thegodofwine7 Blog

Top 10 Obscure DC Characters That Should Be In Injustice: Gods Among Us

2013-05-18T00:22:00Z

Injustice is a great game, with rock-solid mechanics, an expansive story mode, great alternative modes to extend the fun, and a heck of a cast. With the recent announcements of Lobo and Batgirl, it appears NetherRealm Studios is open to bringing new fighters into the arena. While there are plenty of well-known characters they could bring in (Dr. Zod will be next, calling it now!), here are ten characters that you may not have heard of that I think would make an excellent addition to the cast.

Is he peeing lasers?

Adam Strange: Although he has never received his own run, Adam Strange has been deeply involved in the DC mythos since 1959. First appearing in issue #17 of Showcase, Adam Strange has been mentioned on and off throughout the ages, and almost became a member of the Justice League, before an astute reader wrote in explaining that it would have been impossible for them to know about him, since most of his exploits take place on the planet Rann. Adam has a sweet jetpack that also fires lasers, carries a pair of blast guns (whatever those are) and can generate his own solid-light equipment. He could provide mobility and ranged combat in spades, and would make a great fit to the cast.

Pictured: Not Spider-Woman

Aura: She definitely isn’t the best-known DC hero, but Morgan DuBay, the model-turned-superhero known as Aura, would make an excellent cast memeber for Injustice. In addition to her superior hand-to-hand skills, which she proved as part of the Protectors, she has the ability to generate various color fields that have a variety of effects. Since she can basically do anything with her dazzling color display, NetherRealm could take her powerset in almost any direction, and she could provide a much-needed change of pace from the drab color palattes of most everybody else. Note: She is not to confused with the Raver version of Aura (alias Lindsay Wah). This chick is actually cool.

Time Trapper: Man, he looks awesome! Tell me you don’t want to play as that guy, even if all you know about him is that picture and the fact that his name is Time Trapper. Well, it turns out he brings the chops to hold his own in battle as well. Obviously, his powers all revolve around the manipulation of time. While he can’t technically alter events in the present, he can open up seperate “pockets” of time, and I’m sure the people who thought up Baraka can find someway to pull his skillset off. We need Time Trapper, consequences be damned!

Pictured: Not Batgirl

Nightshade: Originally created as a partner to Captain Atom, Nightshade had mostly been relegated to cameos before becoming a permanent member of the Suicide Squad. Nightshade has the power to manipulate darkness in a variety of ways, and can even morph into a 2D shadow version of herself. Tell me that wouldn’t be perfect in a video game, I dare you. She is a cool female character with an awesome moveset; I can’t think of any reason why she wouldn’t make a perfect addition to the roster.

Rama: Rama, based off the Hindu god of the same name, is probably the most ready-made for Injustice character on here. He has melee weapons in his giant axe and magical sword, he has a trademark bow that shoots flaming arrows for ranged combat, and he has god-level hand-to-hand combat skills. The best part about him, however, is his gift-wrapped super move. When damaged, Rama grows horns and two extra arms, heals himself and unleashes a blast that destroys everything in the immediate area. Yeah, he’s ready for the big leagues.

Oh yeah, he has a ghost horse also.

Gentleman Ghost: If there is one character from this list that I would pick if given the power, it would without a doubt be Gentleman Ghost. A perennial Hawkman and Hawkgirl (who is already in the game) foe, Gentleman Ghost can harness energy projection, is capable of teleportation and is even an expert marksman with his flintlock pistols. He’s perfect. He made an appearance on The Brave and The Bold once, and held his own in hand-to-hand combat with Batman and Deadman simultaneously. Oh, and I’m not sure I mentioned this, but he is a Gentleman Ghost. He has been around for quite awhile, but he has never really got the face time that he deserves. It’s time to change that.

You don’t want to know where he keeps the Heart of Darkness

Eclipso: First off, it should be noted that Eclipso is a personification of the Wrath of God. If that isn’t a sufficient resume to get on a fighting game, I just don’t know what is. Shall I tick off his powers? Okay: Super strength, super speed, super intelligence, power over weather, possession, energy manipulation, advanced sword skills with his unbreakable sword; I could go on, but what’s the point? He also carries around his trademark gem the Heart of Darkness, which allows him to shoot lasers out his eye and take control of whoever it comes into contact with. I smell a super move!

Chemo: Chemo may not have a lot of things that the other heroes have, like name recognition, a wide suite of powers or at least average intellect, but he can shoot out any volatile chemical he wants at any time, and is a worthy hand-to-bionic claw combatant. He aslo has regenrative powers, which should serve to make him a very durable fighter. Who cares if his name is maudlin, nobody knows who he is and he would probably be super hard to animate? I want him. Isn’t that enough to justify all the hard work with no assured payoff?

Gosh, look how cool he is…

Prince Evillo: 1) He has the greatest name of any comic character ever. It’s really no surprise he turned out to be a bad guy. 2) He wields a vast array of magical powers, giving him large versatility as a character. 3) He can siphon the evil from other bad guys and use it to turn good guys evil. How awesome is that? 4) HIS NAME IS PRINCE EVILLO. Wasn’t sure if I mentioned that. 5) In addition to his magical powers, he can grow horns that give him the power of hypnosis. Geez, he was created for this game! Please, NetherRealm, please make this happen.

Black Lightning: Created in 1977, Black Lighting was one of the first African-American superheroes to grace the pages of a comic book. Sadly, he doesn’t do much outside of the superhero norm. He is an accomplished martial artist who can fly and harness force fields, but who can’t these days, right? But he is called Black Lightning, he looks awesome and he saved Superman’s life once by acting as a human defibrillator. That has to count for something, right?

{Leviathyn}

4 Smash Bros. Stages That We Need To Experience

2013-05-13T17:43:00Z

Full disclosure: I’m a huge Smash Bros. fan. I must have played 10,000 matches easy on the N64 version, and have put an embarrassing amount of time into Brawl. The basic formula is so good: Take a bunch of characters people already know and love, and let them beat the crap out of each other. What’s not to love?

While my enthusiasm for the Wii U hasn’t exactly reached fever pitch, I do want to play a Smash Bros. in HD. Badly. I’ve already shared my thoughts on some characters I would love to see in the next installment, but why not go a step farther and look at some stages that should totally be in the Wii U Smash Bros. Nintendo has been doing fine on the stage front so far without my help, but what the heck. I want these.

Bowser’s Castle

Bowser is already a given for the roster, so why haven’t we seen his crazy castle yet? It would be perfect; while I’m not the biggest fan of scrolling stages, I doubt Nintendo is scrapping them. Might as well make them fun, right? I imagine Bowser’s Castle as a sort of puzzle, very much in the vein of the (awesome) WarioWare stage from Brawl. Forcing you to make quick movements and swift thinking, along with trying to participate in the battle around you, the Castle could stop at intervals to throw even more dangers at you. And of course the always present threat of lava would serve to keep you on your toes.

I like the idea of creative obstacles in a stage, and it’s hard to imagine a better setting for that than Bowser’s Castle. Thwomps, fireballs and that crazy light-ball from Super Mario 3 are all legitimate threats that could be thrown at you. Of all the stages I have listed here, this one seems the most likely.

The Lost Woods

One of my favorite recurring stages in the Nintendoverse has got to be Link’s old nemesis The Lost Woods. A Zelda stalwart since the original debuted on the NES, the Lost Woods have played an integral part in the Zelda mythos. It has also frustrated a large number of gamers for hours. It’s time we brought that magic into a Smash Bros. title.

It seems like a match made it heaven. I imagine a stage in constant flux, always morphing and constantly separating and reuniting players at key intervals. Who knows, maybe one of the players could even run into the Master Sword, but watch out for bandits! They have been known to roam around these parts. I’m shocked that the Lost Woods hasn’t made an appearance in the series yet, so perhaps this isn’t so far-fetched.

Nintendo History Lesson

While I loved the Pictochat level in Brawl, it raised a good point. Obviously Nintendo hardware can make for an engaging stage, so why not exacerbate the idea into a trip down Nintendo memory lane? Starting with the NES, Nintendo can wind us through a dynamic stage that travels through the Game Boy, SNES, N64 and beyond. Having Tetris blocks falling on you during a match sound hilarious, and the SNES is bursting with cool properties. It would be a lot of work, but how great would it be if you got to turn into an 8-bit version of yourself in a NES themed world?

Nintendo’s history is obviously ripe with ideas, but I guess certain licenses could be a problem. I don’t care; I just want it to happen. Regardless, the number of in-house assets alone would be plenty, although I’m not sure if I would want a Virtual Boy incarnation. I’m pretty sure it causes dementia. I’ll admit the likelihood is not great, but it would be so sweet.

The Inside of a Poké Ball

We’re already inundated with Pokémon stages, characters and assists, so why not take the next step. I’ve always wanted to know what goes on inside the Poké Ball. Is it like some fantasy world in there? The Pokémon just goes into his dream, Pokéception, if you will, and experiences whatever he wants to? Or is it just a sterile environment for the Pokémon to hang out in, complete with food, water, a treadmill and the collected works of Mark Twain. I don’t know, but I want to find out.

Of course, it begs the question of what form does one take inside a Poké Ball? Are you just really small, or do you become some ethereal being trapped in Pokéhell? These are serious questions, and I want Nintendo to address them. I’m certain that Nintendo (the person) is reading this, so the likelihood is high that we will see the likely ghastly insides of a Poké Ball next Smash Bros.

I’m serious about these. I want them. Do you have a particularly cool idea for a stage in the next Smash Bros.? Drop me a line in the comment box and let me know what you think.

{Leviathyn}

4 IPs That Need Game Adaptations (And Who Should Make Them)

2013-05-10T18:32:00Z

I love an original IP as much as the next guy, but it’s always nice to see a loved movie or book turned into a good game. Of course, just because the original idea is great doesn’t mean that it can automatically be turned into a critical darling. Batman is a great example of how to do it. Superman 64 is a great example how not to.

In that spirit, here are five properties from other media I would like to see turned into (hopefully good) games. Going a step further, I also brainstormed the developers I would ideally like to work on them. They may never happen, but here they are:

“The Dark Tower”-BioWare: If any intellectual property deserves a game, it has to be Stephen King’s fantasy epic The Dark Tower. BioWare has already shown they excel at cinematically telling one man’s story with Mass Effect, and applying those lessons to Roland of Gilead sounds like the perfect match-up. Being a gunslinger is an incredibly awesome-sounding proposition, and with a crew of awesome party members built right into the fiction.

However, the heart of the Dark Tower series is the incredible story contained within. After seeing how BioWare effortlessly handled the Star Wars property, I can’t imagine them making anything less than a masterpiece if they had The Gunslinger to work with. Stephen King has had a history of defending video games in the past, so a Dark Tower video game is very much a possibility…someday.

“Hunger Games”-Naughty Dog: While I’m not the just the biggest fan of The Hunger Games books, the core idea of a dozen teenagers brutally murdering each other could be turned into a great game. Just imagine an open world game populated by only you, and the handful of people out to kill you. The trick is finding a developer who can handle both the story and gameplay mechanics, and Naughty Dog is the team to do it.

No ideas here on how they should handle it, but I wouldn’t want to see a remake of the books or movies. An original plot set within the Hunger Games world, written by the great team at Naughty Dog, could have a chance at being really good. There is absolutely no chance Naughty Dog would do it, so, if we do ever see a Hunger Games game, I’m doubt it will move beyond the standard licensed games fare.

“House”-Telltale Games: The adventure genre is very much alive and kicking, and a lot of that is due to the valiant efforts of Telltale Games. They have handled properties such as Back to the Future and The Walking Dead, but I would like to see a medical adventure game, one with ripe characters, a good sense of humor and an intelligent design. Enter House, a marquee character that you could totally wrap a series around.

Every episode these people are exploring someone’s house, looking for the clue to some medical mystery. It’s perfect! Of course getting Hugh Laurie on board would be necessary, because a fake House would not work at all, but just imagining trying to solve puzzles while House barks sarcastic put-downs has me excited in a masochistic sort of way. Not sure about the likelihood of this one, but I need some House in my video game life.

“Archer”-Valve: I’d love to see a great Family Guy game, and I’m really excited about the upcoming South Park RPG, but if there is one cartoon I would love to see turned into a game, it would be Archer. It presents the perfect blend of action, stealth and humor for a great game. And who would I trust to deftly mix those elements into a winner? The best company making games today: Valve. Not only do they have the cachet to reel in the actual voice actors, and possibly the show’s assets, they have the development chops to really make this work.

It makes me giddy thinking about what Valve could do with such an awesome property. H. Jon Benjamin is one of the funniest guys walking around the planet right now, and the thought of him collaborating with Vavle is probably too good to be true. But hey, a guy can dream right? It’s not like Half-Life 3 is coming anytime soon.

Are there any properties you would like to see turned into games, or companies you would like to see design them? Drop a line with your thoughts.

{Leviathyn}

The 7 Most Brutal Drownings In Video Games

2013-05-07T16:17:00Z

Part of the allure of video game is doing things you would never be able to do in real life. You know, things like taking out a rival sniper from 100 yards, chain-sawing a man-sized bug in half or…drowning?

Some video game deaths are comical. These, on the other hand, are the most brutal drownings you’ll find on consoles. Sweet dreams tonight!

7. Grand Theft Auto III: The first time you actually played Grand Theft Auto III, it was life changing. You had total control. Rockstar created this huge, open world for you to roam at whim, and that novelty was more than enough to keep players invested for hours in Liberty City. Part of the mystique of the game was exploring its many nooks and crannies.

So invariably, one of the first things you would do is grab a car, and start immediately high-tailing it around town. Eventually, you’ll find yourself at a dock. (I have a theory that, somehow, everybody ended up at the exact same dock. The game temporally distorts itself or something.) And of course, the only thing to do is speed off of said dock into the ocean. As far as you can go. You’ll lose the car, but you can swim back, right?

Wrong. Poor Claude (yep, that’s his name) can do a lot of things, but swimming isn’t one of them. Poor *** just sits there, morosely, as the water pours into the vehicle, and he slowly sinks beneath the bay. That’s the worst part; he just accepts his watery grave with a peacefulness I find a trifle unnerving. Then, like a nightmare, he wakes up at the hospital. Again.

6. Final Fantasy VII: It isn’t gory graphics or terrifying visuals that make this drowning brutal, it’s the situation it happens in. The only time you can drown in this game is during the optional boss fight with Emerald Weapon. Not only is she absurdly hard, but you have a twenty minute to deplete her million-point hit bar. Apparently Cloud and Co. can hold their breath for quite a while.

The worst part is that, if you make it twenty minutes, you already have figured out a successful strategy. She makes short work of most people, but it can be done. Because of her high HP, you need to wage a war of attrition, however, always that drowning timer is looming. And just when you think she has to be almost dead, you die. There’s no dramatic drowning FMV or anything, you are just sent back to the start menu.

Of all the deaths on this list, this is perhaps the most disheartening. You pour your heart and soul into beating that creature, only to be humiliated not by her lasers, but by your own lungs. Unless you get the Underwater material. You know where that is, right?

5. Worms: For such a cute and charming game about adorable, tiny worms working out their differences, Worms is excruciatingly violent. In addition to blowing each other up with explosive ordinance, shooting each other with Uzis and launching sheep at one another, you can use the environment to drown each other.

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And oh how satisfying it is, if you are on the giving side. However, the other side of the coin shows a terrifying scene. You are forced to watch, paralyzed by fear, as your killer slowly inches his way towards you, and your doom. The method of delivery could be anything from a gentle prod to a baseball bat to the head, but the end result is always the same.Drowning. Notice the worms don’t even try to swim. Of course, they have no arms or legs, but that’s beside the point. They just look up at the world they are leaving behind, as they sink to the depths.

4. Tomb Raider: Lara Croft is one of the most iconic video game heroines ever. She is smart, able, powerful and, above all, willful, woman who proved that not all females are in need of rescuing. That makes it so much more startling when she brutally drowns…sometimes in her own pool.

I admit it, I did it. When I first explored Croft Manor and found Lara’s sweet pool, the first thing I did was promptly see if you can drown yourself in it. Spoiler alert: You totally can. Watching beautiful, young Lara choke on a lack of oxygen wasn’t exactly easy to watch. In that vein, here’s a montage of some brutal Lara Croft deaths, including a few bonus drownings.

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That is just difficult to watch. Seriously, did you see that? Lara getting mowed down by a tiger? Or what about breaking her neck on a sixty foot swan dive? And people say today’s games are violent.

3. Limbo: Playing Limbo is already like playing through a virtual nightmare, but the guys over at PlayDead Studios decided the creepy black-and-white visuals and haunting sound design weren’t enough. No, they had to include every fear ever.

Yep, they have it all. Heights? Check. Electricity? Check. Spiders? Double check. And the water. Oh the water. Drowning in lakes. Drowning in rapidly rising pools. Drowning in glorified puddles swamped with dead bodies. Limbo offers many different flavors of drowning, but they are all unified by one theme: they are terrifying.

Not just regular terrifying either, but disturbing terrifying. Everything about this game is disturbing, really, but watching that kid try to claw his way to the surface only to sink back down, man. That is just wrong.

2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2: One of the more iconic drowning deaths around, not to mention featuring perhaps the best drowning music ever, the Sonic series proves that hedgehogs and water don’t mix. While more than few zones feature the dangerous liquid, I learned that particular lesson in the Chemical Plant Zone of Sonic 2.

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It started innocently enough. I was just exploring this chemical plant, freeing tiny woodland creatures from their mechanical prisons, when I came upon a pool of water, and some moving blocks within it. No problem, I thought. I hopped on the first set of blocks, and immediately fell to the bottom. As I’m climbing, that music starts playing, adding an insane sense of urgency to my climb. Suddenly, it’s a matter of survival.

However, as my timer ticked down, I knew I wasn’t going to make it. At the end, I stopped for just a second, perhaps to reflect on my impending death, and then, the music crescendos. Darkness.

1. Mario 64: Bad things aren’t supposed to happen to Mario. You know, they just…aren’t. Sure, he comically shrugs his arms and falls down when hit by a stupid Goomba, or he simply disappears into a bottomless pit. But he doesn’t brutally drown in a way that will give you nightmares for weeks, does he?

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Oh. You know what the worst part of it is? The way the painting just spits you back up when you’re finished sucking down H2O, like some sadistic nightmare. I don’t know how Mario goes on after that.

Top 10 Robots

2013-05-03T15:12:00Z

You know, usually I write some incredibly witty and amazingly accurate description of what sums up a good *insert whatever current list is about*, and then I present the list. However, this time, I’m not going to attempt to…over-explain what makes robots great. They are great because robots. With that out of the way, here are the Top 10 robots in gaming.

10. Jack (Gears of War): Don’t be fooled by Marcus’s increasingly gruff demeanor or Cole Train’s “Woo!”s, Jack is the real leader of Delta Squad. Who do they run to when there is a locked door they can’t kick down? Who do they turn to when sensitive data needs to be transported through Locust territory? Why haven’t they adopted his highly advanced stealth technology yet? Sadly, some of these questions may never be answered because, you know, Gears of War. It’s easy to miss because of all the machismo saturating everything, but Jack is one of the more useful robots around, assuming you aren’t counting Anya.

9. Robo (Chrono Trigger): The beloved RPG Chrono Trigger achieved that adjective for multiple reasons: a stellar story, groundbreaking combat mechanics and an incredible score are a few of them. One of my favorites is the cast of characters in the game. Robo is a robot (natch) that you pick up in a dystopian version of the future where people race stupid motorbikes in thrice-damned time trials. Robo has some of the more interesting sidequests in the game, including one where he spends hundreds of years healing a forest and one where he discovers his real (and much, much cooler) name, Prometheus.

8. Rudy (Wild ARMs): OK, I’ll start with this: Um, spoiler alert. Rudy, the main character of the mostly forgotten Wild ARM’s series (may it rest in peace), is totally a robot. You see, years before the game takes place, a race called the Metal Demons created these robotic weapons of mass destruction called Holmcross. Rudy discovers he is one of these Holmcross when he severs his arm and finds wires instead of cotton candy. Disclaimer: I’ve never cut off my arm; I don’t know what’s in there. Since this is a JRPG, though, it turns out he was raised by a kind-hearted old man who instilled a sense of humanity in Rudy’s otherwise cold robotic heart. In other words, he’s basically a Tom Cruise who passed the humanity test.

7. Clank (Ratchet & Clank): First off, he’s a robot that is also a secret agent. That is enough to secure his spot on the list on its own merits, but Clank also brings a number of other awesome attributes to the table. He is hyper useful; he always seems to have the right tool for any situation, be it a flamethrower or helipack. He can turn into a giant version of himself at certain times, and he even takes over the role of protagonist every now and then. However, it is his surprisingly intricate character plot line that really takes the cake. I haven’t brushed up on my Ratchet & Clank lore in a little while, but I know it involves an enigmatic people called the Zoni and his role as Senior Caretaker of the Clock. Whatever that is.

6. Wheatley (Portal 2): I didn’t think it would be possible to find a character who could match the awesome factor of GLaDOS, but Valve proved me wrong (as they so often do) with the introduction of Wheatley. While he starts off as highly effective comedic relief, he quickly becomes an important part of the plot, and provides some of the best revelations of the game. I’ll admit that I had my dobuts about his sincerity to my effort to escape Aperture labs, but I still enjoyed my time with him. Except for that whole “try to kill me so he could achieve ultimate power” thing. I’m still kind of getting over that.

5. ClapTrap (Borderlands): Few characters in any game have been as divisive as Claptrap. Some people love him for his vibrant and peppy demeanor, indomitable will and penchant for high fives. Others loath him for his Some people love him for his vibrant and peppy demeanor, indomitable will and penchant for high fives. I happen to fall in the first camp. What I love most about Claptrap is that he doesn’t care what anybody else thinks, he just does Claptrap. That may eventually culminate in an army of Claptraps starting a revolution, but so what? Totally worth it.

4. Legion (Mass Effect): I never thought, after years of toiling through the Mass Effect universe, that I could possibly become so endeared to a Geth. After all, I spent the whole first game and most of the second one seeing them as my mortal enemy. But after encountering the entity known as Legion, I realized the truth: I wanted a Geth from the beginning. They are so awesome! Legion, with his piecemeal N7 armor and gethtastic sniper rifle, is particularly great, and he turns out to be one of the best party members in the game. His character arc is beautifully concluded in ME3, and shows that even a robot can invoke dangerously human-like feelings.

3. HK-47 (Knights of the Old Republic): I mean, c’mon. You knew HK-47 would be here. His disdain for humans apparent from the beginning, HK-47 is simultaneously hilarious and terrifying. I mean, he calls humans “meatbags”. That’s pretty sadistic behavior. But of course there is much more to HK than hatred of humans, which is good because, if my memory serves me, that character has been done before. HK-47s complicated past with Revan is a fascinating study in the relationship between humans and synthetics, right or wrong, light and dark. He sums it up better than I possibly could, “Observation: I am awesome.”

2. KOS-MOS (Xenosaga): Look at that adorable face. What could possibly be so great about her? Are we even sure that she’s a robot. Well, if the glowing red eyes didn’t immediately giver her away, the fact that she can pull out an entire arsenal’s worth of guns faster than you can blink should really drive that point home. Things get a little weird in the Xenosaga mythos, and as if just to prove that very fact, KOS-MOS somehow has the spirit of Mary Magdalene inside her. She also values logic and mission protocol over some of the more human tendencies she contains, but…that face! I can’t stay mad at her.

1. Mega Man: The original gaming robot is still the best. Introduced in 1987, Mega Man shot and jumped his way into our hearts and never left. When you think about it, what isn’t there to love about The Blue Bomber? He is just naïve enough to be loveable, but has enough combat chops not to be entirely helpless. He rocks some of the best background music in the biz, and he grows more powerful with every boss that he defeats. By my numbers, he should have been the strongest video game character in the universe about six games ago. Plenty have tried to take his crown, but Mega Man is the number one robot in gaming.

Be sure to also check out our debate on Super Nintendo vs. Sega Genesis or the Top 10 Worst Video Game Jobs.

{Leviathyn}

5 Ways BioShock Is Better Than BioShock Infinite

2013-05-01T17:25:00Z

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way: I absolutely adored BioShock Infinite. It completely blew my mind; the jaw-dropping narrative (which I’ve previously dissected), incredible art style and interesting world all combined to form an early strong contender for Game of the Year. I didn’t think that it was the gaming perfection that some did (my fellow Leviathyn writer Cassidee's review echoed my sentiments pretty closely), but suffice to say, I loved it. My point is I am not here to bash it. However, I was also a huge fan of the original BioShock. I believe, and this is just my opinion, that there are a number of things that that title actually did better than its predecessor. I’m not sure that makes BioShock a better game overall, as I still need some time to reflect on Infinite to judge them objectively, but here are five things that prove to me it’s hard to beat an original.

*This article is spoiler-free, but there are basic gameplay and character details throughout*

Inventory Management

BioShock Infinite features a robust weapon selection that combines mainstays like machine guns and shotguns with more interesting arms like the volley gun, burst gun and my personal favorite, the hand cannon. You can carry any two of these around at a time, and figuring out the best possible weapon combinations for each fight is a big part of the fun. Other than that, inventory is basically non-existent. In a way, Elizabeth’s constant stream of helpful items and tears replaces your standard inventory.

The original BioShock featured a slightly less expansive armory that nonetheless has one undeniable advantage over its sequel: you can carry every weapon with you simultaneously. Besides giving you an obvious tactical advantage, it’s nice not to have to scavenge weapons from the ground. In addition to this, BioShock lets you scavenge a number of parts to craft with. Even if it’s not a very deep crafting element, it was still fun to mess with, and adjusting your various plasmid loadout options was always fun.

At least we got to skip the obligatory sequel made by a different developer. Man, could you imagine if somebody else tried to tackle BioShock? Oh, wait…

Upgrades

Upgrading your weapons is a key element in both games. Infinite lets you independently upgrade your entire armory, but I was hesitant to do so because I rarely knew when I would have a particular gun. I upgraded my hand cannon as soon as possible, but that expensive shotgun upgrade was hard to justify when I couldn’t be assured of always having a shotgun handy. Your gear is an interesting way to customize Booker, even if I didn’t think most of the effects were as good as some of the plasmids. A static health/shield/salt upgrade system rounds out the RPG elements of the game.

BioShock also features gun upgrades, but they handle it better than Infinite. Since you have access to every gun, I didn’t feel so bad spending money to upgrade them, knowing I always had access to it. The prominent visual additions to each gun for every upgrade was icing on the cake. In addition to that, the wonderful picture taking element (which I missed dearly) let you upgrade a number of attributes through scoring well on your pictures. I’ll take a gameplay based upgrade system over a static one any day.

Enemy Design

BioShock Infinite has some cool enemies to look at: the Handyman and the Boys of Silence were particularly sweet looking enemies. I didn’t particularly care to fight either of those gentlemen, but they looked pretty cool. I also liked the Fireman, but was fairly meh about the Motorized Patriot. I was less enthused about the generic foes; they pretty much all looked the same to me, and I didn’t really get a sense of them beyond mindless AI I have to kill.

Of course, BioShock didn’t have quite the number of types of enemies, but the ones they did have were so much more memorable to me. Every time I killed a splicer, I wondered what his story was, and how exactly he figured into the fall of Rapture. Spider, Houdini and Nitro Splicers joined the more common Thugish and Leadhead versions to form a considerable pantheon of foe, but the real star is the Big Daddy, who is nothing short of awesome. Add in level specific character designs and fantastic battle dialogue, its hard not to side with BioShock on this one.

I will admit that Booker is cooler than Jack.

Environmental Flow

I’m not even going to compare Columbia and Rapture here, because they really are like apples and oranges, not to mention the technology gap between the two titles. But few developers do level design better than Irrational, and there is quite a contrast between their two masterpieces. Columbia is a bit more open than Rapture, and you are constantly retreading familiar ground throughout your time there. While the game does feature distinct areas that you travel through, they all kind of blend together in a sense. Sure, certain areas like the Fair & Raffle area and the Hall of Heroes felt unique, and the entire city of Columbia was oozing with personality and wonder, but there is one way the floating dystopia paled next to its watery sister.

BioShock peeled back the layers of its story so masterfully, the level designs themselves became part of the storytelling. Your first real stage is Fontaine Fishery, where we learn about Fontaine’s fishing operation and discovery of EVE slugs. Each subsequent level revealed another piece of the puzzle, until you have the complete picture. Slowly turning the environment to your favor by hacking the various machines scattered about was one of my favorite elements of the game, and it was pratically non-existant in Infinite. Possessing a vending machine for a few coins, or taking control of a turret for a short time, just didn’t match the thrill of finally hacking that hard-to-reach camera or wielding a small army of search bots. This is just my opinion, and I understand how some of you may not agree with me on this one.

Antagonists

The cast of characters in both BioShocks serve their respective games well. First off, I know she is no antagonist, but Elizabeth is one of the best NPCs I’ve seen in a game in a long time. I loved her. I was less sold on Comstock, Jeremiah Fink and Daisy Fitzroy as characters. Comstock gets a bye (for reasons you’ll understand if you’ve beaten the game), but Fink and Fitzroy were supposed to provide some depth, and I just didn’t care for either of them. Even Captain Slate, who is set up to be an important antagonist, kind of falters. The exception is the Luteces. Whether they are antagonists or not is up for debate, but I thought they were the most interesting characters in the whole game. Songbird was certainly cool, but his story was never really fleshed out enough for me to care.

BioShock on the other hand had a memorable cast of major antagonists. Fontaine may have been the big baddie at the end, but it was really Andrew Ryan that stole the show. It’s just hard to find a more compelling villain. Even crazy Sander Cohen stood out more to me than almost any of Infinite’s bad guys, and he was only prominent in one level. The Big Daddy/Little Sister dynamic is also a special game relationship that is, in a way, antagonistic to Jack, and that was realized beautifully.

And that’s my take on it. Do you agree that these elements are better in the original BioShock, or do you think I’m off my gourd? Since we’re already talking about the past, present and future, take a stroll down memory lane with these underrated PlayStation RPGs, or look ahead to see five features that the next Xbox needs to have.

{Leviathyn}

The 2013 All-Video Game Football Team

2013-04-28T19:03:00Z

Well, the NFL draft is over, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to make my picks for the 2013 All-Video Game team. Some of you may remember last year’s picks, but I have completely overhauled my roster for this year, meaning no duplicate selections. With the emergence of QBs like Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, RG3 and Russell Wilson, the newest fad is the read-option offense. Since I love fads, I decided to build my offense around speed and misdirection. Likewise, we needed a bullying defense to help them prepare come game time. So, with that in mind, here are my picks for the 2013 All-Video Game team.

They’ll let anybody on the field these days. Is that a motorcycle?

Offense:

QB- Shadow (FFVI): Shadow, the loner ninja from Final Fantasy VI, fits my needs at QB perfectly. His extensive practice throwing objects has long since developed his arm strength, and he has the speed to fit well into my read-option offense. Also, ninja. He’s a ninja. I think he has a quiet strength that would convey well into a leadership role, although he wouldn’t like it.

HB- Corvo (Dishonored): Now that I’ve got a quick QB, I need a running back with the skills to compliment him. Corvo is a master at misdirection; a must for a read-option HB. He is explosive at getting through gaps, he can just blink if necessary, and he provides a plethora of offensive options. As a last resort, if there is one tackler between him and the goal line, he can always possess that poor shmuck and take it to the house.

FB- Master Chief: Again, I need a versatile FB in my offense. Master Chief has the strength to handle blocking duties if need be, but he is also a dual threat as a runner. He recently learned how to sprint, you know. He may be getting a tad past his prime, but he provides veteran leadership at this workhouse position.

WR- Dante: While his style over substance ratio could legitimately be called into question, Dante brings to the table everything you want in a marquee receiver: good speed, tremendous hops and a completely over-the-top showboat attitude. Some people claim Dante is a locker room killer, but I think his antics can help balance out this decidedly professional team. That double jump is bound to lead to some scores.

WR- Prince of Persia: Speaking of mobility, who better to help spread the field than the original freerunner, the Prince of Persia. I’m not sure how popular American football is over there, but I’m sure he could pick it up quickly. He is fleet-footed enough to serve as a deep threat, which compliments Dante’s possession-based skills, and he has the strength to help with downfield blocking. Perfect.

Yeah…we didn’t want Geno either.

TE- Alex Mercer (Prototype): Remember, my offense is based around versatility. Mercer is an ever-changing skill player who can swap between blocking and route-running with ease. His ability to blend these different roles is perfect, and I like the aggression he brings to the squad. When that long tentacle-arm comes out, he is a beast in the red zone.

LT- Kintaro (Mortal Kombat): Since I couldn’t use Goro again (I thought he was probably the most perfect pick ever), I’m just going to go for the next best thing and have Kintaro anchor my line at the all-important left tackle spot. Who better to protect Shadow’s blind side than a hulking, four-armed cat? As long as nobody points a laser pointer onto the field, I think I will be okay.

LG- Wario: Again, protecting the left side is key. I can’t have people coming in on my QBs weak side and crushing him, despite the fact that nobody is going to catch my ninja QB anyway. Wario, besides being an awesome prankster in the locker room, gives me bulk and nastiness on my O-line.

C- Arthas (World of Warcraft): Who better than the reigning king of evil to anchor my line in the middle. The center should be the helmsman of the offensive line, and Arthas has ample experience leading a group of bruisers. He is mean, capable and is one of the few people who could possibly keep my somewhat ragtag O-line in order.

RG- Barrett (Final Fantasy VII): OK, yes, I know that Barrett is missing a hand. No worries, though, because he can adapt literally anything onto that mess of an arm. His considerable strength and never-give-up attitude are a constant inspiration to my team, and he exhibits leadership qualities as well. Plus, now that he is finally free from Cloud, I feel like his ceiling is much higher.

RT- Handyman (BioShock Infinite): When it comes to my strong-side tackle spot, all I need is a hulking monster who can follow directions. Enter the Handyman, whose wide body, superior strength and lack of free will fit the bill perfectly. No one will ever deny his devotion to the cause, and he can get nasty when he wants to.

Unfortunately, Mario was already off the board.

Defense:

DE- Wesker (Resdient Evil): Wesker’s skill set reads like a to-do list for up-and-coming defensive ends: above average intelligence, lightning quick bursts of speed and a villainous mentality. Wesker can dodge bullets; I’m pretty sure he could blow through a defensive line every now and then and net me a sack. Sure he draws more than his fair share of fouls, but it is worth it for this pass rushing monster.

DT- Urdnot Wrex (Mass Effect): Who better to plug up the middle of the line that the leader of the Krogans? Wrex is perfect for this job; he’s mean, strong and can bull rush like nobody’s business. He brings a sort of feral intelligence to the middle of the line, which compliments his fellow d-lineman’s unquenchable bloodlust quite nicely.

DT- Pac-Man: In my front-heavy scheme, I need a defensive anchor that can chew through the opposing offensive line. Who better to do that than Pac-Man? He is quick, low to the ground and makes terrific cuts. He doesn’t frighten easily, and he is a veteran not prone to rookie mistakes. Case closed.

DE- Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal): Another physical monster, Sweet Tooth should be able to unnerve opposing tackles with this creepy demeanor. Opposite Wesker, these two make quite the formidable pass-rushing team, and Sweet Tooth knows a thing or two about systematically wearing an opponent down.

ROLB- Pyramid Head (Silent Hill): I mean, what would you do if you had to line up against Pyramid Head? With Wrex on the other end creating havoc with his strength, Pyramid Head provides the fear that a good D-line should bring. I’ve seen his rip-and-tear move; it should be most effective on the field.

MLB- Zangief (Street Fighter): He is big and strong, has great body control and has a past in sports entertainment. He will make a great fan-favorite middle linebacker. The first time he piledrives some poor helpless running back trying to run up the gut, my team is going to go absolutely crazy.

Zangief?! You picked Zangief! Whyyyyyyy!!!!

LOLB- HK-47 (Knights of the Old Republic): In my 4-3 scheme, my outside linebackers need to be brutes who can not only stuff the run, but help in pass protection as well. Enter HK-47 who brings the toughness, attitude and skills to this important position. His precise mechanics allow him to roam the field as needed, and ensure that he is always in position to make a play on some meatbags.

CB- Starkiller (The Force Unleashed): I’m not going to lie: I hate Starkiller. However, this is a business, and my loyalty is to my fans. I have to take the best pick available, and Starkiller would make an excellent cover corner. He has the instincts and speed to keep up with any receiver, and you can’t deny the fire he brings to the team. He’s always yelling. But it is his access to the Force, and the high likelihood of interceptions that indicates, that really secured his spot on the team.

CB- Alucard (Castlevania): Quick, agile and strong, Alucard brings a number of favorable attributes to the CB position. He knows how to get vertical when he needs to (thanks to all that practice climbing clock towers) and can move like the mist when he needs to. His incredible stamina allows me to keep him on an island, which frees the pressure on some of my other defenders.

SS- Agent 47 (Hitman): With my secondary, it is all about blending in. I have a pretty monstrous front seven, so my backfield needs to be able to cover multiple roles to allow those guys to do what they do best. 47 knows how to blend, but his physicality is what makes him an ideal hard-hitting strong safety. Fear the barcode.

FS- Altair (Assassin’s Creed): Is there anybody better to be roaming the secondary? Altair brings smarts and athleticism to the position, and he is quite capable of getting to whatever spot he needs to be in. I mean, he has Eagle vision. His instincts are impeccable, and he helps bring some speed to my brutish defense. His elusiveness in the backfield is legendary; I couldn’t tell you the number of QBs who claimed they never even saw him.

{Leviathyn}

Top 10 Love Triangles

2013-04-23T15:28:00Z

We all love a good romance story, but sometimes, well, these things can get complicated. That’s not always a bad thing, but it can lead to some precarious positions. Here are the Top 10 Love Triangles that gave the participants more than they bargained for.

10. Batman, Oracle, Talia al-Ghul (Batman: Arkham City): The next Batman game is going to suck, and it is going to have nothing to do with Warner Bros. development chops. In the first game, Batman handled his business. No distractions, just a single man taking care of business. I mean, Oracle is there, but there is not the least bit of sexual tension. In Arkham City, Batman gets inundated with women, and they invariably all make things difficult for him. Talia is nothing but trouble anyway, but Oracle's consistent nagging is far more deadly than any assassin could ever be. And don’t even get me started on Catwoman. I don't see how he's going to get anything done at this rate.

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9. Shepard, Liara, Ashley (Mass Effect): Yes, technically Shepard has like a love octagon going on, but no relationship showcases Shepard’s pimp-osity better than the male romance options from the original Mass Effect. The series was still new to us at the time, and we didn’t know the depths of Shepard’s disdain for commitment. Of course first-time male Shepards were hitting on both chicks available, blissfully unaware that this is a problem, until Ashley confronts you about what’s going on. Naturally, you have three choices. You can outright choose one, or you can test the limits of your persuasive abilities.. Who says video games don’t make us make tough moral choices?

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8. The Hero, His/Her Spouse, That Prostitute (Fable 2): My Fable 2 romance was rocky at times, but it didn’t start off bad. I was something of a ladies’ man early on, but the first time I saw Jenny the bartender, I knew she was something special. Or maybe I was drunk. Anyhoo, I popped the question, she said yes, and me and Jenny began our new life together. After about two minutes, I realized that I didn’t want to be married, so I left. Simply left, and completely forgot about Jenny. A few weeks later I’m wandering around Bowerstone, drunk, and come across a certain lady of ill repute. Grabbing her, I stumble into the closest available house…right into my wife. That halo above my head shone a little less brightly that day.

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7. Maxim, Tia, Selen (Lufia II): If you haven’t played this SNES masterpiece, go buy it off eBay and play it right now. Seriously, I’ll wait……..Done? Gameplay-wise Lufia II didn’t do anything groundbreaking, but it did feature one of the most detailed and emotional stories in gaming. In particular, protagonist Maxim and his relationships with childhood crush Mia and future wife Selen presents one of the more mature and heart-breaking tales around. It’s kind of like The Notebook , with monsters and stuff.

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6. Cloud, Tifa, Aeris (Final Fantasy VII): One of the most recognized trimances around, the Cloud, Tifa and Aeris triangle has been examined from every angle. I still refuse to believe that two awesome chicks like Tifa and Aeris would fall for a skinny loser like Cloud, but I guess that whole emo/James Dean attitude is irresistible in Midgar. Even Barrett falls for it. Of course, if Cloud was really the good guy he claims to turn out to be (that’s confusing), he would stay away from those two and not completely destroy their lives. Maybe hook up with Yuffie; I’d like to see Sephiroth try to stab her through the gut.

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5. Kratos, Whore, Whore (God of War): One of the finest examples of true love in video games, the Kratos-Whore-Whore triangle is one of the most artistic, subtle and powerful relationships in the medium today. I think it works so well because, besides its social commentary on the nature of monogamous relationships in today’s often polygamous world, they have such a solid give-and-take. Kratos gets a nice experience boost, and the, er, consorts get a little taste of Kratos. One thing, though: These scenes don’t usually last too long. Quick-time events indeed, eh Kratos? Ah, I’m just joshing. You could murder me.

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4. Vincent, Katherine, Catherine (Catherine): Catherine isn’t winning any awards for flawless game design, but one facet the game does handle well is the relationship the story centers around. Catherine, a young, nubile blonde girl, for some reason gets attracted to slacker Vincent. Vincent is kind of a ***, so instead of living peacefully with his probably pregnant, but still pretty hot, current girlfriend Katherine, he gets mixed up in this huge demon-infested, sheep-populated dream-tower-thing. It’s confusing, but it is well-realized.

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3. Nathan, Chloe, Elena (Uncharted): Oh Nathan Drake. You do have a way with the ladies, don’t you? It’s not enough that you get sweet, gentle Elena to follow you around like a puppy, but you have to get caught up with femme-fatale Chole? Seriously? Are you trying to be a stereotype? Well, yeah, I guess you kind of are, but that is beside the point. Thanks to state-of-the-art animation work and top-notch writing, the love triangle in Uncharted 2 is one of the best, and most complex, relationships in gaming.

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2. Bowser, Mario, Peach (Super Mario Bros.): I’m going to tell you a story. Boy meets girl. He is looked down upon by most everyone around him, but something about this boy makes the girl interested. She is no normal girl herself, though; she’s a princess. The unlikely pair eventually fall in love, and retire to his modest abode to live their life. Outraged, the King sends his most trusted employee to kidnap the princess. All of the boy’s friends rally around them to try to protect her, but the King’s man is too powerful, and the princess is eventually torn from her lover’s arms. Devastated, she knows she has no choice but to pretend to thank her father’s lackey, and bide her time until her lover can return. Thus is the story of Super Mario Bros.

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1. Jimmy, Billy, Marian (Double Dragon): Truthfully, there is nothing humorous about the fall of the Lee brothers, and the deception of the succubus Marian. After fighting their way through an entire city of badly-dressed thugs, the duo finally rescue Marian from the clutches of the evil gang lord. Instead of being a good damsel in distress and thanking them for rescuing her, what does she do? Makes them fight it out right there to see who would get to take her home. Since this was the early ‘90s, they oblige her and pummel each other to a pulp. Really makes you wonder what was going on before they got there.

{Leviathyn}

Breaking Down BioShock Infinite

2013-04-19T16:09:48Z

The ending to BioShock Infinite is not an easy one to digest. Irrational Games has spun an intricate web that culminates in a mind-blowing twist guaranteed to leave you thinking. What exactly is the connection between Booker and Elizabeth? How does Comstock figure into the overarching plot? What the heck is up with the Lutece siblings? There are a number of theories surrounding what exactly went down, but here is my interpretation of the epic conclusion to BioShock Infinite.

*In case you don’t understand why you are here, this post contains MAJOR spoilers. Like, all the spoilers*

Things are rarely what they seem in Columbia.

The key moment that ties BioShock Infinite together is Booker DeWitt’s baptism after the battle of Wounded Knee. As you no doubt noticed after finishing the game (you did finish the game, right?), baptisms are a common theme throughout the game. The first thing you see when you enter the lighthouse to Columbia (more on those lighthouses later) is a basin of water with a sign proclaiming “Of Thy Sins Shall I Wash Thee”. You have the option to use the basin, but when you try, Booker stops right before using the water, muttering “Good luck with that, pal.” Booker doesn’t believe his sins can be washed away. Booker’s refusal to believe he could possibly atone for his sins is an important plot point. Next, you must accept a baptism to enter Columbia. It is literally impossible for you to get into the town without accepting the baptism, so, in a sense, Columbia doesn’t exist until Booker is baptized.

Look back at Booker’s past before Columbia. His military service took him to Wounded Knee, where by all accounts he did some pretty bad things. Things that could break a man. Cornelius Slate, a fellow soldier at Wounded Knee, says this in a voxophone recording “Booker DeWitt is coming here, to the Hall! DeWitt…we called him the White *** of Wounded Knee, for all the grisly trophies he claimed. A man such as he…might just grant us the peace we seek.”

Like all of us, Booker has the capabilities to be both a hero and a monster.

Now let’s take a look at Zachary Comstock for a second. We hear him claim early on that he was the hero of Wounded Knee, but Slate shoots that notion down, telling us that Comstock wasn’t even there. However, Comstock claims that after the battle, a heavenly vision led him to create Columbia. Booker too has a vision soon after entering Columbia, except what he sees is the destruction of Columbia. And who is responsible for Columbia’s final destruction? We learn early on that, while Elizabeth is supposed to be the savior of Columbia, she will actually eventually lead to it downfall. “The seed of the Prophet shall sit the throne and drown in flame the mountains of man,” is a phrase heard numerous times through Infinite. What is Columbia if not a mountain of man?

Of course, one of the big reveals lets us know that Booker and Comstock are actually the same person. How is this possible? As Elizabeth shows us at the end of the game, there are infinite universes out there, each with infinite possibilities that could happen/is happening/will happen. It all comes back to the exorcism after Wounded Knee. Everything in the game turns on that moment, so it is fitting that should be the setting of the final scene of the game. Imagine two separate realities: In one, a man named Booker DeWitt performs unspeakable acts at Wounded Knee, and believes that absolution is beyond him. When confronted with a possibility to wash these sins away, he laughs it off and continues on with his life. This Booker is a drunk whose gambling problem spirals out of control, until he finds someone to make him a deal. “Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt.”

Being reborn doesn’t always lead to absolution, though.

But what would have happened if Booker had accepted that baptism, and attempted to simply wash away his sins then and there. That Booker would get a false sense of redemption and would never have to face the possibility of actually atoning for his sins. That Booker would have received a “vision from God” that would eventually lead him to create a floating city…and change his name to Zachary Comstock. That version of Booker would have set into motion a disastrous chain of events: the secession of Columbia and its eventual destruction are the most prominent elements of this reality, but the untold millions of deaths directly related to Columbia have to be taken into account as well. Simply put, it’s pretty much good for nobody in the end if this Booker gets his way.

Now look at these two Booker’s like a fork in the road, with the split occurring at the baptism. Let’s follow Comstock Booker for a second. After receiving his absolution (from the same priest who later offers baptisms at the gates of Columbia), Booker receives a vision from God telling him to create Columbia. However, he is no scientist. He needs help to create his utopia, and finds it in the form of a quirky quantum physicist named Rosalind Lutece.

So it's a love story? I am so freaking confused right now.

You first meet the Luteces as they row you towards Columbia’s lighthouse, although you don’t know it at the time. A man and a woman with remarkable repartee, the Lutece siblings appear at various times throughout the story and appear to offer you a number of “choices”. But just like Booker and Comstock, the Lutece siblings are simply two sides of the same coin. In our alternate timeline theory, a woman named Rosalind Lutece is born in the universe that would eventually give rise to Comstock and Columbia.

“When I was a girl, I dreamt of standing in a room looking at a girl who was and was not myself, who stood looking at another girl, who was and was not myself. My mother took this for a nightmare. I saw it as the beginning of a career in physics,” Rosalind says. This is the genesis of her work. This work would eventually lead to the technology that allows Columbia to float, but it also foreshadowed her more important work: tears.

In another universe, the one with the Booker that turned down the baptism and slipped into a haze of alcohol and gambling, a man named Robert Lutece was born. He too was a quantum physicist, however he had no Clumbia project to work on. But he too was interested in inter-dimensional tears, and while he was working on these, his “sister” in Columbia’s timeline was also working towards the same goal. Inevitably, these two ended up discovering the tears in reality, and soon thereafter, each other.

It’s not always the best idea to mess with alternate realities. Elizabeth will never be able to properly drink tea now.

Now, when Comstock learns of Rosalind’s work with tears, he naturally becomes interested in using them for his own gain. This is how he becomes a “prophet”, by utilizing the tears to know things he couldn’t have otherwise known. However, this comes at a price. The tear technology apparently makes you sterile. Rosalind says as much in a voxophone recording “Comstock seems to have been made sterile by simple exposure to our contraption. A theory: just as sexual reproduction can de-emphasize the traits of each parent, so goes the effect of multiple realities on our own.”

But Comstock believes he must have a child from his own line to continue his legacy. Unable to create one himself, he turns to Lutece. Rosalind and Robert have by this point discovered each other, through a rather ingenious method of utilizling slight reality changes as a form of morse code. Another voxophone recording sheds light directly on this topic. ”The Lutece Field entangled my quantum atom with waves of light, allowing for safe measurement. Sound familiar, brother? That’s because you were measuring precisely the same atom from a neighboring world. We used the universe as a telegraph. Switching the field on or off became dots and dashes. Dreadfully slow– but now, you and I could whisper through the wall…”

Presumably, Robert and Rosalind came up with a way to give Comstock his heir: Take a baby from an alternate version of himself that hasn’t been rendered sterile. Robert just happens to exist in a universe with a despondent and broke Booker trying to raise a baby by himself. ”Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt”. That is why Robert Lutece is the one shown making the deal with Booker. While first deciding to give her up, Booker then changes his mind. However, its too late, and Comstock and Lutece manage to get the girl into Columbia. However, they aren’t quite quick enough, and baby Anna (who would be renamed Elizabeth by Comstock) loses part of her finger in the transition. It is this anomaly that allows her to open tears. By existing in two separate realities simultaneously she is able to open tears between worlds.

This leads to some…unexpected complications.

However, the Luteces quickly realize that this is a mistake. Sensing their displeasure, Comstock enlists the help of engineering whiz Jeremiah Fink to end their meddling, who sabotages their reality machine, effectively trapping them in “the space between”. Rosalind explains, ”Comstock has sabotaged our contraption. Yet, we are not dead. A theory: we are scattered amongst the possibility space. But my brother and I are together, and so, I am content. He is not. The business with the girl lies unresolved. But perhaps there is one who can finish it in our stead.”

When looked through this filter, everything makes sense. The Luteces know that only Booker can save himself from himself, so they pull him into Columbia to try to fix everything, and, perhaps, give him one final chance at redemption. It’s an imperfect process, though, and it takes multiple attempts to find the right Booker out of the infinite versions available. That’s why, whenever Booker dies, a new one is “pulled” from his office, a new Booker that, through subtly different decisions, gets ever closer to victory. Remember the coin flip at the beginning of the game? My theory is that the number of flips shown is the number of Bookers they have tried up to that point. Clearly, this is a trial and error type of exercise.

Choice vs. the illusion of choice is a major theme throughout the game.

By narrowing down the creation of Comstock to the decisive baptism, Elizabeth realizes, with the Luteces help, that the only way to put an end to this loop is for Booker to give in during this landmark moment, hence the shocking finale. By drowning himself, Booker negates both the creation of Columbia and the selling of his daughter. It is this final baptism, the one he chooses, that helps him atone for his sins. The after credit movie leaves this thread open, with the screen cutting off as a new Booker hears his daughter crying in the next room. Before you can see if she is safe in her crib, they cut to black. I think this is a hopeful ending, one that suggests Booker may finally find the peace he so desperately wants.

Of course, this is one interpretation of the complex ending presented in BioShock Infinite, but one that the facts seem to support. That doesn’t mean this is any more right or wrong that what you may have come up with, but it is what makes sense to me. Do you agree, or do you have an alternate take on what really happened in Columbia?

{Leviathyn}

My Batman: Arkham Origins Wishlist

2013-04-16T17:21:00Z

Rocksteady has done an incredible job with the Arkham series. Arkham Asylum blew away most everybody’s expectations, and delivered probably the best Batman game of all time. With all eyes now firmly on them, they probably delivered the best licensed game of all time in Arkham City. Now, they are handing the reins of the Dark Knight’s gaming legacy off to the Warner Bros. Games Montreal studio. Living up to the incredible bar set by Arkham City wouldn’t be easy even for the original developer, but a new studio always faces extra scrutiny when handling a beloved property.

That said, we’re going to give them the benefit of the doubt. While there is certainly a lot that could go wrong, we’re instead going to focus on what could go right. After countless hours, ah, researching Rocksteady’s Arkham series, I’ve come up with a list of things I would like to see in Arkham Origins.

Extended Puzzle Solving Elements: Rocksteady did a great job embracing the detective side of Batman, but I still think there is room to expand upon it. While numerous, most of the puzzles in the previous games boiled down to “scan the environment until you find the solution.” The Riddler challenges are great, but there are a lot of trophies to track down, and who got time for that? Some puzzles that don’t involve extensive scanning, and make use of your wits instead, would be just the thing to balance the whole thing out.

Batman tries to grab another Riddler trophy before its cage smashes his finger again. That really hurt!

Consider Co-op: Let me stress that cooperative play isn’t a clincher, here. Everybody and their mama got excited about co-op in Arkham City, and the game was none the worse for wear for not having it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a foregone conclusion they should not include it. I won’t harp on it too much, because it would be awesome for all the same reasons it would have been awesome in Arkham City, but I can dream. The thought of roaming Gotham with a buddy gives me chills.

More Varied Enemies: It’s hard to find fault with Rocksteady’s amazing combat mechanics, so I’m not even going to try. I literally can’t think of a single way to improve upon it, and I suppose that’s the reason I’m not making a new Batman game myself. But these guys are purportedly professionals, and one thing that seems like an obvious addition would be more enemy types. Arkham City presented interesting foes like Talia’s fem-ninja clan and the awesome one-handed clowns, and I would like to see Origins continue that tradition. Beating up generic thugs can apparently get old, but I’ll admit, I’m still having fun doing it.

Batmobile: I Can Has?: Do I really need to say more? I don’t care how you have to balance it to make it work, and I don’t even care if you shoehorn it into a one-off mission. Just let me drive the Batmobile. Just once. If you are still on the fence about whether or not to include it in the game, I can sum up my argument in two strong words: Come on.

Black Mask was supposed to be a big part of Arkham City, but really wasn’t. His origin story is awesome, though, and should make it into Origins.

Better Boss Fights: Outside of the Mr. Freeze fight, almost every boss fight in either Arkham game was pretty much the same: Dodge, dodge, strike. Repeat until boss is dead. I’m not saying they are terrible, but I think we can all agree there is room for improvement there. Like any good Arkham game, there have been clues that Scarecrow is making a return in the future, and he is tailor-made for an epic showdown. Then again, Origins is set in the past, so that could be moot, but that just means the entire DC pantheon is available to have fun with.

Anything you would like to see in Arkham: Origins? Leave me your thoughts. And while you’re here, check out the Top 10 Female Protagonists or The Top 50 Games of All Time.

{Leviathyn}

Top 10 Female Protagonists

2013-04-15T03:59:00Z

As a lot of you probably know, sexism in the gaming industry has been something of a hot button issue lately. We all know it’s out there, so I have a message for the chauvinists out there stinking up the place: You, sir, are a gamer. You’re supposed to be better than that. We are a cut above the rest of humanity, so act like it. While you guys get your act together, the rest of us will celebrate the women in our lives with this top 10 list celebrating the fairer sex. I present the Top 10 Female Protagonists.

10. Peach (Super Mario 2): Super Mario 2 is kind of like that weird adolescent phase you just kind of gloss over while going through old pictures. It’s not a terrible game or anything, but it’s not exactly Mario in his prime. One prominent feature of the game that tends to get overlooked is that fact that Mario is totally overshadowed by Peach. I mean, c’mon. Float jump. If there is a more valid argument out there, I would love to hear it. Personally, I think she lets herself get kidnapped just so Mario can feel useful in the relationship. Peach, I applaud you for “standing by you man”, but girl, you can do better than that loser. You gots to find yourself a real man.

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9. Faith (Mirror’s Edge): Reasons I love Faith: 1) She looks awesome. Seriously, that chick has style. 2) She is an incredible platformer. I have become attached to far stupider protagonists because of their platforming chops, and she does it better than most. 3) She’s a rebel. I love a good underdog/revolution story, and Faith’s whole career is dedicated to sticking it to the man. 4) She made time trials fun for me. Time trials. So that’s four reasons. Four, ah ah ah ah. …That reminds me. 5) She doesn’t hold my stupid Sesame Street jokes against me. That’s a debt I can’t repay. I can’t wait to see what she has store for her recently announced sequel.

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8. Ayame (Tenchu): In an age where females are mostly judged by their arranged marriage prospects, Ayame refused to conform and responded in a reasonable and effective manner: Becoming an awesome ninja and brutally murdering those who engage in swindling, bamboozling and general ne’er do welling. Infinitely cooler than her colleague Rikimaru, who looks like he shares a stylist with 2002 Justin Timberlake, Ayame uses her dual ninja blades as well as any ninja in the ‘verse. Often overlooked in the pantheon of great females in gaming, Ayame can stand with the best of them. Also, I’m not sure if I mentioned this or not, she’s a ninja.

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7. Aya Brea (Parasite Eve): I’ll go ahead and start this off with the disclaimer that I have no idea what the hell happened in Parasite Eve. Whew, I feel better. Something about mitochondria…I looked it up at a trusted academic source, and Wikipedia assured me it was a action role-playing survival horror, making it the only game ever to be a part of that incredibly specific genre. Protagonist Aya Brea was one of the earliest examples of a female protagonist being truly fleshed out as a character. No offense to Lara Croft, but her PS1 incarnation didn’t exactly channel Meryl Streep. Aya could certainly handle her business on the gameplay front, but she also had depth.

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6. Jill Valentine (Resident Evil): The Resident Evil mythos may be more confusing than Justin Bieber fans at this point, but there have been a couple constants throughout. Acid rounds are sweet. Going down into the sewer isn’t going to be any fun at all. And Jill Valentine rocks. Known for her inexplicably changing hair color, proficiency with grenade launchers and being the only known human being to attain the title of “master of unlocking”, Jill was clearly the best of the original Resident Evil crew. Assuming you’re not counting Barry Burton….and people never seem to count Barry. Regardless, Jill Valentine truly is the master of unlocking…our hearts. Up top!

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5. Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII): Final Fantasy XIII did a lot of things very, very wrong. Protagonist Lightning was not one of those things. Making everyone around her look even dumber (except Fang!), Lightning exuded cool like she had an overactive awesome gland. She has it all: stellar combat skills, a dark and brooding personality, two words: gun blade, and a huge robotic demon horse. Especially that last one. Final Fantasy has a history of creating excellent, if absurdly dressed, female characters, and Lightning is one of the best examples of that.

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4. Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): Jade is so cool she single-handedly made green lipstick only marginally weird. Need I say more? Fine, I’ll elaborate. Jade is a hero, a woman who understands what her values are and would go to any lengths to fight for those values. She does not tolerate injustice, and will do anything to help out her friends, even if one of said friends is a giant pig. Literally. He’s gross. But Jade doesn’t care about any of that. She just wants to cruise her hovercraft around and fight big government. And she is an excellent photographer. Her classic picture Slightly Out Of Shot Bird That Still Got Me Full Points Anyway remains one of my favorite pieces of art.

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3. Terra (Final Fantasy VI): Rarely have we seen such a great cast of characters as was presented in Final Fantasy VI. Almost to a person, FFVI’s troupe of party members and antagonists was incredible, and they are anchored by starting member Terra. Terra is so interesting because you see her journey from scared pawn to super powered hero. She presents a personality that can be both scared and in control, naïve and complex, lost and found. Watching her transformation is an emotional ride, and encountering her and trying to coax her back into your party late in the adventure adds an extra layer of drama to the standard RPG act of gathering party members.

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2. Samus Aran (Metroid): There’s nothing like an original. Metroid was one of the breakout games on the NES, and gave gamers quite a shock when its main character’s true identity was revealed. Female protagonists aren’t exactly the norm now, but they were almost unheard of in video game’s early days. Of course, it didn’t matter to anybody what sex Samus was; when you have mad skills like that, gender issues tend to get thrown out the window. Time has not been as kind to Samus as we might have hoped, but I’m still hoping the old girl can make a comeback.

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1. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider): The prototypical heroine, Lara Croft has become synonymous with females in gaming. Every girl wanted to be her, and every adolescent boy was having NSFW dreams about her. While her early forays into gaming established her as a legitimate star, it was her recent gritty overhaul that firmly places Lara atop the pantheon of great gaming females. Watching the character of Lara develop while simultaneously acknowledging her extensive history gives the best of both worlds: It establishes a strong future for a strong character, while giving us the dose of nostalgia that truly endears you to a character. Lover her or hate her, Lara Croft is the number one female protagonist in gaming.

{Leviathyn}

Owning The Couch: The Best Downloadable Competitive Games

2013-04-11T16:11:00Z

Sometimes we can’t all just get along. Sometimes, something more than words is needed. For those times, sometimes you need to give a good old-fashioned thrashing to someone. We don’t mean physically of course, we’re talking video games!

There is no shortage of competitive AAA games out there, but this piece focuses on some of the smaller, digital-only games that may have flown beneath your radar. So pull out those extra, dusty controllers you have somewhere (including the one with the sticky triangle button), and launch one of these games next time someone got beef.

Battlefield 1943 : XBLA- 1200 MS PSN- $14.99

One of the original digital shooters, Battlefield 1943 remains one of the best. While not as grand in scale as its console brethren, 1943 managed to bring an incredible online shooter experience to console gamers, without them having to leave the room! At first glance, people were a little taken back by the pared back feature set. There was absolutely no single-player experience, the class list was pared down to three (Infantryman, Scout and Rifleman), and only three maps (with a fourth one being eventually unlocked). However, the doubters were put to rest when they finally played the game.

1943 also proved that digital-only releases could stand toe-to-toe with any retail game. XBLA and PSN were still kind of coming into their own in 2009, and Battlefield 1943 helped show us that full-fledged, high-quality games could be not only viable, but fun. There have been any number of competitive shooters released since, some of them superior, but this list simply wouldn’t be complete without 1943.

Trials Evolution: XBLA- 1200 MS PSN- $14.99

Trials HD was already dangerously addictive, but developer RedLynx (an Ubisoft studio!) really knocked it out of the park with Evolution. One of the best additions was simultaneous multiplayer, a feature the Trials community had been anticipating for years. Evolution made it look easy to, engaging racers with its well-designed courses and over-the-top racing action.

However, the best competitions take place off the multiplayer arena. Top Trials players post some absurd times on the leaderboard, and Evolution does a great job of letting you know how you’re doing compared to both the greats, and the other Trials players who populate your friends list. The game is constantly challenging you to beat your friends times, offering a competitive edge to a traditionally single-player series.

Section 8: Prejudice: XBLA- 1200 MS PSN- $14.99

Does anything quite match the thrill you get when you drop in from 15,000 feet to squash an enemy player…to begin your respawn? I’m not sure, but Section 8: Prejudice is full of moments like that. A lot of people didn’t know what to expect when Prejudice was announced, but what they got was a polished, content-rich competitive experience. A varied assortment of modes, a fairly big player cap and spot-on gunplay were all combined with Section 8’s signature power armor and tower defense elements.

Section 8 isn’t perfect, but it can be shamelessly fun. The customization options, while not as robust as some other offerings, are fun to tweak and add some personalization to the experience. Split-screen play is unfortunately not supported, but for those of you looking for an online fix, it is hard to beat Section 8.

Monday Night Combat: XBLA- 1200 MS PSN- N/A

This criminally underrated title features one of the best class-based shooter experiences available on consoles. A unique blend of FPS and tower-defense game, MNC merges fantastic shooting mechanics, a vibrant and unique art style and robust battle option to great effect. While some find the in-game announcer a little grating, I thought he fit well with the games unique sense of humor, and a few of his lines had me outright laughing.

MNC has a very strong Team Fortress 2 vibe going on (and I mean that in a good way), and the multiple classes all play off each other nicely. Whether you are sneaking around murdering people as the Assassin or buffing the team as the Support class, it is easy to feel you are having a strong influence on the match. Even better, split-screen play is fully supported.

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition: XBLA- 1200 MS PSN- $14.99

If you don’t know what Street Fighter is by now, you’re probably on the wrong website. Everyone else, all you need to know is that SF4 made a very graceful transition to XBLA and PSN, and you should pick it up. Like, now. Yes, we know you probably already own it on 14 other consoles, but you can’t list the top downloadable competitive games without mention this one.

Everything you know and love about Street Fighter 4, the full cast of characters (including Evil Ryu and Oni), the robust online offerings (including the expanded Replay mode) and all the new EX moves and Focus Attacks.

Worms: Armageddon: XBLA- 800 MS PSN: $9.99

If you have four people sitting around a television but only one controller, I’m going to boldly say that Worms is the best possible video game to have. And that is saying a lot. If you’ve never played, I’ll layout the concept for you: You control a team of four worms as they, turn by turn, decimate the opposition with combination of crazy weaponry and environmental dangers. Yes, it is as fun as it sounds.

Ina ddition to the fantastic and hilarious gameplay, Worms Armageddon offers a metric butt-ton of customization options, ranging from weapon selections to outfits to what voice your worm uses for his battle cry. Trust me, wiping out three worms with a single Holy Hand Grenade is as fun as it gets.

Small Arms: XBLA- 400 MS PSN: N/A

For only five bucks, Small Arms offers a passable Smash Bros. style brawler that can be a deviously good time with four people. A fair number of unique characters, weapons and stages ore included, although you’ll find few incentives to play by yourself. Variety may not be Small Arms’ specialty, but if you have three extra controllers and a grudge to settle, you should look no further.

Plus, it is only $5. Better than spending that on something frivolous, right?

{Leviathyn}

Guess That Character #3- Tough Day At The Office

2013-04-09T05:06:00Z

The concept: Read the following narrative and try to guess which video game character is behind it.

The reward: A hearty congratulations, and you get to write the next entry in the series critics are already calling groundbreaking.

If you need to catch up, check out the genesis of it all with part 1 (written by Prince of Snark Euphoric Ennui I and part 2 (written by The Destroyer)

All caught up? Ok, here we go;

Things have not been good lately.

I guess today was the tipping point. As I was walking towards the barracks after my ship, Simon fell into step with me. We usually got some beers with the guys after work, but it had been a tough day for all of us. I knew from the look on Simon's face that something bad had happened. And I knew who had to be to blame.

"It's him again, isn't it", I said as he walked up.

Simon glared at me for a second. "Who else? He got Tim, Rudy and Michael today, and Jordan is in critical condition."

"Man, Rudy was just two months away from getting his pension. Why does this keep happening?

Simon shrugged. "It's not like we're not doing enough. The new boss has us running constant shifts, and we have put signs everywhere with this guy's mug on it."

"Guy", I scoffed. "He's nothing more than a kid. Wait til I get my hands on him. Why does he keep coming back? It's not like she's here anymore. He saw to that."

"Well that's where it started, remember", Simon said. "They say that the criminal always comes back to the scene of the crime. Clearly the kid has some issues. But this is starting to get embarrassing. And the new boss is kind of freaking me out. I mean, what's up with that mask?"

"Mask", I asked. I've only seen him from afar. "I don't know about his mask, but that bowl cut is about as stupid as it gets."

"See, common mistake", Simon explained. That's actually a shroud. He likes to keep his head covered."

"Well, anyway, this kid is causing major problems. There have been dozens of vandalism reports in the last few days, and we know he's behind them. There has been about $40,000 worth of landscaping damage that he has to be responsible for, and we think he's been kidnapping and hoarding f-"

"Hey guys, wait up!"

We turned and saw Jason running up the parapets.

"We've got to go. Kid was just spotted running into the statue in the village. If we hurry we can catch him."

"Statue?" Simon asked.

"Yeah, the one with the compass. Let's go!"

Luck wasn't on my side when we arrived at the village. The kid was still there. It was the first time I had ever seen him. I was surprised by not only his slight frame, but by how much stuff he was carrying around. He may have been small, but his sword looked deadly enough.

We glanced at each other, knowing that it was probably the end for us. A beat passed that seemed like an eternity, and we charged.

I have never seen moves like that in my life. He waited with an unnatural patience, the sun seeming to gleam off his sword, although clouds were completely covering the sky. In one deft motion, the kid spun in a circle and cut down Simon and Jason with a single cut. Knowing I only had one shot, I lunged straight at him, sword in front of me.

I'm a well-trained fighter, and we sparred for what seemed like hours, swords clacking off each other in a rapid fire clacking. However, the kid had studied our techniques well, and knew to come at us at an angle. The last thing I thought before the kid plunged his sword into my chest was...

"Oh my God, does this kid have pink hair?"

3 Ways The PlayStation 3 Is Better Than The Xbox 360 (And 3 Ways It Isn't)

2013-04-07T23:31:00Z

Sure, we’re on the cusp of a new console generation. That just means we better compare the current two against each other while there’s still time!

Things didn’t look good for the PS3 early on. A rocky, to say the least, unveiling left a sour taste in peoples mouths from the beginning, and the early success of the Xbox 360 and Wii consoles left many wondering if Sony would be able to make up the lost ground. Lucky for them, Microsoft has made a few less-than-brilliant blunders, and Sony got right back in the race with some clever decisions of their own (although they weren’t exactly perfect themselves. The disaster that is Move, anybody?). With the strong reveal of the PS4, it looks like Sony’s future may be bright. But what about the present? An argument could be made for either console, so here are a few bullet points for either side to use in the inevitable Colbert debate.

Advantage #1: It runs on nightmares. That’s why the overhead is so low, right there.

Ways It Is:

Free Online: Let’s start with the obvious shall we? With basically every game requiring an “Online Pass” to be able to actually play the damn thing, very rarely does a game truly have free online play. At least Sony isn't charging you to go online so they can charge you for the online pass so you can finally play online with your friends, after they have been charged a nominal fee as well. I’m kidding a little obviously, but it’s nice that Sony realizes we are already paying for so much. I mean, my bill clearly states that I gave my cable company money to use this internet thing, and I have the receipt for my Xbox. So of course I have to pay an extra monthly fee to be able to use them together. If you’re going to make me pay, at least make it worth my while. Maybe something like…

PlayStation Plus: Now this is something I can get behind. PlayStation Plus actually rewards those who put a little extra money into their accounts, and it has paid dividends for both Sony and Plus subscribers. Sony gets to generate a little goodwill by offering a completely optional premium package, and PlayStation Plus members get a boatload of interesting content and some great games. What’s not to love about that? And if you don’t want to pony up the extra cash, that’s cool too. You can still go live and pop some heads on Call of Duty for no extra fee.

Superior Exclusives: Microsoft’s stable of exclusives is dwindling fast. Gears, Halo and Forza are great franchises to have, but the list of games that only Sony can offer is staggering: God of War, Uncharted, PlayStation All-Stars, Gran Turismo, Twisted Metal, Ni No Kuni, The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls are all high-profile AAA releases coming out only for PlayStation. Papo & Yo and The Unfinished Swan were two of the best downloadable games of last year, and you could only get them on PlayStation.. They are even getting in on the DLC exclusivity with announced content for Bungie’s upcoming game Destiny, an area they have traditionally lacked in.

Ways It Isn’t

Disadvantage #1: All their promotional pictures make my eyes hurt.

Xbox Live Stability: Just can’t be beat. Despite not needing a system update every other day like a certain console, Xbox Live remains the premiere online console service around. Most games work perfectly over Xbox Live, and the numbers have shown that more people like to play multiplatform shooters (most notably Call of Duty) on Xbox rather than PlayStation. A lot of online focused games live or die by their player counts, and that is one undeniable advantage Xbox Live has.

The Controller: The DualShock gets credit for its superior d-pad. That’s it. At least until the PS4 is released, the Xbox 360 is the unquestioned leader of the controller race. Its rounded ergonomic design feels the most comfortable in your hands, and the actual triggers on it make shooters so much more pleasurable to play. Third-party controllers tend to be slightly better for Xbox too for some reason as well. Now if they could only do something about that terrible, terrible d-pad.

Extraneous Apps: Sony is starting to finally build some good third-party connections, but as of right now the sheer amount of content Xbox live provides is pretty overwhelming. ESPN, iHeartRadio, Skype, Crackle, Explorer, YouTube, IGN; the list goes on and on. Although we’ve yet to see a tenth of its potential realized, SmartGlass is an intriguing concept that could really turn some heads if Microsoft handles it right. You can fault them if you want, but Microsoft knows how to deliver a complete entertainment package.

{Leviathyn}

5 Characters That Definitely Don’t Need An HD Remake

2013-04-04T15:51:00Z

One of my favorite things about this gaming generation is seeing all my favorite classics get re-mastered in sweet, sweet high definition. However, there is a dark side to this trend. Let’s take a look at some of the characters who should probably stay SD.

Geno

Oh my God, what the f**k is that thing? Seriously? Is that curly thing on its head a nose, or part of his hat.? Or an alien growth? Or a tumor? All I know is Geno scares the s**t out of me, and, as much as I would love to see him in a Smash Bros. game, I think he might be best in 16-bits. The worst part is, his character is a doll that gets possessed by some…weird…Mario star…thing. Some parent let their child play with this thing. No wonder the Mushroom Kingdom is so messed up.

Kefka

Technically he already has an HD game (Dissidia), but I’m going to forget that game happened for just a lifetime. I don’t think there’s really much I need to say here, as it’s pretty obvious why Kefka shouldn’t be rendered that well, so I’ll keep it brief. In Final Fantasy VI, Kefka was scary, unhinged and one of the absolute best antagonists ever, bar none. This Kefka looks like he needs his own Sunday morning cartoon in Japan. Point: SNES.

Samus Aran

It’s just not working. Let’s go back to when she was good. Remember that, Nintendo? Do you?

Call of Duty

I’m only half-joking here. Yes, they are recent games that are already in HD, but the greed of Activision knows no bounds. I can already see Call of Duty HD: The HD Collection coming out, and destroying the world. And no, I don’t care that it’s 120% more HD-ier. I just want it to go away.

Mega Man

I’m conflicted about this. On the one hand, I love Mega Man as much as anybody (except maybe Ron), and would love to see a proper Mega Man game in all its HD glory. On the other hand, I know Capcom is just going to give it to some Western studio that is going to crap all over it. I refuse to let the Blue Bomber be soiled in any way, so I think it’s best to just enjoy the classics, and hope they keep releasing more titles in the vein of Mega Man 8 & 9.

Anybody you want to see kept in the 90′s? Or maybe a character you think would look particularly good in HD? Drop me a line!

{Leviathyn}