Glorious Month for Glorious Japan !!

Okay, so, a shitton of new games came out this month, and since I make a living selling them I had to get "caught up", aka play them enough to get the general jist, the main scope of this blog got put on hold for a moment.

That being said, I figured I'd make a post giving a brief synopsis on these new titles since I guess people read this thing and care. Also content. Contentpost follows:

Heavy Rain

Basically it's exactly what all of the reviews have posted, and yet none of them got it 100%. This is the kind of game that doesn't convey itself very well in words, so there's no "it's like x and y had a baby" comparisons to be had (note: there will be one of those comparisons later in this post, see if you can spot it!). If you've played Indigo Prophecy, the game studio Quantic Dream created prior to this one, you have a much better idea of what you're in for: high-quality graphics and sound, exactly enough player control to serve the purpose (the case against the game's quick-time events is overstated), and a "wtf" ending. It represents an early beta on what storytelling in a game can do and how it can be done, but as a standalone title it is not the monolithic Way Forward we all hoped for. Play it anyway.

Final Fantasy XIII

Continuing the list of games that are not the monolithic Way Forward their fans thought it'd be, but play pretty damn nicely anyway, is this gem. It plays fun, it looks great, and the story and characters are the first to make me give a shit since Final Fantasy VI (and most of why I play this series out of commitment to this blog, not out of any personal enjoyment). Of course internet opinion is just that, and mine is one of many, so it's something that people should play as they play Heavy Rain: with an open mind, free of burden of expectation. Seriously guys, stop comparing Lightning to Cloud, just because they're named after weather phenomena doesn't mean this game has to suck as bad as VII.

To be fair? I haven't beaten it yet, or set foot on Pulse for that matter, but even if the combat doesn't develop any further, I still care about the story and characters enough to see it through. Maybe it doesn't need to be God's gift to gaming.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

Well I'd love to share my feelings about this one but A decided she'd rather play it instead. Maybe if we get enough replies in this post's comment box she'll post a review.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon

Like Ico and Silent Hill had a baby. Well I guess that doesn't quite sum it up, because the portions of each game this one cribs are subtler than that. It does successfully homogenize the atmosphere and utilitarianism of both: there is almost no fat whatsoever to the mechanics of this game, and (sans voice acting) everything is polished to a 480p shine. Some of the scenery left me begging for this game to be redone in high-def, but I imagine I'll have to get in line behind everyone who wants the Final Fantasy VII remake. Seriously, fuck you guys.

Oh, and I played Bioshock, so I guess I need to review that. I'll make another post later in the day. Maybe.

- E