Category Archives: Video Games

“BloodRayne: Betrayal” resurrects 2D gameplay

Thunder rolls as lightning strikes from the heavens. A casket creaks open in the distance. The sharp screeching of spinning blades blocks your path. You might think these are the sounds coming from Castlevania. That is not the case, though, as these are some of the obstacles awaiting you while battling through the walls of BloodRayne: Betrayal, the new game from WayForward available via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

Normally a Bloodrayne game would be your average 3D action adventure sold mainly by the assets of a voluptuous vampire vixen named Rayne. While you still play as a beautiful vamp in this game, you do so in 2D, rekindling memories of the past video game adventures.

There are numerous nostalgic nods to other 2D games that it can sometimes be hard to keep up. Whether it be dodging firing cannons ala the flying airships of Super Mario Bros. 3 or fighting through tight corridors, reminiscent of battles with Abobo in Double Dragon, there are fond memories found for any longtime gamer. Betrayal offers even more nostalgia by also borrowing heavily from the MegaMan and Castlevania games.

Nostalgia isn’t the only reason to play this adventure, though. WayForward has crafted a fun-to-play game here. Great action segments and intense platforming are present all the way through the game. Betrayal also features a unique gameplay feature that allows you, as a vampire, to suck the blood out of your enemies to replenish your strength. Even better, if you decide to just bite your enemies, you turn them into walking time bombs whose time of detonation is at your choosing. Add in some interesting boss battles and you’ve got a solid addition to the BloodRayne series

While the game is great, it is not without its flaws. First off the game is short enough for a skilled gamer to finish in one night. Also, the only items to collect are hidden skulls that will give you more ammo slots or increased life. There are also chests to collect in the forms of various blood containers, but they’re often not worth the trouble of obtaining. It would also have been nice to upgrade to a larger arsenal of guns, swords and possibly relics that could help in your gameplay. But all of that would have only complicated things given the length of the game.

But considering its low price ($14.99), as well as its beautifully rendered scenes and a pretty good musical score, Betrayal proves that 2D gaming is alive and well in an ever-growing 3D market. It would be great to see Konami take a similar throwback approach with its next Castlevania game

Bloodrayne Betrayal is available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Rated T. www.bloodraynebetrayal.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein

“Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition” offers signifigant improvements in Capcom series

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With new Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat games appearing every six months or so, and with fighting games as a whole regaining relevance in a gaming field that favors first-person shooters, it’s starting to feel like 1993 all over again. I, like many, was obsessed with fighting games during the ’90s. Whether I was trying, with much frustration, to pull off the newest fatalities in Mortal Kombat or attempting to learn the best combos to defeat Guile in Street Fighter, I always had my next quarter ready for the machine’s slot. I spent hours turning through the pages of the newest video game periodicals, thirsting for knowledge of the next update to my favorite franchise.

Things have obviously changed quite a bit since then, with these arcade favorites now readily accessible for your home consoles. I bought Street Fighter IV, then Super Street Fighter IV, and spending money on more of the same is something to consider with the latest installment, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition. But if you love the Street Fighter series, this Arcade Edition is easily the best version around. And for those who have not yet gotten around to picking up the previous incarnations of Street Fighter IV, the Arcade Edition is the best option considering that Super Street Fighter IV is actually included on the disc. Both versions of the game are great and the new characters are fun to play. Evil Ryu is more of the same, which isn’t a bad thing. Oni is a new version of Akuma with some added Gouken-like traits, and the twins, Yun and Yang, play as great as they did in the Street Fighter III series.

Added content such as character balancing and new outfits round out the package. I do wish some more obscure characters like Eagle, Skullomania and Rolento could be added, or maybe more fan favorites such as Alex, Hugo and Elena. These are some of the best characters in the Street Fighter universe and it is a shame to see them sparsely used.

While it may seem like more money spent on something you’ve already played, this Arcade Edition is definitely the best version of Street Fighter IV thus far. Though it does seem a bit excessive for Capcom to continue releasing new versions of the same game every few months, as long these updated versions keep offering significant improvements at affordable prices, gamers like me will keep buying. Another improvement here is the thorough instruction manual, a rarity in today’s gaming world where most games come with about eight pages of instructions. Capcom continues to offer a full package with each successive release, and I look forward to seeing what is added to the next Street Fighter game, as well as Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, scheduled to be released this November.

Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition is available for Games for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Rated T. www.streetfighter.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein

“Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition” smashes the Nintendo 3DS competition

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Since the summer of ’92, I have been spending my quarters in arcades across the country looking for a fight. In that time, I have punched and kicked my way through countless battles, occasionally throwing in a fireball or flaming uppercut for good measure, repeatedly defeating the Shadaloo crime boss and succumbing to the Raging Demon.

What I have never been able to do, however, is properly execute super moves and ultra combos. Thankfully, Capcom has found a fix for this issue with the use of touchscreen technology in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. In addition to the standard six attack buttons all Street Fighter alum are used to, there are also four touch panels that allow you to pull off regular super moves, super combos, and ultra combos. Gone are the days of ridiculous inputs to pull off anything with Zangief or the deadliest moves of Akuma. With these new controls, this Street Fighter game offers a better user experience than previous editions for newbies and veterans alike.

The good features do not end there, as Capcom has not just ported over the console version of Super Street Fighter IV. In this version, there is also a training mode that works similar to that of the Mortal Kombat or SoulCalibur franchises seen on past PlayStation and Xbox platforms. A series of challenges teach you each of the characters’ moves from the game, starting with simple commands such as fireballs and advancing to the more complex moves such as ultra combos. This is a great way to learn each character’s strengths, weaknesses and advanced moves so touch controls can eventually be phased out. Also included is an over-the-shoulder 3D mode that, despite taking a little getting used to, offers a clearer view of your opponents facial expressions.

If these modes were not enough, Capcom has also included a figure collection mode, allowing you to spend coins and points earned in during gameplay to buy figures via a touch screen roulette game. Thankfully, from the get go, many of the downloadable costumes seen in console versions of the game appear as well.

Capcom has made sure the fighting in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition feels as fantastic as ever, and with the capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS, Street Fighter has never looked better. Honestly I was shocked to see how well this game looks. Though I wasn’t expecting Tiger Electronics-style graphics, the 3DS Street Fighter looks as good as any previous console version, with the 3D technology enhancing it even more.

I have played many of the launch titles that the 3DS has to offer and I can honestly say that besides looking the best in graphics with or without the 3D turned on, Super Street Fighter IV also plays better than many other games on the market. This is easily the best handheld fighting game I have played. Whether you’re a Street Fighter vet or new to the fighting scene, this game is the best the Nintendo 3DS has to offer thus far.

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is available for Nintendo 3DS. Rated T. www.streetfighter.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein

“Pilotwings Resort” doesn’t quite take flight for Nintendo 3DS

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Launching with the Nintendo 3DS is one of Nintendo‘s lesser known franchises in Pilotwings Resort. While not as well known as the company’s Mario, Zelda, and Metroid titles, the Pilotwings franchise has always been a fun time dating back to the days of the Super Nintendo.

This time around, we get a chance to see the Pilotwings world in 3D. Unfortunately, this is where the issues begin. Of the 3DS games I have played so far, this was the one that gave me the hardest time while viewing in 3D, with landing being one of the most difficult things to manage.

To get around this, I decided to play the game in standard 2D mode and while this certainly helped, game play was not nearly as fun. Though the game itself is not very long, its difficulty level ramps up rather quickly as the game progresses. Upon reaching the silver level (which, including training levels, is only the third stage), I repeatedly failed to get enough stars to advance to the next levels. I tried for hours, changing the controls along the way with little success.

If the game gets too aggravating, you do have the option of a Free Flight mode. This mode allows you to try all the the games flight options for a couple of minutes while collecting balloons and other items, checking out WuHu Island’s sights in the process. There are night and day options, which is neat, but leads to issues because it is hard to tell if you have collected an item already due to a transparent version still appearing. It would be more effective if the items you have collected simply disappeared. In some cases the item appears as a different color, but this is just as confusing, leading you to try to collect unneeded items. Extra
time can be added depending on how many collectibles you can get, but this mode still feels a bit tacked on.

Pilotwings Resort also has some positive elements, however. The hang
gliding sections are great fun and, as you progress through stages, you’re eventually able to take flight in everything from turbojets to flying squirrel suits, adding to the starting options of plane, jet pack, and hang glider. The music is also really well done and, in some parts, very calming.

All in all, this game isn’t what I was expecting from a first-party title, especially from Nintendo. I can’t stress enough how much I could not use the 3D option on the title, which kind of makes it pointless. If you really love previous Pilotwings titles or would like something you can pick up for a few minutes and put down, it may be for you. But there are already other games that use the 3D technology much more effectively. Nintendo is likely to redeem itself with upcoming releases, but this game is definitely not worth the $39.99 retail price.

Pilotwings Resort is available for the Nintendo 3Ds. Rated E. pilotwingsresort.nintendo.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein

WWE All Stars offers an over-the-top-rope alternative to other WWE games

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With it’s over-the-top characters and art style, WWE All Stars rekindles memories of previous exaggeratedly stylized wrestling games such as WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game and WWF In Your House. Unlike THQ‘s more realistic WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series, WWE All Stars never takes itself too seriously and maintains a more lighthearted fantasy tone much like Power Stone and NFL Blitz.

The moves themselves are extremely cartoonish, many of which will have you knocking your opponent to unrealistic heights or bludgeoning foes with rapid succession combos. It is mindless fun anyone can enjoy weather they are diehard WWE fans or just casual gamers. That being said, it should be noted that a match can be won without administering a single wrestling hold, which may turn off some hardcore fans of wrestling games such as Fire Pro Wrestling.

The roster consists of both legends from the past and current superstars, allowing for the likes of Hulk Hogan, the Macho Man, and the Ultimate Warrior to square off against John Cena, Randy Orton, and the Miz. For superstars like Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, whose careers have flourished during both eras, current and past outfits can be unlocked as you progress through the game.

Additional characters such as the Honky Tonk Man, the Million Dollar Man and his son, current superstar Ted DiBiase, can also be downloaded. Others that will be available to download in the future include the Road Warriors, Chris Jericho and Big Bossman. And with WWE’s extensive roster through the years, there will hopefully be many more downloadable characters such as my personal favorites Razor Ramon and Diesel.

Though it doesn’t feature as many different game play modes at SmackDown vs. Raw, WWE All Stars still offers plenty of fun to satisfy gamers for hours, with seemingly limitless things to unlock the more you play. All Stars‘ create mode may not be as robust as that of the SmackDown vs. Raw games, but it still gives plenty of enjoyable options that allow you to create your own challengers. All Stars also offers online play and features modes such as, Fantasy Warfare, where current superstars can do battle with those from WWE’s past, preceded by vignette videos. A personal favorite is the Path of Champions mode, which includes a series challenges over the course of ten matches. The three story options include a quest to earn a title shot at WrestleMania against Randy Orton, an attempt to topple the Undertaker at SummerSlam and a tag team option culminating in a showdown against D-Generation X. All three are accompanied with cutscenes that are extremely well done, my favorite being one in which DX plugs the very game being played. Having played many wrestling games prior to this one, I feel that the cutscenes in the Path of Champions mode are some of the best ever, though I would prefer to see more of them here.

As fun as All Stars can be, it does seem to have a few glitches and minor drawbacks (at least the PlayStation 3 version I played did). For instance, despite the otherwise comic book-like nature of the game, the ring entrances tend to be rather brief, especially in the Path of Champions mode. And when playing as a tag team, if you skip through the entrances the wrestlers are sometimes out of sequence, with partners and opponents coming to the ring in random order. Load times tend to take too long and, for some reason, the run button often just didn’t work when I played the game. Attempting to counter moves is usually ineffective and figuring out how to administer finishing moves can be quite daunting as well. The game also tends to lock up fairly often, which can deter extended play in the future.

Despite these complaints, All Stars is a fun fighting game, especially if you’re a WWE fan. While there are better fighting games out there, this one has its own unique offerings that help redeem its flaws. All Stars definitely offers something to build another WWE video game franchise on and offers some of the most enjoyable wrestling action since the old World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling titles for Nintendo 64. Like those games from the late ’90s and early ’00s, the presentation and mannerisms of the All Stars characters are accurate caricatures. And it’s good that today’s younger WWE fans can be introduced to some of the industry’s legends in such an engaging manner.

Also, with All Stars THQ has the opportunity to please fans in two very different ways. If All Stars follows the path that the SmackDown vs. Raw series has taken, it can become the more fast-paced option, which gives SmackDown vs. Raw the chance to go back to the more methodical pace it once had, more along the lines of the Fire Pro series and the N64 favorites. But regardless of what happens with the SmackDown vs. Raw series, All Stars is definitely a unique alternative that explores the comic book aspects that have always been present in WWE programming.

WWE All Stars is available for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii and Xbox 360. Rated T. www.wweallstars.com.

Review by Jason Von Stein