Category Archives: Gaming

Street fighter 4 – Review

Fucking yes! I was lucky enough to get hold of a Japanese copy of Street Fighter 4 which is due out in the UK on the 20th February 2009; suffice to say that I am extremely chuffed. Oh yes.

My love affair with the Street Fighter series goes back right to my Commodore 64 days with the first game which was nigh on impossible to beat, and then Street Fighter 2 which I became totally obsessed with at around 11 years old thanks to the MASSIVE arcade cabinets down in Selsey Bill. As my parents threw wild BBQ’s for hundreds of cockneys, I smashed the utter shit out of whoever I could at SF2 (It still makes me cringe to think how determined I was to totally decimate a really mouthy Korean kid in an arcade located in Kansas, he was about 11 and I was 20. Still beat him like a punk bitch). As you can see, it brings out the competitive streak in me.

Oh how I remember bunking off of school and going up into the prototype arcade machine halls in Warren Street, London with a friend of mine and living on the edge. “Hey mate, you got 50p?”. “No, fuck off!”. How I avoided getting stabbed by the usual scum that lurk around arcades I’l never know? You could say that It was fate that I survived and mastered my Dragon Punch technique. Sho-Ryu-Ken-Slag!

The much maligned third game was also a favourite of mine on the Sega Dreamcast (my favourite console of all time), it was pretty innovative with the parry and blocking system and I’m glad to see so much of it’s influence went into the guts of Street Fighter 4. I honestly never thought Capcom would make the game to be honest; and certainly not with the sheer class and utterly fantastic gameplay that they have relaunched the franchise with.

So how does it play? It’s amazingly fluid, responsive, technical to a degree I’ve never experienced in a fighting game before and has such a familiar feel to it that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was the good old days again. That is to say that it’s the first time i’ve probably grinned to the point my face hurts whilst playing a game (Resident Evil 5 came close…but) for at least a decade. The designers seem to have also rolled back the years with the design of the characters and overall look, the animation is phenomenal and I love the manga look of the game. Very lush.

I played the game on the ‘medium’ difficulty setting and quickly settled in playing with Ken, my chosen character. Here’s a snippet of me beating up the Mexican Wrestler El Fuerte one handed, the other was holding the camera I assure you 🙂

ONE HANDED FUN ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT

There are the usual power bars, revenge bars, SUPER bars, all of which allow you to trigger nasty counter moves and special attacks; usually followed with some funky animation. As mentioned earlier the parry and block system responds instinctively, you won’t just be able to bash buttons and beat someone with your eyes closed on this game that’s for sure. Overall, I’d have to say it’s the best fighting game I’ve ever played and that’s by a long way. I can’t wait to try it out over the xbox live servers!

It wasn’t all plain sailing though I must admit. I struggled a little against Guile with his flat top haircut and poxy Sonic Boom attacks, Sagat was an utter tosspot as usual with Tiger Uppercuts flailing all over the place, and when I finally reached the Boss character Seth, he spanked me all over the place which was great fun! I was lucky enough to perfect him in the first round, he then regenerates and starts teleporting over the screen kicking ten bells out of you; probably why he’s the boss character?

I really loved his design though (he has a spinning ying/yang in his midrift), he reminded me so much of Street Fighter 3’s boss, Gill, and also the character Urien from that game too. The SUPER move that Seth performs on you involves sucking you into his ying/yang, you going around like a washing machine and then spat out at speed right up onto the screen face first – see pic in the gallery).

The end fight was such a struggle that I couldn’t help but take some video as I completed the game; I was then greeted with the longest offensive list of credits you’ve probably ever seen (along with me sticking my fingers up at a couple of characters that pop up, and also a bit of obscene gesturing to the female characters). So yes, I finished it. Woohooo!!!

KENS ENDING

So, if you see me on xbox live, bring it on bitches!

perfect2

Resident Evil 5 – Demo

Christmas came early for me this year, I heard a rumour that there was a Resident Evil 5 demo out on the web after it was released in Japan (UK owners will not have access to this demo, as usual PAL gamers get stiffed). I managed to track it down and have a quick go, and am happy to confirm that it was well worth the wait; the Resident Evil series is my absolute favourite and I have been waiting for this game to come out since it was announced months and months and months ago.

The first thing I noticed on the demo was that it was called Resident Evil 5 and not Biohazard 5 (Japanese name), so this must always have been intended as a UK/USA release but they perhaps changed their minds? The xbox 360 is starting to do very well in Japan now, so perhaps that’s why they got the exclusive on this one?

When I eventually got into the game I immediately noticed how familiar the controls are to Resident Evil 4, almost to the point you could be mistaken for thinking it’s an expansion of the previous chapter in the saga. The visuals are amazing, definately the best I’ve seen on the machine to date, crisp clear graphics which look like most of the cut scenes in RE4. The inventory works well, the weapons are acurate and so is the collision detection. Top notch stuff.

I really enjoy how you’re partnered up in this game with a rather foxy looking sprite called Sheva, it reminded me immediately of Resident Evil Zero where your partner follows you around intelligently and backs you up, heals you and kicks major arse. You seem to be able to supply them with pickups and all sorts in a bid to gain a tactical advantage over the enemies. Speaking of the enemies, so much controversy surrounded the fact that you’re shooting black people in this game (the game is set in Haiti apparently), it never ceases to amaze me really how quick the media are to demonise games. Where were the cries of outrage as you happily saunter around shooting white folk in the first 5 games eh, plus all the carnage you bring upon hispanics in Resident Evil 4? Oh well, we’ll gloss over that, the sheer fact is that whilst walking around in a shanty town, you get rushed by a raging hoard of zombie-like beings (who have the same sort of parasite it would appear as the Ganado’s in RE4). What are you gonna do, open up a politically correct dialogue with them and exchange gifts?

In summary, the demo was short and sweet and at the end I could feel my heart racing when trying to escape the hooded axe-wielding tyrant character (the axe is almost as big as the Eifle Tower); sadly you can’t kill him in the demo but rest assured I will be returning to blow the hood (and his head) clean off and finish the job!

This is most definately going to be my game of 2009, and I can’t wait till it comes out. If anyone wants information on how to get this working then leave me an e mail in a comment on this thread; you don’t need a modded machine in order to play it!

Capcom rules!

Guildwars – The continuing adventures of ‘Eat More Food’ and ‘The Antikrish’

Given that Alex and I have both started doing music again and partaking in the time honoured tradition of ordering take aways (eating enough for 4 people); Alex suggested that I borrow an unused copy of ‘Guildwars’ (thanks Josie!) and reignite our tradition for online gaming.

Al and I have enjoyed playing online games via our PC’s (PC stands for personal computer and not police constable in this instance) for yonks and yonks (a long time); often indulging in Unreal Tournament (bang bang), Diablo 2 (kerpow gadzooks) and my personal fave, Age of Empires 2 – The Conquerors Expansion (parp).

Guildwars is very much a natural progression from Diablo 2, an online role playing game with a self contained world full of magic, collectable items, monsters and sharpened sticks for gamers to throw at said nasties.

I was a little skeptical at first, given that my home desktops aren’t capable of playing hi-tech games because of their age; however I soon discovered that the laptop I had purchased in the States is more than capable of generating the online splendour that is Guildwars. Huzzah.

After a few hours in the game I quickly grew to like how relaxing it is. In short, It’s fantastic, and there’s no bloody fee either! Alex and I are typically ‘Indian’ in our reluctance to pay out a monthly fee for a game like Warcraft when Guildwars is pukka enough and did I mention it’s free?!?!

Anyway, I eventually returned Josie’s copy (hopefully she’ll team up with us at some point) and bought my own, created an own account and am now the proud owner of a level 7 warrior called…..yep, you guessed it, ‘The Antikrish’, Alex has a slightly higher level bald monk (can you see a theme here?) called ‘Eat More Food’ and together we are bringing justice to the realm!

Anyway, I’ll stick up some screenies and updates regarding our exciting adventures shortly. Should you fancy joining us then grab a copy HERE.

TIME TO DIE!!!!

EDIT : KEV – First piccy – ‘An unfortunate viewpoint?’

gw_sack1

Rainbow Six – Vegas 2 COMPLETED

Last week Dilli (ACE Clan leader) and I quite literally stormed through the online story mode of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (XBOX360 version). We did the majority of the game in one night, leaving 3 acts to polish up two days later. And I have to say I was pretty impressed. There was absolutely zero frame rate lag, it ran smoothly and I thought the lighting etc was top notch.

Speaking to friends on Xbox live regarding Vegas 2 most seem to have the opinion that it is just a very tweaked and polished version of the first game, and I’m inclined to agree; although to be fair I loved the first to death so a Vegas 2.1 is extremely welcome.

It still encompasses everything I like from the first game, add to that a new run feature (the previous game involved a lot of slow movement and careful planning, so the fact you can run at your opponents and break cover quickly mixes things up nicely). Effects on things like heat and night vision goggles are improved a great deal.

I have to say, the level design and online map structure is bloody fantastic, I genuinely take my hat off to the designers because they’re so well thought out and gave a completely fresh feel to the sequel compared to the very claustrophobic maps in the first game. I am also a huge fan of the aptly named ACE levelling system (I’ve been a member of the ACE clan since November 2004, so nice that they named it after us! HA!).

Anyway, there’s still a fair bit to crack in the game yet, the single player story mode will be fun to try, plus obviously there’s the online PvP modes of gaming, (with servers which don’t boast a particularly regular population; most likely due to the fact that everyone is either on Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV or Call of Duty 4) which is a shame because I really think the game is excellent and there are times I can’t be bothered with the online U.S.A. Vs U.K. bickering on Call of Duty 4. It’s not my fault you keep getting in the way of bullets you troublesome yank teens! Be quick or be dead!!!! God save the Queen etc.

Anyway, Rainbox Six Las Vegas 2 gets my official Antikrish endorsement. Buy it.

Antikrish – ACE Clan sharpshooter extraordinaire!

Yaaay! It’s my day off, having worked flat out 6:40am – 4:40pm Saturday and Sunday (overtime) I decided to take today as a days holiday and it’s effectively going to be my weekend! I woke up at 8am, sauntered down to Sainsbury’s at 9am and grabbed my food to begin my diet; yes folks, I’m as big as a house at the moment and it’s time to get back to being a svelte demi-god.

So apart from an imminent fiddle with the Danelectro (in practice for Wednesday) the rest of my day is going to be spent playing the xbox 360 with a few online buddies. I have just started playing again after a slight break (xmas time roughly due to a kaput xbox), I spent Saturday night online with a few members playing with my Clan, no not the Ku Klux Klan but the ACE clan. Big shout to Dilligaf, Kaka, Peds, Spanner and Ductapekiller. No we don’t wear white sheets and I didn’t make them up either!

Since buying my xbox a few years ago my favourite online game was Rainbow Six : Vegas (right up up until Call of Duty 4 came out at the end of 2007). Vegas was very much a thinking mans first person shooter (FPS) and I enjoyed sodding about with the ACE clan, having a few drinks and throwing C-4 around on a Friday night whilst exchanging tons of banter over our headsets. Call of Duty 4 is a different kettle of fish to Vegas, it’s awesome to the extreme. You can call in airstrikes, have chopper support if you have a string of kills without dying, fantastic stuff. Nothing funnier than ruining a few cocky American kids and having them go off crying to mommy when I’ve shot them through the eyeball with a sniper rifle. ‘KERPOW!’ “My bad!” (that was a joke, see previous Anti-rant entitled ‘My bad’).

So, I have decided to post a few threads about gaming, it’s something I’ve had a passion for since before I even started school; having a brother 7 years older than you with an Atari and a BBC Acorn Electron can do that to a guy, and I spent most of my youth in and out of gaming arcades. Subsequently I’m something of a hardcore gamer (yes, even at 30 years old), Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP and PC mainly, but I still like to play my Megadrive and Snes (more often than not on the PSP, emulation is a godsend thanks Al!!!)

More to follow today once I’ve tried out the new online multiplayer maps on COD4, and also sunk my teeth into Vegas 2 a bit more. Decisions decisions!!!