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.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

The hate has gone too far

              Yes, the hate has gone way too far. You don't know what I am talking about? Well, in short, I am talking about the Wii U. For those of you who don't know, the Wii U is Nintendo's latest home console. It is going to release here, in North America, on November 18. Back on topic. The Wii U has been announced in June 2011 at Nintendo's E3 Press Conference. Naturally, the Nintendo fans were excited because it was rumored to be much more powerful that the PlayStation 3. After the E3 Press Conference, the fans from Sony and Microsoft started attacking the Nintendo fanbase and the system itself. This will continue 'till this very day. On every single Wii U video, there was at least one fan from Sony or Microsoft trash talking about the Nintendo fanbase and the Wii U, there were trolls and flammers and tons and tons of haters. Almost every Wii U video were attacked by these people. Several people started making videos after videos on how the Wii U will suck and so on. It is something I have never seen in my life. The Wii U is by far the most hated system of all time and it DIDN'T EVEN LAUNCH. The hate has gone too far. It is time to put an end to this. I will refute some of the most popular points the aforementioned groups of people use and will conclude with a little talk about them. Let's begin.


Nintendo does not care about their fans?

             Believe me when I say there are a lot of lies told about Nintendo and the Wii U. I'll go over some of the more popular and bigger ones. Something that came up very often in discussions (trust me, I get into a lot of arguments with people who trash the Wii U) is that Nintendo does not care about their fans. Recently, I've seen people saying Nintendo wants nothing but people's money. It doesn't take long for a sane person to realize how wrong this statement is. The gaming industry is a business. Without money, they can't do games or new consoles. Nintendo cares about the money they make as any company does. This is pure logic. But the fact they care about money does not automatically mean they have no interest in what the fans want. They NEED the money to make the things the fans want. It is logical, really. Now does Nintendo care about their fans? Yes, they do. The Wii U itself is the biggest and more recent example of how Nintendo listens to their fans. Fans (especially the Sony and Microsoft ones) were talking trash about the original Wii's graphical capabilities ever since the beginning of this current generation. With the Wii U being a native 1080p console, it is obvious that Nintendo listened to the fans who wanted HD graphics. The online on the original Wii was, for lack of a better word, underwhelming. But this has been changed since the Wii U is rumored to have XBOX LIVE quality online. The Wii didn't have has much of a vast library compared to its competitors but with the Wii U, Nintendo is making deals left and right so they can bring as much of the big third party games to the Wii U as possible. While we're in the subject of library of games, I'll talk about the Wii's more recent years. People have been pestering Nintendo about the Wii's lack of games in 2012. Some go as far as saying that Nintendo abandoned their fans. Honestly, I feel like I'm the only one who knows why the Wii, the GameCube and the N64 didn't have many games in their last years. Do you wanna know why? Three word. Third. Party. Support. How come the systems that weren't very well supported by the third party developers were also the ones with the least games in their last years? How come the Nintendo consoles with great third party support such as the NES, the Super Nintendo and the DS continue(d) selling after their successors came out? Because of the third party support, people. As for Nintendo only caring about snatching as much money from their fans, the Wii U is a lot more cheaper than what it is suppose to be and unfortunately, it will be selling at a loss. http://wiiudaily.com/2012/10/nintendo-will-sell-the-wii-u-at-a-loss/


Nintendo is for kids

     This is the one statement that is brought every single time by trolls and haters. I think it is insufficient to say that this statement is nothing more than bullcrap. There is just so much wrong in this one little statement, I could make an entire article about it. Technically, the title should be ''Wii U is for kids'' but anyways. The Wii U is a system that was meant for the hardcore gamers. You can see how much Nintendo wants the Wii U to be a hardcore system given that they have already two M rated games that they are going to publish (Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge & Bayonetta 2). Now how come the Wii U be considered a kid's system when more than half of its games are rated T and M? I'm not one to say that an M rated game is automatically hardcore but that doesn't change the fact that 17+ is still 17+. The only thing so far that backs up this theory brought into the discussion mostly by haters and trolls is the fact that the original Wii was very kids friendly. But that doesn't make any sense since the Wii was supposed to target this very audience meanwhile the Wii U is suppose to target the hardcore audience. And anyways, what IS so bad about E rated games (I'm saying this because when people say kids games, they're usually talking about E rated games)? Usually, these people say they've passed the age of playing Mario or Pokemon. Well, what makes you thing ''Everyone'' and ''Kids'' are the same words? I kept asking people what was wrong about E rated games and usually, that is what they say. If there is an E rated game that gets great scores, 10s all over the place and all that and then there's an M rated First Person Shooter that is pretty much like all others, you are going to buy the M rated game but not the stellar game? You are missing out people. Get rid of this mindset. And how come it is incorrect for Nintendo to make E rated games but Sony making Ratchet & Clank, Little Big Planet and Patapon is acceptable? Bias, people, bias.


Nintendo games are all the same and there is no new IP

        Yet another statement that keeps coming back every now and then. Usually, this statement is aimed at Mario and The Legend of Zelda. While I acknowledge the fact that they have a lot of games, saying these games are all the same thing is nothing more than bullcrap. I'll explain why. Since this is a statement usually aimed at Mario and Zelda, I'll defend them first. First of all, Mario. While the story in Mario games are usually the same, the gameplay itself changes a lot and sometimes, the whole genre is different. Take a look at Mario Kart. Is the story about Princess Peach getting kidnapped? No. Is it point A to point B platforming? No. Same could be said about the main Mario games. Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy are both 3D platformers but are very different from each other. Super Mario Galaxy is about space and gravity and Super Mario 64 is all about Peach Castle action. Zelda now. Zelda, unlike Mario, changes story. Although defeating the villain and save the princess is something that is seen in every Zelda game, the story changes. Gameplay wise, it changes too. Are going to tell me Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are similar in gameplay? Is Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess the same game? No. Ans you have to understand why Nintendo keeps making. To me, it is astounding  how many people don't get why Nintendo keeps making Mario and Zelda games. For three big reasons: 1) These games keep getting excellent review from critics and fans alike. 2) The games sell well. They are system sellers. There are people who would never buy a Wii U if it weren't for these two games. 3) The fans keep demanding new Zelda games and Mario games. These three points are factual. Now, onto Nintendo ''not making new IPs''. This honestly something stupid to say since Nintendo did come with dozens upon dozens of new IPs this gen alone. You got yourself Xenoblade, The Last Story, Pandora's Tower, Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk, Pushmo, Sakura Samurai, Art Style series, Professor Layton, Wii series and all the other Japan exclusives. But what happened to most of them? They didn't sell a lot. So why are people saying Nintendo doesn't make new IPs when they don't do anything to support the ones we have right now? The Wonderful 101 is a new IP but unfortunately, no one gives a damn because it looks cartoony even though it's made by Platinum Games, the makers of Bayonetta and Madworld. Shigeru Miyamoto is apparently working on a new IP as well, so...
        

The original Wii thing

               Something that is annoying to me is the fact that people keep bringing the original Wii into a discussion that is mostly about the Wii U. Why, people, why? It is something I honestly don't understand. Why do people bring the original Wii in a Wii U discussion? It doesn't make any sense to me. Why does that not make sense to me? Well, because these are two different systems that have a different way of approaching gamers. You see the Wii was a very weak system when it first came out in 2006 and its online capabilities were, like I said before, underwhelming. Meanwhile, the Wii U is a powerful system which uses modern tech compared to its predecessor and has a better online structure. So how come you can compare these two COMPLETELY different things? How come people can tell what the Wii U will do based off a system that didn't do what the Wii U is doing right now? The third party support on the original Wii was lackluster meanwhile, the Wii U is getting a lot praise and support from developers like Gear Box, Ubisoft, Namco, EA, Frostbyte, etc. People, you can't simply conclude what the Wii U will be like this gen based off a system that didn't do what the Wii U is doing right now. You simply can't.

  
Nintendo games are for kids

        I think I didn't focus a lot on the Nintendo First Party games. Usually, they are the ones who get a lot of negative feedback from the trolls and haters. It is often because of the fact that they are rated E for Everyone. Look people, you can't just call a game kiddy or casual simply based off its ESRB rating. A casual game is something that is accessible to everyone. Wii Sports for example. It wasn't extremely complicated because it was based off actual sports and, for the most part, controlled by by swinging the Wii Remote. Then, in the other hand, you have games like The Legend of Zelda. These games require you to know how to fight enemies (some requiring different strategies than others), it requires that the players knows the where he is and where he is going on the map, it requires that you know how to solve some puzzles and it can be, at times, very difficult. In short, games like The Legend of Zelda are way too complicated for casual gamers to be considered a casual game. Same could be said about Pikmin, Metroid, Fire Emblem, Pokemon, Kirby, F-Zero, etc. But I was talking about how these Nintendo games can't be considered ''casual'' games. Why am I saying this? Because a game meant for kids doesn't necessarily mean it is casual. Let's look back at the NES days. You had games like Battletoads and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle that were there to appeal to the younger audience but, were they casual games? Oh, hell no. Battletoads is often seen as th hardest game of all time and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? Well, this game's difficulty is just plain unfair. Now games like Pokemon and Kirby can be considered games that are aimed at kids. But even then, these games aren't just for kids only, I mean it is rated E for ''EVERYONE''. I feel like I have to explain to people what the E means. The doesn't mean for kids only but rather that the game doesn't include certain elements that are not suitable for a younger audience like blood, sexuality or drugs. Mario, Pokemon, Kirby, they're games that are meant for everyone, just that it is a lot more complicated than games like Wii Sports. But is Nintendo only made of E rated games? No. You've got yourself games like Fire Emblem, Metroid The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess, Super Smash Brothers, F-Zero GX which are all rated T for Teen (and trust me, there are a lot more T rated games). Then, you have games like Eternal Darkness, Geist, Bayonetta 2, Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge which are all M rated games. So you can't just claim everything Nintendo makes is meant for kids. Oh, and Nintendo made E rated games back in the NES and Super Nintendo days. They've only started publishing M rated games in the end of the Nintendo 64 era (Conker and Perfect Dark). So, how come new Nintendo is considered kiddy when the old Nintendo did pretty much the same thing?


That new controller is horrible

       For some reason, Trolls and Haters are allergic to logic. Usually, the complaints are about how big and how uncomfortable the Wii U GamePad is. Well, everyone whose held the controller in their hands claimed that it was actually comfortable. So, that's one thing out of the way. Now, my next point. The new Wii U GamePad is the way to go. Why am I saying this you my ask? Is it because I am a blind Nintendo? No, not really. Let's just compare the modern controllers to the Wii U GamePad. I'll compare the DualShock 3 to the Wii U GamePad. Both have D-Pads. Both have the left and right analog stick. The DualShock 3 has the square, circle, triangle and X button and the Wii U GamePad has the ABXY buttons. The DualShock 3 has the L1, R1, L2, R2 buttons, the Wii U GamePad has the L, R, ZL, ZR buttons. Both DualShock 3 analog sticks can be pressed down, both the GamePad's analog sticks can be pressed down. The DualShock 3 has the Home button, the Select button and the Start button, the GamePad has the Home button, the +Button and the -Button. But, only the Wii U GamePad has a touch screen in the controller which can be considered a button. In fact, the touch screen itself can have many buttons inside, something the DualShock 3 lacks. Developers will start thinking that they can make more with the Wii U because of its controller. So, how is it a bad controller when it can do more than the current gen controllers? Even if you still have a problem with the Wii U GamePad, you can use the Wii U Pro Controller. Really, there is just no excuse. http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/8357/article/wii-u-gamepad-actually-very-comfortable/





 Fanboys, haters and trolls

          This is the main point of this article. Since the title of this article is ''The hate has gone too far'', I felt like it would be necessary to talk about those who spread this hate: The fanboys, the trolls and, of course, the haters. The are the three main groups that attack the Wii U videos. There is just so much to say about them, so much wrong in them, it is hard for me to even begin. But let's just talk about them one by one. The fanboys first. When I use the term fanboy, I am talking about the Sony and the Microsoft fanboys. Now, let's get something straight, Sony and Microsoft fans aren't bad people, they can be great people but since the fanboys are much more about attacking videos about a product or a brand they hate. The fans of this particular brand that is attacked by the fanboys will think every fan of the opposing brand is the same and unfortunately, this is what's happening to the Wii U. Not only do the Sony and Microsoft fanboys give a bad image of their favorite brand and fanbase, but they don't achieve their goal to change one's mind. Usually, these people try to change your mind by force and when I say by force I mean that they would insult you and respond to you with comments filled with fallacies. Well, that is not the way to change people's minds. Tell me, have you guys ever seen this. Guy 1: ''Hey, the Wii U sucks, its fans are babies and you should be ashamed of being a Nintendo fan!'' Guy 2: '' You know what? That is true. I'll join your company.'' You've never seen that, right? Well, if it didn't work then, it most certainly won't work now. Also, they'll usually tell you ''hey, wait for our system to come out.'' No, just no. You can't just force someone who likes a different brand to wait a year or two just because someone told him to when they could have the latest system from their favorite brand. This is just incorrect. It is up to this person ALONE to take this decision. Now, the trolls. Okay, I've already written an entire article about these annoying beings. I've pretty much said why I don't like trolls (especially the modern ones). In short, they're lame, generic, they are a waste of time and it is just so easy to spot them. Once you do, you know everything coming out of their mouth is bullcrap. Haters. While fanboys are technically haters, I think that there some people who don't really attach to a certain brand that still hate a particular brand, which is sort of incorrect to call them fanboys. Even if they don't usually support a particular company, I still think what they're doing is incorrect. Normally, these haters will continue going on and on about how they hate this product (in this case, the Wii U). Look, if you hate a product or a brand, you should shut up about it and go on about the things you like. It is like if I hated the Police and every time I passed by their office, I said ''Hey! I don't like you guys.'' It is as if you are obligated to do this when you most certainly aren't. Like I said before, you can't change a fan's mind by force, this is all up to the fan himself to decide this. If you try to change a fan's mind by force, chaces are that this fan will instead turn against the company this individual is defending. Because there is a flaw in the system doesn't necessarily mean fans should hate the system. Every system has their own flaws. If what I'm saying isn't true, tell me what system is perfect? You just can't expect to turn the fans against the company they are defending just by pointing flaws in the system. It is up to the fan to decide if they should or should not care about it. For example, people complain about the lack of storage on the Wii U. That isn't going to bother at all the guy who never buys digital downloads. People should stop thinking about themselves.


I barely just scratched the surface. Anyways. The hate the Wii U is getting is down right now nauseating. It is only a system, a box of plastic. In fact, the Wii U is everything the Wii wasn't. But it looks like people have become ingrates, blinded by pure hatred. Some can't comprehend that fans will usually stick to a brand no matter what, some will never understand that calling people names is not going to help them change their minds and some simply don't do their research. No matter how much I want this world to change, I feel like things are going to get worse. This has been xSUPERSONICx99.


Expect a new countdown this week or next week. It will be the Top Ten video game genres.