Tag: Story

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Video Game #21 (Mario)

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The iconic character in video game history made its mark in a Donkey Kong arcade game as the ID of Plumber. He became more than that in the decades to come. From Platformers, any sport in the books, RPG’s even, you name it and they have it in store for you to try.

Mario transcends in the world phenomenon to be engaging to video game goers alike including myself. One of many was Super Mario 64 that taught children how to learn basic instructions. A simple matter of review, using it to progress through the game to defeat a long stride video game bad guy Bowser to save the princess. Toadstool was its original which still is used from time to time, but now she is namely Peach as many of you know her by.

Super Mario RPG was the first RPG in the Mario series in my opinion to show off that part of the generation of traditional games such as Final Fantasy and various others. You get a sense that Bowser isn’t really a bad guy in this one, better yet he joins you to take out a sinister threat that made his castle not usable for his evil ways. To make matters more interesting, a non-Final Fantasy character to this day I am not sure where he came from goes by the name Culex. It ironically plays Final Fantasy music when being fought which at the time was really cool. Onto the next genre of the series.

Super Smash Bros. is accountable as one of the best things to happen in video game history. It brought characters from iconic to unknown individuals that would end up eventually in their own game to become popular for a time. Various companies competed with this with games such as Soul Calibur, Mortal Kombat, and more. A world phenomenon saw an even bigger picture on this given game that it made gaming communities to come together to create branches of various communities which is amazing.

Returning to RPG’s, Paper Mario really out done itself in its time. The 1st one is what you could expect: memorable Mario characters, areas, Bowser himself, and others. In the 2nd Paper Mario (known as Thousand Year Door), things took a very different turn which makes it the most intriguing thing in a Mario game. Very sinister plotting in this game was really something. When you come across something that is dangerous, they really mean it. When you successfully collect all seven relics known as Crystal Stars, the Thousand Year Door opens in a dark and disturbing matter. When entered, it plays a stinger that says you should not be here. Even your party members say something feels wrong and we probably shouldn’t be here. That means something in a video game, but you continue onward to see horrors that will transpire at the end of the tunnel. It turns out there was a being known as an Eldritch Abomination that came out of the tomb. It took over the host (that being Peach), and became the one thing Mario wanted to save only to see her as this thing taken over. For the first time in his hero career (and plumber), he lost. Eventually something remarkable happened. The people including his brother Luigi were encouraging him to not give up on the struggle against the ancient being known as the Shadow Queen. Mario did succeed but made it so he got help by others to guide through the fight. So it comes to show you that even Mario cannot always be on a winning streak and must call it quits from time to time.

I name many others but I would be ramble on and on so I made it clear that Mario became an icon in many ways in every video game goer’s view. To the question being what did you see when Mario came into the world of gaming? What is your favorite Mario genre and game thus far? Do you think it will continue to strife through more decades to come?

Thanks for your time and have a great week.

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Video Game #18 (Yoshi’s Island)

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A classic platformer of the ages made this game title a nostalgia train ride. Yoshi makes a solo game debut about his adventures with baby Mario to get him home and move through various obstacles. What I enjoyed about this game was that revisiting old levels, unlock the bonus mini-games in each world. etc.

One of the things I applaud for was its difficulty. Each level of every world gets gradually harder. Get a selection of enemies, obstacles, and eventually see all of them put together in a massive cluster of fun. Each boss of course made things unique by doing a certain action or strategy developed by you as the player. It does give hints on every boss, but won’t give you the answer unless you try it. At first you don’t succeed, try it again.

A platformer such as Yoshi’s Island took a few years to beat. It makes you want to have a break from it then eventually come back to it later. In the end, this was the case because you as the video game player see what cool mechanics and crazy strategy presented in other video games as to apply to this given game. Looking at it as a hard core platformer gamer, there have been times that it turns out all you had to do was do this action rather than develop your own. Sadly it is a long time habit to just complete the game and move on to the next thing which is beyond your control.

How has platformer games changed over the years? A question asked from time to time. But anyways, see you next time.

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Video Game #17 (Wario Land)

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It was first under the “Super Mario Land” sub franchise but quickly became its own game genre. Wario Land was the bomb back in those days. A game so that everything balances out gameplay wise so you know how that goes on platformer games.

In Wario Land 2 (my personal favorite Wario Land game), it is firstly play it through and see what you as the player can do. Because there are different routes that triggers different endings. The game will show you the timeline of events of the levels that you did and did not complete. Guess what, discover them to explore different results and it is fun and funny all in a good time.

Wario Land 3 and the most frustrating thus far, this particular one makes you visit the same areas from time to time to extend more of the level. Whether weather change, more obstacles, or reach for previous things that were out of reach unless you had an ability to do it. Bosses were a pain, however fun, just hair pull every failed attempt. Great game, just a lot of backtracking as you progress through the game.

The last Wario Land I played was obviously the fourth installment. In this one is memorizing the level because there’s a game mechanic called time, cause it based around the story. It gets harder every level and if you screw up, it’s back to the beginning of the level and that can be frustrating. Fun installment, just a lot of time constrains to get through each level.

There were other Wario Land games but did not continue with it after the fourth one. Four Wario Lands as enough for me. So, what was your experience of Wario Land as a whole to take a break from Mario? What was favorite one of the series? As always, have a great week.

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Video Game #16 (Legend of Zelda)

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Riding back on the nostalgia train this week with this title. This was my first video game that I came in contact with when I was young. Let us start with Ocarina of Time. It is still considered the #1 video game in my VG history books with many, many others. A great inspiration of gaming as a whole really which brought various game genres we see today. Enough said about that one, so onto the next.

Oracle of Ages and Seasons were a blast from the past. These two were a long and patient games as to go back and forth between destinations, wait for events to occur, and the dungeons were a headache if in the habit of dying alot (which was the case in my playthroughs). Turning the page of another blast from the past.

Link to the Past was Oracle of Ages and Seasons first generation (as to where Link’s Awakening is based from Oracle of Ages and Seasons as the second generation in my personal basis). It felt like you get thrown into something massive without seeing the bigger picture. There were at times it was annoying to get to where you need to go and dungeons were the usual.

Moving on to Majora’s Mask. This particular Zelda game was time based cause it is the end of the world scenario and you know how that goes. Knowing how to work around it takes a little effort (nowadays everyone knows that concept). I find this Zelda game interesting and annoying at the same time that you have to do the same event over and over again since you sometimes have to call in a retreat (as in rewind time).

Continuing on to Four Swords Adventure. It was a side game on the Link to the Past if I remember correctly until it got its own game years later. Now, the kicker for this Zelda game is there is multiplayer of the story so things can get really crazy such as stealing your gems. There’s a voting event at the end of each level so have at it blaming on that person.

Wind Waker, ah, yes, Wind Waker. I was A LITTLE skeptical when introduced to this one, for which reasons is unknown. All and all, it was fun from start to finish. Just one thing, I hate collecting the triforce pieces which took a millennia (literally) but then the end game was awesome so it is worth your time. I believe they made it easier in the HD Remaster so no more spending months and years finding every last one of them.

Finally, the last Zelda I played was Twilight Princess. I saw Nintendo take an even darker approach which they succeed. There were a few gameplay elements that were odd, but dealt with it like any other video game. I wasn’t in love with this one, but was fun to interact with since it came out on the latest Nintendo Wii back in the day.

There were a couple of others I didn’t name because I did not play them or had them in my possession. The only Zelda game I would like to play at this time is Skyward Sword. Things are seen differently before Ocarina of Time I hear and considered to be filled of interesting moments in that one so I will check it out in the near future.

What is your favorite Zelda game so far? Until then, see you next time.

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Video Game #15 (Mass Effect)

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Let be clear that this TRILOGY was entertaining to the last. My experience of Mass Effect went off the charts when it came to story progression and its gameplay elements. Based on decisions that you as the player made throughout each game affects the story which was really something. Of course not everything isn’t as specific as you might think it is because it leads up to the same course of action on the long run. So you can consider it filler at given times of dialogue and scenes witnessed, but still considered to a fantastic experience nonetheless.

The first game was a nerve wreck as graphics and mechanics weren’t perfect but surprisingly held up. Great climax and ending overall so no doubt it is worth playing. Though I will admit that the water animation (physics) were surprisingly the best I’ve seen in a video game so applause to EA (Electronic Arts) on that. Mass Effect 2 was jaw dropping from start to finish thus the graphics were fixed for the most part. Excellent DLC’s (namely The Lair of the Shadow Broker) and striking ending of the 2nd installment. Between the guy pulling the strings from the 1st and 2nd game, I enjoy the 2nd the most in the transition to the 3rd installment.

Now onto Mass Effect 3. Very enjoyable from the start up to the confrontation of the Illusive Man (2nd guy string from earlier). The ending of the trilogy was a particular nerve wreck that decision making is no longer existent to which I understand perfectly. Was not thrilled of the outcome, but it could have been worse I thought to myself. One things for sure: The Illusive Man was right all along (if that ending was chosen).

So what was your memorable moment of the Mass Effect Trilogy? Good, bad, neutral? Have a great week.

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Video Game #14 (The Last of Us)

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Guess people were expecting me to talk about this game huh? Well you got yourself a blog post about it. I just finished it and as much as I am not obsessed with it, it was a emotional feel from start to finish. The chemistry between the main characters Joel and Ellie were remarkable. Whether an adult feels depressed of all that has happened, the kid finds a way to keep them moving forward and vice versa. This defined the storyline as a whole and interesting when I experienced it firsthand. Gameplay was what you can expect so do not need to go into much detail.

Otherwise, there will be a second one coming out since it was recently announced and people geeked out about it. So I have in hopes to everyone who has played this game will enjoy what the second installment will have in store. I’ll come across it eventually, so won’t be doing a person brief summary on the sequel anytime soon. So what was it in people’s minds about how the relationship between adult and child in a situation of survival? If you want my opinion, it is fate and a lot of luck.

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Video Game #10 (Tales of Vesperia)

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This was the last Tales game I played before putting down this franchise. The reason being is that it is not as good compared to what it was back in the early 2000s I saw in my view of the Series. The only Tales game on the Xbox 360 to my knowledge, it turned into a new set of gameplay that I did enjoy. I would have not been able to adapt to the future series just because of a different feel of gameplay.

This was without a doubt a fantastic Tales game just below Symphonia. The only thing that was the downfall was the ending. Those of you who have gotten a chance to get a Xbox 360 to play this, you would understand the sadness that I am about to share. You did everything, fought a semi-Sephiroth as a SECRET end boss was amazing. Tremendous so far right? Right. So this is where we fall from the chain. After countless attempts to tell the bad guy that this is wrong, they said, “You are right.” and walk away. That to me killed me the moment of that response and moving off screen. If the ending was taken for a reshoot, I would do just that. Sadly cannot go that persons way all the time.

The best part was the main character you control. Boy, I can express this in one word: Batman. A figure of doing what is right in his mind; his view to keep the world in balance. I will not go into detail for those who haven’t played it about what really happens, and don’t let my rant on the ending tell you not to play it. Who knows, you might see it differently than me.

With that being said, those of you who played it what did you think of the change of gameplay, storyline, etc.? I really suggest this rare Tales game on the Xbox 360 (hope for a remake/remaster on Playstation in the near future) to be engaged on your road of Video Games to play.

As always, have a great week.

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Video Game #9 (Tales of the Abyss)

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Continuing where we left off last week, this Tales game was for the feels. There are moments in this given video game that will get you to keep locked into your screen from start to finish. Memorable voice cast (half of the Anime actors come from here and various others), its plot, and could go on about other parts of it. Without further ado, here’s my experience of this Tales game.

It comes a time that one individual can do something and the result is not what you thought it was. Trying to reason with your party, people from various locations given throughout the game, and the choices that person made. However, it comes to a surprise that people have a purpose in the world and turns out it was fake or a dream. Will not go into too much of the plot, but it turns for the worst and make as much of it as you can as you play this Tales game when you get the chance.

There isn’t anything regarding change in my view, however it does come to having a starting marker and go align to get full credit. To which I am saying that when you start or miss something, better luck next play through for that’s how this Series goes by. “If you miss just one thing even if it’s minor, tough luck. Finish your current play through and do it again from the beginning.” I take no joy of it, but I told myself to explore more of the game a second or third. Heck I played this given Tales game seven to eight times to just see that little difference in the story, and various events occur in a different manner.

Of course that is where I may have forgot to mention that from my Symphonia post last week. Otherwise, a friendly reminder wouldn’t hurt. So what did you guys enjoyed about this given Tales game? Those of you who haven’t played it, I would recommend it to you.

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Video Game #8 (Tales of Legendia)

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Staying on the Tales series for a few more posts. This particular Tales game isn’t as good as Symphonia, but still worth a game to play from start to finish. Surprisingly enough, people don’t go beyond the 2nd part of the game because they believe in their eyes that it is too much they discontinue the game which makes no sense that there’s more content to explore. Some people I think see this Tales game as not as powerful as various Tales games so far, which to say it is THAT terrible. I’ll go into the details that can reinforce the reasoning of this post.

I begin to talk about the gameplay. Playing on a straight line is very difficult since this is one of the few Tales games in the series that you have no flexibility which I understand people’s anger. On top of that, attacking and using abilities/spells couldn’t have been stressful enough either. I press the button and turns out it will do it again without you even wanting to use it two consecutive times,  Trust me, I was one of those people when it started out but quickly got use to the game’s mechanics.

Storywise wasn’t bad, it just turned out that characters knew what was going to happen more than half the time which is a bad habit in video games. Meaning that everything regarding information of past friends, enemies, events, places, etc. I think they enforced that too much which made the game dead at times because everyone including you should be surprised when something occurs in the game. Various video games do that, but not in every situation cause that can lead to bad habits of letting characters say their line that they already knew the fate that befalls upon them. If you play this Tales game enough, you will understand this argument. Otherwise, I just thought I place my thoughts on this concern.

I’m not going to say much about change, but the only thing was what was said above. So what do you think of this particular Tales game? Good, bad, odd? And as always, have a great week.

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Video Game #7 (Tales of Symphonia)

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Now this is a video game that can be described as a perfectionist type. Everything about this is a rare occasion that goes by saying there is nothing wrong with this game whatsoever. The story of it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it is over 200 hours which includes sidequests (yes, that much gameplay to explore). Suspense is mindblown from start to finish.

Really the only thing that could have been better, just one thing, was a character by the name of Kvar. A character that pretty much explained the story and goes beyond saying that he knew what he was talking about. Too bad he had no screen time afterward, just a plain bad guy that needs to be put down before more stuff bad happens. Otherwise, the game was a fantastic experience beyond my wildiest dreams and is marked as part of my Top 10 if not Top 5 best video games of all time.

Those of you who haven’t played it, I highly recommend it for JRPG good at heart and witness to wonders beyond your dreams. Others who have played it, what was your experience like and what impact did it make you think of video games we play today?