Throwback Thursday - Journey

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Taking the leap this week: The game of sparkling sands in distant lands that is Journey.

Released in the US on March 13th, 2012, Journey is the third game developed by the esteemed producers Thatgamecompany, whose previous works include Flow and Flower.  And once again, their ambitious works prove what an artistic and emotional experience the gaming medium can be when executed with such elegant care and attention.  Taking control of a mysterious robed entity in a vast desert, players make a long pilgrimage towards a distant, but alluring distant mountain.  During the course of this trek, players may uncover hidden mysteries and long lost histories, and may even come across other unknown travelers making similar travels.  The game utilizes a very simplified set of mechanics, where players are only able to move, jump, and communicate via ambiguous shouts/chirps.  These little chants are used to interact with various objects such as scattered scarfs around the world or these other unnamed travelers.  Because of these limited mechanics, the focus of the game is continually drawn to light exploration and a consistent flow ever forward as you glide down every passing sand dune.

A Brother to Save

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BONUS Throwback - Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

As a bonus addition to this Throwback Thursday, I thought it fitting to discuss one more game this week based off our recent discussions on both the Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton series, that being the unexpectedly perfect pairing and crossover that is Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

Throwback Thursday - Professor Layton (series)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Cracking the case this week: The games of a gentleman calling for dubious puzzle solving that is the Professor Layton series.

Released in the US on February 10th, 2008, the world was soon introduced to the esteemed archaeologist and professor that is Hershel Layton and his young assistant, Luke, as they investigate the last will and testament of a rich baroness in Professor Layton and the Curious Village.  Using point-and-click adventure-like mechanics, players explore the intriguing village of St. Mystere, poking around for hidden secrets and chatting with the puzzle-obsessed resident.  These little puzzles and brain teasers serve to test the player's/professor's wits and are required to progress the captivating Sherlock-like story, complete with gorgeously animated scenes fit for a movie itself.  The whole experience is a delightfully engaging and relaxing experience that gives your brain muscles a stimulating workout along with the ride.

N64 Classic - Top 5 Games Predictions

Nintendo has all but confirmed that the Virtual Console brand is no more, with whatever yet still unknown plans for Nintendo Online expected to serve as its replacement for the new generation that is the Nintendo Switch.  While this may offer the grounds to explore old games in fresh and new interesting ways, it's also likely this decision came about due to the lucrative success Nintendo has found with their new line of Classic systems.  Packaged with the best games of each console generation, the NES Classic and SNES Classic have been flying off of store shelves faster than Nintendo can hope to meet this demand.  And if Nintendo's patent filings from last summer and more recently just last month are any indication (though they could understandably just be covering their bases), it seems inevitable that the N64 Classic is next on the list.  As the SNES classic was announced last year just 2 weeks after E3, it is entirely feasible that we could hear similar announcements for a N64 Classic in just a week's time here.  As such, I thought it'd be fun to consider / predict what games may grace this N64 Classic if such is to come to fruition.

N64 controller logo trademarked by Nintendo back in August, 2017; Holds a striking resemblance to the other Classic logos.

A few factors to consider before we dive into our list here: The NES Classic was priced at $60 with 30 games, and the SNES Classic was priced at $80 with 21 games (and an extra controller).  Each system only supported up to 2 players and, if compared to Virtual Console prices, offered buyers $150-$168 worth of games respectively.  So how many games and types of games will depend on these factors and the price point they aim to market this next in line Classic at.  I don't see this being priced any more than $100 ($99.99) as any more beyond that goes against the tantalization of it being an impulse buy.  So depending how many controllers they throw in, the game count may be as little as 10-15 games this time.  Consider also that Nintendo still sells many of these renowned N64 games as upgraded ports for the 3DS at $20-40 a pop, so they may not be so eager to release all the greats on this one bundle.  With that said, let's not be afraid to dream big and see what Nintendo could offer:

An Explosive Surprise

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E3 2018 - Top 5 Highlights

E3 2018 has come and went, leaving behind a tremendous flux of emotions and expectations for the months and years to come.  The most difficult emotion to deal with may in fact be the long wait that comes from these now known games on the distant horizon, just waiting to be experienced.  Thankfully though, the abundance of trailers and gameplay shown off at this E3 should help ease the wait for these games near and far apart.  For those who may have missed some of the spectacle of E3 or those who just want to take another look at these glorious games again, here are my Top 5 Highlights of E3 2018:


-WARNING: The trailers for Ghost of Tsushima and Cyberpunk 2077 contain mature themes and violent imagery.  Parental discretion is advised before viewing these videos.

-1- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

When 20+ minutes of Nintendo's Direct is spent dedicated showcasing the new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you know the expectations are high for this ambitious series.  Despite this incredibly lengthy focus on Smash, we astonishingly still know very little about the game, with there being no details on any sort of story mode, online, or any other mode for that matter.  But two points were instead made notably clear: First, with the return of every fighter from the entire Smash series (60+ fighters), this game wants to appease all fans by leaving no one behind.  And second, every character and facet in this game is being reexamined and tweaked; no stone left unturned.  There was also the surprise announcement of Ridley as a newcomer to Smash, a fighter fans have been vocal to be added for years only to be consistently told such was not feasible.  But somehow, they've made it work.  All of this speaks to the developers' commitment to meeting expectations and delivering the most polished experience they're capable of.  With that in mind, there's room for hopeful excitement that any other expectations for story modes or online play will be met.  And with a launch date of December 7th, 2018, it's clear that this is to be the big holiday game for Nintendo, but also that they will take every day leading up to its release to ensure such is a complete and full experience for the fans.

Also, if you haven't noticed, the Smash site is once again up and running with regular updates and a healthy dose of hype.  I heartily recommend checking out all the fighter videos and music samples to be found.  Viewing / listening to all this content really drives home the clear affinity and passion these developers have for all of these wonderful franchises and games in general.  And isn't that what E3 is all about?  Enjoy this love and passion for games at https://www.smashbros.com/.

Just look at the stunning artwork for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Everyone...Is...Here!

Throwback Thursday - Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney (series)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  While this blog is rated E for everyone's safe and enjoyable viewing, I should mention that one entry in this series (Dual Destinies) is rated M for violent imagery, language, and suggestive themes.  Parental discretion is advised for playing this particular entry.  The rest of the series is otherwise rated T for milder violence, but still suggestive themes.

Speaking of which, taking the stand this week: The games of contradictions and bold objections that is the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney series.

The series begins with its release of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for the GBA in Japan on October 12th, 2001, only to hit US shores many years later in 2005.  The game follows the spiky-haired, rookie defense attorney dawned in a bright blue suit that is Phoenix Wright, as he takes part in a series of high-stakes and wacky court cases to defend his clients to any ends necessary.  The gameplay comes in two forms: Investigations and trials.  During investigative sequences, players will poke around crime scenes to gather clues and learn valuable information from witnesses and police alike.  Then it comes time to take all this valuable intel and put it to use in the courtroom, where players will listen to testimonies, press for further details, and call out any inconsistencies using their hard-earned evidence.  I'll admit, I never jumped into the series at first due to the fact that it seemed like a rather simple and linear experience with little replay value.  But how foolish I was, as this has become one of my favorite game series.  While yes, it tells a straightforward linear narrative, there is an immense satisfaction to be found when finding and dramatically presenting the contradictions yourself only to be found through gameplay and your direct involvement.  Because of the fantastic soundtrack and the incredibly expressive animations, every twist and turn in the story is amplified to riveting effect.  And there's a surprising amount of depth to be found in this story-driven game as the many court cases later hold various connections building up to an epic and grand finale.

Damsel in Distress

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Throwback Thursday - Luigi's Mansion (series)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Carefully creeping into the scene this week: The games of ghost busting and furniture dusting that is the Luigi's Mansion series.

The series began with release as a launch title for the Nintendo GameCube, released on the US on November 18th, 2001.  Luigi's Mansion was a unique Mario spin-off starring the younger and often more overshadowed brother, Luigi, as he attempts to save his more notorious brother from a mansion full of spooky specters.  Armed with a vacuum and a flashlight, players will poke every nook and cranny of this haunted abode to catch all sorts of ghosts, spin ceiling fans, suck up tablecloths, and uncover plenty of coin and other shiny gems.  The game highlights the new pressure shoulder buttons of the GameCube controller, where players could control the pressure in which they suck or blow Luigi's vacuum.  Also making use of this new hardware, the game boasts impressive lighting and dust effects for a Nintendo game of its time.  The main criticism of this game was its short play-length, clocking in around 7 hours (though it can be beaten as little as less than 2 hours if speed running).  There is a high score system of sorts though that gives some added challenge and replay value.  Every boss ghost in the game comes with three different portrait rankings to be obtained (bronze, silver, and gold) depending how much health the player can drain from the ghost without letting go (or how little health the player loses on bigger bosses).  Also, the more money the player obtains, the better ranking the player can earn come the conclusion of the game for a truly worthy mansion.  A lot of the fun in this game comes from just exploring this large interconnected estate; how it feels like such a real, living space and discovering all of its little secrets.

Tabletop Tuesday Update

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday, which for the past 16 months or so has been your weekly exploration into 65+ different games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.  This week's game is not called "Update", no, but rather there is an important update regarding the weekly structure of this blog segment - my selection of Tabletop games to discuss has run quite thin.  While there are literally thousands of more Tabletop games that exist in this world, I strive to share insight into games in which I have personal experience in having played to a significant extent, and offer a fun, unique playing experience depending on the intended audience.  Due to being unable to meet this criteria anymore, our Tabletop Tuesday segments will no longer air on a weekly basis.

So how does this affect you, the reader?  Well, let's shift this for a positive spin: I plan to still share Tabletop posts from time to time, hopefully now with greater variety for your reading pleasure: New and Upcoming Games, Tips and Tricks, or Top 5 Cooperative Games and other assorted categories just to name a few topics.  Adjusting the frequency of these Tabletop segments should also allow for more time to catch up in completing other posts, such as many pending reviews for Cuphead, God of War, Floor Kids, and Labo.  You can also still expect a weekly continuation of Throwback Thursday and your Sunday comics for the foreseeable future, so still be sure to check in and look forward to more gaming discussions on a regular basis.

If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like to see discussed in the Tabletop world, be sure to let me know in the comments.  Be sure to check the Tabletop Tuesday tab and catch up on any previously discussed games you may have missed.  And look forward to a hopefully greater wealth of gaming content to be found, just with more unexpected timing and joyous surprise.  Thanks.  And happy gaming!

Confusion

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