Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Posted on Apr 04, 2008 under Reviews | 1 Comment

So, here it is. The Wii game that everyone has been waiting for. I got it at midnight at Gamestop and beat the story mode the same day. So, here is my review of the game as I see it.

Graphics: 9 - For a Wii game, these graphics are extremely good. I mean, they’re sharp, clear, and have a lot of pollys (I think it goes without saying, for a Wii game). If only there were 1080p. If you are used to a game like COD or Halo, take a step back and remember the focus here is on game play, not graphics.

Game Play: 9 - Not only does this game have one of the most intuitive and fluent control schemes I’ve ever felt, it has four different controller options to use, all of which feel great after 1 minute, AND can be customized for motion control! Pick your favorite control style and type of motion. It “fits” in just about anyones hands.

Single Player: 8 - The single player options of Brawl are seemingly endless… too bad only a few things can keep you occupied for more than 5 minutes. The campaign (The Subspace Emmisionary) is the deepest and longest campaign mode in franchise history. It took me about eight hours to beat (probably less, I left it running for a while), but at about 30% completion it starts to get really repetitive. It’s like the Melee campaign, but with cut scenes and bosses… and a story. Still no dialog though.

Multiplayer: 10 - The only way to play this game is multiplayer with your friends. It’s so much more satisfying to take a home run bat and send your friend to the next zip code than it is a CPU, because you can’t yell “OH, NOOB, WHAT NOW?!” at a computer (at least without getting a response). Just make sure you have 4 controllers when you get this game, or you might as well not get the game at all.

Online: 7 - Well, a lot of people like the online play in Brawl but I don’t. There’s no chatting with people, and the only option you have is a regular Brawl or a team Brawl. Oh well, I guess I’m just spoiled with Xbox Live. Nintendo could have done much better. Oh, and the lag is unbearable.

Overall: 9 - This game is a great buy. The single player is not extraordinary in any way, but the multiplayer is one of the best on the shelves. Definitely a game to get.

Buy Game Now - When we searched online, the cheapest we were able to find this game was from GameExpress.com ; If you know a cheaper price let us know!

Buy Now!

Excitebike 64, Back on wii as “Nitrobike”

Posted on Mar 30, 2008 under Reviews | No Comment

Fans of the game Excitebike 64 will get all giddy when they see this latest game, Nitrobike. As for everyone else… well… not so much.

Graphics: 5 - Gamers have been starting to expect more from Wii games, particurally after titles like Super Smash Bros. Brawl have been able to prove the Wii’s game rendering engine is not that bad. Although the sense of speed is amazing (it really does make you “feel” like you are going fast) thats about all this game has to live up to. Sure, you feel like you are moving fast, but does it matter when everything else looks totally fake?

Game Play: 5 -The Wiimote was not given any chance to shine with this game. It is just not good enough for the super sharp hairpin turns you are going to make 90% of the time. This is the kind of game that would make your thumb sore on a PS2 controller because of all the turning back and forth. On top of that, most of the actual racing is utterly random. Sometimes you can bounce off the wall of a turn and make it out OK, other times you just crash and blow up. Sometimes you can “bounce” off other opponents without being harmed, other times you are sent flying off the bike into the air. Most objects you can crash right into and keep on riding, but seemingly random objects will cause you to get stuck and crash.

Single Player: 4 - Single player mode is fairly set forward. You have to earn a series of medals by playing increasingly hard tracks on an increasingly high difficulty rating. The game stagnates and becomes very old very fast as well.

Multiplayer: 7 - This is your only chance to have any fun with this game. You can play on a variety of tracks and bikes and other settings — as long as you unlocked them in single player mode. The online game play is also pretty decent, as long as you can actually find someone who owns this game and wants to actually play it with you…. a rare event.

Online: 0 - Good luck trying to find someone.

Overall: 5 - If you just bought a Wii and are looking for a good game to learn all the “coolness” this is NOT your game. This game looks like it was written for something like N64 and just “upgraded” to work on the Wii.

Buy Game Now - When we searched online, the cheapest we were able to find this game was from GameExpress.com ; If you know a cheaper price let us know!

Buy Now!