Cool Blog Bromandigo is a blog that has been created for a class that I am taking about video games. Though, this blog will also include my opinions on gaming and gaming tech that is open for viewers who are looking for some advice or evaluation on games that are played.
Ninja Gaiden was produced by Tecmo, and released in 1988. The game was originally released as an arcade cabinet, but after the boom that the NES started, it was ported over for home gaming in 1989. Watch out America, there's a ninja on the lose!
This game is about a young ninja name Ryu, who is seeking revenge for his father. For some odd reason, in the beginning of the game, Ryu's father goes into a life or death duel with another ninja and loses. Poor Ryu though has no clue, and doesn't find out until he searches his fathers room and finds a note. The note describes that he has most likely dies, and for him to go find an archaeologist named Dr. Smith in America. Your mission is to find two demon statues and separate them to stop total chaos on earth. Ryu though, wants his revenge.
The game is a side scroller where you control Ryu through 6 stages down the streets of America hacking and slashing your way through enemies. The game is really unique in it's self though. To start, I thought the graphics where extremely well done for the time of the release. Though a little dumbed down from the arcade version, the cinematic cut scenes were some of the first of it's time. These really helped grab the player, and bring him in to the story. Also, lets not forget the awesome beats that you get to jam to while hacking your way ninja style through anything that stands in you path. Hiiiiyaaaaah old school. The sound track is recognized, and enjoyed so much, it even had its own sound track released in Japan. (Ninja Gaiden Soundtrack)
But lets get to the bread and butter of this game, the difficulty. Now this was the game that was supposed to "make grown men cry". If you ask me though, the game is not that difficult at all. If you use the right power ups, and time your jumps correctly, the game is a piece of pie. To me the game even started to bore me with its game play. It was the story and bumping music that kept me in the zone to play. Now don;t get me wrong, the game does have its difficulties. Just in the first level alone, it took me a few tries to get past the boss. Also, those jumping boxers chased me up a sign and trapped me like a little ninja raccoon being chased by dogs. Sorry Ryu, you may know how to handle a blade, but I guess you cant teach a ninja how to survive on the streets.
In all though, I am a fan of the Ninja Gaiden series, so haters don't click send on that email quite yet. I have played the versions that have been released for the Xbox, and I did really enjoy pumping hours into those games. They were, if you ask me, at the level of difficulty to make some one cry tears of frustration. Also, they were very graphically bad ass. With the crazy spin moves and combos you can pull off, it really shows that Ryu is a force to be reckoned with. I guess you can teach a old ninja new tricks. Im even considering buying the new PlayStation Vita because the newest handled version of this game looks pretty sweet (Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus). but I do ask one question for the newer releases. Ryu, do you have to take off your entire leather costume just to use the bathroom?
Ryu, you look cool, but when a ninja's got to go, a ninja's got to go
Mega Man was developed by Capcom and released in 1988. The game is a sequel to the first Mega Man game by Capcom that was released in 1987. Both games were released for the NES. The game was originally named Rockman after the main character's name Rock, but being converted in to the battle android he is in the game made him mega, and thus Meag Man.
The plot of Mega Man 2 follows the plot of the other 7 Mega man games to follow the series. Talk about beating a dead horse, but looking at a lot of games that come out today, a non changing plot is not anything new. But 9 games (there are a total of 10 in the series but the 10th is actually different) with the same plot, really Capcom, really. The plot of Mega Man 2 is you are Mega Man, an android converted into a battle bot and created by Dr. Light. You were created to defeat Dr. Willy and his 8 Robot Masters. You must first defeat each Robot master individually before you can face Dr. Willy. Each Robot Master has their own unique area and level with it's own unique enemy's and dangers.
The game takes place in an unspecified year in the 21st century. Now this game makes me think a lot like the book 1984 by George Orwell. That is because the game's technology is very high tech, but nothing close to the technology that we really have in today's world. Just like in 1984, The future was really over estimated. Be careful Mega Man, big brother is watching.
You can see the ice blocks from Flash Man's level
and you can see the health bar.
There are a couple things that I really like about this game. The first is how each Robot Master has their own unique level. The changing environments add a new level of difficulty to the game that I really enjoy. For example, when facing Flash Man, his level is covered in areas that I assume are ice. That is, when you are on those areas you slide. This makes it hard to really maneuver and fight enemies. But, not every level is like that, this adds a level of "peak-a-boo surprise" to the game. Another thing that I really really like about this game is THE HEALTH METER! No more one hit wonders, hallelujah! I don't know if it is Mega Man's armor or what, really I don't care. I am just ecstatic about taking more than one hit and you die. With the health meter though, comes another part of the game. Not every enemy or trap deals the same amount of damage. I though this was something different in the types of games from that time. You can really see how this has enforced its way into a lot of games today. Like in the Halo series, one rocket can kill you, but one bullet wont.
This is a very challenging mix between a shooter and platform gamer. It's difficult game play though plus its new additions to the gaming world make Mega Man 2 a fun classic game to play.
Contra is a spray and pray run and gun shooter that was developed by Konami and released in 1987. The game was originally released as an arcade cabinet, but later re-released for the NES one year later in 1988. If you ask me, this is game that will make any one quite with a controller flying through the air in an instant.
The plot of the game is the plot of pretty much every shooter. You control a commando, or commandos if playing two player, and your mission is to stop a terrorist group who is plotting to take over the world. It's a little cheesy, but very much the style of that generation. What I mean by that is, looking at a lot of comic books that came out around that time; a lot had the plot of one super hero against an evil mastermind plotting against the world. So the game fits very well with its plot for the time.
This game though is hard to say the least. unlike a lot of today's FPS style games, after one hit in Contra, you are dead. After 4 lives, it's game over. With enemies and turrets all over the place, shooting every which way, it is hard enough to get past the first area. Even with the power ups that they give you, it is pretty much impossible to go through an area with out losing a life.
The only way I was able to even get past the first area was using the Contra code, or better known as the Konami Code. This is a code that is in every Konami game (I think), but don't quote me there. Using the code at the start menu, before you choose one or two player, will give you 30 lives in the game. With a cushion like that, it makes running through the game a lot easier. Also, with out a limited ammo count you can literally "run and gun" in this side scroller.
The Konami Code
Even though this is one of the games that makes me agro quite the most (really what game doesn't tick me off to that point though), I really enjoy this game. I guess that is because this game make me feel really accomplished when I just get past the first stage. Watching that classic explosion anime when you blow your way through a level just makes me jump for joy. Hip Hip Hooray for making a grown man jump for joy...
Another thing I really like about this game is how it is not just in 2-D like the others before. In Contra, you move up and down the terrain. This actually makes you think because you can move and dodge different areas and, wait for it.... you can shoot more than just straight! This is crazy right! this also adds a level of strategy in the game.
But you can really see the influence that this game has had on a lot of today's FPS games. For instance, in most FPS games you have or can pick up different weapons with different effects. In Contra, you can pick up upgrades that either upgrade your weapon your temporally make you invincible. You can see this in game like Call of Duty when you switch classes for the different effects of the class, or in Halo 3 when you use bubble shields or invisibility.
Altogether, Contra is a fun game that has influenced today's FPS style games.
The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters is a documentary about the great battle between Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe for the Donkey Kong high score world record. The film was directed by Seth Gordon and released in 2007.
The plot of this movie is about Steve Wiebe, a man who only wants to be recognized. Steve, in his youth, was an extremely talented young man. But the day that he failed to take his high school baseball team to a winning state game, it all started to go down hill. After that fateful day, Steve began to believe that he couldn't live up to the standards he believed people set for him. after Steve was laid off from a new job, he had a lot of time on his hands, so he made a goal. That goal was to set a new world record in a game called Donkey Kong.
This movie is full of twists and turns through the competitive world of gaming. Steve works for a title, but Billy Mitchell dose not want to give that up. At the time, Mitchell held the world record for both Donkey Kong and Centipede.
This movie really just ticked me the ef off. Billy Mitchell is probably the biggest prick I have ever seen in the world. All that Steve wanted was to be recognized, all he wanted to do was to show people he was not a failure. But Billy Mitchell tried his best to shoot all of Steve's hopes and dreams down. For example, in the movie, Steve travels thousands of miles to compete against Mitchell several times. The only time that Mitchell ever does show his prick face though, he completely ignores Steve, and blatantly insults him. I mean really man, come on, you cant show a little sportsmanship! instead you have to be a complete a-hole just because one guy comes up and challenges you.
Mitchell also believes himself to be "perfect". He specifically makes that obvious during the movie. In my own personal opinion, no body is perfect. Everyone is their own person, this makes them their unique individual. Also, if people were perfect, then they couldn't learn from there mistakes, and humans would not make any progress in life. But that is my opinion. Because Mitchell believes he is "perfect", he believe that he is better than everyone else. He looks down on every one as insignificant towards himself. This smirk "my sh*t don't stink" attitude just really pushes me off the ledge. This guy really deserves to be punched in the face.
Everything does work out for the best in the end of the movie though. But I wont worry the movie for you guys.
If you ask me, it all wasn't worth it in the end. Steve did get all he wanted, and was recognized for his hard work. Mitchell though, still tried to reclaim his title in a never ending battle with Steve.... Until 2011 when Hank Chien from New York set current Donkey Kong world record... In your face Mitchell!
Here is the movie for anyone who would like to watch it though. Enjoy!
Super Mario Bros. 3 is the third Super Mario Bros. game of the series. It was published by Nintendo and released in Japan in 1988 and in the U.S in 1990. The game was a platform game designed for the NES, like the first two Mario's before hand. Game play of Super Mario Bros. 3 was even featured in the Universal Picture's "The Wizard". Mario is really beginning to take the spot light.
Now the plot of this games is a lot like the plot in the first two, I know big shocker. But the difference is you are saving multiple kidnapped rulers. You, as Mario (and Luigi if playing multiplayer), embark on a mission in behalf of Princess Peach. Your mission, if you wish to accept, is to go across the 7 distinct lands and rescue the king corresponding to each land. Each king has been kidnapped by a different child of Bowser. the koopalings. You must defeat Bowser and his children while saving the 7 kings. This message will self destruct in T-minus 5..4..3..2..1... Cue spy music, Mission Impossible: Super Mario Brothers III...just kidding. but that is the plot of the game in a nut shell.
One of the major differences in this third installment of Super Mario Bros. is the different power ups and ability suits. These add some unique differences in the style people play the game. Looking at the picture to the left is one example. Finding a Super Leaf in the game gives Mario a raccoon tail, which give the player the ability to some what fly for a short period of time (when did flying and raccoon EVER relate in the same picture? I have no idea what Nintendo was thinking there). Other abilities such as the frog suit and hammer bros. ability gave Mario certain advantages as well. Another Major difference is mini bosses in each world. These mini bosses are hammer bosses that travel the world as you move across the world as well. These random encounters where difficult but also rewarding. You can see this style of game play in games such as Finale Fantasy.
Now what I really like about this game are the distinct 7 worlds. Each world is different from the others. For example, world 2 is a desert world and the levels are sandy and have a different environment. Then the fourth world is a giant world, that is all the enemies are larger than Mario. this adds a crazy level of difficulty to the game which requires the gamers to adjust their playing skills to the environment of the game. You see a lot of game play like this in a lot of today's game releases and popular games. For example in a lot of MMO's, like World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings Online, have different areas in their world. With each unique area, comes its own unique enemies and challenges. So you can really see the impact that this type of game play made in today's gaming world. Another really big factor of the game that you see in pretty much every RPG style game today is item storage. When playing the game, you can come across areas that are mini games and you can win prizes. These prizes, most the time, are item that are given to you to help you in your adventure. When you are choosing levels and moving across the game world, you can access theses items by pressing the B button. This really sets in motion the idea of saving certain items "in case of emergencies". For example, you can either use the frog suit to make yourself into big boy Mario, so you can take 3 hits instead of one. Or you can save the suit until you reach an underwater level, where the suit allows Mario to swim much faster than normal. This forces players to plan ahead.
Another thing I like about the game is the multiplayer. When you play with a friend. he or she plays as Luigi as you play as Mario. You each take a turn defeating levels to move across the map. Now i like this because if you are playing Mario and defeat a level, the level marker gets replaced by a M and a L if you are Luigi. Now it is probably just my competitive nature, nut i really like how it adds the factor of competing with a friend to see who is "better" at the game.
One thing that I don't like about the game though, is that it makes me think of a board game. As you can see in the pick levels and advance in each world by moving along set paths and defeating each level. Now I guess this isn't really any different than any other game ever developed. You beat a level you move on. I guess I just hate that fact that when you lose all your lives, you have to go all the way back to the beginning and re-beat all the levels all over again. it;s so frustrating it usually makes me agro force quit.
Altogether though, I love this game. As a kid growing up with a NES, I played this game more than any other game that I owned at the time. All of its unique differences, competitive nature, and hidden secrets (lots of hidden areas, item, and keys just like the first one) really make a great game style. If you want to have some fun, go click my link to this game. You will begin to see where so many of today's games received their infrequence's from.
I have updated a few of the blogs (Super Mario Bros., Galaga, and Pac-Man). I am trying to include more of my personal opinion on the games. I hope you like my thoughts and ideas. Any comments will be very great full
Super Mario Bros. was published by Nintendo and released in 1985. The game was a platform game designed to be played on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This sequel, to the game Mario Bros. released in 1983, became so popular that people specifically purchased a NES just to play the game.
Nothing like cleaning up the "Stank" of the Big Apple.
But whats with the fire in the sewers...He must of had Indian food ...
Super Mario Bros. would set into motion the story plot that has not changed in Super Mario games in the past 30 years. The objective of the game (even though I am sure that every person in the world today should know this) is that you are Mario, and Luigi if playing multiplayer, an Italian mustacheod plummer. The great Princess Toadstool (aka Princess Peach) has been captured by the King Koopa (aka Bowser, who is a play on the dragon-turtle demon form Japanese folklore for those who didn't know.) and your job is to rescue her. Now this is the same plot that has been in every Super Mario Game pretty much ever created. What I don't get though is where did this plot come from. This is a sequel to Mario Bros, and for anyone who has not played Mario Bros., all you do is run around in the sewers (that are suppose to be staged in underground New York City) and jump on the heads of enemies to "clean up the city", since you are plummer(s) of course. I guess they could of just "jolted up" the plot form Donkey Kong, with Jumpman and his girlfriend, but it just doesn't make sense to me to do that as a sequel to a game with a totally different plot...oh well. Even though its not the "Big Apple", you run through the Mushroom Kingdom, from castle to castle, to save the princess.
Now this game is the definition of easter eggs. It was one of the first, but not the last, to surround its game play with secrets and fun hidden locations. For example, in level 1-2 you can pretty much skip over half of the level by breaking a ceiling block and just running across the ceiling to the end of the level. This is not only a fun way to let players try to "break" the game, but it would also lead to warp pipe zone that allowed players to skip ahead in the game.
Its kind of small, but the first red circle is wear you can get on top of the level, and the second is the warp zone.
Another fun little easter egg, in the same level, is the minus world. The minus world is a glitch in the game. By glitching your way through the wall into the warp zone, instead of reaching it from the top, you get sent to a never ending underwater level named world -1. This is never ending because it's not suppose to exist, and the players literally break the game. The game doesn't know what to do, so it just throws this world at you for a quick fix.
Now this "hide the easter egg" game play works perfect for this game, and lives in every Mario game to come. It really lets players have the excitement of trying new things with in the game, and gives great re-play ability. Besides the fun game play, another thing that brings gamers into this game is it music. I swear to you this games theme is like crack cocaine. For some odd reason, the real die hard Mario fans try there best to go great lengths for this music. More than for the game itself! You can type "Super Mario theme song on" in Youtube and find millions of videos. Why do people like this music so much? I have no clue, its 1:14 am right now and i'm jamming to it while typing this myself... I know my life is so exciting.
This guy is not only playing the beginning blind folded, but forward to 9:15 to see some crazy fast hands
You find people playing this theme on guitars, sting instruments, brass instruments, pianos, even bottles and a remote control car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZtBeiGO5MA)!
I personally really like this game, and the games franchise. Though really hard to play on just a keyboard, this classic holds a place in my gaming soul. Though it can be really frustrating! If you don't land on an enemy dead center, it's bye bye Mario... this can make the game really frustrating to the point of chucking something at the wall, or just angry force quitting. But trying to find hidden ares really makes up for it, at least to me. I know I cant be the the only one that does the little "Mario squat" on every pipe I can find. And as I said with the music, I can play this game for hours on end with a smile still on my face. The best part is that the levels (though kinda of the same) ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Unlike Galaga or Space Invaders, you are not doing the same level over and over again. Each level is different in some way, and hold their own individual secrets. Finally, a game my attention span likes!
This game, along with all of its other releases, are Nintendo's real name. The music, games, clothing franchise, and all of the above are what make Super Mario Bros. into the legacy it is today. This game is a throw back that will always be fun to play. But if you ask me, Nintendo is just a huge drug lord, and we are all pretty addicted. So now, i'm going to get Mario fix... if you know what I mean.
Galaga was published by Namco in Japan and Midway in the United States. It was released in 1981 as a sequel to the 1979 release of Galaxian. Galaga has been an extremely popular title ever since its release. It has been remade dozens of times for many different gaming consoles. It was even used by PlayStation as a side game during the loading screens of 1995's Tekken.
The objective of Galaga is one that is probably loved by all Entomophobiacs (people with a phobia against insects). That is, you are a space fighter who's solemn goal is to destroy every last one of these space insects! Why there are giant space insets...I have no idea, maybe they didn't want to infringe on something, or the producer hated insects, we may never know. But destroying these "space invaders" scores you points, and you want as many of those as you can get.
You can see above the insect style enemies, along with their
ensnaring tractor beams.
Now you may of caught my little play on words there. The game is a lot like the game I have posted about before, Space Invaders. That is because it basically is. I know big shocker right, a popular space shooter in the early 80's...when space shooters were one of like 5 styles of game play at the time. Well, this is also because the game Galaxian, that was prequel to Galaga, was designed to compete with Space Invaders. At the time of these game's release, patents were not very widely used.
So it is quite obvious now where the game got its influence from. Besides some major copy right infringements on Taito Corps. (think if Galaga never did come out because of this...mind blower), if patents were used at the time, Galaga is a lot of fun to play. The game is a little difficult without a joy stick, but the style of game play works very well. With the addition of falling enemies and tractor beams, after playing Space invaders, you can see the challenge of the game. This adds a level of excitement to the game that becomes very addicting. The game also has a style of play that began to become very popular all the way up to today's generation of games, that is to lose to win. I know that doesn't make much sense, if you lose how are you suppose to win? The answer is in the tractor beam! "captain it is useless, we are caught in their tractor field" bum bum bummmmmmm... When you your ship becomes captured in an enemies tractor beam, you lose a ship [a life], but your ship gets carried behind the enemy ship. When this happens, you have the chance to shoot down that enemy and re gain that ship. If you do this, you not only regain a ship, but you increase the damage and capabilities of your current ship! This can even double your ship's firepower. So as I said, to lose to win. You lose your ship, with the possibility of winning more power at that expense.
The is also a game that is very pleasing both visually and in the ways of how it sounds. The different sounds as the enemies fall and the tractor beams become active, along with the many different colors and flashing colors, attract people to the game. This works very well for the game because during the game's release, it was produced in arcade cabinets, so the games colors and sounds would attract customers. this increased productivity and revenue.
Though personally I don't really like the game. Well it's not that I don't like the game, it's more I cant play it for more than 10 min. Just like Space Invaders, the repetitiveness of the games just shuts down the fun zone of my brain. those first 10 min though, are still fun don't get me wrong. 11 min is just pushing my attention span though.
As I stated earlier, the game is still a lot of fun to play (before 11 min). I found the increased difficulty of kamikaze enemies, tractor beams, and losing to win game play a great advance in the changes of the styles of games in gaming history.
One last little fun fact, Galaga is even become so extensively popular that Namco celebrated its 30th aniversy, even though they did not for Galaxian. The game is another video game and arcade classic.
