Music Video of the Day for 8/26/10

So this video leaked out two days ago, but looked like Vevo got the proper premiere for it...

Usher - "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" (feat. Pitbull)

In the meantime, I'm going to dance dance like its the last last night of my life life.

More MvC3 Footage feat. Dormammu & Viewitiful Joe

Well, here's actual match footage of Dormammu and Viewitiful Joe in action in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Also featured in these clips of Level 3 Supers for Amaterasu and Super Skrull. (Oh yeah, Dante/Amaterasu/Viewitiful Joe = definitely the new school Capcom team)

A Short But Sweet Interactive Cartoon... The Shank (PSN) Review

There are games that are all style with no substance, but there are some that are both and Shank fits that description. When you first see Shank in action, you feel like you're playing a cartoon straight up from Cartoon Network's glory days. The obvious comparison Shank draws from is Samurai Jack, but with knives and guns which is not that bad considering both Shank and Samurai Jack are badass warriors in their craft. This indie darling that got positive buzz from past gaming conventions is finally out and it does indeed live up those expectations despite some setbacks. Considering the price tag and the amount of content this game offers, Shank is still worth your time if you love short and sweet beat-em-ups.

Shank's storyline is your simple revenge tale as he has to avenge his significant other by killing those that took her away. In other words, its like the male version of Kill Bill as you slaughter one boss after another until you reach the one that is behind it all. Other than his shanks, dual pistols, and chainsaw, Shank gets more weapons the further you go along to complete your quest from machetes, a shotgun, grenades, and more. The controls are what you expect out of a modern brawler even though this game plays like a 2D side scroller. It is pretty simple stuff on paper, but there is some depth out of the combat to come up with stylish combos like Devil May Cry. If you're not into trying to use the combat system to its full potential, then the core combat is mashy, but you have to play with some urgency especially in the second half of the game where enemies will defend and attack at will. Other than cutting dudes up, there is some platforming Shank has to deal with, but it holds your hand for the most part meaning its easy to perform a sequence such as climbing a pole to wall running a billboard and then grabbing to a skull. Even with such simple platforming elements, the trickier sequences do get frustrating which can result in pointless deaths, but good thing there is a checkpoint system to try things again. Speaking of checkpoints, there are none on hard difficulty, which does make those segments more frustrating if a simple misjump can result in starting over a level again.

The main campaign in Shank can be completed in four hours, which is really short, but if it was longer, the repetition would of kicked in as the game is paced well in those four hours going from setting to setting taking out the opposition. The boss battles are well thought out as well as nearly all of them require different tactics to kill them, but sometimes you don't expect to exploit their weakness in the first try as if it is some trial and error approach because the hint system does tell you what to do to kill a boss quicker after you die. Despite the short campaign, there is some replay value into the game with a harder difficulty, unlockable outfits by killing a certain number of enemies with certain weapons, and concept art. There is also a cooperative campaign, which is more of the same, but a slightly different take on the storyline since there are two characters. Other than that, Shank is pretty light with content considering the fifteen dollar price tag, so the purchase may feel questionable if you don't feel like you got enough longevity out of the game.

The most striking feature in Shank other than the brutal combat is the cartoony visual style. Remember what I said comparing Shank to Samurai Jack? The visual style is what makes them familiar from the awesome cutscenes with little to no dialogue even though it still sets up what's next, how they handle blood and gore, and so on. Also pretty impressive with Shank's graphics are the animations specifically with Shank himself. He moves like a true cartoon character with slicing and shooting enemies at will with no remorse. His facial expressions when in action are outstanding as well even though the combat may not feel as fluid people hoped. Sound-wise, Shank's soundtrack fits the theme, but you're probably busy tearing people apart. As mentioned earlier, there is little to no dialogue between Shank and the main bosses as his actions would rather do the talking.

All in all, Shank feels like a short and sweet interactive cartoon with style. The visual style makes you wish it is an actual cartoon on television, but it is probably best it stays as a game. The combat is simple yet deep like some of the more known modern brawlers like Devil May Cry and God of War. It does take your imagination though to exploit the game's combo system to come up with stylish combos as mashing away does not guarantee you success. The lack of content along with it being a four hour game hurts the overall package considering its fifteen dollars on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network. Despite that issue, I still had a fun time with Shank as it is a good four hours that is worth your time if you love stylish beat-em-ups.

Score = 8/10

Pros:

• Amazing visual style from the overall graphics to the animations that reminds you of Samurai Jack
• Core combat is simple yet has some depth if you want to mess around coming up with stylish combos
• Short and sweet campaign
• Cutscenes that also go along with the visual style keeps the game moving

Cons:

• The main campaign is four hours long, perhaps too short to satisfy the $15 dollar price
• Combat may not feel as fluid as some hoped
• Other than a hard difficulty and a co-op campaign, the game is light on content
• Platforming elements can be frustrating at times especially later on in the game.

Hands-On with MotorStorm 3D Rift (Well on 2D...)

MotorStorm 3D Rift is a surprise package that showed up on the Playstation Store this week for ten dollars and I happened to buy it because its been a while since I owned a racing game even though this one sort of does not count, but I have been needing a racing fix lately as this fills the void for now. Yes, the title does say 3D Rift and yet I don't have a 3DTV, so there goes half of the game pretty much as this game can be also played normally in 2D. This ten dollar package is basically MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Lite with ten tracks and ten events. There is no multiplayer options as it is just you against the computer AI as this is another showcase Sony wants to use for their push towards 3D gaming. The ten race events are normal races with the vehicles they give you at the offset meaning there is a lack of choice, but then again that is what you get as a paid warmup for the full game or the upcoming MotorStorm: Apocalypse. I never owned a MotorStorm game yet, but this is indeed a better taste than the demos because the opposing AI will race dirty and aggressive to the point they will take you out. I tend to like racers with this approach because it makes victory much more sweeter even though it takes numerous attempts because the AI will screw things up with you any way possible along with the terrain of the courses if you're not careful. The first half of 3D Rift is not that bad difficulty wise, but the opponents will step up their game in the second half as the perfect run is pretty much required to win first place. Graphically, MotorStorm 3D Rift in 2D looks like Pacific Rift for the most part and since I don't have a 3DTV, I can't say what the 3D is like. I still do love the crashing animations especially on the bike where the human just ragdolls like crazy making you laugh. As for the sound in which you can't change the settings, the cars are more loud than the music which is okay, but it depends if you feel like hearing the soundtrack the game has. If you don't have Pacific Rift, then MotorStorm 3D Rift is worth it if you're also interested in the upcoming Apocalypse. Of course, it is better to have this around if you have a 3D television as a showcase to those who are curious about 3D. After playing this for a bit, it makes me respect this franchise more for what it offers compared to the rest of the arcade racers out there with its dirty and aggressive style.

Music Video of the Day for 8/25/10

Linkin Park - New Music - More Music Videos

Linkin Park - "The Catalyst"

I'm curious how much of a departure their new album will be since it is supposed to be way different from their past albums. Early word is that the new direction they're taking on is a love/hate ordeal as some will appreciate it and some won't wishing they go back to their roots of Hybrid Theory, which is still one of the most successful albums in the last decade. I'm just hoping A Thousand Suns will be better than the disappointment that is Minutes to Midnight. Honestly, I don't expect them to go back to what made them successful in the first place when Chester is in angry mode most of the time to the point he's losing his voice. We'll see when Linkin Park's new album is out next month.

Retro Review - Super Metroid (Wii VC)

In honor of Metroid: Other M's release next week on Wii, I decided to bring back an old GameSpot user review to get the G Unit Ver1's World treatment, which is Super Metroid for the Wii Virtual Console.

It was 1994 when the first console Metroid since the original on the NES came out. Fans of the series have waited patiently for Super Metroid's release on the Super Nintendo and it eventually became one of the greatest games of all-time. It was an evolution of the Metroid formula that started on the NES and turned out to be the perfect Metroid game for its time. Since Super Metroid's release, Nintendo has not re-released the game in any form other than illegally downloading it on an emulator. Now it is available on the Wii Virtual Console for 800 Wii Points and arguably the best game on that service since most of the other Nintendo games have been released before in other forms.

Super Metroid begins after Metroid II: The Return of Samus when a baby Metroid found bounty hunter Samus Aran as her mother at SR-388. All of a sudden at a space station, the baby Metroid gets captured by one of Samus's infamous enemies, Ridley, as Samus rushes to Zebes, where the whole franchise started to rescue the baby Metroid and eliminate the legion of Space Pirates once for all. Once Samus lands on Zebes via her spaceship, it is basically Metroid again, but bigger and better.

Samus starts out only with her Power Beam, but as like Metroid, you progress through the game by collecting new weapons and upgrades. The staples from Metroid return such as the Morph Ball, Missiles, Ice Beam, and the Varia Suit. The new additions in Super Metroid are the Grapple Beam, Gravity Suit, Plasma Beam, Space Jump, Super Missiles, and Power Bombs. These new additions are one of the major reasons Super Metroid is a way better sequel. Other noticeable additions that made the game easier than the original Metroid are save stations throughout areas of Zebes, energy and ammo recharge stations, and the helpful map. Those additions made Super Metroid less frustrating than the original Metroid in a big way, which is why it is a more polished game.

Other than Samus's new abilities, the planet Zebes is not the same as seen in the original. It is definitely better in terms of variety and scope as Samus wanders around Brinstar, the lava-filled Norfair, the Wrecked Ship, and the water-filled Maridia. The Metroid formula was at its best in Super Metroid with progression limited by a certain item, collecting missile expansions, and facing big bosses. Speaking of bosses, the boss count in Super Metroid was increased to four major bosses, numerous mini-bosses, and the finale with Mother Brain. Samus had her limits in the original Metroid firing only in three directions and in Super Metroid, she can fire in eight directions, which subtracts more frustration that players had in previous Metroid games before it.

There are two controller choices to play the Virtual Console version of Super Metroid, which are the Classic and Gamecube controllers. The Classic Controller is the one to go with because of its SNES familiarity. The controls can also be changed before starting a game, which is also a great addition. The emulation feels perfect on the Wii as it is the Super Nintendo version we all know and love. Even on a widescreen HDTV, Super Metroid is a great 2D game to look at even with today's 2D standards. The sound is also untouched and accurately emulated in this version as level themes go along with where you at in the game. The soundtrack is still one of the best soundtracks during the 16-bit era and remains that way today.

Super Metroid on the Wii's Virtual Console is highly recommended for Metroid fans and those playing it for the first time. Those who missed it back in the Super Nintendo days can finally play a legal version on the Wii. For those who played it to death, this is still a must buy considering it is like the second official release of the game ever. Super Metroid is still considered one of the greatest games of all-time and it is definitely the best game to buy on the Wii's Virtual Console right now.

Music Roundup Pick of the Week for 8/22/10

Usher's Versus EP is out on Tuesday and its my pick of the week for something to blast to. It features Usher's new hit song, "DJ Got Us Fallin in Love" featuring Pitbull (video out this week and will be a MVftD post on that), "Hot Toddy" featuring Jay-Z, which you probably heard on the radio lately too, and more. The album is not that long since it is an EP, but if you want to hear more Usher songs beyond Raymond v. Raymond, then this new EP is worth it. After all, it also has Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love (Remix)" too and this is probably my first time mentioning that young kid at all in this blog after all the attempts trying to avoid him, but Bieber Fever has somehow reached its way to G Unit Ver1's World.