Monday, December 31, 2012

Top Ten third party characters I want in the next Super Smash Brothers

       Some of may have guessed it already, some others don't. This is the list about the ten third party characters I want in Super Smash Brothers 4. We can assume there will be third party characters in the Super Smash Bros. since it was a very welcome addition in Brawl. I know some of you guys are wondering what a third party character is. Well, to put it simple, a third party character is a character that comes from a game that isn't published nor developed my Nintendo. For example, it can be a character that comes from a Ubisoft published game, it can be a character that comes from a Square Enix published game, etc. With that said, not all third party characters from any third party game can make it into this list. There are rules to be followed. First rule, this character MUST come from a game that was available on a Nintendo console. Second rule, one per franchise. Also, I will include second party characters. If the game happens to be developed by a third party developer and is published by Nintendo, it counts. And please, remember this is a personal list. With that said let's start with number ten.


10. Bayonetta (Cereza) - Bayonetta

     Since the game first appeared as a multiplatform game and that Platinum Games isn't owned by Nintendo, Bayonetta is sort of a second party character, which sort of counts. After Bayonetta 2 got announced as a Wii U exclusive published by Nintendo, people were all attracted to the idea that Bayonetta could be a possible playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. Also, given the fact that she comes from an action game like Bayonetta, thinking of an original moveset for her shouldn't be all that hard. Unfortunately, I never played Bayonetta, so I can't really say I'm attached to the character itself which is why she is only my number ten.


9. Ryu - Street Fighter

   Now, for someone I am more familiar with. I don't think I am the only who wanted Street Fighter's poster boy as a playable character in Super Smash Brothers 4. Since he appeared in Street Fighter 2 on the Super Nintendo, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom for the Wii and in Super Street Fighter 4 on 3DS, we can say Ryu has some history with Nintendo. Thinking of a moveset for Ryu is a breeze. B for Hadoken, up B for Shoryuken, side B for Hurrican Kick, down B for whatever and his Final Smash can be either Metsu Hadoken or Metsu Shoryuken. Plus, he's a fighter! He would fit in very well. But he's not my most anticipated Capcom character.


8. Sora - Kingdom Hearts series

    Out of all the Square Enix characters, Sora is the one I want the most. Maybe it's because it's more likely to see him instead of others. Also, with Kingdom Hearts 3D being a 3DS exclusive, Sora can very much be a 3DS exclusive character (Remember, the game is announced for both the Wii U and 3DS). His moveset can easily be based around his spells. For people asking why Sora and not Roxas, Roxas can be a costume. With said, he's the one and only Square Enix character on the list. You want Cloud? Well, keep crying.


7. Bomberman - Bomberman series (duh)

        Since the release of Super Smash Brothers Brawl, I wanted Bomberman and the fan arts just made things worse. The reasons why I want Bomberman are pretty obvious. 1. Simply imagining the mascot of Hudson Soft having a chance to fight Mario. 2. Given all his moves are all about bombs, Bomberman has the potential to be one of the most unique fighter. Plus, it is a great opportunity for people to know who Bomberman is. Like I said before, his moveset can be based around bombs and the fan arts and fan support make Bomberman a character we'll likely see in the next Smash Brothers. With that being said, Bomberman earns the number seven spot.


6. Pacman - Pacman series (Obvious)

    My first YouTube video was a list of the 30 characters I wanted in the next Super Smash Brothers. It was met with rather mixed opinions and in my opinion, it was a downright terrible list. So I made another video of  the five characters I truly wanted which included Ray MK III and the number six spot on this list, Pacman. Out of all the characters in my list, Pacman is by far the one who will most likely be the new third party characters mainly because Namco is co-developing the game and the idea of having the two biggest gaming icons clashing together is too good of an idea to be left in the dust. His moveset could be based around the abilities he can use in the Pacman World games. B to bite, side B for a Rev Roll, down B for Butt Bounce, up B for whatever you can come up with and his Final Smash can be him eating a Power Pellet and knocking off-screen anyone he touches. Simple, isn't it? Despite all these great things, there are two Bandai Namco characters I want more than him. Can you guess?


5. Nightmare - Soul series

     Second Namco character on this list, we have Nightmare from Soul Calibur. I'm not too familiar with the Soul Calibur games which basically means I have no idea what Nightmare's moveset could possibly be. But I got say this, his design ALONE is enough to make me want to put him on this list. I mean, an eye inside a sword? Damn! Anyways, since we got two Soul Calibur on Nintendo consoles (Soul Calibur II and Soul Calibur Legends), having a Soul Calibur character in the next Super Smash Brothers is not out of question. And since Soul Calibur II had Link as a playable character, why not have a Soul Calibur character in the next Smash Brothers? I was going for Yoshimitsu because of how crazy he is but Nintendo mostly focuses on getting the main character and who is better than the poster boy for the Soul series. So yeah, that's it for Nightmare.


4. Megaman - Megaman series (Again?)


     Out of all the third party characters, Megaman is the one fans want and you know what, it is no different with me. Not only this but Megaman can be one of the most unique characters in the game, especially because of his ability to steal the powers of other robot masters. Personally, I think he should be able to use moves from several of his robot masters. Since there are so many options for his moveset, I'll just let you think of a moveset for Megaman. I know what some of you are thinking ''Which Megaman should it be?''. Well, I think we should have the original Megaman (Mainly because he is the most popular one) as a default and have X and the rest as alternate costumes. That will make everyone happy. I also think they should give you the choice to customize his moveset since Megaman has so many powers. And think of the thousands if not millions of people who would rejoice if Megaman is a character in the next Smash Bros. With that said, he's number four.


3. Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia

   Aw yeah! Lloyd Irving is my most anticipated Bandai Namco character. Tales of Symphonia is one of my favorite RPGs on the GameCube and that is mainly because of the awesome combat system. Those of you who have played Tales of Symphonia will understand why he deserves to be in Smash. Given he appeared in the two Tales of Synphonia games which are both on Nintendo systems, he's a very likely character and the fact that there are many fans who want him in the next Super Smash Bros. make it seem like we will see him as a playable character. I don't really need to suggest a moveset, just go play Super Smash Flash 2. Also, it looks like the Tales team is working on the story mode for Super Smash Bros. 4. Just saying.


2. Ryu Hayabusa - Ninja Gaiden series

      I am surprised that not many people bring this guy in any Super Smash Bros. discussion. Anyways, let's get to why I really want this guy in the next Super Smash Brothers. 1. It is very likely to see him. He's been with Nintendo since his early days on NES. He also got a DS game and his latest game, Ninja Gaiden 3 is PUBLISHED by Nintendo. 2. His moveset can be based of off the items he used in the NES games. Shurikens, Fire balls, Fire shield, that boomerang shuriken thing, you name it. He can use weapons such as the Bow or Scythe (More reasons why we need an option to customize our own movesets). 3. Takamaru vs. Ryu. Words cannot describe how awesome it would be to see a fight between the Samurai and the Ninja in a Super Smash Brothers game. 4. He's the best Ninja in gaming! Seriously, I don't understand why he never appears in a list of the most anticipated characters for Smash Bros. 4. With all these good things said, there is one third party character I want more than ANY other third party character.


Before we get to number one, let's recap.

10. Bayonetta (Cereza) from Bayonetta

9. Ryu from Street Fighter 

8. Sora from Kingdom Hearts

7. Bomberman from Bomberman

6. Pacman from Pacman

5. Nightmare from Soul Calibur

4. Megaman from Megaman

3. Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia

And finally

2. Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden

There is simply no way in hell I'll leave this guy out of this list.

1. Rayman - Rayman series

 Rayman is a pretty special character to me. Rayman was one of the first video game characters I grew up with, even before I knew about Sonic's existence. I owned almost every Rayman (Excluding the Rabbids game and including the educational games and the spin-off games like Arena). Out side of nostalgia, I want Rayman because of Rayman Legends. Let me explain. Rayman, from the beginning, was a multiplatform character. From his first game (Rayman) to his latest game (Origins), his games have been released on multiple systems. But Rayman Legends is a different case. It is exclusive to the Wii U which something we've never heard of. Sure, you can say most Rabbids game were  exclusive to Nintendo platforms but these were spin-off games.That alone increases the possibility of having Rayman as a playable character in Super Smash Brothers 4. Then you have his moveset. His moveset can easily be based off of Rayman's power-ups in Rayman 3. B for a Charge Punch, side B for his missiles, down B for a Vortex Punch, up B for Throttle Copter, his Final Smash can be Golden Fist and he can grab enemies using his lockjaw suit. Also, he can have alternate costumes like his old look from Rayman 2 or his Origins/Legends look. In the end, Rayman is a fantastic character in my eyes. His goofy nature and his longtime relationship with Nintendo makes him a perfect character for Smash Bros. 4. I am a bit disappointed no one talks about Rayman or even support him which is also a reason why I want him more than any other third party character. And that is why Rayman is my number one most anticipated third party character for the next Super Smash Brothers.
 

These are characters that could have been number one.

Crono - Chrono Trigger


Simon Belmont - Castlevania 


Travis Touchdown - No More Heroes


 This puts an end to Smash Bros. Month. It was very fun to do. Hope you enjoyed.




Saturday, December 22, 2012

Top Ten first party characters I want in the next Super Smash Brothers

    Before we start, I would like to analyze Sakurai's drawing of Super Smash Bros.


      For now, we can assume the characters on this drawing are playable characters in Super Smash Brothers 4. Let's go from left to right: Fox, a Pikmin (New Pikmin character maybe), Marth, Pit, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Mr. Saturn (Earthbound is back), Mario, Pikachu, Link, Meta Knight, Wario, Luigi, Zero Suit Samus and finally, Mr. Game & Watch. It was not confirmed whether or not these are playable characters but it isn't stupid to think they are.


We're finally here. The Top Ten first party characters I want in the next Super Smash Bros. The list everyone wants to see. Whenever a new Super Smash Brother game gets announced, the first thought that comes into mind is which characters we are going to play as and it's no different with me. Please not, I have my personal opinions so don't insult me for not putting your favorite character as number one or if he's not on the list. And since people tend to go crazy with their Super Smash Bros. characters list, I decided to implement rules so characters completely unrelated to the Smash universe don't make it in the list and also because I want this list to be realistic. Rule 1: These characters MUST come from Nintendo published GAMES. Rules 2: Only one per franchise. Rule 3: Characters that only appeared in Japan only games are included (Since Lucas made it into Brawl). Don't forget these are characters I want to be PLAYABLE. So, without wasting another second let's start with number ten.


10. Lord Fawful - Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga series

     Originally, Geno was suppose to be the Mario character I wanted but the thing is that I never played Super Mario RPG and really, I wanted to put him on the list because everyone wanted him. So, I turned for the two other Mario characters that came from games I actually played: Bowser Jr. and Lord Fawful. But as time went by, my interest in Lord Fawful kept increasing. And this is why I chose him as the Mario character I want. First of all, his moveset. While the only games I played from the Superstar Saga was Bowser's Inside Story, I sure as hell know this guy doesn't even need to improvise. He has so many gadgets, it's not even funny. His Jetpack head thing can be his up B, his fire ball can be his standard B. He can also borrow moves from his Dark Fawful incarnation. His Black Hole fire ball attack can be side B and and his down B can be his pistol thing. Also, it will be funny if his taunt would be his annoying yet hilarious laugh. While he his a great character and all, I had to put him at number ten because, seriously, the Mario series has TOO MANY CHARACTERS! I mean Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Yoshi and Wario (Since they made their first appearances in Mario games and have been characters in several of Mario's spin-off games).


9. Ghirahim - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

   I originally wanted Majora's Mask Link as the new Zelda character but after I realized that it is more likely that Ghirahim is the next Zelda villain, I just joined the crowd and went for Ghirahim instead. It's easy to come up with a moveset for Ghirahim. His standard B can be his diamond attack, his side B can be his dash attack, up B can be teleportation and down B can be the diamond circle thingy. That simple! Think about it, he would only be able to use his standard B after activating his down B. Also, his final smash can be his final form in Skyward Sword. Just a thought. Also, one of his taunts could be him showing his huge tongue to the player much like he did when he encountered Link fir the first time. With that being said, I hope Ghirahim is the Zelda character that will appear in Super Smash Bros. 4 instead of Skull Kid (The winner of the Smash Bros poll). Seriously, what is so special about Skull Kid other than the fact that he was possessed by Majora?


8. Pokemon Trainer (Generation 3) - Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

      I'd like to say it right now, I don't know Pokemon very much so pardon me if I sound like I know nothing about it. After the Gen 1 Pokemon Trainer made it into Brawl as a playable character, people started wondering which generation should be represented next in Pokemon. My personal choice is Generation 3. I'm kinda familiar with this generation mainly because I played many gen 3 spin-off games including Pokemon XD, Colosseum and Blue Team Rescue. Now, I know what you are thinking: What Pokemons do you want? I want Mudkip as the stage 1 pokemon, Grovyle as stage 2 and Blaziken as stage 3. Now, I can't really figure a moveset for these characters mainly because I'm not a Pokemon expert but since they are pokemons, it shouldn't be hard to come up with a good and original moveset. And since I a lot of people share the same opinion as I do, it is kinda likely we'll see gen 3 represented in the next Super Smash Brothers.


7. Little Mac - Punch-Out

     The past entries were about characters that came from a series that was already represented in the Super Smash Brothers universe. But what about series that weren't? Like Punch-Out? Apparently, I am not the only who thinks this way since many people want Little Mac as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. And why shouldn't he, he comes from a freaking BOXING game! Fighting is his profession! And even if he was an assist trophy in Brawl, it is not impossible to have him as a playable character in the next Smash Brothers game. Look what happened to Charizard. Was a pokeball pokemon in Melee but became a playable character in Brawl. Given that he got a new game shortly after the release of Brawl, his chances of getting in are quite high. His moveset can be improvised or he can even use moves from his opponents, sort of like how Zelda is able to use Din's fire, Farore's Wind and Nayru's love when Link was the one who used these moves in the actual games. Plus, it will be a breathe of fresh air to see a boxing champion among the crowd of swordsmen. Either way, Little Mac has to be in there.


6. Krystal - Star Fox
    You know what Super Smash Brothers needs? More female characters. And you know what Star Fox needs? Characters with an original moveset. You know who fits this description? Krystal. Seriously, Krystal is the character Super Smash Brothers needs. First of all, Krystal being in Super Smash Bros. 4 is not out question. She first appeared in Star Fox Adventures and since then, she replaced Peppy as the fourth Arwing fighter. What can her moveset be? Well, she can use here staff from Adventures. B would be Fire Blaster, side B would be Ice Blaster, up B can be Rocket Boost, down B can be Ground Quake and her final smash can be the Super Ground Quake. No need to improvise! Plus, you could switch to here Assault uniform or to her Adventure clothes.


5. Marx - Kirby

    If there is a Kirby character I want, it is Marx... by a looooong shot. It's not even hard to come up with a moveset for this guy, he has so many moves! No seriously, just watch his fight from Kirby Super Star Ultra. You can come up with a moveset without improvising and you'll still have room for more moves (That is if you can customize your own moveset). Plus, he's the big villain in Milky Way Whishes and the final boss of Super Star Ultra meaning his chances of getting in are kinda high. And something the next Super Smash Brothers needs, other than more female characters, is more villains and Marx is a perfect fit. I mean, after all, he comes from Kirby, also made by Sakurai. So, please, make Marx a playable character... Please...



4. Rundas - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

       It's just astonishing seeing all those Metroid characters that can easily fit in the Super Smash Bros. Universe yet Samus was the only one to represent the series in all three entries of the Super Smash Bros. games. You have Dark Samus, you have Ridley, you have all the hunters from Metroid Prime Hunters and then you have my personal number four pick, Rundas. First of all, Rundas has been a fan favorite since his debut (And last appearance) in Metroid Prime 3 meaning having him in the Super Smash Brothers roster of characters would make sense. His Ice powers allows for different kind of moves and Hyper mode can easily be his Final Smash. He could use some Ice missiles and Ice beams and maybe surf on Ice like he usually does. Also, I think Rundas deserves to be in the next Super Smash because he died a bit too early in Metroid Prime 3. I mean, he's the second boss! He deserves more screen time. There are plenty of Metroid characters that can easily make in Super Smash Bros. 4 but since I can only choose one per franchise (And because there are other characters I want more than Rundas), I had to chose him as the Metroid character. Plus, it's not like other Metroid characters can't join the brawl just because Rundas is my personal pick.


3. Takamaru - Nazo No Murasamejou

        It should come to you as no surprise when I say I want to see Nazo No Murasamejou. With that said, I want Takamaru as a playable character since, you know, he's the protagonist. Like I said in my Top Ten Nintendo franchises I want to see make a comeback, I never played Nazo No Murasamejou but that doesn't mean I can't include him here. While he is a Japan only character, he made many appearances in North American/European games including Nintendo Land, Brawl and Samurai Warriors 3. Given he's samurai and that he can clearly use Shurikens and Fire, improvising a moveset for him shouldn't be difficult. I mean, freaking peripherals made it into Brawl as playable characters. I am putting Takamaru over characters like Ghirahim and Pokemon Trainer (Generation 3) because I think it is more important focusing on characters that are not yet represented in Super Smash and because it might make him more popular which might make him popular enough to get a new game (Sort of like what happened with Kid Icarus).


2. Ray MK III - Custom Robo Arena

    Words cannot describe how happy I was to see Ray MK III in Brawl. But, I was also disappointed to see him as an assist trophy. It's fairly easy to come up with a moveset for this guy. B can be him firing his gun, he can launch bombs with side B, he can release bomb pods with down B and up B is Air Dash. His Final Smash can be Soul Boost. See, it wasn't hard at all. Also, much like Takamaru, an appearance in Super Smash Bros. will boost his popularity and we might see a new Custom Robo game. The reasons I want Ray MK III are pretty similar just that I am more familiar with Ray MK III and the Custom Robo series that I am with Takamaru and his game which explains why Ray is higher. There is absolutely no excuse to not put him in the next Super Smash Brothers.


Now, we are all very excited to know who number one is, but before we get there, let's recap.

10. Lord Fawful from Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga series

9. Ghirahim from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

8. Pokemon Trainer (Generation 3) from Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

7. Little Mac from Punch Out

6. Krystal from Star Fox

5. Marx from Kirby

4. Rundas from Metroid

3. Takamaru from Nazo No Murasamejou

And finally

2. Ray MK III from Custom Robo Arena
 
Number one is a tie between two characters that come from the same game.

1. Shulk and Fiora - Xenoblade 

   Yes, it is the third time Xenoblade is at the top of the list but it's not my fault if it's such a great game. Now the characters. I really couldn't decide who I wanted more. Shulk, well, he's plain awesome and the wielder of the Monado then you have Fiora. Without spoiling to much, let's just say Fiora is a very important character in Xenoblade and also, we need more female characters. Since Project Rainfall was a success, the chances that Shulk and Fiora get in Super Smash Brothers 4 is quite high, especially for Shulk. I also thought their moveset can be based around the moves they have in battle and that they can have the same effect on their opponents as they do against enemies in Xenoblade. Like, Shulk can inflict Break and then Topple (Hey, we can always improvise, right?) which will cause opponents to be vulnerable for a certain period of time. But he's not limited to normal Arts, he can also use Monado Arts like Speed (Makes him faster for a certain period of time), Armour (Raises his defense temporarily) and his shield can be, well, Shield! Now, Fiora. Much like Shulk, her moves can have different effects on the adversary. Her move Lacerate can inflict Bleed, Second Gear could make her other special moves stronger, heck, there's so many Arts she can use. Her Final Smash can easily be her Talent Art, Drone. The possibilities with these characters are endless, which is excellent. Makes me want a customizing moveset feature so bad. Also, people who say ''Hey, why two characters?'' please remember that Mart and Roy were both introduced in Melee and they were Japan-only characters. With that said, Shulk and Fiora are my most anticipated characters in the next Super Smash Brothers. Much better choice than Skull Kid, the questionable winner of the Super Smash Bros. 4 poll.


Before I leave, here some honorable mentions.


Palutena - Kid Icarus Uprising


Saki - Sin & Punishment


Black Shadow - F-Zero 


Aeron - Pandora's Tower


Zael - The Last Story


That does for the honorable mentions. Hope you enjoyed the list.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Eleven changes I want in the next Super Smash Bros.

    Before I start, I'd like to point out that this is not a countdown but rather a simple list of eleven changes I want see in Super Smash Bros. 4. Some may be more important than others.

   While I'm sure everyone wants to see the ten characters I want to see in the next Super Smash Bros., I consider this list to be of much bigger importance. The Super Smash Bros. franchise is among one of my favorites in gaming but let's face it, it does have some flaws. There are some things missing and some things that should burn in hell. This list is about the ten changes I want to see in the next Super Smash Bros. I will not include things like a story that makes sense since, apparently, the Tales team is working on the story mode and I will not include better online. Oh, and just a heads up, this list is inspired by cjszero01's list. Let's start with the first change.


1. Add (more) costumes

     While it's cool that you're able to change colors, the better thing is to include costumes. Colors are not really as great of a feature as having different costumes. The only character I recall that had a completely different costumes was Wario. You could choose between his WarioWare suit and his original suit but is Wario the only one who can benefit of having an alternate costume? No, in fact, several Super Smash Brothers characters can have different alternative costumes. Here are a few examples. Doctor Mario and Paper Mario for Mario, Zora Armor and Magic Armor for Link, Dark Suit, Light Suit, Phazon Suit for Samus, Fox' Adventure costume or his Assault costume. There are many other characters that can benefit of this one feature other than Wario so, please, add new costumes, at least for the characters I've named.



2. Remove tripping!

    I'm definitely NOT the only one who hates the new tripping mechanic. Seriously, who on EARTH thought this was a good idea, in a fighting game no less? It puts you in trouble for no reason whatsoever, it isn't funny when it happens and it brings more frustrations than strategy. We already have banana peels, we DON'T need this stupid mechanic!  





3. Making your own fighter/Miis

  Yes! You read that correctly! I want to play as a Mii in a Super Smash Bros. game! But I also want to make my own character. You know, like having the two options, know what I'm sayin'? Why am I saying this? Well, since we have Bandai Namco developing the next Super Smash Brother game and since they usually give you the option to make your own character in Tekken or Soul Calibur, I thought they could also bring this feature to the Smash universe. Customizing them, giving them a look we are satisfied with and making your own moveset for your characters is a must for the next Super Smash Brothers... and don't forget to add Miis!



4. Make the game harder

      Brawl was fun but a little too easy compared to its predecessor, Melee. The characters were TOO easy to unlock and the events were not a big challenge. Fixing these issues is pretty simple. Make the events gradually increase in difficulty, like in Melee, where event 1 was easy and it kept getting harder and harder up to event 51. To my big disappointment, unlocking characters in Brawl was a freaking breeze. It was too easy. You just had to play Subspace Emissary and you would unlock more than half of the characters except for Toon Link, Wolf and Jigglypuff. I want to know the satisfaction of unlocking a new character once more. Please! Let's say if you want to unlock X character, you need to play 200 matches instead of just 5! And instead of having different ways to unlock characters (Like playing Subspace Emissary or play a certain number of matches) It would be cooler if we had to accomplish several tasks to get one character. That way, the experience would last longer, making you come back to the game YEARS after its release. My opinion, respect it.





5. No more overpowered characters

      One of the most popular complaints in Super Smash Bros. is the fact that some characters are way too powerful. Already, balancing the characters would be a BIG plus for the next Super smash Brothers. Some characters who need to be toned down are Pikachu, Meta Knight, Pit and Luigi's. First Pikachu. We all know his down B and down smash are ridiculously powerful. Either you diminish the knock back or you give him new, but weaker moves. Meta Knight, please make him slower. Pit, his standard A and side B should be limited and should do less damage. Luigi, make him less floatier. Now these are ideas on how to balance characters we know are overpowered but the possibility that Super Smash Bros. 4 introduces new characters that can be overpowered should also be taken into consideration. For instance, make hard hitters slow, fast attackers do less damage and diminish the ''knock back'' made by any potential spam attacks.
                                           

6. Super Smash Bros. 4 needs DLC

     Yes, it has been said million times, but yes, it needs DLC. It will make the experience more fresh with more new content. For instance, if they forgot to add a character that people want, they can add  this character in a future DLC. But don't limit yourself to characters. Why not add new stages, new events, new assist trophies or even new costumes to go with this character. Ripping off Joshscorcher once again, you can make something like a Zelda DLC where you will have one new Zelda character, one or two new stages, a new assist trophy, and two new costumes and maybe a new track. Either way, DLC is a must for the next Super Smash Brothers.


7. Stage hazards

      You think only players can kill you? Well, you're in for a surprise because stages can also kill you! More often than not, the stages kill you. Either you remove completely stage hazards in the next Super Smash Brothers or give us the option to turn the stage hazards off. I will really appreciate this.


8. Annoying items can die in a pit

      Obviously, a popular feature of the Super Smash Bros. series is the fact that you can use items to help you kill the opponent. That might sound cool but there are some items that are unfair and overpowered as hell. Case and point, the Ray gun and the fan. The Ray gun, you just press A continually and your opponent dies, the fan, mash the A button and watch your opponent's percentage rise. These two items should DIE! Either you COMPLETELY remove the knock back from the Ray gun and limit the number of hits you can deal with the fan or you freaking remove them from the game. But that is not all. The WORST one, in my personal opinion, are the freaking bombs that randomly fall on the players. When I say this, I'm not just talking about bob-ombs but all sorts of bombs. You can easily fix this issue. 1. Instead of directly spawn them on top of players, spawn them at the top of the screen. 2. It should explode after the second hit. 3. Give us some sort of warning or something. Just please, make sure bombs won't drop on me when I'm about to kill the last guy in 100 Multi-man.


9. No more clone characters

    Yet another issue that has been bothering several fans since Melee pretty much. Of course, not ALL clone characters are bad. But Fox, Falco and Wolf? That's a bit extreme. And the worst part is the fact that they share the same final smash, making them less unique. And designing a unique moveset should not be that hard. You have all the Star Fox Assault weapons, make the Arwing Falco's new final smash and improvise the rest. It really isn't hard. I'm throwing you ideas!


10. A better stage builder

   Brawl had many great ideas. One of them was the stage builder. Unfortunately, Brawl's stage builder was not what we were expecting. There were only 3 backgrounds and there wasn't much you could do with it. But now that the idea is there, all you can do is improve on it. Add more traps, more textures, more floors, more structures. Also, going back to what I said about DLC, why not include backgrounds, structures and traps from ''X'' series. For example, you have a Metroid DLC. With that you get two new backgrounds for your stage builder and more traps (like enemies or something like that).


11. Customizable moveset

      Yet another idea taken from cjszero01. But this one is too good to be left out of this list. While I'm very pleased with the Brawl's character moveset, I want to be able to customize and make my own. There a LOT of characters in the Smash universe that can have a customizable moveset. For example, Link. He has a crap ton of items at his disposal that can be used in a fight. The Gust Bellows can do the same thing F.L.U.D.D does, he can use his whip as side B or whatever, his Beetle can act like Snake's missiles. And Link is certainly not the only who can have a customizable moveset. Here are some of the characters that can have a fully customizable moveset: Samus (I don't think I need to explain), Pit (Crap ton of weapons), Kirby (He can borrow a lot more moves from his copy abilities), Ganondorf (He can use his sword), Pikachu (Well, since he's a Pokemon, he can use other moves), Mario (He can use moves from his other power-ups/costumes), Luigi (Poltergust 3000, that is all), Fox/Falco/Wolf (Weapons from Star Fox Assault) and these are the characters that we know are in the next Super Smash Brothers game. Plus, it would make the matches more exciting given that you don't what their moves are.


   This concludes my list of the Ten changes I want in the next Super Smash Brothers.



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Top Ten tracks I want to see in the next Super Smash Bros.

        It should come to you as no surprise when I say I love video game music. I think it is necessary in many video games and that applies to Super Smash Bros. This list is about the ten tracks I WANT to see in the next Super Smash Brothers. The rules. Of course, one track per franchise. Second rule, they have to come from a Nintendo game and I think that's about it for the rules. Let the countdown begin!


10. See-Saw - Rhythm Heaven Fever


   
 Here's the thing about this one, I haven't played Rhythm Heaven Fever nor the DS game. I just thought this one sounded great. Also, I'd be lying if I said that the See-Saw Rhythm Fortress video did not inspire me to put this one track on this list. Now, I didn't listen to all of the songs in the game but I think that out of all the ones I listened to, this one fits the most for Super Smash Brothers. I love the guitar and I love how it speeds up in the middle. See-Saw is number ten.


9. Sunset Shore - Donkey Kong Country Returns

   
I knew I wanted to put a Donkey Kong track on here but I really didn't know which one I would go for. On the one hand, I had Sunset Shore and on the other, I had Music Madness. But I made up my mind and went with Sunset Shore. There something strangely cool about beating up your opponents to jazz music. It sort of reminds me of Cowboy Bebop, which is a good thing. Music Madness was a great song but, I don't know, I can't really imagine it being a fitting track for a fighting game, at least in my opinion. And after all, why not have both the stage AND the track that goes with it?


8. City Trial - Kirby Air Ride


   
Oh man! If there was an underrated game, it would be this one. So many great memories, so much fun and definitely one of the best Kirby soundtracks to date! I liked almost everything, especially the awesome modes, my personal favorite being the City Trial one. While it is more likely that Super Smash Bros. 4 uses tracks from Epic Yarn and Return to Dreamland, it is not impossible that we get a new track from Kirby Air Ride. I put City Trial for how intense it is and just how much it would fit Super Smash Bros. If tracks like Flower Field made it in Brawl, I don't how this one can't get in.


7. The True Mirror - Baten Kaitos 


       Yet another game I haven't played. I've heard this game is pretty underrated and I feel bad about it, especially because I had the chance to buy it when it came out. But one thing is for sure, the music is great, as expected from a Monolith Soft game. Now, I am not too familiar with this game's soundtrack so I decided to go for one of its battle themes and boy, I was NOT disappointed. Now, I am not a music expert, hell, I don't play any instrument, but the sound of it is just so fitting for Super Smash Bros. minus the violin (Not saying the violin is bad here because it's great).


6. Koloktos/Moldarach - The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

 
        My personal favorite boss track from Skyward Sword. It is obvious that the next Super Smash Brothers will use tracks from Skyward Sword, just like Brawl used tracks from Twilight Princess. Koloktos is my favorite Skyward Sword boss, this is mainly due to this fantastic theme. It is pretty intense, as expected from a boss theme but it is the only orchestrated track so far. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Skyward Sword's soundtrack is fully orchestrated... F*CK YEAH! I also like this bit starting at 0:56. So good!


5. Bowser Jr.'s Fort - Super Mario Galaxy 2


   Here's a weird case. Instead one Super Mario Galaxy game we got two. With that being said, maybe we'll see tracks from both games. For this one, I'll go for Bowser Jr.'s Fort from Super Mario Galaxy 2. There are many great tracks but this one in particular sounds more fitting for a fighting game. While it is not my personal favorite track from the Galaxy series, it is perfect for a game like Super Smash Bros. Also, I just want a new track that ISN'T the original Mario theme. Just because it is famous doesn't mean it is a good track for Super Smash Bros.


4. Rundas Battle - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption


Emotional, intense and just a great theme from a great game.  Since we haven't seen any tracks from Metroid Prime 3 in Brawl, my guess is that we'll see some in Super Smash Bros. 4. This track is one of the best and most memorable ones from Prime 3 which basically means it's likely we'll see this track in Super Smash 4.


3. Fire Field - F-Zero GX



My gosh, I love the songs in F-Zero GX. This one has got to be one of my favorites. It's basically an industrial version of Fire Field with an awesome guitar solo in the middle. It's as brutal as the gameplay in F-Zero GX. Also, it's fast-paced, just the way I like it! With that being said, Fire Field (GX version) is number three.


2. Lighting Battle - Kid Icarus Uprising


The second I heard this song, I KNEW I wanted it in the next Super Smash Brothers. Seriously, that bass in the beginning? Insane, man, just insane. And that guitar? Holy snap! This screams Super Smash Brothers. and I love it for that. Kid Icarus Uprising has one of the best soundtracks of 2012 but I could pick one and this is the I go for. Fast-paced, insane bass, that electric guitar, everything. But there is one track that was able to top Lighting Battle.


...RECAP TIME!!!

10. See-Saw from Rhythm Heaven Fever

9. Sunset Shore from Donkey Kong Country Returns

8. City Trial from Kirby Air Ride

7. The True Mirror from Baten Kaitos

6. Koloktos/Moldarach from The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

5. Bowser Jr.'s Fort from Super Mario Galaxy 2

4. Rundas Battle from Metroid Prime 3

3. Fire Field from F-Zero GX

And finally

2. Lighting Battle from Kid Icarus Uprising

Aw, hell yeah!


1. You Will Know Our Names - Xenoblade Chronicles


Xenoblade Chronicles is honestly one of my favorite games of all time. Like, it's in the top 25 or something. And its music? Simply phenomenal. This one in particular is amazing. While any of Xenoblade's battle themes could easily be placed as my number one, this one is truly the most special one. Also, it isn't as... repetitive (For lack of a better word) as some of the other tracks. It constantly changes, which is big plus in my book. And the fast-paced rock just makes things better. It's memorable, it's very fitting for a fight, it's intense, it's fast-paced and it's just plain awesome.


Have a nice day!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Top five stages I want to see in Super Smash Bros. 4

           As promised, Super Smash Bros month has begun. I would go over what stages I want to see in the next entry in this fantastic series, what songs I want to see, what changes I want to be made and what characters I want to play as. Now, let's start with the stages. Why not the characters first? Well, I'm saving the best for last. The rules. These have to be stages we haven't seen in the previous games. In short, they have to be completely NEW. Second rule, only one per franchise. Third rule, they must come from Nintendo games. Now that this is out of the way, let's start this countdown with  number five.

5. Sealed Grounds (Past) - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

    Since every Super Smash Bros adds a new Zelda level based on the previous installment , it wouldn't be crazy to think that the next Zelda stage that will appear in Super Smash Bros. 4 would come from Skyward Sword. With that said, I went with Sealed Grounds (Past). Originally, I wanted the Ancient cistern to be the next Zelda stage but I couldn't imagine what section of it would be a Super Smash Bros stage given that the Ancient Cistern is a pretty ''enclosed'' level which doesn't fit Super Smash Bros because you need to push your opponents out of the stage to get a K.O. This is the reason why I put Sealed Grounds from the past on the list (And by Sealed Grounds, I mean the one in which you fight Final Ghirahim). I can image it being a simple looking stage but a fun one, like Final Destination.


4. Comet Observatory - Super Mario Galaxy

      Much like the number five entry, we can guess that the next main Mario stage is going to be from Super Mario Galaxy based on the history of Mario stages in Super Smash Bros. Peach's Castle was the main Mario stage in Melee and Delfino Plaza was the main Mario stage in Brawl, we can guess that the main overworld from Super Mario Galaxy is going to be the Mario stage in Super Smash Bros. 4. And I'm happy about it. I'm not putting this stage on the list just because of how likely it is that we will see it in the next Smash Bros. but also because of what can be done with the stage. Here are a few ideas. 1. You will fight on different parts of the level (Sort of like Delfino Plaza in Brawl). 2. You would be able to see some of the galaxies in the background like how Final Destination changes backgrounds. With that being said, the Comet Observatory is number four.


3. Sunset Shore - Donkey Kong Country Returns 

        Remember that awesome looking stage from Donkey Kong Country Returns? The one that happens during the sunset? Well, I want to see it in the next Smash Brothers! I was pretty disappointed with the Donkey Kong levels in Brawl. They were a bit too big and, more often than not, the stages killed you, which was quite unfair. Why not just stop with the moving camera for once? With this little complaint out of the way, I really want to see Sunset Shore mostly for it's style. Simply imagining shadows fighting each other relentlessly while the sun goes to sleep is just so awesome. Oh, and did I mention it would be in HD? If there is one Donkey Kong stage I want, it is Sunset Shore.


2. Chaos Vortex - Kid Icarus Uprising

   I had a seriously hard time picking a level from Kid Icarus Uprising. There are so many great levels from this game! Palutena's Temple, Pandora's Labyrinth of Deceit, the Underworld. There are so many great levels but I had to pick one: The Chaos Vortex. While it isn't likely we will see this level as a stage in Super Smash Brothers 4, I still put it on my list because of how awesome it is. The level design itself is quite fantastic but imagine what it would look like in HD. The fighters can fight where Pit fought the Chaos Kin, so we don't really have to worry about where you would fight on this stage. As a bonus, why not have the Chaos Kin running around, killing those who don't move their asses? Just a thought. But anyways, the Chaos Vortex is my number two. 


Before we get to number one, let's recapitulate (Don't worry, it won't take long).

5. Sealed Grounds (Past) from The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

4. The Comet Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy

3. Sunset Shore from Donkey Kong Country Returns

And finally

2. The Chaos Vortex from Kid Icarus Uprising

And my number one stage I want to see in the next Super Smash Brothers is...

1. Gaur Plains - Xenoblade Chronicles

        Holy molly! This f*cking level! Like with Kid Icarus Uprising, it was hard finding what level would represent Xenoblade Chronicles in Super Smash Bros. 4. But after thinking for a while, I decided to go for Gaur Plains. If there is one level in Xenoblade that embodies the feeling of going on a big adventure, it is Gaur Plains. If Xenoblade is ever represented in the next Super Smash Brothers, this is likely the level that would represent the game. Seeing all the animals running in the background, the Territorial Rotbart slowly approaching you fighters and smashing whoever is in his way, watching the weather slowly change as time goes by, day becoming night and vice versa and the Mechonis' face in the background, Gaur Plains HAD to be number one. Just imagining what it could look like, in HD no less, I can't think of a single stage I want to see more than Gaur Plains from Xenoblade Chronicles. Gaur Plains is my number one stage I want to see in the next Super Smash Brothers.


This has been xSUPERSONICx99. Smash Bros. Month has BEGUN!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Top Ten video game genres part 2

         This is the second part of my Top Ten favorite genres in video games. Remember, this is a personal list so if your favorite genre isn't number one or isn't even on the list, don't insult me and make your own. I wanted to make this list for a very long time and now that we are here, let's continue with our number five entry on this list.


5. Arcade/Futuristic Racing

    Say it right now, Simulation Racers bore me. I'm not saying they're bad but really, they aren't fun to me. So where do I go for my racing needs? As you have clearly read, I got for Futuristic and Arcade Racing games.  What I've read, Space Race was the first Futuristic Racing game to be release (1973). I may be wrong. As for Arcade Racing games, I'm not really sure. But, for now, enough with the history of Arcade/Futuristic Racers. Let's talk about why I love Arcade/Futuristic. I prefer Arcade/Futuristic Racing games for the fact that they are a lot more fast-paced, especially the Futuristic Racing ones like F-Zero and Sonic Riders to name a few (Yes, I LOVE Sonic Riders). Also, they have a lot more enjoyable multiplayer than the simulation ones, at least from I've experienced. Also, they are a LOT more intense than Simulation Racing games even though Simulation Racing games are considered the ''hardcore'' ones. Finally, the main reason why I prefer Arcade Racing and Futuristic Racing games more than Simulation Racing games is that... THEY'RE MORE ENJOYABLE! I know, it is an underdeveloped reason but this is my list. But in all seriousness, there are SO much more Arcade/Futuristic racing games I like. I would say I don't play them very often but, like Real Time Strategy games, when I do, I enjoy it. Some of my favorites are Mario Kart (Double Dash especially), Sonic Riders (The first one), H2Overdrive (An arcade game I recommend highly) and my personal favorite, F-(Freaking)-Zero (Like you need an explanation on this one) and I'm not even scratching the damn surface! With all that being said, I proudly put Arcade and Futuristic Racing games at my number five spot on this list.


4. Fighting games

         You should of seen it coming.  Fighting games are a fan favorite and it's no different with me. They're awesome! Now, let's start with a brief history about Fighting games. The fighting genre started with boxing games in the late 70s with games like Heavyweight Champ (1976) and Warrior (1979). Fighting games started gaining notable popularity in the 80s with a little game called Street Fighter (1987). but they truly became a popular genre when the 90s came with games like Killer Instinct, Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat and Soul Edge just to name a few. Ever since, the fighting genre has become one of the most recognized genres in video games. Now that we're done with the history behind Fighting games, let's talk about why I like them. For one, they are INTENSE. Like, it is almost impossible to find a fighting game that is not intense. Also, they're usually fast-paced and you know I like my games to be FAST. Not only that but they truly test your skills as a gamer and are one of the most competitive genres ever. They're varied, they're tough and they allow for someone seriously awesome looking, stylized fights that simply can't be replicated in movies. Truly, Fighting games are for those who seek challenge and have a passion for flashy moves (Y'know, like me). And before I forget, the fighting genre is home to some of my favorite art styles in video games. My only problem with fighting games is the combat mechanics. Sometimes, they'll take you a long time to master and are often too complicated. But that doesn't really apply to all Fighting games. There are games like Super Smash Bros. where each button does one thing making the game a lot easier to master. Want to throw a fire ball? Press B. Want to shoot a missile? Move your analogue stick left or right and press B. Not too complicated, isn't it? My second problem with Fighting games are the spam attacks. So many great fighting games are cursed with spam attacks which makes the experience frustrating. But not all Fighting games have this problem. Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, for example, is a game where if you try to use spam attacks, you can easily get countered. Some of my favorite Fighting games are Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, the Dragon Ball Z games, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom and the underrated Digimon Rumble Arena 3 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 just to name a few. With that being said, Fighting games are number four.


3. Action RPG

          Yeah, RPGs are on this list. You shouldn't surprised. And yes, I chose Action Role Playing games instead of turn-based ones. Why? Well, pretty much for the same reasons why I prefer Real Time Strategy games over Turn-based Strategy games: They're more fast-paced. Yes, I'm starting to sound like a broken record for saying that I prefer this over that because it's more fast-paced but this is the last time I say this... I hope. Now back on topic. I'm not saying turn-based RPGs suck or anything like that. It is just that pretty a button waiting for my character to attack then letting the enemy attack me is really not my thing. Action RPGs, in the other hand, the combat system is intense! You have to attack your enemy and kill it before it kills you, much like an actual fight. I mean, seriously, would wait for your opponent to hit in order to hit him?  Well, enough with the nitpicks. The history. Action RPGs came into existence in the 80s with games like Dragon Slayer and the sack of rotting dicks that is Hydlide. From there on, they kept growing in popularity with big names like the Legend of Zelda and the Tales games. Well, I'd say that enough history for Action RPGs. Now, aside from the combat system, Action role playing games are very similar to their turn-based counterparts. You have the side quests, you have your level up system, you have tons of items to help you in battle, you have your big overworlds and it is the primary genre developers go for when they want to make a great story with tons of memorable characters. With all that being said, there is a lot to love about Action RPGs. Another thing I like, they usually take a while to beat. But why is it only at number 3? Well, let's say I'm not a big fan of grinding. Grinding is to me what quick time events and backtracking is to others. Some games do it right, like Xenoblade, where it doesn't take too long to get to the next level but the vast majority do it horribly (MapleStory & RuneScape). Also, some Action RPGs like to introduce a thousand of game mechanics to torture you. Well, OK,  I am overexaggerating. But, number 1 and 2 manage to be hard without introducing a lot of game mechanics to confuse the player. But on the positive side, it adds a lot more to the strategy. But even with these two flaws, I still really like Action RPGs because of how they pay a lot of attention to the artistic direction, because it's the best genre to go to for great stories and fantastic characters, because of this feeling of adventure you get when you play one and also because of the great music. Action RPGs are my number three. Here's a bronze medal for ya.


2. Action Adventure

    Hell. Yes. Action Adventure games HAD to be high on this list. The Action Adventure genre is one of the greatest in gaming. There's almost nothing I hate in this genre. Now, I know some of you are thinking ''But there is no perfect genre in gaming'' and this is true. Just that there is almost nothing I hate about Action Adventure games. Now, a little bit of history. The Action Adventure genre started way back in the late 70s with a little game called ''Adventure'' for the Atari 2600 and before Adventure, there was Colossal Cave Adventure (1976). Except Colossal Cave Adventure was a text-based game while Adventure had some Action elements in it. But the Action Adventure would truly awaken in the 80s with games like The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Metal Gear and Prince of Persia. That's enough history for now. Now, let's talk about why I love Action Adventure games soooooo much. Well, for one, they aren't overly complicated like RPGs and certain Fighting games. Second, they're as lengthy as RPG games (minus the time you waste on grinding). Three, it has so many good sub-genres. Some of them include Stealth games (Metal Gear Solid), Survival Horror, Sandbox games and First Person Adventure (Metroid Prime). And these aren't all of them. Fourth reason why I love this awesome genre is that most of the things I like in video games can be found in Action Adventure games. For example, boss battles, art styles (Okami and Wind Waker), items/upgrades, music, creepy levels, open worlds, you name it. Also, it is not a genre that is in desperate need of more games (like Rail Shooters) but it does not come wave after wave, like First Person Shooters. Also, it does not have these annoying spam attacks you can find in most Fighting games. Now, if you force me to say what is wrong with this genre, I would have to say that it really isn't the best genre for online. But since I mainly a single player gamer, I don't care and Action Adventure games are by far one of the best genre for single player gamers. There are just so many great games in this genre. The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Metal Gear, Assassin's Creed, Okami, the Arkham games, Luigi's Mansion and I'm just naming a few. Truly, it is a fantastic genre that keeps producing masterpiece after masterpiece. But even with all these good things being said, it is just number two. What could top Action Adventure games?



As usual, we will recap before we get to our number one.

10. First Person Shooters

9. Rail Shooters

8. Survival Horror

7. Real-Time Strategy

6. Puzzle

5. Arcade/Futuristic Racing

4. Fighting

3. Action RPG

And finally

2. Action Adventure

Really, it wasn't hard for me to pick a number one for this countdown.

1. Platformers  

       Yes, I chose Platformers as my favorite genre in video games. And I'm including both 2D and 3D platformers. I honestly can't think of another video game genre that can top Platformers. Some of you may wonder why I put Platforming games as my number one even though I said there was almost nothing to hate about Action Adventure. Well, because Platformers are just better in my opinion. Now, before we get to why I love Platformers over all the other genres, I'll talk about its history. It all started in the early 80s (Gosh, the 80s were revolutionary for the gaming industry) with games like Donkey Kong and Space Panic. Back then, Platformers weren't the side-scrolling Platformers we know today. The action happened in one screen. Then, still in the early to mid 80s, Platforming games became side-scrolling 2D games where you start at point A and get to point B, like Super Mario Bros. The next big innovation came in the early 90s, where platform games met with the third dimension with games like Bug! and Alpha Waves. Back then, 3D platformers weren't really what you think they were. That would take a few more years. Then, Super Mario 64 comes out in 1996, revolutionizing 3D platform games and setting the bar for modern platformers at the same time. Now onto why I consider platform games my favorite genre of all time. First of all, like Action Adventure games, Platformers are home to many great sub-genres such as Cinematic Platformers, Run and Gun platformers and Metroidvania games. My second reason is that unlike Fighting games, most Platformers are very easy to learn. It manages to be a very challenging genre despite a rather simple learning curve (Castlevania and Contra comes to mind). Also, unlike RPGs, it does not introduce a billion mechanics that will confuse newcomers. Third reason why I absolutely love Platformers, they fuse well with other genres. For example, Super Paper Mario shows us that Action RPG and platformers can work together, Sly shows us that Platformers and Stealth games can in fact fuse well together, Ratchet & Clack does the same for Third Person Shooters and Platformers and Pushmo shows us that Puzzle games and Platformers work well. Fourth reason, they work well as multiplayer games as they as single player games. Just look at Rayman Origins, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Little Big Planet. Something that can't really be said about Action Adventure games. It's a genre that isn't dying like Survival Horror and Rail Shooters but they don't come wave after wave like RPGs and First Person Shooters. Also, much like Action Adventures, some of my favorite things in video games can be found in Platformers. Boss battles, power-ups, creepy levels, fast-Paced gameplay, beautiful art styles, flashy moves, etc. Also, there many different kinds of platformers and I'm just talking about different dimensions. For example, there are different kinds of 3D platformers. NOTE: The following segment is inspired by Gexup's video about 3D Platformers. You have your point A to point B platform games like the 3D Sonic games and Crash Bandicoot. Then you have mission and collect games where can choose a mission and then accomplish the mission. 3D Mario games are examples. Then you have task and exploration platform games where you go to a level and accomplish whatever tasks there are to accomplish, like Banjo Kazooie. It's a genre that puts a lot of emphasis on level design as well. Rayman Origins is a great example of great level design in platform games as well as the Sonic The Hedgehog games. Truly it is an incredible genre and there's just so many great things to say about Platformers that I might as well write an entire article about them. With all that being said, I proudly give the number one spot to Platformers, both 2D and 3D.



I hope you enjoyed this article because I sure did.






Have a nice day!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Super Smash Bros. Month Plans

              Already, I've been planning on doing a month specifically for Super Smash Brothers, in particular, it's latest game. Well, the game itself isn't announced but for now, let's call it Super Smash Bros. 4. This will make things SO much easier. I was planning on making a Super Smash Brothers Month before the actual game gets announced and since it is likely that we will see it at E3 2013, I want to take this chance to guess what will be on the game. I will go over what songs I want to see in the next Super Smash Bros., what stages I want to see, what changes I want to be made and, of course, when we there is a new Super Smash Bros coming out, we always wonder what characters will be playable. It will start this coming December. Until then, let's enjoy this picture.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Top Ten video game genres part 1

           Finally, we're here. You have no idea how much I've wanted to make this countdown. The Top Ten video game genres. It took me several months to think up this countdown and now that we are here, I'm as excited as a kid going to Disney Land. Here, I will discuss about my ten personal favorite genres in video games. Number ten is the one I least like and the number one is my favorite one but you knew that already, right? The rules: Sub-genres are included and really, that's about it. I am pumped and with that being said, let's start this list with number ten.


10. First Person Shooters

       Now this is one the more hated genres right now. Usually, people hate the First Person Shooter genre for games like Call of Duty and because it doesn't change a lot. While I agree with these people on some of these points, I don't think First Person Shooters deserve to be considered a bad genre. If you ask me, there are more good things than bad things in this genre. First of all, it is a very competitive genre and a great genre for online multiplayer. Trust me, there are a lot of skilled players in this genre that will give you a rough time in online matches. Sure, you'll find a hacker from time to time but that is depending on what games you play. Second, First Person Shooters can be varied. Not all First Person Shooters are war-themed games. You have some class based shooters like Team Fortress 2, some human vs monster like Primal Carnage, you also have horror shooters like F.E.A.R. Three, it is an immersive genre. Given that you experience the action though your character's eyes make you feel like you are inside the game. It can make some freaky moments like being chased by zombies all the more scary. There are other reasons why they're great but it will take too much space for this countdown. But with all of that said, why is it so low? Well, being a single-player gamer, the First Person Shooter genre just doesn't satisfy me that much, the fanbase is really terrible and the previously mentioned issues. Some of my favorite shooters include Counter Strike 1.6, Team Fortress 2, Quake II, and Tribes Ascend. With that being said, First Person Shooters are at my number ten spot on this list.


9. Rail Shooters

          Yet another genre that involves shooting! Rail Shooters (which are also know as Cabal Shooters) is an shooting in which your character moves from point A to point B automatically and you have to shoot enemies and avoid obstacles along the way. The genre started out with the arcade game Cabal in 1988. In Rail Shooters, you either have a first person perspective where you only shoot the enemies on the screen and your character moves forward automatically or you have a third person view of your character which you can move around the screen while automatically advancing. What I like about Rail Shooters is how action packed they are and just how intense and hectic the gameplay is. Sure, you may not be able to move your character around but trust me, when you play a great Rail Shooter, you wouldn't give a single crap about these little details. While you usually find them in arcades, Rail Shooters can also be found on consoles. Star Fox, Star Fox 64, Sin & Punishment 1 & 2, House of the Dead Overkill, Rez, Killer 7 are all examples of console Rail Shooters. Unlike First Person Shooters, Rail Shooters aren't as common which makes them even more enjoyable. Another thing I like about Rail Shooters is the single player modes and the challenge. The single player has you playing through several levels. Usually, levels are quite short but have immense replay value. In some Rail Shooters, you can invite one, two or even three friend to play along with you (but these are usually the arcade ones). Also, they are hard, for the most part and you know I love a high level of challenge in my games. The themes also vary. Some may take talk play in outer space (like Star Fox), others may take place in the future (like Sin & Punishment) and others may take place in modern days (like Time Crisis). It is also fun when you go play the arcade ones and you use the two pistols and pretend to be a badass. You've no scoped your enemy in Call of Duty? Please, I've taken down a tyrannosaurus with my pistols in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. I admit I don't play Rail Shooters very often (given that there aren't many that come out these days) but when I do, it's always tons of fun. 


8. Survival Horror 

     You know, sometimes, I like getting scared. So where do I go for a frightening experience? Survival Horror games. Being a subgenre of Action Adventure, Survival Horror games are sort of like Action Adventure games that give the player a few tools (if nothing) so you can survive and usually are meant to scare the player. This term came up after the original Resident Evil game released, back in 1996 but has been around since the 80s. If there is one genre that is praised solely because of the feeling it gives to the player, it is definitely this genre. We know we are going to crap our pants but we WANT to whenever we play a Survival Horror game. Also, it is one of the most immersive genres out there as well one of the more atmospheric ones out there. That is a big plus in my book. Also, I love how Survival Horror promote thinking rather that mindless killing. In some Horror games, the game will punish you for killing the wrong enemies, like in Resident Evil on the harder difficulty.  This adds more strategy to the game and WILL force the player to think before they start wrecking the whole place. I also applaud the ingenious use of music in this particular genre. The music in Survival Horror games aren't particularly epic but they're rather a message that tells the player that there is some danger ahead, a message that tells something happened here. And it helps a lot with setting up the atmosphere of the game. As much as I love the genre though, there hasn't been many Survival Horror games lately. Sure, there are many indie developers that focus on this genre, but there games are usually short and I don't like short games. I wish more developers focus on the Survival Horror genre, I mean, it has a lot of potential. With ZombiU coming out for the Wii U, there might be a chance big developers will start caring about Survival Horror games.


7. Real-Time Strategy

          I'll say it right now, I don't play a lot of Real-Time Strategy games. But when I do, I always enjoy it. What is a Real-Time strategy game? Well, it is a subgenre of the Strategy genre. It came to life with ''Utopia'' for the Intellivision in 1982 but truly started getting critical acclaim in the 90s with games like Command & Conquer, Warcraft and Starcraft. In most Real-Time Strategy games, you are sort of like a commander who gives orders to your character(s). They can build buildings or attack the enemy in Real-Time which means you can get attacked at any time rather than getting attacked and then attacking after the enemy attacks (like a turn-based RPG). This is possibly why I prefer Real-Time Strategy games more, I'm not that much into the turn-based thing. I feel like it is a lot more fast-paced than Turn-based Strategy games. As the name implies, it is a Strategy game and you have to use your brain to come up with a good strategy to defeat your enemy which another reason why I love RTS games so much. Also, with RTS being a very online friendly genre, you'll be challenging a lot of tough player. I don't know why but I feel like RTS players are a lot more competitive than FPS players. I don't know, this is just me. I absolutely love RTS games but it is low because, honestly, I haven't played a lot of RTS games and because the fanbase is very irritating at times. Some of you may think these are bad reasons to put it low on the list but this is my list.


6. Puzzle 

       Yes, I just put Puzzle games over RTS games, Survival Horror and First Person Shooters. I know, I find that weird too but I really like Puzzle games. I know what you are thinking ''Well you must have a damn good reason to like Puzzles games.'' Well, I admit, I don't really have a very good reason why I prefer Puzzle games over the four previous genres. I just feel like Puzzle games are very relaxing as opposed to RTS, Survival Horror, FPS and Rail Shooter genres. Sometimes, I feel stressed when I play a FPS because I constantly get killed but this almost NEVER happens in Puzzle games. Like RTS games, Puzzle games force you to think rather than act mindlessly, which is always a plus in my book. Also, they are always different from each other which is great too. I do acknowledge the fact that there are many boring Puzzle games but there are just as many good ones. Some of my favorite Puzzle games include the Brain Age games, Portal (haven't played Portal 2 but I should), Pushmo and World of Goo. Really, I think the Puzzle genre is very under-appreciated. This is honestly how I feel about the Puzzle genre which is why it lands in my number six spot.
 

This ends the first part of the Top Ten video game genres. See you in the second part. Until then, have a good day.