Flashback - 001 - Ninja Gaiden 2

After recently watching the Angry Video Game Nerd Castlevania retrospective and hearing his final statement about those games, both the good and bad, being like a photograph of moments he'll never forget, then thinking about Chad Concelmo's excellent Memory Card articles over at Destructoid, I felt it was time that I wax nostalgicly about games that were important in my life. Anyone else out there that's reading this, either comment on it or feel free to join in the movement, because as long as Superman 64 had some sort of significance in your life, it's always good to hear about it and why it left such an impact. The first entry in this series for me? Ninja Gaiden 2.

After FINALLY completing the game, I was debating on writing an actual review in my head. I felt this would be much more appropriate, considering how important this game was in my life as a gamer, instead of critically analyzing every aspect of it. Ninja Gaiden 2 is one of the earliest video game memories for me, along with Super Mario Bros., Mike Tyson's Punch Out, and Contra. I'm not sure why, but I have distinct memories of being 4 years old and holding the controller in my hands, knowing that as long as I had the controller, I was a badass ninja, running across rooftops and slashing enemies out of existence. While the first game gets the credit for starting the franchise and pioneering that cinematic storytelling technique via cutscenes, the incredible graphics of this sequel actually made me feel like I was Ryu Hayabusa. And that's just the beginning.

It seemed like all the kids I knew at the time (including myself) were really into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Since the first TMNT game was pretty not good, something about this captured what I really wanted my ninja to be. Ninja Turtles had the advantage of selecting 4 different turtles. NG2? Although it's just one dude against hordes of strange enemies, who could possibly forget all the amazing power ups? By slashing any of the floating orbs in the game, items would then drop out, ranging from scrolls that could restore your life or magic, to the invincibility-granting firewheel, all the way to the amazing shadow ninjas that would follow you around and help you take down enemies without actually taking damage. Speaking of them, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person in the world that somehow convinced myself that there was some sort of secret code to make the game into a 3 player game by getting one of those ninja and having a friend enter some elusive code on the controller.



Another major advantage of this game to that other ninja franchise is that the storyline in NG2 was definitely more gritty. After reaching and taking down the first boss, you stumble across a strange man that gives you pointers on where to go in your quest. All of a sudden, the guy pulls a gun out and fires at you - or does he? Turns out, that monster you just killed wasn't all the way dead and he totally just saved you. After finishing that amazing city level and seeing that jaw dropping cutscene for the first time, you're...on a train? Until about 10 minutes from the time that I'm writing this (3 AM on November 3, 2010), I never realized that the boss of the first level just so happens to be -gasp- in a train yard. Anyway, after boarding the train and fighting your way to the front of it, you're in one most memorable NES stages I've had the pleasure of enjoying. Most platformers have their ice and lava levels. This game places you on a mountain (which I'm assuming comes from the mountains on the background on the preceding stage). As a result of the elevation, there happens to be snow. This snow isn't coating the ground, so at least you can hold your footing and don't have to worry about slipping and sliding around like you do on so many similar stages. Oh no. Instead, you watch the snows direction. When it's falling straight down, there's nothing to worry about. When it's moving left or right, it pushes you in that direction, meaning if you're fighting the elements, you're going to be going a lot slower than normal and incapable of making what would have previously been the most simple jumps. If you work with it, you'll be going twice as fast and fly twice as far through the air, Since the game wasn't satisfied with difficult jumps on its own, this levels nasty trick is that sometimes the snow just stops going in a direction, or pushes back in mid jump, causing you to fall to your death.

In many games, that would be infuriating. In NG2, it came across as being incredibly innovative and gave you one more thing to master. After working your way through this level, the 3rd stage is a battle across a treacherous path leading to a castle. Unfortunately, this is the last highly innovative level that I can think of. Instead of it just being a bunch of perilous blocks and platforms strewn about, with a constant threat of enemies, there are certain parts of the level that are too dark to see any of the terrain, forcing you to wait until lightning strikes, then carefully move towards your goal. Keep in mind that you could technically do this entire area if you had the layout memorized, but realistically, you won't, so it's just one more amazing element that makes this game such an impressive feat in the world of 8 bit platformers. The rest of the game has you using your platforming skills to eventually fight the end boss, which has 2 forms, since that's what every end boss ever has to do.



The last thing that really stands out for me aside from the awesome level design, amazing cutscenes, and gorgeous graphics was the fantastic soundtrack. Since this was towards the end NES life cycle, but the SNES hadn't hit American shores just yet, developers had managed to crank out some beautiful sounds coming from the consoles sound chip. While it's no Streets of Rage 2 by any means, every single sound fits the enviroments you're in. The main melody on the snowy mountain stage is something that will probably forever be etched into my memory, probably thanks to how long it took me to clear the level. Something about the song used in the first level always feels like it's ramping me up for what's almost always going to be a long adventure until the end of the game.

All in all, while I can't say Ninja Gaiden 2 is the best game of all time, it definitely sticks out in my memory, and it's nice that it's one of the games that I feel holds up incredibly well to this day. When people ask what games they should use to get a friend into gaming, instead of going with a game like Modern Warfare because of graphics, or Flower because of the innovative control scheme, there's something that's really simple about having 4 directions on ONE d-pad and 2 buttons to perform any of the possible in game actions.

Hope you enjoyed this first feature of what will hopefully turn into a either daily or at least weekly series, as long as I can keep writing. For anyone wondering, this isn't going to follow any sort of chronological or top 10 order, it's just going to be games that have meant a lot to me over the years for whatever reason, from the 2600 to the PS3 and everything in between. Hell, I might even include some pinball tables if I feel like it!

My ode to the Dreamcast

When I was a young lad, I remember my brother and I went to this mystical place called "Blockbuster", along with a few other local rental places (does anyone remember when grocery stores had their own video stores in them?) to pick up these amazing arcade ports on NES, SNES, and Genesis. I'd sit there for hours in front of the TV playing these perfect ports of games like Street Fighter 2, NBA Jam, Joe and Mac, and tons of others. At the time, I thought nothing could ever get any better than that. You could practically play authentic renditions of the same games you would normally have to plop quarter after quarter into in your own home! Sure, maybe the graphics weren't quite as polished, they might have altered some of the sounds, but the core experience was the same! How could it ever get any better?



Things started to change once the move to CD-based consoles started. When the Sony Playstation launched, instead of playing these compressed arcade games, we were getting closer to replicating that very same experience without having to sacrifice nearly as much, thanks to the superior hardware and the increased storage capacity on CD's. Unfortunately, as with most changes in technology, there was a trade-off: insane load times. Mortal Kombat 3 on Genesis was the first time I really noticed how much less crisp its sound was compared to the SNES, along with the fact that the color pallet seemed lacking. The SNES version seemed to look closer but still lacked that definition that made it stand out in arcade. The PS1 port, however, looked and sounded JUST like its big brother. Enter the trade-off: due to the laser having to read data off the disc, whenever Shang Tsung morphed, the game would freeze for a few seconds as it loaded the new characters moveset, which kind of ruined the whole experience, not to mention the loading time between fights. As time went on, the Playstation would become the next home for arcade ports, but we were always forced to just deal with the loading. All of that changed on 9/9/99.



When the Dreamcast finally hit, we saw a significant difference between what had been available during the 32-bit era (Saturn and Playstation) in terms of graphics, sound, and the core gameplay experience. While previous consoles had to sacrifice something, Dreamcast benefited from being constructed on the same basic hardware as what was then available in arcades. This meant that everything you saw at the arcade was finally playable at home with no losses, going so far as to throw in tons of extra modes (Street Fighter Alpha 3 says "Hi"), allowing you to refine your skills at home without having to take frame rate or input differences into account.



As previously mentioned, this was not the Dreamcast's only strength. It definitely makes it easy to go back into if you feel like playing Capcom vs SNK 2 or Soul Calibur, but there were tons of amazing games that were exclusive to it that still hold up well today. Jet Set Radio is still a landmark title thanks to its introduction of the cel-shaded art style that games use to this day. Shenmue can be blamed for the origin of so many QTE events in games for years to come, even going so far as to be the primary control element in this years hit, Heavy Rain. While online console gaming technically existed years before thanks to the xband, Phantasy Star Online is the title people look back at and remember how excellent the netcode was, or that crazy night they jumped on to trade items with some guy from the other side of the world. With the creation of the 2k sports games, it felt like Madden and NBA Live had some serious competition, forcing them to seriously consider what their strategy was. Sure, there was NFL Xtreme, Game Day, NBA Shootout, and other franchises that tried, but none ever managed to really get the experience as refined as NFL and NBA 2k did, which also looked leaps and bounds better than anything we'd seen before. Last, but definitely not least, who can possibly forget their first time seeing the Ready 2 Rumble commercial?



I could go on and on forever about how amazing the Dreamcast was and still is, and there might be future posts nailing down specific experiences I had with the amazing, but for now, I'd like to bring this to a close. The Dreamcast is still my first choice for amazing 4 player split screen games and loading up amazing arcade ports, and while the PS2 is a close second, I really feel that this was the niche Sega carved out for itself in the hearts of gamers everywhere. The next time you hear that ridiculously loud beeping sound the VMUs made when starting up or hear about a new Cel Shaded game, or even when you're cursing out a game because of that damn QTE you missed, think of the Dreamcast and pour one out for Sega. Better yet, track one down if you don't already have one, get some friends, some controllers, and bask in the glory of one of the finest consoles of all time.

Dreamcast 10th anniversary spectacular!

I know this is a bit late, but it's still the 9th, so happy 10th anniversary, Dreamcast! This list is just a list of ten things that I feel made the Dreamcast special. It's not the ONLY things, but these were the first ten that popped into my mind. If you have anything to add, feel free to leave a comment!

1. The 128 bit Graphics.



I still have that scene of Sonic racing down a dock as a killer whale crashes through behind you against the blue sky and crashing waves in Sonic Adventure 1. While the N64 had been a 64 bit system, most of the games didn't feel like nearly as big of a leap as what happened with the launch of the Dreamcast. While Sonic Adventure 1's dolphin scene and maybe the commercial for Ready 2 Rumble are two of the most memorable launch experiences, who can possibly forget the first time you saw Soul Calibur? Say what you will about the franchise, SC1 on DC had some amazing effects. Then you've got Jet Grind Radio, the amazing 2d art in Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike, completely trippy visuals like Rez, and countless other games that showed you that, at least for a while, Sega did what Sony and Nintendon't.

2. Peripherals



While there weren't actually too many peripherals for DC, the ones that were actually helped out people a lot. You've got the infamous Rez vibration controller, but there's also great things like the light guns, and arcade stick for creating an authentic arcade experience at home. If you were a fan of pc games, specifically Quake 3, you could grab the keyboard and mouse for the dreamcast, allowing you to play a console FPS exactly how you always wanted to, which was great for online matches against other PC players (cross platform play ftw!). The keyboard attachment was also later used to help players all over the world talk to each other in PSO and was infinitely more useful than the on screen keyboard or quick commands, along with later being used in Typing of the Dead. A microphone had been released later to use with Seaman, which was useful, but never really managed to make it beyond gimmick status. Either way, you've still got stuff like the Samba De Amigo maracas and that definitely gave plenty of people a lot of enjoyment.

3. Cel Shading and Jet Grind Radio.



What probably would have been overlooked as just another extreme sports game, the art style really made this game stand out amongst the Tony Hawks and Dave Mirras, which allowed people to realize that this was actually about graffiti, helping to spread word of your crew while surviving against the oppressive military and other gangs. If I ever see anyone take down a helicopter in real life with a can of spray paint...I think I'll have finally seen everything.

4. PSO/Online Play



Managing to waste entire weekends playing Phantasy Star Online for free through Sega's 56k modem is simply unforgetable. I'm STILL not completely sure how they managed to keep everything running so smooth while everyone was using telephone lines to dial in, but WOW, what an amazing experience! I'm not certain that Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst is still online for the pc, but if you haven't played this game yet and are a fan of Diablo style hack and slash adventures, do yourself a favor and grab it on pc, xbox, dc, or whatever else you can.

5. All of the amazing arcade ports.



From Shmups to Light Gun games, whatever your favorite games were in the arcade in the late 90's, if you wanted to see a 100% faithful port, Dreamcast was the way to go. While this tradition was sort of started with the Saturn, the faster loading times, great dpad, and hardware specs made this an arcade fans dream. When it was finally announced that the Dreamcast was no longer going to be produced, it left everyone a bit uncertain since this also happened during the decline of arcades. Luckily, the torch was passed on to the PS2, but if you're trying to find that perfect port of Marvel Vs Capcom 2 or want to go back and experience the way Ikaruga was meant to be, look no further than the DC.

6. VMUs.



While card based storage would later be phased out with the dawn of the Xbox, both Sony and Sega tried their hand at creating portable memory cards with screens. Unfortunately for Sony, their attempt never caught on and (if I remember correctly) was never officially released in the US. Dreamcast, on the other hand, was launched with their Virtual Memory Unit, a memory card that had a dpad, 2 buttons, ran on one of those...LR3 batteries or whatever, and had a (terrible) speaker built into it. While many games just used the feature to show the name of their game on the screen as you played, there were plenty that actually took advantage of it and several sites that had downloadable games specifically designed for the VMU. To think, it took Logitech until 2005/2006 to produce their G15 keyboard that had a screen with more or less the same functionality!

7. The controller.



I'm not going to lie. The Dreamcast controller, aesthetically speaking, looks pretty frickin' unwieldy. First, you have the 4 candy colored buttons on the right side, two triggers, a big wide space in the middle with a start button at the bottom center and a gap in the face to view the VMU, then a dpad and analog stick. It even sounds awkward describing it. Amazingly, when you put that thing in your hands, it feels perfect, largely thanks to the grips the triggers provided so you could comfortably rest your extra fingers behind it. While issues arose with first person shooters (dual analogs hadn't really been around yet), those hadn't really caught on too well with the console market, so this controller is still perfectly suited for the games available on the console.

8. Sega Sports.



While I'm not a big sports gamer, I really do admire how much the 2k sports games forced EA to actually get better, to this day. Before NFL 2K had come out, it was already accepted that football fans were going to get the new Madden whenever it came out, and maybe give a game like NFL Blitz or NFL Xtreme a shot, but nothing had come close if you were looking for a realistic sports game. Then here comes Sega's first real sports game in ages, NFL 2k, which blew Madden out of the water, while the NBA 2K games slowly gained dominance of EAs NBA Live. With its 128 bit graphics, completely unique play selection screen, and the sheer amount of detail that went into every aspect, it was evident a new and formidable competitor had finally stepped into the ring.

9. That Ready 2 Rumble ad.



THIS LONE AD was what made SO MANY people think games had finally started to really look realistic. While biting fro's was not an actual attack in-game, it was still managed to be a lot of fun to play. Now that I think about it, R2R was the first time I'd had a great time with a boxing game since Super Punch Out. While the gameplay itself was great, the graphics, characters, and commentary by Michael Buffer really helped keep this in the heart of countless Dreamcast fans.

10. The arrival of Shenmue.



Talk about ambitious! Shenmue was originally planned to be a 16 part game that followed Ryo's quest to avenge his father. The first game in the series was one of the most hyped Dreamcast games I can remember. Putting the game in for the first time, you were treated with an epic (for the time) intro that lasted at least 10 minutes. The game took place in Yokosuka, Japan and one of the cool features of the game was that as you hunted down clues to the man that killed your father, there was a day-night cycle with randomly generated weather that was respective of the season in addition to using some of the real weather patterns from that area in real life during that time. While looking back at it now, many people scoff at how "hunting down" a killer boiled down to asking sailors what they knew about "THE THREE BLAAAAADES?!?!", and then repeating the question to the person only to find out they know nothing, there's an actual feel of tension of trying to finish all of these tasks within the hours you have awake. For those that just wanted to enjoy the world, you were free to roam the streets and talk to the many npc's, or maybe hop in the local arcade to play a few games of Space Harrier or Hang On while wasting the rest of your money on the countless toy dispensing machines in your attempt to collect every action figure known to mankind. The only downside to this game was that this is the game most people directly blame for QTE's catching on. Finally, the series was cut short, and even though it had been critically praised, terrible sales prevented Shenmue II from ever making it overseas on the Dreamcast, doomed to stay forever in Europe and Asia, yet somehow managing to get a US Xbox port many years later. It seems like every year, people hold out hope for a Shenmue 3 or something to continue the adventures, but until that day comes, keep crossing your fingers.

XBL indie spotlight - I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1

I'm long overdue to write an article here, so here we go! While there's been many, MANY retail games that are well worth owning released this summer, it’s pretty obvious that with the economy the way it is and the sheer number of things going on in peoples lives that sometimes you just can’t afford to spend a full 60$ on something new. For those of you who are on a budget, there’s been plenty of great sales on Steam and some amazing PSN and Xbox Live Arcade games going from 10-15$. For people that aren’t able to spend that much either, this is exactly the type of game you’ve been looking for. Since Geometry Wars came out years ago, its formula has been reiterated and cloned many times, so it’s easy to think you’ve seen everything that can be done with twin stick shooters. Luckily, there’s some pretty amazing people out there that want to prove otherwise. Enter I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1: a game that I bought simply because of the laughable title, the fact that it only cost 80 Microsoft points (1$), and the incredibly minimalist box art which stood out in the Indie Games section. It sat on my hard drive for 2 days, unplayed but not forgotten, until I had some downtime two days later, so I finally decided to fire it up.



While its gameplay is still a reiteration of the tried-and-true twin stick shooter format, there’s a certain charm in its construction that has to be experienced once in everyone’s life. Since Portal came out, people have occasionally tried their hands at making a game with a comedic ending song (Portal - Still Alive, and You Have To Burn The Rope come to mind), but this game is almost built around this concept. While it’s fun to play on its own, the real humor of the game comes from the amazing song blaring in the background, which I don’t want to ruin here. The great thing about the music in the game is that just when it starts to get old, it switches into another version of the song and the map and graphics changes accordingly, along with introducing new enemies and weapons. I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1 is one of those things that might have benefited from online play or an online leader board, but even without it, there’s tons of laughs to be had each time you play the game. It’s hard to say too much about it without kind of spoiling or possibly overhyping the experience, so do yourself a favor and download it with those 80 points you’ve had laying around on your account or at least give the demo a chance.

Demo Woes.

Perhaps one of the most definitive memories of the huge change to using CD's for video games, aside from the technical side of things, was that gamers everywhere were given the ability to play demonstrations. When the format had been around for a while, you would find yourself getting demos included with everything from magazines to cereal, and even as promotions for fast food companies. The entire idea behind things such as Playstation Underground or the demos for Sega Dreamcast were to generate hype for titles that you might not have heard of or perhaps just seeing images in magazines didn't do justice to the feel of the games themselves. Demos were constantly tweaked as years went by, changing as companies attempted to understand exactly what the consumer needed to see in order to make the jump from casual interest into being prepared to purchase, so the general expectation was that you would have around 10-15 minutes or a few levels, with the first few minutes or first level used primarily as a tutorial, explaining exactly what you were playing while showing off a few of the mechanics that made it different from the crowd by not being too challenging. Following the introduction, the next section typically let the player see how they could use those same mechanics in more difficult ways, such as an actual game to practice the trick stick that had been newly introduced in NBA Live 2k3 to getting a good grasp on the combat system of an RPG. It's always been incredibly vital that the new player that's trying to see if they're interested in a game to have some sort of brief tutorial or a slowly increasing difficulty meter without ever getting too hard just to start the hype machine in their minds and push the person towards purchasing the product.

So....WHY has this format of demo slowly been pushed out? Where we were once rewarded with a demo simply for buying a certain box of cereal or picking up a magazine, there's a lot of companies that refuse to have their demos available anywhere unless you do some sort of special preorder of a deluxe edition, which allows you to try out a game that you've pretty much already decided you're going to buy. Doesn't that completely eliminate the possibility of enticing anyone that was just casually interested? Even more frustrating than exclusive demos or releasing a beta for your game that pretty much functions as a demo in many peoples eyes after a certain point is releasing a demo without ANY sort of instruction as to what's happening. Just to lay all of my cards out right here, this entire article was fueled by my run through of the Madden 10 demo on Xbox Live. I haven't played a next gen Madden game (unless you count 07 on the Wii, which is significantly different), so this was my first time giving the franchise a fair shake since 2004. I've kept my eye and ears open by listening to what friends of mine that are into the franchise have told me they've added each year and how to perform the moves, but had it not been for that, I would have absolutely no clue how to control anything in this game, much less any clue of what makes it unique aside from looking pretty. To be fair, the demo is about 8 minutes long, which lets you at least get a feel for the basics of the game, but that's it. The demo doesn't even go so far as to tell a person that's never touched the franchise how to hike, pass, juke, the new defensive line moves, or any of that. Loading the demo up takes you to a 'Press Start' screen, which then shows you a menu that has the following options: Play Now, XBOX LIVE, Career Modes, Quick Modes, NFL Roster, My Madden, Exit Demo. Picking anything aside from Play Now just lets you see highlights of that feature of the game in a sentence or two, which is incredibly vague. Once you select your teams in Play Now, you're taken to the field annnnnnd that's it. From then on, you're just thrown in to the mix. One of the features that people either love or hate about these games is also missing from this demo too, which is the commentary. I don't... understand what the point of this demo is aside from letting people who were already fans of the series play this one a bit early, but it doesn't even inform you of what you should be looking for.

There's also the issue of vertical slice demos, which highlight specifically the best parts of a game, and I understand what it accomplishes, but if you're the developer/publisher and you identify a certain part of your title as being particularly well done or better than the rest, shouldn't you also know exactly what to go back and change with the rest of the content to make it a much more cohesive experience instead of trying to fool people with the one fun level from your game? The last thing that needs to be somehow figured out is what to demo and what not to demo. Some games just aren't going to hold up or seem all that appealing if you only get to play a small section, and while some studios seem to get this (Bethesda not releasing a Fallout/Oblivion demo), others tend to stumble and put one out which can have a negative effect on opening day sales (Burnout Paradise). If anyone else out there can think of any solid examples of well done demos, horribly botched ones, or has a different perspective, feel free to comment and get a bit of discussion going. Maybe I'm completely wrong in my assumption that demos are slowly starting to miss their original intentions, or maybe it's just the big companies that aren't utilizing them correctly and everyone else is doing a great job.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 demo impressions

The demo for the anticipated and inevitable (considering the current streak of success with Capcom) classic arcade fighter has finally hit. That's right, for everyone who's tired of Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Tekken, and Soul Calibur, or is just looking for a completely insane and refreshing experience, Marvel Vs Capcom 2 has been announced to land on digital shelves this summer, but the demo is now out to make the wait less dreadful. The demo highlights some of the basic new features, specifically the graphical filters and widescreen support. When the actual game comes out, all characters will be unlocked from the moment you buy it (saving us all 10+ hours of unlocking), but the demo only features 6 of them. As far as gameplay is concerned, everything feels pretty much exactly how you remember it, if you spent time playing MvC2 in the past on Dreamcast or in arcades. The only downside with the demo is that it only features local multiplayer, so you need to have another controller and preferrably a body that's willing to battle against you. While you are able to browse the gameplay modes, trying to select anything other than the local multiplayer just shows you a "UNLOCK FULL VERSION" screen.



It's said to use the same net code as SSF2THD remix, which I definitely would rather have instead of the one present in SF4. The selectable characters in the demo are Ryu, Chun Li, and Strider on the Capcom side, while Wolverine, Spiderman, and Iron Man round out the Marvel side. For anyone that loved the games back in the day, or always wanted to play it but didn't feel like dropping 80$ for the game ( Which is its current price used without a guaranteed manual or case at Gamestop), you've finally got a shot to play it with netplay, which is a huge bonus. If you're unsure about whether or not you want to pick this up, that's the entire point of the demo, provided you have an extra controller laying around and possibly another gamer that's up for fighting. Hopefully I'll see at least a few of you online and be sure to drop a comment letting me know your personal thoughts on this rerelease!

Bionic Commando Multiplayer impressions

For those who were unaware, the multiplayer demo for Capcom's upcoming title "Bionic Commando" was released a few days ago. This new game is sort of a sequel to a classic 2d arcade/NES title and more recently, a downloadable sequel available on Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network. The primary gimmick that made this stand out above other platformers of the time is that your character is unable to jump and must instead rely on using a grappling hook to swing across dangerous chasms, up various buildings, all while fighting countless enemies. Bionic Commando's next-gen sequel features a new title character that relies on the same gimmick but is actually able to jump, along with the whole game being in 3D. As far as gameplay is concerned in the multiplayer trial, I've only noticed one gametype and map that it seems like everyone is automatically put into from the second they choose multiplayer.


One of the games interesting design choices is that for this deathmatch mode, all of the players are shown as being a ridiculously bright color representing their name on screen, which I'm actually not enjoying that much. I can understand that the choice was made to distinguish enemies when they're swinging through the air, latching on to whatever they can, but once they've stopped and are trying to snipe you from a rooftop, it looks kind of weird to see a bright neon pink guy clinging to the side of a building. Apart from that minor gripe which doesn't break the mode, the game seems sort of fun. The controls work pretty well, with you using the right trigger to fire your gun and the left to shoot out your grappling hook (which requires you to aim at whatever you want to grab on to, but as long as its in close enough distance and you're aiming somewhat at it, it's not that hard to latch on to it mid jump), the dpad used for quick turns (never had to use it), and the face buttons used for various functions.

The combat itself doesn't really feel all that visceral or anything, but it's pretty fun when you notice someone's aiming at you and you're desperately trying to outmanuver them by jumping, then grappling on to a light post somewhere, then to the underside of a rail, pulling yourself up and firing down upon them while they're trying to figure out where you went to. Unfortunately, the level used in the demo is at night and feels kind of small for the 8 players that are participating, but it does a good job of showing you that the controls really aren't intrusive and once you adjust to them, when to release the button to fly forward or when to pull yourself up the object becomes second nature. The multiplayer seems like it's a decent distraction, but it's one of those things that you could probably pass on and wouldn't be missing out on a large chunk of the experience.

Bobhead's Top 10 Beat-Em-Ups

Anyone that grew up in the 90's would have a hard time forgetting all of the arcane knowledge Beat-Em-Ups taught you. Only in that genre is punching a trash can a viable option to looking for a fresh cooked turkey that's still intact on the platter and everything. You also learned one of life’s most important lessons: whenever you're walking down a street, that guy reading the newspaper is waiting to kill you. This is ALWAYS true, along with the fact that if you manage to kill him in combat, and...let's just say his name was Dave for simplicities sake, if you run into someone that looks just like him with a different colored t-shirt, his name is probably going to now be Rave and he's going to be even tougher than he was previously. Unfortunately as the years have gone by and technology has advanced, beat-em-ups have started to become a dying breed, with titles occasionally popping up and reminding us why we loved the genre before also fading into obscurity. For those that loved the genre and still hold a candle for some sort of revival, I present you with my list of Top Ten Beat-em-ups!


10. The Warriors (PS2, PSP)

Only Rockstar would think that it would be a good idea to resurrect a 30 year old movie that's been a cult classic since it came out, then combine it with a genre that's almost been completely dead since the dawn of 32-bit consoles back in the mid 90's. Luckily for gamers everywhere, that combination proved to be the recipe for pure gold. The movie was about one gang (The Warriors) attempting to escape from a failed meeting where they were blamed for the assassination of the most powerful boss in the city, which was supposed to be a modern day version of the same story as 300. The game, since it was released decades after the movie it was based on, took some liberties and told an alternate version of the story, mostly dealing with the gang trying to take over the city block by block. For fans of the movie or people that really get into the game, there are several bonus missions that you get to take part in if you wish that helps explain the back story for characters and the gang in general. Of course, strong storytelling isn't the only aspect that makes this title especially memorable. You have plenty characters to choose from, earning more as you get further into the game, a leveling system, some creative missions that mix pure, all-or-nothing brawling with stealth or escaping an area, a money system that you can use to earn spray paint and a drug that gives you a stat boost, and some of the most satisfying combat ever to grace a beat-em-up. Most people missed out on the game, but if you ever come across it and are hungering for some of that old school action with a modern twist, you'll find a lot to love in The Warriors.


09. The Simpson’s (Arcade)

There was a time when it was possible for licensed games to not suck or be horrendously mediocre. In those golden years, arcades everywhere saw this amazing 4 player cabinet based around America’s favorite cartoon family, The Simpson’s. Instead of trying to base the game itself off of any particular episode, the game took you through several locations from the game while forcing players to fight against enemies from the show. While the storyline wasn’t particularly compelling (save Maggie), there are few games that come close to capturing that same feel of you and 3 of your best friends gathered around the cabinet and working together using team attacks until you reach the end of the game. The animation and graphics still hold up well to this day and really do manage to look exactly like the cartoons, which was no easy feat for when this title was actually new. Unfortunately, the game never made it to consoles, meaning the only way to play it now is to find it in an arcade (PROTIP: Check Chuck E Cheese) or emulation. On the positive side, once you do track it down and get your friends to play it, you’ll find every moment was worth it in the end.


08. Alien Vs. Predator (Arcade)

It’s a shame the movies were so terrible, because the arcade version of Alien Vs. Predator was amazing. Unless there had been a comic released around this time, Alien Vs Predator was a completely original title that was developed by Capcom. Instead of trying to force the player to play as an alien, you picked one of three original characters that appeared nowhere in the movies, then went through several stages beating the crap out of any alien that was foolish enough to cross your path. It wasn’t exactly a terrifying experience, but you really did start to feel the pressure as hordes upon hordes of aliens descended upon you, often times making you wonder if you’d make it far enough to grab that health pickup that you knew was going to be on the next screen. The storyline itself wasn’t bad, especially since it was all new content. Throughout the levels, you’d randomly come across different weapons that you could use for a temporary amount of time that greatly aided in combat. The only downer was that the game was only 3 players, which seems like an odd selection looking back at things, but it worked out fine here since there had only been 3 characters to select. Each of the levels seemed varied enough, using plenty of colors with a almost hand drawn look to all of the sprites that would appear, keeping you compelled to play past the end of each level even if it was just to see what the next would be.


07. Battletoads (NES)

Everything about Battletoads screams of the early 90’s. Take an animal, give it some “‘tude”, throw in some incredibly frustrating levels that can make a grown man cry (speederbikes, anyone?), gameplay that was simplistic at its core, and a hot female villain that most of us never made it halfway to. What do you get? A game that has become one of the most memorable Beat-Em-Ups of the 8-bit years. Letting players choose between the titular Battletoads named Zitz, Rash, or Pimple was just the start. Each level had you briefed by your leader, which was a …bird or something, then you were dropped into the game. One of the most memorable aspects of the game was the satisfaction you got from destroying any of the enemies and hearing that classic “thwap” sound when you made that final hit, with your fist growing 4 times its normal size. Other trademarks of the series were the speederbikes, the ability to hit an enemy into the ground, then run at them and kick them like a football off of the screen, and the walker robots (including a memorable boss fight on the first level) that you could beat down, then take their legs and use them to club other enemies to death. Chances of us ever seeing another Battletoads game are slim to none, but the games that are out in the series still stand the test of time and are a true test of any gamers skill and patience, while still being satisfying for every level you make it through. Combine that with a co-op mode that let you work together with your friend to thwart foes or even use THEM as a weapon by throwing them into enemies (hey, it’s called taking one for the team!) makes this game number 7 on the list.


06. Double Dragon (NES)

Double Dragon is probably the first game everyone cut their teeth on when it comes to all out brawling action. Taking you through several levels that ranged pretty dramatically from scenery was only the beginning of this titles epic adventure. It started out with one of the most memorable scenes from a game of all time: Screen comes on, you pick which mode you want to play, then you see about 4 guys standing around and a girl standing there. From that point, one of the guys steps forward and punches the crap out of her in the stomach, then throws her over his shoulder and walks away. My logic has always been that she probably deserved it and the last fight of the game just reinforced my theory over how she was a complete b**** (spoiler coming in a few sentences!). There was a lot of stuff that happened in this game that kind of paved the way for other future beat-em-ups, such as beating up women with really bad hair that HAD to carry whips (seriously, go play a few of these games and any time you see a woman, she almost ALWAYS has a whip), weapons in general, simultaneous 2 player that also included a mode where you could beat down on your friend, one of the first games I can remember that showed me that changing your clothes made you a tougher person, and....the genre staple: a last fight that turns you against the person you've been playing with for the love of a woman. The enemies themselves are all pretty amazing, especially the huge hulking guys that you fight throughout the game that seem to easily be able to beat the crap out of you. Either way, for pure fun, a memorable soundtrack, and nostalgia, there's no way Double Dragon could NOT make it up here.


05. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow of Mystara (Arcade)

This is one of those games that I know a lot of people probably never played or maybe heard about and thought it was a generic rpg or something. While the previous title in this series was amazing, this one was pure concentrated Awesome In A Can®! Shadow of Mystara might have only been a 4 player game, but it featured 6 characters that you could play as and level up throughout your journey and forced players to actually consider what class they were going to be and play them accordingly. The graphics are still amazing to witness since it capitalized on that completely hand drawn look that is a trademark of arcade beat-em-ups that were developed by Capcom at the time. Many games in this genre have players mashing on one or two buttons, but D&D: SoM had players using their classes skills in addition to various items in order to make it through the adventure. As you traversed environments, you could potentially come across a treasure chest, which was fine if you had a key on you, but if not, you better have a thief! Mages had the ability to cast powerful offensive and defensive magic, the warrior was a beast, etc. The last major difference between this and other games on this list is this is one of the few games that would occasionally give you the option to take a branching path towards the end of your epic quest. If you come across this or whatever, definitely give it a shot. If you have the time, make sure you also have 3 friends in tow to play it to it's maximum potential.


04. Final Fight 2 (SNES)

Ahh. The Final Fight franchise. This was THE pinnacle of fighting games back in the 16 bit days for most gamers. While the original is a lot more memorable with its cast and the introduction of the franchise, I still believe the second game refined everything that made the first game great, then expanded on it which is the formula for making any solid sequel. While Guy and Cody are notably absent from this game, two new characters were introduced: Maki, who was essentially a female version of Guy, and Carlos, which was a South American guy...BUT WITH A SWORD! Rounding out the cast was everyone's favorite barreled chested bad ass: the mighty Haggar. The actual gameplay itself was pretty much the same as any of the other games in this franchise, but it's amazing how well it holds up for reasons unknown. While the 3rd game had it's AI mode that let the computer take over as the second player which was creative at the time, the game itself seem kind of bland in comparison to the first two. If you go back to the first game, while the gameplay itself was fine, the color palate seems kind of bland and doesn't feel like it holds up to the test of time graphically. Personally, Final Fight 2 was the one I completely latched on to for whatever reason, making this my number 4.


03. Castle Crashers (Xbox 360)

Beat-em-ups were almost dead for about 10-15 years. As time has gone by, people have clamored for a Streets of Rage 4, or just something that wasn't Dynasty Warriors or the convoluted character action games that are so popular nowadays (God of War, Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, etc). Out of the blue a few years ago, Castle Crashers appeared at various press conferences, making gamers everywhere super excited to know that there was going to be a classic co-op beat-em-up coming out in the future. As time went by though, the title saw more and more delays, making it look like it could potentially become vaporware, but at the end of August 2008, the wait proved to be well worth it as Xbox Live Arcade saw the release of what is easily considered to be the best beat-em-up in years: Castle Crashers. The game, which was developed by Behemoth (developer of Alien Hominid and Newgrounds classic Dad 'n Me) brought back all of the classic simplistic fun that made the genre so great back in its heyday.Instead of just having fun gameplay, it's one of the most enjoyable games to actually look at, has loads of unlockables, 4 player online or offline co-op, a few different modes, and it brought back fighting your best friend for the love of a woman yet again. While people had issues when the game came out with 4 player online co-op, the game has since been patched and had a small expansion that appeared. If you aren't a fan of downloadable content, there are loads of different weapons to be found in the game and you'll have a lot of fun just going through the story as many times as you want, leveling up your characters as you progress.


02. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (SNES/Arcade)

Turtles in Time took everything that makes beat-em-ups incredible, evolved on its own 4 player formula that was made in the TMNT arcade game, then threw in some of the most amazing levels seen in the genre. Once you actually reach the time traveling parts of the game, you know you're in for an amazing experience. The 4 turtles are all still there and while your standard hits are all the same, there were a few changes that blew gamers away back in the day. If you managed to get in close to your enemy, not only could you beat the crap out of them with your weapon, but you could also throw them. That's not all folks! With a well timed throw, you were able to grab an enemy and literally throw them into the screen, watching their sprite grow larger until they eventually just disappeared. No beat-em-up would be worth anything if there weren't enemies there, and this game featured tons of enemies that made the cartoon so great, from foot soldiers to the classic duo of Bebop and Rock Steady. The level designs themselves all fit in with the time periods you were being transported to, from pirate ships to trains, fighting dinosaurs, and even riding hover boards down a neon futuristic highway in the unforgettable Neon Night Riders stage. While it's not the easiest game, the amazing level designs, gorgeous graphics, and fast and frantic gameplay has held up remarkably well over the years, making this number 2.


01. Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis)

While the game itself is one of my favorites of all time, the reason that makes this stand out above everything else is how memorable the soundtrack was. Instead of going on for hours about how great that single aspect of the game was, I'd rather talk about some of the other parts. The box art alone was simply amazing and I fondly remember seeing it in stores and being completely impressed already, especially after being a huge fan of the first game. Only two of the characters from the first game return, which sets up the plot for the game. Adam Hunter, the third member of the original title, was kidnapped, which was discovered by one of the most amazing characters of a beat-em-up ever: Eddie Hunter. Eddie Hunter's only rival I can think of off the top of my head is the Kangaroo from Streets of Rage 3, but more people remember this guy simply as "Skate". Skate...is the epitome of companies capitalizing on the 90's: an African American character with a backwards hat and he fought through the entire game on frickin' roller blades(!!!), making him the fastest character out there. The other new character was Max, who was SoR's unstoppable powerhouse that fought similar to Final Fight's Haggar, but did it in the most ridiculous looking pants and boots I've ever seen in my life. Luckily, his size and power more than made up for it, which brings us to another reason why this game was so great. Unlike most beat-em-ups where you could choose different characters that looked different but ultimately played the same, all of the characters in this title had their own stats, meaning that you could actually find someone that you felt fit your own play style. The last major gameplay change was the removal of the original games special attack that consisted of you calling a police car in that would perform a random attack across the screen. Instead, your character had their own special moves which helped to expand the movelist and give them their own unique attacks that helped to define who they were instead of just being generic characters like so many other games. The levels all were amazing with some incredible bosses and gorgeous graphics, all backed by one of the most amazing game soundtracks ever. While everyone is still holding out some sort of hope that maybe one day there will actually be a true sequel, fans have taken matters into their own hands and developed Beats of Rage which is a completely customizable beat-em-up. While the entire series was amazing, everything meshed together to make my favorite beat-em-up of all time in Streets of Rage 2.

*Honorable Mentions*
*River City Ransom*
*Die Hard Arcade*
*Dynasty Warriors whatever (its all the same game)*

Bobhead's Top 10 Fighting Games.

Over the years, there’s been an insane number of fighting games released. Throughout the last 4-5 however, they’ve slowly started to dwindle down to just the major franchise. Gone are the days where people would crowd around whatever the newest arcade machine is, placing a quarter on the corner, then saying “I got next.” While those particular moments have almost completely faded out of existence with the dwindling arcade scene, “the soul still burns!” To celebrate the release of Street Fighter IV, I’ve compiled a list of my top ten fighting games of all time. I realize not everyone is going to agree with me, but that’s what comments are for, right?! Leave a comment to let me know what you liked/hated! With that said “Fight!”


#10 - Powerstone 2

I know! What an amazing way to start off a list, right? The first Powerstone was one of the shining gems in the American Dreamcast launch, giving a completely new look into one on one fighting games. Instead of being confined to two dimensions or just being able to dodge into the foreground or background, Powerstone's gimmick was allowing full, three dimensional carnage with tons of items that were there for you to use along with special moves. There were several characters, with about 3 different weight classes that gave you different perks (lighter characters can jump higher, while bigger characters were harder to knock away and could rip off gigantic stone pillars to smack you with). The second one managed to improve on the formula by allowing up to 4 players to square off against each other, then you had the ability to play through the entire fighting game co-op, more characters, incredible level designs, etc. You could knock the game for having simplistic hand to hand combat controls, but learning how to use each item and character, along with using the terrain to your advantage AS that character, all while 3 of your best friends are flying around the arena safely secure this game a spot on this list.


#09 - Real Bout Fatal Fury 2

The original Fatal Fury games were really well done for the time, sporting a small change from the SF2 and Mortal Kombat gameplay styles since you were able to dodge into the background. At the end of the day though, it was another 2d fighting game that had combos and special moves. The Real Bout series, while 2d fighting was it's core gameplay element, you were also rated on how well you did in each round, which greatly helped players in improving their game. The number of characters was increased, especially with the second game. Instead of stopping with a creative rating system though, the game added in different arena restrictions. In the regular Fatal Fury games, you were able to dodge into the background and fight back there or fly in towards your opponent in the different plane. Real Bout had boxing rings with ropes that actually was a visual indication to the end of a level and best of all, barricades on others that if you slammed your enemy against enough times throughout the match, you would eventually be able to score a ring out on them, which gave turtler's something to be wary of.


#08 - Samurai Shodown 2

After playing all of the games in the Samurai Shodown series, I still consider the second to be the definitive release. The first game was the first fighter that actually stood out in the arcade to me alongside Street Fighter II since it actually had a new gimmick: weapons. The first wasn’t a bad game and is still fine to play, but the second took everything that one offered, refined it, threw in a few tricks of its own, and managed to actually keep people away from other fighting games from the time. There was nothing quite like having someone shoot a fireball then using the new crouching maneuver to avoid it, rushing in, and delivering that final blow. When playing against a human, few games have come close to having gripping, battle changing moments like this game offered (clashing weapon battles = awesome). This game also seemed like it was the last of the more lighthearted games in the series, with the 3rd being somewhat forgettable and the 4th being a great fighting game, but lacking that sense of humor this game and its background judge presented. Samurai Shodown 5 would easily be my second favorite in this series.


#07 - Guilty Gear X2

The first time I saw a Guilty Gear game, I immediately fell in love with the art style. Every aspect of it looked like it was well thought out, from the level design to the amazing character artwork. Instead of stopping with just having a gorgeous looking game though, Guilty Gear X2 can quickly become one of the fastest paced, over the top games you've ever played. The Guilty Gear is mainly remembered for it's instant kills moves, that sound cheap on first hearing, but most of them take a ridiculously long time to pull off, and missing one means you're missing your special meter until the match is over. You also had roman cancels, which let you cancel out most moves into other ones, but X2 took all of that and still managed to push the insanity. There were new characters added, rebalancing, the addition of the false roman cancel, all while keeping up the high bar set in the original game, making some consider this to be the most balanced 2d fighter ever, along with the craziest.


#06 - King of Fighters 2002

It's another old game, but in my opinion, King of Fighters 2002 is the highlight of the series, with ‘98 being a close second. KoF 2002 wasn’t the most innovative in the series, but it did manage to refine the mechanics, incorporate a bigger number of characters that were all pretty well balanced, then give you plenty of versatility in your fighting style, whether you be a fan of rushing in with furious combos or staying back and waiting for that hole in your enemies offense. The graphics hold up incredibly well today, capitalizing on SNK’s trademark hand drawn art style.
While many people never even gave the series a shot besides one or two games, if you’re looking for a quality fighting game that’s NOT by Capcom, look no further than here.


#05 - Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix

I was honestly debating between putting this and the original on the list. HD Remix made the cut thanks to new tweaks to the moves, more balancing corrections, online play (especially quarter mode) and the amazing art style. It’s subtle differences in the two games, such as Akuma not being all powerful, E. Honda’s jab flying headbutt being able to fly through fireballs, and easier to perform specials (people can actually do the infamous spinning piledriver without having to jump!) that really makes this stand out and seem like it’s now the definitive release for Street Fighter II. While the art style isn’t for everyone, it does grow on you over time and really looks nice once you have it on an HDTV. All that’s missing from this release of the game is an official arcade machine for it!


#04 - Marvel Vs. Capcom 2

The chaos. The insanity. Don’t blink, or you’ll probably be dead in Marvel Vs Capcom 2. Many look at the game and instantly assume it’s a button masher. That’s fine if you want to think that or even play it like that with friends, but the first moment you try button mashing against a person that’s invested a large amount of time in this title and you’ll quickly see that there’s a lot more strategy to the game. It’s most notable for its flashy combos and ridiculously large character selection which clocks in at a whopping 56. While MVC2 may not be the most balanced fighting game ever, trying to figure out what team you’re going to use against what characters, which version of their support attack you want, and exactly how you’re going to use them is only the beginning of the depth present in this title. It’s easy to watch a Magneto player and call them cheap or say they’re button mashing, but learning exactly how much work goes into doing his air dash, canceling out, starting a combo, calling a support character, then tagging out is a lot more complicated than you can ever imagine.


#03 - Virtua Fighter 5

Finally, we’ve made it to the top 3. Virtua Fighter 5 is the pinnacle of true 3d fighting. Many 3d fighting games are basically played out on a 2d plane with 3 dimensional graphics, but in order to succeed in VF5, you’re going to have to learn how to dodge, when to parry, how to use cancels to mess with your opponents mind, and even what attacks give you an advantage by dodging slightly into the foreground while you perform them. On the downside, there were only a few characters added to this game, but each one of them plays completely different from any of the current existing ones and none of them are actually bad. If you pick up the 360 version, there’s also online play, meaning you can finally test your skills against fighters from around the world. If you don’t have Xbox Live or just pick up the ps3 version, there’s at least a really in depth arcade career mode that has you traveling to various arcades and fighting against AI representations of various real players while accumulating different items to customize your characters appearance and the nice ranking system. In addition to having a very rewarding fighting system and that career mode, the graphics are very pleasing to the eyes. While they might not rival something like Crysis or Killzone 2 or whatever, for realism, there’s nothing that comes close in fighting games so far. Virtua Fighter isn’t for people that aren’t willing to invest time into it, but for those that do, this game is pure gold and definitely belongs in your collection.


#02 - Marvel Vs. Capcom 1

Gasp! BOTH Marvel vs Capcom games made the list? Well, it’s my list and I can do things like that! While the second game pushed the bar on what could be considered over the top (3 character supers, forcing your opponent to tag out, etc) Marvel Vs Capcom 1’s style was more emphasized on the actual combat in my opinion and not so much what characters you had on your team. Since you had a separate, non-player-controlled character for your assist, this allowed players to pick two characters that they actually enjoyed fighting as, such as a team with Gambit and Chun Li. This was also the game that I actually started to understand the mechanics of the classic Capcom chaining method (lp, lk, mp, mk, hp, hk) and learned that even in a fast paced game like this, everyone had their uses. The music also felt more in tune with the gameplay in comparison to that light jazz stuff offered in MVC2. The fact that this game could actually be played in 4 player mode secures this the number 2 spot on this list.


#01 - Capcom Vs. Snk 2

Capcom Vs Snk 2 is a game I’ve lost countless hours to over the years. When it first came out, I was a bit put off by how different it was from the first game. I really liked the art style and everything, but the fact that there weren’t any real tiers in place made me think the balance was going to be a bit lopsided. Instead of just offering two grooves, CvS2 upped the ante with a 6 grooves and 2 extra’s for the console versions. When anyone first tries out the game, they almost always just navigate to the C groove, which is similar to the charging system from SFA3 (3 levels, dashes, rolls, super jumps, etc), but after you start playing more, you quickly learn that almost all of them are useful in their own way. You’ve got A Groove, which gives you the option to use custom combo’s ala SFA2, P groove, which was similar to the parry system from SF3. That right there would probably have been enough for most players, but Capcom refused to stop there! There’s also S groove (old school KoF with dodging and charging, then infinite level 1 specials when you’re near death), N (Advanced system from the later KoF titles. The highlights are running, rolling, 3 gauges, only two gauges needed for what would be a level 3 super otherwise), and K groove (a mix between Garou’s Just Defend system and the rage system in Samurai Shodown). On top of all of the versatility with the grooves, there’s a ridiculously large character select screen highlighting characters from each of the two universes that everyone’s grown to know and love (or hate *coughRaidencough*). If you ever come across an arcade, it’s amazing how many people still stick to this game after all of these years and consider it to be one of, if not the finest fighting game of all time.

*Honorable Mentions*

Project Justice (2nd rival schools game) – Best idea ever, meshing the styles of the SF games with MVC and starring a cast from rival high schools! 10/10!

Street Fighter Alpha 2 – Introduction of Custom Combos, awesome levels, best of the alpha games in my opinion.

Vampire Savior (3rd darkstalkers game) – All of the games in the series were leading up to this point. It plays similar to the 1st two, but felt a bit more complete and had more characters, which is always a plus (jedah/b.b. hood ftw!)

King of Fighters 98 – my second favorite in the series. The art style is a bit dated nowadays, but the gameplay is just as tight as it was the first time I played it.

Top 10 Halloween Themed games

You know, when I was first tasked with developing a story that fit in with the Halloween theme, I couldn’t think of anything to do. At that time, I had probably watched Friday the 13th about seven times in 3 days, which is something I could never ever advise another person to do. It wasn’t because it was good; it was just how…formulaic of an experience it was. So… unfortunately, if anyone was looking forward to it, I’m probably going to pass on writing an article about how the creepy old man is the most awesome horror movie character ever. In its place, I’ll deal with something a feel a bit more comfortable with; games. Specifically, games with a horror twist. Keep in mind that this isn’t a top ten scary games or survival horror list; it’s just games that fit in with that Halloween spirit that I highly advise people to at least give a shot. Also, the list is in no particular order, it’s just a list of stuff you NEED to play.

#10 – Zombiepox


Starting with one of the indie treasures I’ve recently come across, Zombiepox is a nice and entertaining twist on the standard destroy-all-zombies gameplay style presented in most games. Instead of trying to destroy them, you control one person with a few other humans behind you. Your ultimate goal is to protect the people behind you, but keep in mind that if a zombie comes in contact with them, they convert to the other team and you’ll find yourself trying to develop a strategy to prevent that from happening. The unique and addictive aspect of this game is the fact that instead of trying to kill all of the zombies approaching you, instead your character has brains that they can throw on the ground, which don’t go far but when a zombie comes in contact with it, they convert back to being a human, which means that in order to clear a level, you have to switch every single zombie back into a human friend, with each level increasing the odds against the player. The biggest reason this is on the list is the fact that it’s free and doesn’t require much at all to actually run it, so at least download the file if you’ve got a moment.

#9 – Cottage of Doom

In contrast to the last title, this game is everything you love about survival horror compressed into an addictive 2d experience. Instead of having to go through some spooky mansion or town, instead you’re trapped inside of a single cottage with one objective: Live. At first, the game seems easy, and it’s really creative how in this 2 dimensional game, you can actually move objects in the house to barricade doors or destroy them if you’re trying to snipe out of a window or find precious ammo, which is sparsely distributed. While it’s a simple game at its core, it’s also amazing at how you find yourself really feeling the pressure when you can tell that you’re close to dying as the zombies start to come into the rooms from every possible direction, destroying doors, windows, tables, chairs, and whatever else while you desperately fire off those last few rounds, finally succumbing to their attacks. Again, it’s another small and free game, and it’s well worth checking out.

#8 – Dead Rising

The perfect blend of action, difficulty, photography, and survival horror in my opinion. Dead Rising places you in the shoes of Frank (??), a photojournalist that has decided to investigate a mysterious barricade around a quiet suburban town. As you fly in, you get your first glimpses of the chaos erupting into town, you have no clue what lies in store for you as you’re helicopter drops you off at the top of a mall. Inside, you will literally spend hours upon hours battling your way through thousands of zombies, rescuing civilians, and utilizing any weapon you can find. From pistols, to knives to … hangers, and bowling balls, there’s endless hours of fun to be had here. While on release, many people counted off on the unforgiving save system, that part of the game is what actually gave it that survival feel, as you find yourself trying to figure out how much difficulty you’re going to have fighting back to a restroom on the opposite side of the mall and seeing if you can make it there without dying or not. While death does take you back to the beginning of the adventure, you do get to restart with all of your experience, allowing you to play through the game again more powerful than ever before, and after completing the game you unlock some nifty bonuses, such as the infinite survival mode. At it’s low price of 29.99 new, it’s a highly recommended game that is guaranteed to satisfy your thirst for hardcore zombie killing action.

#7 – Silent Hill 2


While Silent Hill 5 is the most recent entry and attempted to refine the controls and graphics, many people including myself still prefer the first entry of the series on the PS2. Placing you in control of James Sunderland, you’re sent into this mysterious town in search of your wife, who wrote a letter to you, informing you to return to your “special place.” While the graphics aren’t that incredible today, the storyline and character development, not to mention the intelligent use of the insight to each characters psychological demons if you wish to delve that far into the experience. If that’s not your game, it’s still an incredibly creepy game to this day with multiple endings and a low price if you can find it. The Xbox re-release, Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams added in another chapter to the game if you want to try that out.

#6 –RE1 Remake (GC)


Another survival horror classic. Resident Evil 4 is the one that redefined the series, and while many agree that it was a good game, it crept away from the slower paced dread and tension that the player felt entering each room. Fortunately, if you’re still looking for that classic gameplay with greatly improved voice acting over the original title, look no further than the remake of the original, available only on Gamecube. While the Resident Evil 1 on Playstation is highly regarded as the first game to ever get the gameplay of the genre right, the voice acting was one of the games that left people highly divided, mostly due to horrendous voice acting. Everyone agrees that the voice acting in the game was bad, but for some people, that helped the game engulf them, capturing the feeling of a B-movie. For others, the work was done so bad that they quickly abandoned the game. Luckily, Capcom heard the pleas of many gamers years later and decided to upgrade the graphics and quality of voice acting with the incredibly successful RE-make on Gamecube. Sporting some of the most impressive graphics ever seen on the console, or perhaps even in the 128 bit era, along with new areas for vets and an exciting story for newcomers, the game holds a special place in many peoples hearts.

#5 - Resident Evil 2


What’s this?! There’s another Resident Evil game on the list? That’s right! Resident Evil 2 is by far my favorite game in the series, so I had to throw this one up here. It’s been on Dreamcast, PS1, and Gamecube, and N64 and is, in my opinion, the definitive RE experience. Taking you away from the drab mansion setting from the original title and placing you in the midst of the outbreak, this game sets an incredible tone and follows itself up all the way through to the end. While going back to the game, you’ll notice the graphics again don’t hold up very well, the actual gameplay itself is incredibly well, improving on the storyline elements and acting that plagued the first title. Aside from that, there’s not much to be said about the game itself without spoiling the plot, but it would probably be a good idea to play through it at least once if you’re planning on picking up RE5 to catch up on some of the elements that could be included in the plot. If you don’t feel like buying it, I’m sure there’s an ISO or ROM out there somewhere, just search for it.

#4 – Fatal Frame series


Any of the games in this series are guaranteed to scare the hell out of you at least once. The games place the player in control of a few different girls, each armed with nothing except a camera and the willpower to unravel the mystery each game sets forth upon them. For the player, one of the scariest aspects is the fact that you truly feel how vulnerable you are, walking through abandoned and haunted mansions, with no weapons to defend you from any of the horrors awaiting you inside. There are three basic types of encounters you’ll come across in the game, pertaining to ghosts. The non-threatening ones are the ones that tend to scare the hell out of you, occasionally walking through a wall or appearing in the very corners of your vision, only to disappear when you look for them. There are regular enemy fights, which aren’t frequent but each one feels threatening in its own way. Lastly, you have boss fights, each with its own unique way to defeat utilizing your camera and occasionally things in the environment. Two of the best things about the game, aside from the gameplay and graphics is the quality of the sound, especially if you’re using a surround sound setup or headphones. There’s nothing scarier than walking into a room, then hearing a door slam shut behind you, and you look around to find nothing there. There’s also the fact that the game is fun for both the player and anyone else watching, since there are so many surprises. The only flaw I’d give the games (yes, all of them) is that the storyline is never very compelling in my opinion. It’s something that you want to finish, but mainly because you want to see what else you’re going to find in the world and not so much because you’re motivated by the characters. The games are fairly expensive, but if you can find them in a video store or on gamefly, give them a shot.

#3 – Splatterhouse


This was probably completely unpredictable, and a lot of people probably don’t even remember the series. Splatterhouse isn’t exactly what many people think of nowadays as a horror game, but it terrified countless gamers back in the 90’s. The main character recently had his girlfriend taken from him and is on his quest to get her back, but in order to make it there, you have to fight through hordes of demons, zombies, mutants, and all sorts of other creepy crawlies the game throws at you. The biggest thing people remember about the title is how incredibly violent it was. In order to make it through the adventure, at the beginning of the game, your character picks up a mask, transforming him into superhuman hulking beast that is completely capable of decapitating foes with a single pucn. Even nowadays, this game isn’t for the squeamish, but for fans of retro games and looking for something short enough to finish, Splatterhouse is a title everyone needs to experience. Keep an eye out for the upcoming next gen version of it!

#2 – Brainbread (Half Life 1 mod)


Brainbread is…bizarre. I came across this mod a few years ago, and though I live in Georgia, I still fly down to Florida to hang out with some old friends, and ever since I found out about it, every time we have a lan, even with friends up here, we always end up spending a ridiculous amount of time in Brainbread. The game has a leveling system in place that is client based, so you could level up your character and join a friends server with an insanely powerful combatant, or you could start from scratch. There are a few character models in the game, but none of them are all that great. What’s really amazing about the game is the how addictive it can become. While I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not the most impressive title on the market, or even in the HL1 mod scene, the zombies you fight are fun, even if they focus on just attacking you. Another thing to keep in mind is that once a teammate dies, they are transformed back into a zombie and you have to keep them from killing you, while they have to obtain a certain number of kills to return to human form against the players. That keeps the experience engaging, even though there are only a few maps. If you’ve got Half Life 1, the next time you have a LAN or just want to try a different type of game, give Brainbread a shot and let me know how it goes.

#1 – Zombies ate my neighbors


This game… Is…amazing. It’s not the most complicated game out there, but it’s a blast to play, especially in co-op. The goal is to make it to the end of the level while defeating a certain number of zombies and attempting to rescue civilians that are held up at different locations. The game itself uses this B-movie style, but plays like a weird version of Smash Tv. Instead of just fighting zombies, there are plenty of memorable enemies, such as a gigantic baby (I don’t know either). I’m keeping this brief because in my opinion, you should already be playing this instead of reading about it. The ROM has been around since 1998, so go pick it up, you’ve got no excuse not to! Oh, except..pirates are bad? Arrrr.

Honorable mentions:

Castlevania 3
Kid Dracula
Afraid of Monsters (hl1 mod)
FEAR
Dead Space
Hidden: Source

*note* this list..is ultimately just a list of stuff that has that theme. It's definitely not a top 10, so don't take it that way.