Choose the Next Review
I never know what people expect from Metagame. It’s a new blog, and it’s pretty much under construction, but I want to do my best to make you feel welcome. To achieve that, I propose the following: choose my next review. To do so, you just have to leave a comment where you choose a game, and tell me a bit about why you want that review to be made. I sincerely hope you adhere.
My dearest compliments.
P.S. I have removed the list as it was getting really, really outdated. Just ask for any game and I’ll reply. Hopefully I’ll have already finished it, or at least, have played it.
I think it’d be interesting to read about Alone in the Dark IV, Assassin’s Creed, Bioshock, Condemned, Dead Rising, Devil May Cry 1 and 3, Eternal Sonata, Fable, Fahrenheit, any Final Fantasy, F.E.A.R., God of War 1 and 2, GTA III, Halo, Ico, Killer7, Mass Effect, Manhunt, any Metal Gear Solid, Onimusha 1 and 3, Portal, any Prince of Persia, Project Zero 1 and 2, Resident Evil 1 and 4, Shadow of the Colossus, Shadow of Memories, Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3, KOTOR 1 and Xenoseries… for now…
Keep up the good work!
Sure… but sadly, I don’t have that kind of time…
So pick one or two for now, and give me reasons; why do you think those games to be artistically important?
Max Payne 2. 6 reasons:
1) You already did the first one;
2) It’s an example on how to make a good sequel (wink, wink);
3) It’s the closest experience to a movie I already tried on a videogame, thus the perfect blending (so far) on the two media;
4) It’s awesome.
5) It’s REALLY awesome.
6) You want to play it again, just admit it
Ok, I’ll be happy if you start with Shadow of Memories! It’s so elaborate, surprising and different from anything else you played before that you can’t help but to want to play it again untill you’ve seen all the endings!
OK, first up (hopefully before the end of the week), I’ll tackle “Max Payne 2″. And then “Shadow of Memories” (probably next week). After that, it’s time for “Lost Odyssey” (which I’m dying to play).
Thank you for participating. Keep up the interest
I think you should do a review of Okami because it’s just one of those games that is really about the art, I mean it’s so beautiful, it will take you quite a while to complete it but it’s worth all the time! It even has art in the game play can’t get any more artistic than that… well until they make “Being Monnet” simulation game
Well, Okami is definitely on my “TODO” list. Unfortunately, I’m bogged up with work (hence, the rare posting), and thus I still haven’t finished the game (I’m more or less halfway through). But as soon as I finish it, I’ll review it, although I must warn you, the review probably won’t be as positive as most people would expect. But we’ll get to that
Stay tuned…
Well there are some problems with that game but the art is not one. Anyways Bioshock is one you should do too it has Art Deco architecture so there’s your art
and loads of other stuff as I’m sure you know since you completed it.
Yes, the artistic design is wonderful. But games are so much more than just that, that I have trouble in giving the game the high praise it got, just for the pretty aesthetics.
“Bioshock” is… well “Bioshock” is a masterpiece, and most likely, my favorite shooter of all time. And it is so, not just because of its aesthetics, but also for its message, its story and its setting, its free-approach gameplay, etc. So yes, I will do it, but it is such a good game, that I need to ponder my “feelings” towards the game correctly.
Anyways, thanks for the support. Keep up replying…
I sure will and you keep writing these great reviews, I am writing an essay on art direction in games for university (comparing Okami, Max Payne and Bioshock) so I do have my reasons for wanting those games to be reviewed
Well, you got me pumped up to write the “Bioshock” review, so here it is. Thanks for the compliments, and don’t forget to send me a copy of your essay; can’t wait to read it!
Well I’m glad I got you ‘pumped’ to do it as it has now inspired me to write the essay (still haven’t started and only about ten days to finish it) I’m going to be borrowing some of your ideas if you don’t mind and probably quoting you and I am not the best essay writer so I am not sure if you will like it but I’ll be sure to send a copy your way when it’s done.
P.S. I really need to finish “Bioshock” but I have no time:(
Hi again, can you do Shadow of the Colossus next please I just realized how blind I was to Shadow of the Colossus’ art style until i read the Okami review
It seems so obvious know that it’s inspired by Japanese watercolor painting.
Well, it’s true that both of Ueda’s games replicate many of the Japan’s traditional aesthethic codes. I even go as far as saying that they’re the “truer” of japanese games, and it’s not by accident. But in a way, that almost seems normal, after all, they definitely are two of the best games ever made (and arguably the best two ever made). That being said, I would love to review them, and have been planning to do it ever since I started this blog. Unfortunately, I’d need to refresh my memory before reviewing them (properly that is), so that will probably take a while (damn real-life occupations!!!).
Anyways, I promise to go round it, and review one of his games in the near future.
Best regards!
hi again,
Could you do a Assassins’ Creed review and any of the Metal Gear Solid games (favorite series). By the way looking good with the reviews, I like the King Kong one, I kind of want to play it now. It’s a good general Movie-games review too. All of them are interesting to read.
Keep up the good work!
Hi!
Thanks for the compliments, and OK I’ll do Assassin’s, if only to give my first negative review (it’s about time, I guess). Concerning Metal Gear, I’ll think about it… it’s hard to review such a great game (also one of my favorites), but when I find the disposition to do so, I’ll go for it!
See yas!
Crimson man, I’ve had a small change of plans. I’ve borrowed, for limited time, a PS3 (thanks “parrifi”, THANK YOU) and as such, will be trying to review as much games from the platform as possible during that time. So that means that, probably, there’ll be no Assassin’s review for now. In compensation, the next review will be MGS4 (followed by Uncharted and Heavenly Sword), which I hope you’ll appreciate.
Thanks for everything!
I actually just noticed this post, probably because I was on holiday most of the summer and didn’t get to a computer for a while. Even though I come back to your blog often to read the new reviews (which are great by the way) I neglected to visit this page again… so sorry for the very late reply and as soon as I’ve had some sleep and are able to read the reviews you mentioned above I will tell you what I think. Anyways it seems you must of bough yourself a PS3 or are still borrowing it from your friend because I really enjoyed your Folklore review, in-fact I used it as a reference in my own critical review of the game, which I had to do for university.
Oh and if your still taking requests I would love to see you review Little Big Planet after your done with playing all these other games.
Thank you. It’s a pleasure to have you visit here again
Little Big Planet is definitely on my “want” section. But with all the new games, I haven’t had the time nor the money (I already bought the ps3 which left me considerably lacking in the financial department) to get to LBP. If only games were released sparsely throughout the year, and not in this crazy holiday avalanche… Ah well… In time I’ll get to LBP, hopefully by then, there will be a decent-sized community supporting the game, which should make it all the more interesting. Cheers!
Hello,
It’s always a pleasure to read your latest reviews in Gamespot, not only for their content, but for the unique way you use the English language too.
I would like to read your reviews for two games -the latest episodes of two legendary series, that I was very enthusiastic for their previous titles, but lately I was greatly disappointed, to say the least. I’m reffering to Final Fantasy 12, and Alone In The Dark (2008). Especially the last one, was one of my worst gaming experiences.
I’m very interested in reading your opinion about them, with your own style, and perhaps see some aspects about them, that I haven’t noticed.
Best regards
Hi! First up, thanks for the compliments, it’s good to know that somebody enjoys my work.
As to the reviews… A FF XII (heck, any Final Fantasy!) review is definitely overdue on my end, so as soon as I get my head wrapped around it, I’ll be glad to tackle it. It’ll even give me a chance to play the game once more. Though I understand most of the criticism surrounding it (and in some aspects, support it wholeheartedly), I still think it’s a wonderful game… though maybe not a wonderful FF, but that is a subject that warrants a deeper debate. Then again, my reverence for Yasumi Matsuno may serve as an unwanted bias for such an analysis. I guess you’ll let me know when I review the game
On AitD case, though I’ve already played it and finished it, the abysmal quality of the game makes me shun at wasting words with it. It’s horrible, we all know it, so I’m sorry, but I won’t go into particulars (it would be a cascade of insults, I assure you). It’s such a bad game, that it deserves to be forgotten, if you know what I mean.
Cheers, I’ll try to get that review as soon as possible !
Yes I can see your point: “Alone In The Dark” is somehow unworthy for someone’s attention. Especially for someone who loves video-games. Never the less, it’s always a relief, and a kind of “revenge” for a fooled gamer, like me, who gave 43€ (!) for this rubbish, to see it been “torn apart” by an aggresive, but at the same time, well documentated review. Maybe I will do it myself sometime, but first, in order to be just, I’ll have to play it to the end, which, as you have already experienced it, isn’t the best thing that can happen to anyone, and I don’t want to put myself into this situation right now, or ever in the future. Being ripped off, I think, was painful enough (lol).
Final Fantasy of course is a completely different case. Technically speaking, it’s a good game. Unlike AITD, it’s a game, not a joke. But for some reasons, that I suggested in my own review, it didn’t give me any joy by playing it.
So, I’ ll wait with big interest your review about the game.
Thanks for the communication.
Bye
I read your review. Though I disagree, it’s an interesting take on the game. I completely understand your displeasure with it though, and will counter-weigh it the best I can with my own analysis.
Cheers!
Ok. FFXII is done, hope you like it. Cheers.
Can you get your hands on Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter? That game knocked my socks off… It also has music composed by the FFT and Vagrant guy, top notch.
Hi cescruz, sorry for the late reply, but I’ve been swamped with work (hopefully, I’ll have more on that in a coming post), so I haven’t had time or the disposition to blog.
Personally, I really liked “Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter”. It was probably the best game of the series, or there about (IV was also pretty decent), and it came at a time when the RPG genre was losing its way. The tactical combat system, despite being insanely punishing, was elegant, yet complex, the dark sci-fi atmosphere was top-notch, and the narrative, while minimalist, was compelling. My only peeve with the game was the deliberately hard-core save, inventory and new-game systems. Now, I love challenge as much as the next guy, especially when it comes to the intellectual type. The problem with “Dragon Quarter” was that it mixed the thought provoking battle system, with a very penalizing game design, which forced repetition, backtracking and trial and error. And that held me back immensely. Still, one of the most interesting RPG’s of the last generation. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed challenge and didn’t mind a bit of endurance test.
Sadly, my memory doesn’t allow me to elaborate much further on the game, and I no longer have a copy in my collection. So this is the best I can come up with. Sorry about that. Thanks for the request.
Cheers!
Yeah BoF:DQ made me feel depressed with their desolated world and the punishing gameplay, but I love dungeon games so maybe Im used to be punished. And it has what I think its one of the best endings in a video game ever… Sadly without ruining things for most the ending can be hardly discussed as its probably the whole focus of the game.
By the way how good is Persona 4? Its a series along with the Megaten series I have always loved.
Sadly is a game I might never experience, because of where I live the “Crisis proof” videogame Industry does not exist and most videogames (xbox, wii, DS, PS2, basically any) doubled their prices… That means Madden and FIFA go for about 120 dlls for xbox and 150 for PS3… He-he.
The “Persona” series has always been the lighter facet of Megaten. The recent change in style, towards a more pop-culture feel, has made this change even more apparent. Like “Persona 3″, “4″ is whimsical, charming, stylish and funny, instead of dark and intriguing. It’s a great game mind you, even if it’s light-hearted when compared to traditional MegaTen titles.
As to your painful dilemma, you can always try to order games from the outside. It’s a hassle, but it’ll probably compensate. Good luck with that
Cheers!
How about reviewing Reset Generation? It’s free and really cool. http://www.resetgeneration.com. I guarantee it’s one of the most unique games you’ll play this year.
I would like to read your take on Cosmology of Kyoto.
Good work!
I’ve been waiting for an excuse to play ‘Cosmology of Kyoto’ for some time now, ever since Guillermo del Toro said it was the best thing ever to grace our childish medium and Dieubussy confirmed, by stating it was all that… plus a bag of cheese flavored chips. And I love chips, so, I have to play the game
Long story short, I’ll be more than happy to write that review in the near future. Which reminds me… Dieubussy-sama, can I write something about “Gadget” now? Please? Pretty please?
What about Metal Gear Solid 3? I’m a fan of the series, but only in the sense that I just liked the first and third games.
MGS2 was an attempt to rack up the first game’s sociopolitical, cinematic, and symbolic themes to a more intense level for a sequel. The end result was comic-book ridiculousness.
But in MGS3, one can almost visually see how dissuaded Kojima was with his previous sequel. “Metal Gear Solid” starts anew in the third game- with a totally new cast of characters, setting, and theme. So without the need for his game to come down with sequelitis and show the familiar symptoms of character backstories, redemtion arcs, and the like, we ended up getting a game that had the time to share some incredibly thoughtful and sobering monologues on war, patriotism, cold-war paranoia, and even the human existence itself. Kojima really put himself into this one- beyond him showing an obvious love for 1960′s B-grade cinema, there’s a consistent self-awareness of the game’s violent and juvenile nature, and he asks the question “why?” quite a few times during the plot. Pack it all up with what may be the saddest ending in video game history, and it’s easily the most intelligent game to manage to sport the “AAA sequel” status. Yet it also may well be one of the most intelligent of all time.
And there’s not one giant fighting mecha robot in sight, either. I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.
Sorry for nor replying earlier, but I’ve been on vacation, and with a poor and rare access to the internet. I will resume my constant posting next week, and will drop by a review with my opinion on “Metal Gear Solid 3″.
@Goro Ono
Sorry for not having written something on Kyoto, but I haven’t been able to play it yet. I plan to do so as soon as possible.
Cheers!
Hmm, how about one of the first two Thief stealth shooters? I think there will never be a more immersive 1st person game as this one achieved to be in some levels. Hell, many good books are less atmospheric, although it’s not an extraordinarily complex game. Or perhaps that’s one reason. It feels very realistic even in its monotony and the setting is just perfect.
Hey man! Are you going to post your thoughts on Assasin’s Creed 2?
I would love to see what you think of it, as I personally felt it is a huge improvement over the first one and has a terrifying pace.
Sorry Cruz, I’ve been away for a long time, and only now got the opportunity to write the ACII review. Sad to say I don’t share your views on the game. They improved many things on the game, sure. But the core flaws – its simplistic quests, bland storyline and generic city-lines are still there. It’s not the worst game I’ve player this year – there are really great moments in the game, but they are still surrounded by dull and repetitive fetch quests. A shame really, because there’s a lot of potential in the AC concept, in my opinion.
Cheers mate!
Hey dude,
I’m back, I have been reading your reviews even though I haven’t posted anything in a while, keep up the good work. I’d like to give you some review recomendations, but you seem to have reviewed every game I have enjoyed recently, maybe Deadly Premonition would be an interesting game for you to review. (you’ll like the story if you enjoyed Twin Peaks)
Hey man! just passing by to tell ya that I buyed a psp to play that new (and sweet) remake of Tactics Ogre (by the RPG dream team: Matsuno, Sakimoto, Yoshide).
The console came with Peace Walker, slowly playing it. Slowly loving it, weird controls, strange dialogues (My lenguaje is spanish and we dont call War heros “Cacique”, quite the contrary, “Cacique” are more related to enslavers).
Expecting to read your thoughts about it, because fanboyism takes my hearth by storm whenever is see Big boss or Solid Snake in anything (true fact: I once bought a pirated T-shirt with an image from MGS back in 2000, it was cheap but ten times awesome).
Now here’s a nice reason to buy a PSP! As to “Peace Walker”, I’ve been busy, so the review is still not ready, but I have to say it is not as positive as I would’ve liked (and initially thought would be).
Still, hope you enjoy it when it comes.
Cheers!
I want you to finish Demon’s Souls and write a proper review. You don’t know what you’re missing. Stop playing “ENSLARTED” and go back to a proper game.
Dude… 60+ hours and total dedication; that’s something I can’t spare easily these days. I promise to play more of the game, I just don’t know when
(((((
Amnesia: The Dark Descent. My shitty Macbook can’t run it.
Hm… I’ll probably play “Demon’s Souls” before even considering playing that game. I’m not that big a fan of Frictional Games, sorry.
I know you must be up to your elbows in your next articles, but I was wondering whether you were contemplating a playthrough of Space Invaders Infinity Gene or Way of the Samurai 3…
Take care now.
I say yes to both! “Hold that dial!!”
Thanks, KOE, will post as soon as I get the opportunity. Till then, I’ll be writing to Zach about agent York’s kinks!
Cheers!
In my opinion you should try Amnesia, I think you’ll like it too.
Surprised I haven’t see you try Limbo yet.
@Coyote
I have been wanting to, but have also been waiting for another interesting game to come along so I can justify spending money on those costly Microsoft Point cards. Since Iomilo came out now, I think the time has come for me to try out Limbo.
Cheers!
“Hm… I’ll probably play “Demon’s Souls” before even considering playing that game. I’m not that big a fan of Frictional Games, sorry.”
I didn’t like Penumbra either, but Amnesia is different. Compared to Penumbra, it is actually interesting. The plot isn’t much to smile about, but the developers have used techniques that I’ve never seen in any other title.
Have you decided against publishing your review-articles on Shenmue?
Well… it’s written for quite sometime now, but I am still not glad with it. I’ll go back to it, just don’t wait on it
ruicraveirinha:
I notice awhile back you praised the level design of quake II. Do you enjoy or follow e-sports. Have you played the other quake games? Are you a fan of deathmatch?
Hi Eric. You have been reading my old old old reviews
Yes, I have played Quakes and Dooms and Wolfensteins and whatnot and I do see some value in how they implemented certain functional design traits (such as level design) in specific iterations. But I have since distanced myself from the genre, as you may have noticed.
Whilst I see some meritorious fervor and commitment in practitioners, I have never been a fan of e-sports modalities. Though it has always been my position, I see videogames, perhaps now more than ever, as a medium for (artistic) expression, which pretty much clashes in fundamental ways with any view of them coming from the perspective of sports or other competitive activities.
Sorry for not being a fan. Cheers!
Yeah, I really like the strategic aspects of quake 1 and quake 2 deathmatch.
Just wondering… what are some single player FPS games where the stories of the said game really impressed you?
thanks
Olá
Reparei que o teu nome assinava uma review do Rage na última Cabra. No entanto (e sem desconsiderações), o estilo do texto não parecia bater certo…
Foi mesmo um produto MetaGame, ou a habitual gralha?
Cumprimentos e continuação do bom trabalho!
Caro João,
Sim, foi a habitual gralha. Nunca teceria os comentários inscritos nessa crítica a um título com as características que antevejo em “Rage”. Fico genuinamente contente em saber que alguém lê aquilo que escrevo para o jornal e gosta o suficiente do que escrevo para saber quando não sou eu
Um abraço, e obrigado pelo comentário!
Hey, I second the choice of “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” too. I have played frictional’s past games(the penumbra series) and I must say that they do not compare in terms of atmosphere and tension, amnesia really is worthy of a review.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the effort you’ve put in your posts. It turns out we share the same tastes which is nice since I haven’t come across a smart video game blog for a long time now. Keep it up.
Hi Joseph, thanks for the comment. Nice to have someone around, and please, feel free to comment.
Given how many people keep saying I should play “Amnesia”, I concede, once I get a spot in my list I’ll give it a whirl.
Cheers!
Silent hill 1-4 (anything you want from those four).
Boa tarde
Está tudo em condições?
Tenho reparado que o ritmo de reviews tem diminuído nos últimos meses… Falta de tempo, falta de paciência ou falta de candidatos dignos de serem analisados?
Caro João,
Apenas tenho a confessar a minha falta de motivação para escrever sobre videojogos. Não é que faltem títulos dignos de análise (jogos como “Journey” merecem toda o aplauso possível, e títulos sobrevalorizados como “Portal 2″ careçem de uma crítica um pouco séria), mas reconheço algum cansaço na incompreensão que os meus artigos costumam gerar. Entre isso e algum atraso em compromissos mais prementes, tenho deixado esta parte da minha vida andar a passo de caracol. Não obstante, quando a oportunidade surgir, conto voltar a escrevinhar umas coisas. Resta esperar.
Obrigado pelo comentário.
Cumprimentos,
Rui Craveirinha