Ben-DutkaWell, Monday is my birthday but…well, you stop looking forward to birthdays after 30. 😉
Deus Ex: Human Revolution not getting enough respect
Granted, we haven't seen any gameplay just yet and one can argue the series has only gone downhill since the original became a big-time phenomenon on the PC. But I've very much enjoyed all my Deus Ex experiences and the upcoming Human Revolution looks and sounds fantastic. It's great to hear the developers are holding tight to the "core values" that made this franchise so damn good to begin with. I must also refer you back to the debut trailer that really got me psyched. Yes, we most certainly need gameplay footage before we can pass further judgment but the concept alone is enough for me to be very, very excited. Many have likely forgotten the days when the name "Deus Ex" immediately evoked a smile and a "man, that game was awesome " reflection, or if they haven't forgotten, the feeling has faded.
I accept that. But while there are plenty of potential masterpieces slated for 2011, you really shouldn't ignore Human Revolution . It wouldn't surprise me at all if it ended up being one of the best games of next year.
L.A. Noire has a lot to live up to
I only say this because we've waited quite a long time, and Team Bondi has been making some fairly bold claims in 2010. Most recently, we've heard more about the Motion Scan technology they're utilizing for L.A. Noire , and it sounds pretty damn impressive. The part that struck me is the interrogation aspect of the gameplay; the fact that Motion Scan will allow you to read the "tells" of a suspect to see if they might be lying. How cool is that? We all know what Heavy Rain has done for the industry and if the developers do their jobs correctly, L.A. Noire might be another step in the realm of interactive story-telling. Obviously, it won't embrace the revolutionary "no game over" philosophy in Quantic Dream's game, but the more designers can immerse their audience in the virtual experience, the better off we'll be. I still have my reservations for Team Bondi and this game here, but it could very well be excellent. And maybe, just maybe, something special…
Personal gaming update
I finally started playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 . I might do an article when I'm finally done with it (or far enough along where I can make an accurate assessment) but for now, let me just say this- firstly, as I don't own a Wii and I'm really only used to playing the best of the best, I didn't realize how spoiled I was – visually – until I started SMG2. I mean, I was expecting like Joe Danger quality in terms of HD color and style. But I sort of forgot the Wii isn't much more than the GameCube. So that was sort of jarring. But anyway, I got involved in the game and it works out well; I like it a lot, and the endless imagination of the developers is what stands out. You just never feel as if you're doing the same thing twice. That's absolutely great; I love continuing freshness and creativity.
…I guess I just don't get how it's a 10 or even a 9+ game. I mean, I'm sure it is, provided we're only counting the Wii's library. But if I have to compare this to Uncharted 2 , MGS4, Heavy Rain , Killzone 2 , Gears 2 , God of War III , etc…I mean, you can't even make that comparison, IMO. It's like one set consists of games from today and the other is a freshly styled version of the way video games were 15 years ago. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, either. I just think it needs to be said.
Might get Alan Wake for my birthday. If I do, I'll have to put SMG2 on hold to play it…don't hold it against me if I don't back to SMG2. 😉 I probably will, though.
