The Lair of the Monkey

Well, I can’t believe it.  Here we are, another year in gaming just about over.  So many things have changed but oh so many things have stayed the same.  Rather than go on though (I’ll save that for a RETROspective), I’d like to take this opportunity to declare my game of this year.  The award goes to:

That’s right, Assassin’s Creed.  After playing this excellent third person actioner I couldn’t really give it to anything else.  So let’s take a look at why I chose it:

• A tight storyline
• Brilliant character controls
• Wonderful action sequences
• Choices within the game making it a hugely compelling universe to play in

I’m not about to tell you that Assassin’s Creed lived up to the hype - it didn’t.  However, it did offer a truly excellent game to play that’s on par with just about anything else out there at the moment.  Of course, there are other games that you might prefer on various systems, but we’ll come to those in the RETROspective of 2007.

Well, I’m due to start announcing the LOTM Awards 2007.  My very own awards for some of the best games we’ve seen this year.  First though, I’d like to give an honourable mention to a few games:

• Assassin’s Creed (Various)
• Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Various)
• Silent Hill: Origins (PSP)
• Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
• Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
• Crysis (PC)
• Virtua Fighter 5 (Various)
• Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS)
• God of War 2 (PS2)
• Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360)
• The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (Various)
• Bioshock (Various)
• Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

Generally speaking, the games of real worth are scattered amongst the various formats.  This is good.  Something for everyone and all that.  on the other hand, there’s a poor showing from the PS3 so far even with a lower price-point.  I’d like to see more on the PC too but then people are probably busy getting along (or not) with the new Direct X for Vista etc.  On the whole, it’s clear that this year has been a good one for games.

The above is of course a Sony PSP.  Great gaming - certainly Silent Hill: Origins is anyway.  Hugely spooky game that is a more than deserving addition to the franchise.  So what’s to like about this handheld?

• Lovely graphics (you can keep your DS after you see this)
• Amazing sound
• Decent control system

Okay, so the battery life ain’t great and from what I hear Sony keeps trying to destroy the homebrew scene.  However, the PSP more than surpassed my expectations of portable gaming when it came to this funky little handheld.  The only real problem however is that I want one now.

Go and take a look, the video over at Kotaku just amazing.  It’s one of those peculiar Japanese Mario Mods - but with a difference.  All of that knowledge that you THOUGHT you had about Mario games is brutally turned against you.  Suddenly even the end-game flag has a rather menacing air.  Go take a look.

I wish you all a safe, entertaining and happy Christmas. May the light of whoever you believe in (even if it’s just human kindness and the indomitable spirit of goodwill) shine down upon you and yours. Good night for this evening and probably tomorrow. Bless you all my lovely readers. Normal service resumed after too much turkey.

My true love gave to me, Crysis for the PC.

Sadly, she didn’t check the (massively high) system requirements, so consequently, it doesn’t work.  Ho-hum.  Maybe she should have bought me a nice new PC instead.

Manhunt 2 was accepted for release by the Video Appeals Committee after a move to block it by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).  Now, there’s been another turn of events with the BBFC getting a challenge to this decision:

“The BBFC said that the VAC had been guilty of “a very serious misdirection of law” on the question of harm.  The judge said: “I have taken into account the high public interest in the possibility of harm to children.  Both sides agreed that the game was not suitable for children, but the BBFC argued that if given a certificate for release, it could still end up in the hands of minors.”

I’d say I’m a fairly articulate person and that I understand the argument proposed here.  Namely, the BBFC has concerns that the game will fall into the hands of minors who will be then adversely affected by the violent, dark content of the game.  However, let me put this to the BBFC as an open letter - is this not the case of any violent video game?  I remember I was quite young when I bought my copy of Duke Nukem 3D - certainly I was WELL BELOW the required age of 18.  This has gone on in the past and will go on in the future.  Aren’t children just at much at risk though from movies such as the Saw films?  I mean they portray something far more realistic don’t they?

This brings me to my other argument.  The BBFC are going through all of this and it’s costing me and you, the taxpayer, money.  It’s going to cost a whole lot more when the case fails and they have to fund the losses that Rockstar are facing due to the delays in the game being released.  Frankly, it all seems like a ridiculous fiasco.  Shopkeepers are much more aware of not selling adult content to minors, so why is this even an issue?  As an adult, I’d like a choice of whether to play this game; this adult content.  What next, are the BBFC going to start policing video stores or indeed pulling every 18 film/game/adult content music in case it falls into the hands of children?

Well, Kotaku has reported that there’s a new teaser trailer for the game that isn’t a game (for the simple reason that it hasn’t existed for the past twelve years or something).  So, should you go and watch it?  Yes, especially if it features the Jaguar graphics we’re all secretly hoping it has.  Go read more at Kotaku.

My true love gave to me, a Super Nintendo (or three).

So why did she buy three?  Well, because I don’t think that Nintendo makes them anymore.  That means all the consoles you can buy have had grubby little paws all over them.  And that makes me a little sick to think about, but it will also mean that the games might have problems at times.  You know, the little so-and-so who has stuffed a cheese toasty into the cartridge port?  Still, it did have these gems:

• Super Mario World
• Super Mario Kart
• Mario Paint (oh who knew the fun of putting MS Paint on a console!)
• Pit Fighter (ZOMG!)
• Street Fighter 2 Turbo
• Final Fight
• Actraiser
• Chrono Trigger
• Super Metroid
• The Legend of Zelda

The list goes on…

My true love gave to me, a Nintendo DS.

Now, she knew full well that it sits awkwardly in your hand during extended play sessions but she also knew that such legendary games as Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center existed.  Still, whether I will play it much given my other presents remains to be seen.