Goodbye Old Friend

Today we say goodbye to another childhood hero of mine. Yesterday Takeshi Shudo was rushed to the hospital after suffering a hemorrhage. He was only 61 years old and when I looked up the type of hemorrhage he had things actually looked like they were in his favor. Unfortunately things don’t always go as planned and it was time for him to go.

I never knew much about Mr. Shudo. As a child, all I knew about him was that he was in some way responsible for my favorite escape from life. Mr. Shudo was the Chief writer for the original Pokemon series and the first three Pokemon films. He didn’t remain as such until the end of his life but he was always involved in the project in some ways and without his original work there would be no Pokemon.

That might not mean much to many people. I myself have not really watched the show for many years but it was from the shows that the video games were made. For many reasons these games will always hold a special place in my heart. They aren’t necessarily the best games ever made. The story line hasn’t changed all that much and sometimes they even get repetitive at times. I could go my whole life never seeing another Zubat but like all things we must make allowances for the bad if we can ever enjoy the good and these games were good. They were there for me when I felt alone and then when I made close friends we were able to play the games together.

There are even certain Pokemon that hold sentimental attachment for me and while that might seem strange I will always love these fictional creatures. They are a part of my life and a part of me. So thank you Takeshi Shudo for your loving gift. You may be gone now but you left us with amazing memories. I will continue to honor you by playing your games and maybe even someday passing them on to my children. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

All of the fans you never got to meet

Super Mario Sunshine Review (GameCube)

This game takes the simple idea of Mario in 3D and tries a slightly less traditional storyline. It also adds some new gameplay mechanics that could really make or break this game for you.

           

Story:                        I don’t want to give things away but basically you are on vacation but something goes horribly wrong. This beautiful little village is covered in oil and Mario is being blamed! It’s up to you to help the townspeople and prove Mario’s innocents. 

Gameplay:                         The traditional Mario style gameplay is here and it controls how you would expect it too. If you played Mario 64 not a lot has changed but they did add something new. You now have this jet pack that seems silly at first but actually works pretty well. I actually hated this feature so much that I didn’t play the game for years after it came out because of it. Just give it a chance. It’s really not all that bad.

Art Style:                         It looks like a Gamecube game and nothing is perfect. The island motif is nice at first but after a while everything starts to look the same. I preferred the varied environments of 64 personally but it doesn’t really kill the game. What does cause concern though are the camera angles. Normally this isn’t a problem but there are “special levels” where you aren’t able to use the jet pack. They are typically much more difficult and actually my favorite part of the game. The camera however doesn’t work well in these levels and you find yourself playing blind at times where you have to make jump based on an assumed distance rather than visually.

Difference:                        The game is a lot of fun but can be frustrating at times because of the camera angles. I would have to say it is the most difficult of the 3D Mario titles. To me this is a selling point but to others it may be a deterrent.

Buy it?                        Maybe. This game got a lot of mixed feedback from fans because of its difficulty and style. As a result you can find it cheaply but you might also have some issues with its jet pack system. Honestly with two Galaxy games to play you could probably skip this one but if you are looking for some more Mario action then definitely give it a try. I give it an 8/10.

Frogger: He’s Back! (PC, PS)

If you have ever played the original or are even familiar with video games than you know what to expect. You are a frog and your job is to make it from one destination to another without dying.

           

Story:                        You’re a frog. That’s about it. What more do you need?           

Gameplay:                         Take the original design of making it across the road and expand on it beyond imagination. The first few levels are a throwback to this old style but pretty soon you will be hopping around swamps, through caves, and running from bulls!

Art Style:                         The game was very pretty for its time. The colors were bright and the locations were varied. The problem is that this game came out around the beginning of the PS era so everything looks choppy and boxy.

Difference:                        It’s an interesting take on a classic that manages to improve the gameplay rather than hurt it.

Buy it?                        Maybe. This game is old and it didn’t age well. At times the game can be frustrating because the lack of smooth gameplay can result in cheap deaths. The game is about a 6/10 but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. If you’re looking for something to play this winter and you’ve only got about $3 in your pocket this might be something you want to give a shot. I enjoyed it despite its obvious shortcomings. 

Final Fantasy America (meaning easy)

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was originally released on the Super Nintendo to try to encourage new people to get into JRPG’s. The game was much easier than your typical RPG and the back of the box even claimed it to be the first RPG for the entry-level player.

The game only allowed you to play as two characters at one time and the combat was significantly less complex than other games in the series. Instead of random battles there were visible monsters that could be approached and fought or avoided all together. Even weapons were “uninspired” as you went from sword to bigger sword without any real choices.

Now that the game her been put up for download as a Wii Ware title everyone is bashing it again for not being hard enough. I don’t understand why it is so “cool” to hate this game. What were you people expecting? It says it’s easy on the box. That’s why I played it! I was a little kid at the time and wanted something that would take less time that a full-fledged Final Fantasy so I picked it up used for a few dollars.

It wasn’t the best game I ever played. The story was uninspired and the combat was less intense but it was still fun! If you enjoy the remakes on the DS and have already beat everything else you want to play you should give it a try. You might not like it, but I think you will. Just go into it knowing that it will be easy and you will enjoy the ride. If nothing else you will get to experience a part of gaming history and finally be able to develop your own thoughts on the game. 

Dark Cloud Review (Ps2)

If you like Zelda style combat, hours of dungeon crawling, and realistic equipment management this might be the game for you! This game was seriously under appreciated as a classic and should be owned by anyone who likes this style gameplay.

           

Story:                        The story here is an interesting and rewarding one. Without giving anything away (I want you to enjoy the ride) everything in several towns disappears and is trapped by an evil power. Your job is to save the towns and rebuild them to perfection!              

Gameplay:                         The combat is repetitive at times but with the addition of multiple characters later in the game things never get too stale. A nice addition to the combat is that weapons take damage so maintaining them is a must or you might lose them!

                                    The real fun here though takes place outside of combat. Once you find all of the objects stolen from a town you must rebuild it. At first I just placed things the way I wanted to see them. This is especially necessary in the beginning when you are just trying to see how things work and need resources. But over time I realized that different characters have preferences based either on their likes (such as a view of water) or the way things used to be (like my house used to be near my friends.) You need to make everyone happy in order to progress forward and it is quite rewarding.

Art Style:                         Everything in the game is attractive to the eye. This is a game from last generation but it has aged well and won’t be giving you any headaches. The environments are also varied so by the time the vastness of the desert starts to get to you it’s time to move to the forest or the countryside.

Difference:                        Lots of games have combat but none have such a rewarding and creative design system. Combine that with the ability to switch characters on the fly and enjoyable mini games (I fished for hours) and you have a great game that feels unique.

Buy it?                        Yes! This game went greatest hits so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a cheap copy (Amazon has it for $4). Don’t let this low price tag fool you. This game packs some serious fun and you get way more than you pay for. The core game will run you about 25 hours but if you enjoy the combat enough there is a bonus dungeon at the end of the game that will easily double figure. It doesn’t serve much of a purpose other than to get a special weapon but if you enjoy the combat as much as I did you’ll find this bonus content enjoyable. If not then enjoy the story and forget about this post game content.

Sharpen Those Chisels

Disclaimer: Woodworking carries innate dangers including loss of limb and life. Articles in the blog are meant to aid people already familiar with the field and not to replace books or formal advising. If you choose to use any information found here, you are responsible for your own safety. By continuing to read you release anyone affiliated with this blog including myself of liability. If you aren’t sure what you are doing, don’t do it!

So something that has been bothering me lately is watching people use wood chisels. There seem be two extremes of people and neither know what they are doing. When you first buy wood chisels they are not sharp. They might look like it, they might cut your finger, but they are not ready to cut wood. I see people constantly hammering the back of them to make a cut while I am just sliding it through the wood with my hands.

            The other extreme are the people who know they aren’t sharp so they take them to a grind wheel. In fact this is the way many books might tell you to do it but it is the wrong way. It is much more dangerous, you take off more metal than you need to, you can ruin the temper of the metal, and its not as nice a finish.

            What you should do is buy a few different grit sharpening stone and a little bit of machining oil. The stones are pretty inexpensive and if you care for them properly one set will last you for the rest of you life. Put a little oil on the lowest grit stone and put the flat of the chisel on the stone. Rub it on a circular motion covering the entire surface of the stone. Work you way up to a higher grit and buff the blade when you are done. The cutting edge should cut through the wood now with ease. BE CAREFUL! The chisel is very sharp at this point and if you hit your hand it won’t stop until it hits bone. Keep the blade covered to protect yourself and the cutting edge you just created. If you need to re-sharpen your chisel, you only need to spend a few minutes on the highest grit and then rebuff it. If you follow these instructions you will be able to use your chisels to their full potential and create better projects in less time.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Review (GameCube)

Zelda is the ruler against which all adventure games are measured. You will traverse fields, caves and dungeons to help good conquer evil. The series has been around since the original Nintendo (NES) and with few exceptions (The Adventure of Link!) it has been one of the most consistently amazing series ever made. That said lets see how this version did on the GameCube.

           

Story:                        If you have played any Zelda games before you have a good idea of what to expect. If you haven’t then go buy The Ocarina of Time, you can find it on the N64 or the GameCube. There is also a new version coming out on the 3DS. If you are waiting for that, then I guess you can play this in the mean time, but just play it and play it soon. It will be expensive for a used game but its worth more than anything new coming out now.

Gameplay:                         This is Zelda. You play as an elf boy who wields a sword. Throughout the game you will also get series staples such as bombs, a boomerang, and arrows to help you on you quest. The combat is simple, but can create some intense battles. There will be puzzles to solve throughout the game, most of which are easy excluding a final task that will make you quite frustrated for about 2 hours, but its worth it.

Art Style:                         This is what killed the game with the masses. At the time, Nintendo tried a new art style called cell shading. It made the game look childish and cartoony but underneath the paint this game has the same elements that made all of the Zelda titles great. If the art really throws you that much, then you can’t call yourself a fan of the series. No I didn’t like it, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the game on opening day.

Difference:                        There isn’t really anything earth shattering here. You have played this before in different forms with different puzzles but it will pick up and play like you expect. That is by no means a bad thing! Just like Mario, little changes in the core game structure between titles but each is worthy of our time and money. If you have one of the best formulas in the world, why mess with it?

Buy it?                        Yes! You can get a used copy on Amazon for around $15 and it’s a steal. The game isn’t as long as some other titles, but you’ll be paying about fifty cents an hours to enjoy something truly amazing. If you can get past the art, and you should, then you will love this game. I give it a 9/10. It’s not perfect but it was amazing at the time and if your playing on a budget, this one is worth giving a look.

Pikmin and Pikmin 2 Review (GameCube)

Pikmin is a cross between an RTS game and a gardening adventure. As a space traveler, your space ship crashes into an “adorably hostile” planet. You must collect your things, but you only have limited days to do it. With the aid of little aliens called Pikmin, you just might rebuild in time!

           

Story:                        Neither game has much of a focus on the story. You know why you are on the planet, you know why you want to leave the planet, but everything else is basically a mystery. Little updates throughout the games come in the form of a travelers log and actually add to thinks quite nicely. Ultimately there isn’t much to the story but it works because it’s all the story that would occur if this was a real life event.

Gameplay:                         The gameplay is pretty unique to my knowledge. You pull these little plant people from the ground and they do your bidding. Both games have lots of puzzles and the different types of Pikmin (3 in the first game 5 in the second) aid in your quest. The puzzles are a little more diverse in the second game as a result of the two new Pikmin.

                                    There is a multiplayer aspect here but it was obviously an after thought and not something your friends will want play. I personally enjoyed it, but then I had played through the single player game and understood what was happening. If you are lucky enough to have a friend who has also played through this game, try it with them and you might have a great time.

Art Style:                         The game is cute, whimsical, and just a pleasure to experience. While the style does change slightly between the first and second game, they ultimate follow the same idea which is to include lots of bright colors and a varied terrain.

Difference:                        If you like the idea of trying a puzzle game with RTS elements this might be the game for you. Don’t misunderstand me when I say RTS. There will be no resource collecting or building in this game, but everything takes place indirectly through commands you give to your Pikimin. That being said the game is a blast and if you are at all curious, this is something like you have never tried before.

Buy it?                        Yes! These two titles are some of the best the Gamecube had to offer and the first title at least should be easy to find. A “remake” came out for the Wii with different controls recently and while I haven’t played that version, I am sure it would be a fun alternative if you can’t find the originals. I rated these two games together because they are basically the same. I would give both games an 8.5/10. Like most games I will review, they aren’t for everyone, but everyone should give them a try!

Super Paper Mario Wii Review (Wii)

Super Paper Mario is the latest console title in a long running Mario RPG line. As far as the series goes, this is definitely the best not including the recent handhelds. It mixes platforming, with a story and puzzles that make wining actually feel rewarding.

           

Story:                        The main difference between the regular Super Mario line and the RPG line is the story. With the exclusion of perhaps Mario Sunshine, the basic goal has always been to save your princess. You get an intro, a final scene, and a whole lot of gameplay in between. With Paper Mario you are going to get a real story worth reading, at least until about hour 30. The game is funny and it will make you laugh, but by the end of the game, all you want to do is play not read.

Gameplay:                         The gameplay here is the real reason to pick this game up. Nintendo has been interested in all forms of 3D for years and this game shows it. The game takes play on two different planes. Most of it plays like a 2D platformer, but with the push of a button you can temporarily switch to “3D” and solve puzzles that before couldn’t be solved. If you have ever done any drafting you will know what I mean. A line in one plane can be a wall or a door in another. Sometimes secrets can be hidden behind rocks or walls. It takes a little getting used to but it is amazing fun!

Art Style:                         The art here is beautiful. Everything looks like a cross between your typical Mario games and a story book. It’s interesting to look at, and really works with the type of humor and story found here.

Difference:                        You have never played anything quite like this game. Even of you have played the Paper Mario titles of the past; the switching view element adds a whole new twist that everyone should experience.

Buy it?                        Yes! This game is unique, funny, and challenging. The only major problem with the title is that it is just too long. Without giving away anything there are about 8 major zones. I had fun up until zone 6 and after that there was just too much reading. I still enjoyed the game but my need to be a completionist killed the ending for me. If you don’t mind not finishing, you’ll still enjoy around 30 hours of gameplay doing something fun and unusual. I give it an 8/10 because of the length of dialogue. If they ended things sooner it would have be a 9/10. Either way, it’s a great game and one that you need to own if you have a Wii.

Tony Hawks Project 8 Review (PS2 also for PS3, Xbox, 360, PSP)

Tony Hawk has been the name in skateboarding for years. Part of the reason I wanted a PS2 was for Tony Hawk 3. I Played games 1-4 and Underground but I felt like the series had run its course. Then I found a copy of Project 8 for two dollars and decided to give it a shot. Did I make the right decision?

           

Story:                        There is more of a story here than in the past games. The first Tony Hawk title basically let you pick a rider, beat the levels, and get experience. Now you are this young talent trying to make your way up the ranks. The only problem is that I don’t care. I bought this game to skate, not to talk about it. The story adds nothing, and it actually detracts from the game.

Gameplay:                         The reason I bought this game was completely for the gameplay, so how did it fair? Honestly, I feel like the controls are less tight than they used to be and the missions aren’t really any fun. Maybe I am the minority here but I used to like the trick attacks, and collecting the hard to reach items. Now everything is about upsetting the cops, “tagging your turf,” or vandalizing the neighborhood. If I wanted to do that stuff I would play a game that does it well like GTA, not some game that pretends but never really crosses the line.

Art Style:                         The game looks dirty. Everything has the grainy look about it and the colors are uninspired. I think it is going after that punk sketch art that has become so popular on T-shirts but it makes the whole thing look unappealing.

Difference:                        This game is the same game you played before but with less enjoyable missions, lacking controls, and a new coat of paint applied by someone without any artist understanding.

Buy it?                        Not unless you hate yourself quite a bit. I paid $2 for my copy. It only took me 3 hours to beat every mission, and I’m not entirely sure I can say I ever experience fun. I guess if you are trying to kill an afternoon and like this style of play then for the price go for it, but if you already own any of the prior games, just replay those instead. I give it a 4/10. Just to give that a reference point since this isn’t my style of game, I would have given the first game in the series an 8/10.  So there you have it, play games 1-4 and then move on with your life, you’ll be happy you did.