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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
NintendoFest Announcement!
Geetings Everyone! Time Out Video Games would like to announce NintendoFest. NintendoFest is a celebration of Nintendo leading to the upcoming WiiU release on November 18th. Starting November 1st, we will be all about Nintendo here at Time Out. All of the written and video portions of this blog will be pertaining to Nintendo products. There will be written reviews, including our final non-retro review of a Wii game. Also the Monday before the WiiU comes out we will have a special Wii episode of TOVG TV. It will be our retrospective on Nintendo's revolutionary system. Then on the Friday before the release date, we will have a WiiU preview episode of TOVG TV. Included during the week before the release will be a new story every day about my experiences of launch time of past Nintendo systems, including a Wii story that is too crazy to believe. Then NintendoFest comes to a close with the WiiU review episode of TOVG TV after the system comes out.
I hope you all enjoy NintendoFest and I look forward to bringing you all the Nintendo festivities starting November 1st!
-Aaron N
I hope you all enjoy NintendoFest and I look forward to bringing you all the Nintendo festivities starting November 1st!
-Aaron N
Monday, October 15, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Wii-U Thoughts
Well there has been a buzz around the gaming community ever since the video conference by Nintendo detailing new information about the Wii-u. It was a polarizing conference to say the least, but it had a huge impact as it has been reported that Gamestop, Best Buy online, and Toys 'R Us online, among others, have sold out of pre-orders nationwide for the deluxe bundle. Nintendo had to do something to bring back hype for the wii-u after the largely considered disappointing showing at E3.
The conference showcased many important things. The first major news was a launch date, November 18th in North America. What is interesting is that North America will get it before Japan, this is very surprising to me. Coupled with the release date is the price for the system. They announced that two bundles will be available on launch date. The "basic" bundle comes with a white gamepad, a white system, an 8GB hard drive, and the wires for the system for $299. The "deluxe" bundle comes with a black gamepad, a black system, a 32GB hard drive, a copy of the "Nintendoland" game, plus extra wires and add-ons for $349. What disappointed me at first was that only the deluxe bundle came with a game. But with reports that games will be $60 each, $50 more for a game, more memory, and other add-ons doesn't sound too bad. The problem that comes though is that the system, albeit new, will practically have the same capabilities as the PS3 and Xbox 360, so that could cause a problem with the price.
Before the conference the main deterrent for me from purchasing the wii-u is that the games for it didn't seem enough to me. There were some games that seemed good like Pikmin 3, ZombiU, and New Super Mario Bros. U, but the others seemed either gimmicky upgrades to existing games or just plain bland. But the conference showed new games and surprises like Bayonetta 2 being a wii-u exclusive which is a major snag for Nintendo. It also reminded me of a game that ultimately persuaded me on the wii-u. They debuted a trailer for "The Wonderful 101." This game was shown at E3 under the name "Project P-100." The "Project P-100" showing was the game that stood out the most for me at E3. It is a unique game that seems just fun to play. It is not a launch title but it will come out during the launch window.
All-in-all, I thought that the video conference by Nintendo made up for their failings at E3. They showed many cool new features, such as the aspect of controlling your TV from the gamepad. Plus it reminded us of games and told us about new games that got some of us very excited. I'm not sure if it was just the conference or the fact that pre-sells were selling out that ultimately made me pre-order a deluxe bundle. But what I do know is that on November 18th I will hopefully be enjoying a new Nintendo system.
The conference showcased many important things. The first major news was a launch date, November 18th in North America. What is interesting is that North America will get it before Japan, this is very surprising to me. Coupled with the release date is the price for the system. They announced that two bundles will be available on launch date. The "basic" bundle comes with a white gamepad, a white system, an 8GB hard drive, and the wires for the system for $299. The "deluxe" bundle comes with a black gamepad, a black system, a 32GB hard drive, a copy of the "Nintendoland" game, plus extra wires and add-ons for $349. What disappointed me at first was that only the deluxe bundle came with a game. But with reports that games will be $60 each, $50 more for a game, more memory, and other add-ons doesn't sound too bad. The problem that comes though is that the system, albeit new, will practically have the same capabilities as the PS3 and Xbox 360, so that could cause a problem with the price.
Before the conference the main deterrent for me from purchasing the wii-u is that the games for it didn't seem enough to me. There were some games that seemed good like Pikmin 3, ZombiU, and New Super Mario Bros. U, but the others seemed either gimmicky upgrades to existing games or just plain bland. But the conference showed new games and surprises like Bayonetta 2 being a wii-u exclusive which is a major snag for Nintendo. It also reminded me of a game that ultimately persuaded me on the wii-u. They debuted a trailer for "The Wonderful 101." This game was shown at E3 under the name "Project P-100." The "Project P-100" showing was the game that stood out the most for me at E3. It is a unique game that seems just fun to play. It is not a launch title but it will come out during the launch window.
All-in-all, I thought that the video conference by Nintendo made up for their failings at E3. They showed many cool new features, such as the aspect of controlling your TV from the gamepad. Plus it reminded us of games and told us about new games that got some of us very excited. I'm not sure if it was just the conference or the fact that pre-sells were selling out that ultimately made me pre-order a deluxe bundle. But what I do know is that on November 18th I will hopefully be enjoying a new Nintendo system.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Review: Portal 2 (2011)
By Aaron N
When I first decided to purchase an Xbox360 I inquired about which game I should buy with it. I was told to buy the Orange box which consisted of Halflife 2, Halflife episodes 1 and 2, Team Fortress, and a little puzzle game called Portal. Naturally I first started playing Halflife 2 when I bought it. But then I started hearing more and more about Portal. It was a short puzzle game where you utilized a portal gun to create portals in the walls to move from one place to another. The goal was to get to the end of the test center. When I finally played the game I was astounded at how fantastic the game was even though it was based on such a simple concept. It's wit and complexity amazed me and had me play over and over again. Now we come to it's sequel Portal 2. Portal 2 promised to be longer and harder than the first one with more complex puzzles. Portal would be a competitor for game of the year. With all the hype and expectations surrounding this game, it would be hard not to disappoint.
Graphics:
The graphics are up-to-date for Portal 2. They are very realistic and the universe is very rich looking. The objects and concepts brought over from the first game are updated. The rooms look realistic and the portal gun effects are cooler looking than the first game. They add a few nuances to the effects. The concepts created for this game like the slimes were done very well. There isn't much more to say for the graphics as what makes the game are the other categories.
Story:
You play as Chell who is the testing woman at Aperature Laboratories. You wake up and are once again back in the testing facilities. You are led by a british robot named Wheatley who leads you around the testing facility trying to help you escape. He is not too bright though as he leads you right to the sleeping GLaDOS who is awakened and continues her quest to kill you. You stop her but in the process Wheatley takes control over her body and mind and becomes drunk with power. Since, as stated before he is not too bright, he can not handle so much power so it corrupts him. You are sent to the depths of the laboratory deep underground where you team up with GLaDOS who is now imbedded in a potato and must be carried around by you. As you make your way back up to Wheatley, you travel through a history lesson of Aperature Laboratories. You are taught about Cave Johnson by listening to PA announcements he made to the previous employees. Cave Johnson was the founder and orchestrator of Aperature Laboratories, he basically created everything. You must solve the puzzles on your way back up to the current laboratories where Wheatley is still in control and thinks he is running things better than ever before. The story is gripping and witty. It keeps you glued to the screen and engaged. I do not want to ruin the ending but it, just like the rest, is brilliant.
Gameplay:
The gameplay is virtually identical to the first game. The only differences are that they added some new elements to the puzzles and the puzzles are much more complex. Instead of playing through just test sites within the facility, you use buildings and old testing facilities. The puzzles are more disguised than in the previous game. It is remarkable how much smarter I felt as I advanced through the game. The puzzles increased in difficulty as you progressed and some of them naturally felt impossible to solve. But that is the brilliance of this game, you felt like you were solving the impossible. None of the puzzles feel tedious, they all are made with a point in mind. It is cliche to say but you actually do have to think outside of the box and think in ways you never thought possible. It was a very, very fun game.
Sound:
The music in this game was miniscule but what was important was the sounds. The sounds from the portal gun and the actions were crisp and unique. All of them sounded different and unlike anything. The most important aspect of the sound in this game was the voice acting. Wheatley was a funny and likeable robot at the beginning of the game, and while you start to have disdain for him when he turns bad, he can still find a way to make you laugh at his idiosy. GLaDOS continues to have a dry sense of humor and even as you are partnering with her she continues to want you dead. She never stops mentioning how you burned her in the first game. Finally Cave Johnson and his PA announcements are witty and intelligent. The humor in this game is intelligent and you can tell that they took time and effort into thinking of the universe and the history behind it. The sound in this game is the most memorable in a long time.
Overall:
Portal 2 is a perfect game. It combines intelligence, humor, and complexity like never before. It improved upon every aspect of gameplay of the first game and made it unique at the same time. It is my favorite game of 2011, and one of the best in a while.
Portal 2 gets a 10/10
When I first decided to purchase an Xbox360 I inquired about which game I should buy with it. I was told to buy the Orange box which consisted of Halflife 2, Halflife episodes 1 and 2, Team Fortress, and a little puzzle game called Portal. Naturally I first started playing Halflife 2 when I bought it. But then I started hearing more and more about Portal. It was a short puzzle game where you utilized a portal gun to create portals in the walls to move from one place to another. The goal was to get to the end of the test center. When I finally played the game I was astounded at how fantastic the game was even though it was based on such a simple concept. It's wit and complexity amazed me and had me play over and over again. Now we come to it's sequel Portal 2. Portal 2 promised to be longer and harder than the first one with more complex puzzles. Portal would be a competitor for game of the year. With all the hype and expectations surrounding this game, it would be hard not to disappoint.
Graphics:
The graphics are up-to-date for Portal 2. They are very realistic and the universe is very rich looking. The objects and concepts brought over from the first game are updated. The rooms look realistic and the portal gun effects are cooler looking than the first game. They add a few nuances to the effects. The concepts created for this game like the slimes were done very well. There isn't much more to say for the graphics as what makes the game are the other categories.
Story:
You play as Chell who is the testing woman at Aperature Laboratories. You wake up and are once again back in the testing facilities. You are led by a british robot named Wheatley who leads you around the testing facility trying to help you escape. He is not too bright though as he leads you right to the sleeping GLaDOS who is awakened and continues her quest to kill you. You stop her but in the process Wheatley takes control over her body and mind and becomes drunk with power. Since, as stated before he is not too bright, he can not handle so much power so it corrupts him. You are sent to the depths of the laboratory deep underground where you team up with GLaDOS who is now imbedded in a potato and must be carried around by you. As you make your way back up to Wheatley, you travel through a history lesson of Aperature Laboratories. You are taught about Cave Johnson by listening to PA announcements he made to the previous employees. Cave Johnson was the founder and orchestrator of Aperature Laboratories, he basically created everything. You must solve the puzzles on your way back up to the current laboratories where Wheatley is still in control and thinks he is running things better than ever before. The story is gripping and witty. It keeps you glued to the screen and engaged. I do not want to ruin the ending but it, just like the rest, is brilliant.
Gameplay:
The gameplay is virtually identical to the first game. The only differences are that they added some new elements to the puzzles and the puzzles are much more complex. Instead of playing through just test sites within the facility, you use buildings and old testing facilities. The puzzles are more disguised than in the previous game. It is remarkable how much smarter I felt as I advanced through the game. The puzzles increased in difficulty as you progressed and some of them naturally felt impossible to solve. But that is the brilliance of this game, you felt like you were solving the impossible. None of the puzzles feel tedious, they all are made with a point in mind. It is cliche to say but you actually do have to think outside of the box and think in ways you never thought possible. It was a very, very fun game.
Sound:
The music in this game was miniscule but what was important was the sounds. The sounds from the portal gun and the actions were crisp and unique. All of them sounded different and unlike anything. The most important aspect of the sound in this game was the voice acting. Wheatley was a funny and likeable robot at the beginning of the game, and while you start to have disdain for him when he turns bad, he can still find a way to make you laugh at his idiosy. GLaDOS continues to have a dry sense of humor and even as you are partnering with her she continues to want you dead. She never stops mentioning how you burned her in the first game. Finally Cave Johnson and his PA announcements are witty and intelligent. The humor in this game is intelligent and you can tell that they took time and effort into thinking of the universe and the history behind it. The sound in this game is the most memorable in a long time.
Overall:
Portal 2 is a perfect game. It combines intelligence, humor, and complexity like never before. It improved upon every aspect of gameplay of the first game and made it unique at the same time. It is my favorite game of 2011, and one of the best in a while.
Portal 2 gets a 10/10
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