Geo Holyhart

Not that anyone noticed, but I’ve been away during the summer. Not really away (not the whole time at least), but busy with family and school. The only game I’ve been playing is Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for the psp. I’m a huge Monster Hunter fan.

Not much to report gaming wise lately, the only titles coming out soon I’m looking forward to is Rock Band 2, Fable 2 and Tales of Vesperia. Been trying to get my hands on Soul Calibur, but doubt it’ll happen to it becomes less then 30 bucks.

~Geo out

I thought I’d kill 2 bird with one stone here. Is anyone else as excited as I am for the new Street Fighter? The style of animation they choose was questionable at first, but I don’t think anyone has any reason to complain any longer. They look beautifully smooth, but at the same time edgy and stylish (something most cartoon styles lack). Not to mention the facial expressions are priceless.

The gameplay I know will be great, how could they possibly fail? They’re basically taking 2D controls unto a 3D world within a 2D plane! I just hope the characters are balanced correctly, this usually makes or break a fighting game, especially to the hardcore audience. Also it was unknown for awhile and I still haven’t seen any official statement, but it seems the mass market as already began advertising Street Fighter IV for both PS3 and Xbox 360. So rejoice fans!

On a shorter note. Lately, I’ve been dying to play a RPG for the 360, its all I used to play, but since next-gen came out, I haven’t touched a single one other then Enchanted Arms. A new trailer that most likely passed under the most hardcore RPG fan’s radar, is a title from Square-Enix and Tri-Ace (tri-ace FTW!) called Infinite Undiscovery. I know, I know, not the most clever name, but it might grow on us. The premise looks promising, a story about a boy, who looks like a hero, but isn’t! What excites me though, is the real-time combat that Tri-Ace is some awesome at delivering. Check out the trailer in the new release section of your Xbox 360!

I brought a pack of 1600 Microsoft points today. This a rare occurrence for me, as I usually don’t have the extra cash lying around to get it. Excited to run home and check out all the prices I immediately redeemed my code. Yes! I finally had 1600 to spend. I browsed Rock Band music store and took some of McDonald’s 80point offers. Still more then a 1000 points to spend.

Wondering what arcade games I should purchase I looked around, choosing some trails to see if any of my brothers would like the games as well. While downloading, I noticed my points dropped to 780! Hurrying through my active downloads, I found I had accidently purchased Catan! The last game on my list I would even consider. Pissed and Angered, I wondered: Why the hell does downloading a trail and a purchasing a game take you through the same process!?

Wouldn’t it make more sense that purchases would take you through an extra confirmation page!!!!!!!!! Microsoft it surprises that this extremely simple solution (as I’m sure I’m not the first) never occurred to them. From now, I’m going to make sure to never redeem points, till I’m full ready to spend them. I did send Microsoft a request to refund my points in any manner possible, but I can already foresee there answer “Sorry, we can not refund points in any circumstance.” or something as unhelpful.

Update: Reply received from Microsoft

Hot news! I was reading my monthly EGM and came across a brief mention of a MMO for the 360 called Champions Online, so I did a bit of research on my own. Champions is being developed by Cryptic Studios, the same people who brought you City of Heroes and Villains. Many people still consider City of Heroes to be one of the most customizable games currently on the market, well Cryptic claims that Champions will be much more robust. You’ll go as far to specify how your character jumps and walks.

The game will also be much more action-oriented then CoH and feel more natural on a gamepad then games before it, so says Cryptic Studio. From the sound of it, it sure looks so. Now lets all hope there’s no monthly fee’s, that our 60 dollars for the purchase of the software includes the ability to actually play it!!!

Ok, so whats the catch? Don’t expect this game till 2009. Here’s hoping that we can get into beta before the end of this year. Up, up and awaaaaaaaay!

What It’s All About
You’re an overlord, who’s one evil dude, kind of. You do control evil minions and are encourage to reign evil among your kingdom, by helping people? The actual evilness of this game is questionable, but the fun factor and humor isn’t.

You control up to four different type of minions and make your way through about 4 main expansive maps defeating heroes, pillaging gold, and most of all: killing sheepie!

Single Player
As your minions pull the lid from your tomb they beckon you to bring back evil to your kingdom. For the most part the story is light with well-thought out twists. Humor is around every corner, I myself didn’t laugh my pants off at any part, but they got quite a few chuckles out of me.

Your ultimate goal is to defeat heroes and recover your palace to its former glory. As the game progresses you’ll use different minion types (as you obtain them) often to complete puzzles of all sorts for these rewards. I found the puzzles to be challenging, but not frustrating enough that I ever wanted to put down the controller. With the rewards you earn you can buy upgrades for your castle, armor and weapons. You can also fuse weapons and armor with the life of your minions (don’t worry they don’t care!)

Multiplayer
Multiplayer is a nice distraction which can be played locally or over live. You have a few game type choices, basically a vs, co-operative and a survival. I should mention that this isn’t included in the original package, but its 100% free to download from the marketplace. I don’t see people playing this too long, but it doesn’t extend the playability life.

Graphics and Gameplay
The controls and path AI work surprisingly well and allow you to control your minions with precision. You’ll be tasked with several quests some with different ending options. The maps allow you to explore freely, though for the most part the quests lead you in a fairly linear path.

The map themselves are bright and colorful to off-set the evil theme of the game and extenuate the humor. Everything looks sharp and as it should for the most part.

Achievements
The achievements are fun to obtain and pretty much are given along with your progress, though the armor and weapon upgrades will require a bit of grinding and the 100% good and corrupted achievements will require 2 play-throughs.

Value
A touch of strategy and humor meet a pikmin adventure type game. The game is now sold at $19.99 retail price, so you don’t lose much here. It will keep most people completely entertained the first time through, but most won’t bother to return for a 2nd run.

In short…
With its light-hearted humor and plot this game is a relaxing experience and a good get away from frustrating and overly engrossing titles many of us have become accustomed to recently. Nothing grand here, but that shouldn’t stop you from giving this title a chance. Did I mention the fat hobbits, perverted paladin, and elves?

Publisher: Codemasters; Developer: Triumph Studios; Release: June 26, 2007
Pro: Light-hearted; a fun blend of puzzles and action
Cons: Your Overlord won’t do much outside of boss battles, short campaign

Final Verdict: 7.3

What It’s All About
In the future humanity found technology that boosted them years ahead, allowing them to create ships capable of inter-stellar travel. Humans are a bit late to the ball though, because aliens have already structured a political ladder in the universe. This ladder involves a council made of 3 individuals all representing different races. Rumors have been circulating that humans are next in line for a spot within the council and specters. The specters are a elite group of fighters who are given unrestricted access to basically anything.

Humans being the new kids in town, means most races aren’t keen at the idea as they feel the races before them are entitled to the position and humans are growing too fast to be trusted.

Single Player
Possibly one of the strongest and most expansive RPGs for the xbox 360. This won’t come a surprise to any fans of bioware. Rushing through the campaign it’ll only take you about 6 hours to complete. Chances are though you’ll easily get sidetracked in several side-quests. So expect about 12-20+ hours for your first completion. You’ll be given the chance to replay the game with your built-up character the 2nd time through and on a harder difficulty.

Graphics and Gameplay
The graphics are top-notch. Characters express a wide array of emotions with a beautiful engine smoothly running the game with very rare slow down. Its only hiccup is late texture loading (remember Halo 2?). Most loading scenes take place in a elevator where you’ll be entertained with a radio-show on existing events or a dialog between characters.

The gameplay is done in a behind-the-shoulder view. The combat is a fast-paced but accurately and strategically played much like a FPS. Considering this I can see people who aren’t even normally fans of RPG digging this. In most conversations you’ll be given several options in which direction you want to take the conversation that essentially boils down to “polite and rude” remarks.

Achievements
The achievements are well spread out and manageable. You’ll earn a good 300+ the first time around without any effort. The rest of the 1000 will require you to play through again at least 3x’s. Twice with the same character and once with a new character and a different class.

Value
Will you get your bang for your buck here? Most certainly. With a massive world, though admitably I wish there were some more habited planets (especially since so many are mentioned), you’ll keep your self entertained and satisfied by the time your adventure comes to a end. Mass Effect is a trilogy and between each of the trigology a expansion (already released as this is being typed) with be avaliable via xbox Live marketplace.

In short…
If you’re looking for a RPG or a in-depth adventure with a epic story and fast paced combat welcome to Mass Effect.

Publisher: Microsoft; Developer: Bioware; Release: November 20, 2007
Pro: In-depth, customizable plot; graphically great, great real-time combat
Cons: Aside from 3 main planets most are just large barren maps; the ally achievements

Final Verdict: 9.4

I totally missed the announcement date. I’m not sure how! I’m a huge Silent Hill fan, so it pleases me to announce the next-gen Silent Hill is in the works with a September 2008 release date. The game looks awesome thus far with some needed changes, but still retaining that old Silent Hill feeling. The game will release on PS3 and Xbox 360 like most titles these days. Poor Wii.

Some changes I’m aware of are to the combat system. Alex (the main character) is a Gulf War Vet, so with his more combat experienced past, comes a more in-depth combat system. An outdated combat system is what most critics have shunned the series for in the past, so perhaps this is there answer. Hopefully this will contribute to appealing to a wider fanbase.

Looks like I also failed to mention the title will be dubbed Silent Hill: Homecoming.

Most people ignored Too Human due to its horrible announcement, with partly Unreal developers at fault (so they claim). Regardless the game seems to be taking a turn in the right direction. I recently viewed trailers for title and I must admit I’m impressed. I didn’t realize the game would be so in-depth and not to mention co-operative!

From what I understand, campaign mode will be single player and multiplayer a different mode entirely. I’m not sure yet whether you’ll be able to join other people’s game in-progress. They also haven’t mentioned whether they’ll allow you to carry characters over from single player to multiplayer. I do know though that in multiplayer cut-scenes will be removed to maintain a flow of action. Cooperative mode will also only be 2 players (4 was tested and not approved).

What really caught my eye with Too Human’s cooperative element is the fast pace, in-depth fights. It maintains good flow of action, but at the same time allows players to coordinate different builds strategically. So one player can be a defense character while the other is a berserker (offensive) character. Another example would be one character with the ability to raise multiple enemies in the air and another with the ability to leap into the air with a fury of attacks. Enemies are also always a couple of levels higher then your highest party member, so always expect a challenge.

Aside from the combat, Too-Human also implents party looting. Meaning items do drop, mmorpg players should be familar with this system. You’ll also be allowed to freely trade items. From what I hear most items are class specific, so expect to trade often.

I thought it was funny…

In other news I updated my Xbox 360 List of games you gotta have: Check it out here or scroll down.

You guys know how Xbox records your last played games, but as we all know, some of spend more of our time trying out demos, watching videos, etc… or spend time doing other things equally. Well, someone awesome created “Live Eye”. The all seeing 360 eye. It watches all your actions and records them, including watching videos, playing demos, listening to music, etc… This is how Xbox should of done it. You can register your account for Live Eye at 360FriendSpot

With it, you’ll have access to a friendfinder as well, a script that finds someone closest to your own activities and gamerscore. Can be custom set for age limit and game preferences as well.

I was so excited about this I decided to make some new gamercard designs for my friends over at 3FS.

These are just preview images with text placement (meaning it isn’t real just a place holder). The actual cards are still being scripted over at 3FS. I’m also working on making a new Live Eye sig, because I’m not too crazy about there current one. Speaking of which, check mine’s out.

You’re 360 now has an eye, so where’s its voice? Over at 360voice, waiting to be activated. The concept is awesome, over at 360voice every xbox has its own voice and feelings and it blogs it automatically for everyone to read! You gain badges through playing and meeting requirements as well. Its a fun concept, everyone should try it out. There’s nothing to lose! To see my Xbox 360′s voice: Geo’s 360s Blog