party game needs, such as easy use, and a broad audience it appeals to. One of the older games and first of the better party games out there (i think) is the game Wario Ware Smooth Moves

Wario Ware Smooth Moves, follows the story of Wario and the other citizens in his world, as they deal with their problems, but you help them, by doing mini games classified under different poses you make while holding the Wiimote. Though it sounds strange (and trust me IT IS STRANGE) its very fun and comical. Having it at a party or family gathering makes it very funny and everyone can enjoy that.
Like the picture shows this game is for the Nintendo Wii. Since it is old, finding it may prove difficult, and the price will range from $20-$50. Overall i give this game a 8/10, because i had a blast playing it, and i still play it whenever I'm with family or friends.

Not Just Fun and Games - Wii Fit

In this day and age the number of genres and combinations of genres is almost limitless and still growing (obviously I'm exaggerating a bit). But one of the genres I thought would be the weirdest is the exercise games. In the older days exercise games were limited usually only to dance games. They were simple, you press a button with your foot as the indicator tells you to (trying not to go into too much detail). This day there are additional accessories you add to your home system to exercise. One of the most known and first to bring it to the home consoles was Wii Fit

With the Wii fit you do exercise games categorized under calorie burner, yoga, strength training and balance. It sounds a bit weird, but it really does get you moving. The games are fun, and you can record your progress and record improvements.

As the name implies it is for the Wii system. The only problem was that Wii Fit accessory and game cost about $100, and unless you keep yourself to it and want to do it, it can end up being a waste of money. Overall I give it a 7/10 mostly because it was able to draw me in and keep me for a while, but at the same time after running out of things to do, i stopped playing.

God of all Games - Okami

Continuing with the older game theme one of the best to suggest would be the game Okami.

Okami is a game about a sun goddess that takes the form of a wolf and must gain power in order to stop an evil creature from destroying the world. The game plays out as you travel the world gaining power and liberating certain parts of the world from darkness.
The game Okami originally came our for the Playstation 2 the predecessor to the Playstation 3, but it is also on the Wii. I bought mine at Frys Electronic store for about $20, but since it is old it may be hard to find and could range in price, but it is well worth it for the unique art style and gameplay it offers. Overall I give this game a 8/10 for good game-play, interesting storyline and interesting characters.

Racing, Isn't it Just that Simple? - Mario Kart Wii

Though there are many good games about to come out, I thought the next couple of posts would be about games that are somewhat recent and known to be good. Also trying to diversify with different games, the next genre, is the racing game. Like the name implies these games use some method (usually cars) to have different people race against each other. There are many different kinds of racing games from the cute and cartoony, to the gory and dark. It is usually a simple and straightforward game that not many people don't like, but it can get old fast. Here is one of the better racing games that appeals to people of all ages Mario Kart Wii, a game I had alot of fun with.

Mario Kart Wii is a game that lets you choose a character and car to race with then race three laps on a course. This game uses the characters from the Mario universe, (ex Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach etc. or you own Mii created from the Mii channel on the Wii menu) to race against each other using many different cars, and different locations from the Mario universe (such as Princess Peache's Castle and Bowser's Castle.) You also use the Wiimote like a steering wheel to drive your character through the stage (using the buttons to give the kart gas, or use the breaks). In addition to normal racing you can also use wireless internet to race other people online. It is a simple but fun game that doesn't need much explanation. 

So your curious and wondering how much right? Well it is $50 for the game available only on the Wii. I give this game a 6.5/10 for the fun racing, and being a game that can appeal to anyone, but after time it did get old for me, but I am not much of a racing game fan.

The New Portable Nintendo System

Today is a monumental day for gamers (kinda). Today the Nintendo company released their new portable gaming system the Nintendo 3DS. It is a system unlike any other, because it has a built in 3D system, that doesn't require glasses. It also, like its predecessor the Nintendo DS, has a touch screen on it. It is an amazing new system that offers an extreme amount of content to the user. I have yet to personally explore the different aspects of the system, but it already impressive based on the information given. It also has backwards compatibility with the previous Nintendo DS system, so any game that were on that system can also be played in the new 3DS system. The system costs $250 and comes on black and blue. It would be a great system to start with for portable gaming, but be aware of the safety and health issues concerning the 3D screen.