The lights are on
This game should be an easy home-run, but it's not. It's like a slick, graphic novel-looking version of Castlevania, with some Devil May Cry and Shank mixed in. From the developers of Shantae and Contra 4! Why isn't this better? I'll tell you why; it's overly animated. Rayne doesn't have jump canceling (hitting the jump button cancels out your attack animations), which means you'll take cheap hits CONSTANTLY because you go to dodge by jumping, and she's still playing her stupid attack animations. WHAM! You just got shot in the face from across the screen. Did an enemy move behind you and getting ready to attack? Don't try turning around immediately, because she has a lengthy "skid" animation and you'll take a hit before she turns around. See another one of those guys pulling out his gun to shoot you? Don't go for a duck, because she can't do it....except she can, but it's an attack. Hitting down does nothing; but hitting down AND attack will get her to duck the bullet. Like that's natural. There's lots of stuff like that that mar an otherwise excellent side-scroller, which is a MASSIVE shame.
Just had to point out that Chris Jericho and Jerry Lawler have already been announced as DLC characters. So, they're on the way! Also, since this is a user review and not comments, I guess I'll say that I LOVE this game. I agree with GI's review, but I picked this up today after playing the heck out of the demo, and it's awesome. A more NFL Blitz-style approach to things is LONG overdue, and the execution in All Stars is spot on. The animations are much more responsive and snappier than any other wrestling/MMA/boxing game out there, and the animation blending - for reversals and counters - are probably the best I've seen in a fighting game save for Dead or Alive. This game just "feels" spot on, and is MUCH more fun to play than "sim" wrestling games from the past 3 console generations. The lack of options seem like it'll sting a bit once the thrill wears off, and the lack of a tutorial is MIND BOGGLING (especially since this is meant to appeal to "WWE newbies" somewhat), so that's not cool, and should be corrected in sequels. But the core game is so fun that it shouldn't be TOO big of a problem if you have competition to play with, and you make sure to learn the reversals. At least it's nice that it "trains" you to do it when button prompts flash in the corners of the screen.
GI's score is definitely too low. This game feels SPOT ON like a 16 bit title from Treasure or Capcom. The physics, the animations; it's all pretty much perfect (though the wall slide is janky). The actual exploding elements are pretty fun as well. And since they're tied into physics-based puzzles, most of this game is great stuff.
I just picked up Metroid Other M from Gamestop eariler today and have been playing for, about 6 hours.
War for Cybertron is awesome. Every review I've read of it has been positive, but they still aren't giving it as much credit as it deserves I think. The campaign is very well done, with great set pieces and level designs. There are both great reasons to transform and also its just fun to do for the heck of it, like rolling around in Ocarina of Time. And that's ultimately what saves it - it could have been a great licensed game but a poor shooter, like Ghostbusters (seriously, rangling ghosts in that game - as true to the license as it is - is a chore). The combat here is fun, but has enough depth to avoid becoming monotonous. The class-specific abilities help a lot (throwing turrets, creating shields, etc.), as well as decent weapon selection and the aforementioned set pieces (so having a sniper section, or a section where the walls try to crush you, a section on a train track where you avoid getting hit, etc.). It's varied and never gets old; although it's a little short. Still, don't think it isn't worth the price tag. It's replayable in co-op for one, and naturally there's the other competitive multiplayer modes to keep you busy.
From what I've played so far of Sin & Punishment 2, GI's review is pretty much spot on. The visuals are delicious (and the frame rate solid), the action nonstop and the arcadey goodness is intense. My only complaint is that it doesn't feel like Sin & Punishment much at all now that the characters fly and a LOT of this seems to take place in the air. Instead, bizarrely, it feels like a new Space Harrier -- which is cool. I just bet SEGA's seeing this in action and kicking themselves for not partnering with Treasure to do such a game in the first place. I mean, I doubt it'll light up the sales charts -- Wii games barely get exposure from mainstream gaming sites for some reason, and hardly any advertising --, but it'll likely sell better than whatever SEGA's schilling out these days. Unfortunately (Don't worry SEGA; Sonic 4 and Colors should do bank!)
The game is awesome - lets' get that out of the bag right now. Very few games have successfully translated the charm and color of the old 16-bit, uber polished, platformers into 3D, but Climax has done it. This game pops. And it plays incredibly well - none of that mushiness that early 2.5D games had. This is like Street Fighter IV - tight; in that it plays just as well as any of the 2D games that have preceeded it. And all the game mechanics are incredibly smart, taking something from all three of the old Rocket Knight games and combining them into one intuitive scheme. Finally, the level designs are brilliant. Things get really hectic and quickly start putting all Sparkster's abilities to the test in ever more ingenious ways.
True, true words.