Criticism in Previews

Recently I published a hands on impression of Assassin's Creed IV on Vooks (with a more in-depth preview just uploaded to TGND, which I admittedly did de-snark a bit). It was short because it was going to be combined with other peoples' like how we did our PAX AU  games impressions (heck, I think my ACIV impressions were longer than the impressions I wrote for the other games), so I focused on my key point- that I was one of the people who found ACIII unbearably awful, and that ACIV appears to be the exact same. I backed this up, saying that combat is as brain dead as it was in ACIII (it played the exact same) and that it's unfocused and incohesive, just like ACIII was, with assassinations that aren't really assassinations at all, and mid-battle 'minigames' that decide to pause the action and break the flow of the game. I do actually describe what happened in the demo, I just added why I disliked all of it! Apparently people weren't happy with this! The article got a few negative comments (which apparently never happens on Vooks), and I had a few aggressive subtweets directed at me which I laughed off. Now, this wasn't a crazy Internet outrage, we're a smaller Australian site, but people spoke to me about the review nonetheless. Supposedly I have a bias against the Assassin's Creed series (based off me saying I wish the series would go back to its pre-ACIII levels of quality, even saying I loved the games back then. Go figure!) and my article wasn't objective enough. Well to be frank- no shit it wasn't objective!

Assassin's Creed 3 Critique (Uni Assignment)

After the positive response to posting a DayZ essay on my blog that was done for a uni assignment, I figured I'd keep posting any game-related critiques/essays that I do throughout my degree. This was an assignment that was essentially a review, where we had to critique a game on what it does well and not so well, but more from a design point of view than a typical review (we were also told to write it "without the hyperbole you see in some commercial reviews - so keep it sober", lulz). We had to identify the flaws, and analyse how they were in keeping (or not) with the designer's vision of the game, and how they affected the game as a whole.

When we got this assignment, I knew from the beginning I would write about Assassin's Creed III. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows exactly how I feel about this game. It's my go to example of the faults of the AAA industry approach to game production, and I had plenty of things to say about it. If we didn't have a word count I could have ranted for pages and pages on exactly what the game did wrong, but unfortunately we did, so I had to keep to that.

Hopefully this gives some insight into just some of the reasons I think Assassin's Creed III is a total turd. tl;dr it's a visionless mess

2013 Game Rankings List

I was playing some games this week (big surprise, I know!) and was thinking about how I'd rank the games I've played so far this year in terms of quality. I thought I'd keep a Top 5 in my head and change it around as the year progressed, and that would be my GOTY List. I was having a bit of trouble remembering all the games I'd played so far, and had an awesome idea. I could keep a ranked list of EVERY game released this year, that I play, and update it as I play more games. This would make compiling my GOTY list easier, and also lets people know which games I actually played this year. "What!? X is on your GOTY list but not Y!? Y was amazing!" "Oh, yeah, I didn't actually play Y..." It will help make sense of my opinions a little. This list will update whenever I play through a new game, so feel free to keep checking back every now and then.
EDIT: Ranking them all is too hard, I'll keep a Top 5, and then just list the other games I've played. Too easy.

I would have put Persona 4 Golden in one of the top two spots, but I did play it last year, so it doesn't really count I guess. It only just came out in Australia/Europe this year, so if you haven't imported it then consider this my recommendation to buy it :P Likewise with Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, it's a re-relase/expansion moreso than a new game. But definitely one you should play!

1. GTA V
2. Animal Crossing New Leaf
3. Payday 2
4. Ace Attorney 5
5. Saints Row IV

Other games I've played from 2013 (not in any order)
Battlefield 4
Pokemon X/Y
The Last Of Us
LEGO City Undercover
Slender: The Arrival
FUSE
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
Luigi's Mansion 2
SimCity
Dead Space 3
Battle High 2
God of War Ascension
DLC Quest
Tearaway

Josh @ EB Expo

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the EB Expo on Saturday, and got to play some really cool new and upcoming games. I wasn't allowed to record footage of them all, but I'll be posting the footage I did get over the next couple of days.

Ubisoft Reveals Playable Wii U Games at EB Expo

It was rumoured for a while that the Wii U would be showing up at the EB Expo in Sydney this October, but there was no official word on it. It had been teased by EB higher ups saying to wait for future announcements, but now it's official. Well, not technically official since this is more a leak than anything, but the Wii U is going to be playable at EB Expo! I checked my emails this morning and found an email from Ubisoft, showing the games that they'll have playable at the Expo. Awkwardly, it shows Wii U games that hadn't been officially announced for the line up yet. Have a look:

Darksiders II Tops Australian Charts, DLC Details

The NPD Group Australia have confirmed that Darksiders II topped the Australian sales charts in its launch week beginning August 16th! Congrats to THQ, it's a great game that really deserves the attention it's getting. Sequels that actually change and improve upon their predecessors should be commended. If you haven't bought it yet, check out my Darksiders II review which should hopefully convince you ;)

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Footage Shows Exclusive Content

The Tekken Youtube Channel updated with this video today, showing off some of the exclusive content in the Wii U version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. This includes a mode in which Mario mushrooms are scattered across the fighting arena, causing effects to those who bump into them, for example the Mega Mushrom makes them gigantic while a Poison Mushroom shrinks them. In one section of the footage a Starman is also bouncing around the stage, which will presumably grant temporary invincibility.

The Wii U version of the game will also include Nintendo inspired alternate costumes for the playable characters, including Mario Bros. costumes for the Mishimas, a Bowser costume for Alex the raptor, and a Zero Suit Samus costume for Anna Williams.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a launch window title for the Wii U, meaning it will launch sometime before March 2013.

Nintendo Direct Europe/Australia Stream + Live Blog

Live broadcasting by Ustream

Check back here at 12am tonight AEST for my live blog of the Australian/European Nintendo Direct! Can't wat! :D

Tweets by @Mario__Bones

Darksiders II Review

IMPORTANT: A run-down of how my reviews work:
http://marioboneyard.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-overview.html

The much hyped sequel to THQ's cult classic Darksiders is finally here. Does it bring Death to a franchise, or sow seeds of life for its future? And will these review descriptions continue to have awful puns and rhetorical questions? Josh answers one of these questions in this review, you'll never guess which one it is.

Secret Games to Be Announced for EB Games Expo?

I was one of a few people who thought there were some games suspiciously missing from the games announced for the EB Games Expo a week or so ago. I thought The Last of Us and Watch Dogs may have made an appearance, but wasn't too shocked when they weren't on the list. However, I was really surprised at the total lack of Wii U games. With the console coming out before the end of the year, you'd think Nintendo would be wanting it to get as much attention as possible.

More Mass Effect 3 DLC Leaks

A few months back, details on Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC were leaked, including a script. It was revealed that a rogue reaper named Leviathan could be recruited in the fight against the Reapers, and used as war assets, which made me think it could somehow affect the ending. Turns out it will in a way, as it will add more dialogue in the game's ending sequence. Eurogamer found discussion on the Bioware forums about new script leaks, which divulge some more dialogue added into the game's final sections. So as to not ruin the experience for people I won't be posting details of the leak, you can read them for yourselves if desired at the linked pages (though you may want to stop reading after the trailer, there's some potential spoilers there).

A trailer for the Leviathan DLC can be seen below

Also, in the new Firefight weapon pack DLC for the game, a list of unreleased weapon mods seems to suggest future DLC will involve a return to Omega from Mass Effect 2, due to the locations the mods are assigned to use the same location code as Omega assets in Mass Effect 2. Combined with the fact there's cut dialogue in the game suggesting at a re-take Omega mission of sorts, this seems rather likely.

Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC will release later this year.

Final Darksiders II Pre-Release Trailer

With about a week until its US release, THQ have given us the final pre-release gameplay trailer for Darksiders II. Its narrated by Death, giving insight into his quest, and shows off some more boss fights, and a rideable golem-like creature.

What Do You Want to Know About Darksiders II?

So, thanks to the lovely people at THQ Australia, I'll be getting my hands on a review copy of Darksiders II later this week. While I'm under embargo on coverage until the 15th of August (Aussie time), I'll be running a Let's Play of the game, and writing/recording a review which will be going up around that time. Now that's where you guys come in!

Who, me?

Um... sure, I guess. But I want to know which features of the game you want me to go into detail about. Do you want to know what the RPG elements are like? Do you want to know about Death's acrobatic abilities? Do you want to know more about the different areas of the world?

I want to know what love is! I want you to show me!

Oh, Death *sitcom laughter* Anyways, either comment here or tweet me @Mario__Bones and let me know what you want me to focus on in my review and Let's Play. Of course, I'm aiming to have my review be as in-depth as possible, but if there's areas you want me to focus on in more detail, let me know. And for my Let's Play, let me know whether you want me to scour the world for secrets and collectibles or just stick to the main storyline.

There's all kinds of skills and weapons to unlock and use, and they can't all be obtained in one playthrough!

If I get enough questions I might even have a Q&A post here answering as many as I can, so feel free to ask me whatever you like. This will be my first big, official review, and I'm really looking forward to it! Here's some more screenshots to tide you over until the 15th ;)

Death faces off against a Scarab Hulk in the Online 'Crucible' mode

It's a little known fact that Death actually mentored Darth Vader

Death uses his mask to cheat at staring contests

The Maker's Realm was the setting of my hands-on preview of the game #SelfPlug

I love me a huge boss battle

This screenshot's filename has 'Boss Rush' in it. Interesting...

Darksiders II releases 16th of August in Australia, and on the 14th in USA, so my coverage will be out around the time of the US release if my knowledge of time zones is correct.

Could This Be Real Wii U Game Box Art?

NeoGaf member Hero of Legend has pointed out that amazon.ca is showing what seems to be the actual box art for a few Wii U games, including Assassin's Creed 3, Avengers: Battle For Earth and Just Dance 4. The box art is shown below.

Iwata Comments on Power Gap Between Next Gen Consoles; Refuses to Journey Through the Amazon

At Nintendo's investor Q&A earlier this year, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata was asked whether the Wii U will be able to hold up against Sony and Microsoft's future consoles technically, unlike the Wii, which was disadvantaged when it came to multiplatform games.

E3 Conference Wrap-Up

So, the E3 presentations have come and gone, and I think we can all agree it was a pretty damn mediocre show. Not good, not bad, just plain mediocre. No-one really blew us away, in fact some managed to fail to even keep us content. It was easily one of the most disappointing E3's ever. For my live thoughts of what happened during the conferences (except EA's which I accidentaly slept through :3 ) check out this post.

E3 Live Blog

Even though it requires me to pull an all nighter (Aussie time zone) I'm gonna try to watch as many of the E3 conferences as I can this year. I'll be posting what's happening and my thoughts as the night goes on, so be sure to keep checking back! :D

Nintendo Direct- Nintendo has grown up

Create something unique. It's the words Nintendo lives by, and it's why I like them so much. They don't concern themselves with what will sell as much as other companies do. They don't find something that works and stick to it. They're always searching for a way to bring a unique experience to gamers. Of course, it doesn't always work out, but when they do something wrong I feel like they genuinely thought it would be beneficial to us. Out of the Big 3, they're the company that looks out for gamers and tries to make them happy, rather than look out for themselves. They've even looking through people's reactions to the conference to see what the consensus is. And before E3 has even started, their Nintendo Direct conference has shown us just how much they've grown.

THQ Pre-E3 Event + First Look at WWE 13

THQ Australia have recently had their Pre-E3 showcase of their upcoming titles, and while I was unfortunately not able to attend, I've still got a lot of footage and info from it. The footage is in the above video, which you can see in a better size on Youtube, but since I'm generous, have some game info and screenshots as well! :D

Darksiders II- Death Strikes Part 2

THQ have released a new promotional video for Darksiders II!

"Last time you saw Death in a trailer he was about to face off a boss 10 times his size. We were evil enough to leave you with a “to be continued…”. Well I’m happy to share the Death Strikes Part II trailer.

Check out his skills as he make little work of a every foe he encounters!