Deus Ex - Introduction

Deus Ex

Developed By: ION Storm

Published By: Eidos Interactive

Released: 2000 (PC)

2002 (PS2)

Widely considered to be one of the greatest PC games of all time, Deus Ex blended a first person shooter with RPG and stealth elements to create what would become one of the most influential games of its era. The game's development was headed by Warren Spector, who was previously involved with System Shock and briefly with the game that would become Thief. 

Much like System Shock, Deus Ex has a cyberpunk theme, taking place in the 2050s in a world riddled with disease and terrorism. You are JC Denton, an agent for UNATCO (United Nations' Anti-Terrorist Coalition). The entire world is plagued with the disease 'Grey Death', and while there is a cure, 'Ambrosia', developing and distributing it has proved to be a slow process. However, the NSF (National Secessionist Force) believe that secret organisations are holding back the cure. The game is heavy with conspiracies and it will take us on a little trip around the world, from New York to Hong Kong to Paris...along side a couple of extra little places that I won't spoil...

For my own experiences of the game, I've owned this game since 2004 and I did almost beat it once...but that was with cheats. I'll start up a game every year, get so far and then get distracted by something else, but not this time. This time I WILL finish it. If you're familiar with Deus Ex then come see just how bad I am. If you're not, well, you are in for a treat! And if you don't like Deus Ex? 

What a shame.

Crash Bandicoot - Introduction

Crash Bandicoot

Developer: Naughty Dog

Publisher: Universal Interactive Studios

Year: 1996

Console: Playstation

Today, Naughty Dog are known for their well polished blockbuster games such as Uncharted and the upcoming The Last of Us. However before they became the go-to guys for Sony they were a little Californian company who had yet to really find true success. In 1994, Naughty Dog signed a 3-game contract with Universal Interactive Studios after being impressed with their game 'Way of the Warrior' for the 3DO. With Universal's Mark Cerny working closely with Naughty Dog, they developed 'Crash Bandicoot', a 3D Platformer for the newly released console from Sony, the Playstation.

The game was a huge success, selling 6.8 million copies (the 8th biggest selling Playstation game of all time), creating a franchise which lives on today (though it has gradually fallen out of the public eye) and putting Naughty Dog on the map as a developmental studio worth paying attention too. They created three more Crash games; Crash Bandicoot 2, 3 and the kart racing game Crash Team Racing. 

The Playstation Crash Bandicoot games again have a small place in my heart, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was the first game we had for the Playstation (alongside Gran Turismo). Updates should be every 2-3 days and each one will end with a boss.  The first Crash is probably the one I know the least and, judging by how I've played up to the first couple of bosses, I don't expect this to be an easy ride. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Introduction

European Cover (taken on my phone)

North American Cover

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Released: January 1994 (JAP)

February 1994 (Everywhere Else)

System: SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive

Sonic 3 seems to be a lot of people's favourite 2D Sonic, and it's not hard to see why. Levels are bigger than ever, with many secrets and alternate routes that it rewards replayability. It also introduces a brand new character, Knuckles the Echidna, a future friend, but for now he's a villain so boo him. It also introduces new power-ups; the elemental shields. Each Act 1 has a mini-boss at the end, and it doesn't magically move to a new level for Act 2, you just continue where you left off. Special Stages are different again, and yes I'm still absolutely god awful at them. 

The game has less Zones than Sonic 2, but only if you're playing Sonic 3 by itself. Later in the year, SEGA released 'Sonic & Knuckles', which can be locked-on to Sonic 3 to give the complete Sonic 3 experience. This is what I'll be playing (I'll give S&K it's own intro when we get there).

My experience with the game is the same as it was for Sonic 2, played a little of it before and I've seen it all, but I'm far from an expert. "So this should go well." he said in a sarcastic tone.

I've already played the first two Acts, the report for which shall be put up tomorrow. 

Sonic The Hedgehog - Introduction

Year: 1991

Platform: SEGA Genesis (Mega Drive)

Genre: 2D Platformer

Everybody knows this fella. Sonic the Hedgehog is to SEGA what Mario is to Nintendo. He the video game character with a 'tude. Do you see how he's wagging his finger on the cover there? Yeah, he's bad-ass! It was first released 21 years ago and since then Sonic has gone through some changes, not to mention some absolutely terrible games. However back in the good old days it was just a simple case of get from A to B, collecting rings and jumping on robots. So what's my experience with Sonic?

Well, I've played just about most classic Sonic games, I own them on a number of different systems, but sadly I've never finished one. In fact the only Sonic game I've finished would be Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for the Gamecube. So, over the next couple of weeks I will attempt to complete Sonic 1. Then 2. And 3...and Knuckles. Each update will contain a brief summary of the level, my performance and my thoughts. So eat up those chilli dogs, 'cause we're going on an adventure. But not Sonic Adventure, that's later.

Super Mario 64 - An Introduction

Super Mario 64

Year: 1996 

Platforms: Nintendo 64, Virtual Console

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

Super Mario 64. Released as a launch title for the Nintendo 64 along with Pilotwings 64, Super Mario 64 managed to sell over eleven million copies and later became the second most popular game on Wii's Virtual Console (behind the original Super Mario Bros.) Super Mario 64 was arguably the first 3D platformer, but it was definitely the first successful one. The game was praised by critics, gamers and even key figures in the gaming industry as a revolutionary game.

Despite the fact that everyone knows this game, I have barely played it. This is mainly due to the fact I had a Playstation as a child, I only played this game for the first time a few years back. Although I did own the cartridge for it, I gave it to a friend when he got himself a N64 because I'm nice like that and yes he was meant to give it back at some point. Instead I'll be playing the Virtual Console version, using a Gamecube controller. I've never played past Jolly Roger Bay before, so this will largely be a new experience for me.

Since a lot of people have already played this one I won't be going into great detail about the game itself, I'll talk about my general progress in the game and mention the stars I get. However, I will have little articles accompanying each report just to give a bit of background of the game, Mario and Nintendo in general.

So, join me in a day or two when I'll start my Super Mario 64 adventure! Until then, allow me to play you out...

The Intro

Puzzle Quest - Introduction

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Developed By: Infinite Interactive

Published By: D3 Publisher

Year: 2007

Version We're Playing: PC via Steam

Puzzle Quest is an odd game. It mashes together two completely different genres; puzzle games and RPGs. The result, however, is a fantastic game...almost. I'm only a couple of hours in, but the story is so terrible I'm starting to think it's a parody, though if it is it's quite a subtle one. But the actual gameplay is enjoyable. If you've ever played bejewelled you'll know the basic game, you match three or more gems. Each gem has a different effect, I'll go into more depth about that in a later date. 

This one's from the Xbox version, but it gives you an idea on how it works.

The game was a surprise hit though I cannot find any figures for how many it sold probably because it was released on several consoles (PS2, PSP, PS3, 360, PC, MAC, Wii, DS, Mobiles and iPhones to be exact).  Critically the game was also a success, the PC version getting an average of 84 on Metacritic, and most of the other versions are around the same area. The game also had a spin-off, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix and a direct sequel in 2010, neither of which I own however. 

Unlike the current Vice City Stories, I will not be going into depth about each mission. Honestly the game's story is, by all accounts, pretty poor and the gameplay doesn't change much. Instead I'll basically be posting parts of a review of sorts as I move forward with the game. The first of which should come in the next couple of days.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories - Introduction

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Year: 2006 (PSP), 2007 (PS2)
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Publisher: Rockstar Games

Everyone knows the Grand Theft Auto series. It's the game series that dominated the first half of the 00s and created the blue print for the sandbox action/adventure game that so many have tried to replicate. The last game in the 'GTA III' era was Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, a prequel to the original Vice City. You play as Victor Vance, brother of VC original Lance Vance, a soldier who gets kicked out of the forces and turns to a life of crime in order to support his family. It received good reviews, an average of 86/100 according to Metacritic and had sold four and a half million copies by the end of April 2008. 

Our hero: Victor Vance. 

 

I really shouldn't be playing this game as part of this project, I was a mission or two of completing it on the PS2 version, but through reasons I cannot remember, I did not. Even worse...I have to play the PSP version  because I lost my PS2 copy. So here we are...

Vice City is one of my favourite settings in a game ever, and the soundtrack in this game is just as delightfully 80s as it's predecessor, so I will be posting a random song from the soundtrack with every post. You have been warned.  

Assassin's Creed II - An Introduction

I apologise for all the words, in normal service I won't need to explain nearly as much.

Assassin's Creed II

Backstory (AC Spoilers AHOY!)

Assassin's Creed II was released towards the end of 2009 to great reviews and by February 2010 it had sold 9 million copies. As the name suggests, it is a sequel of 2007's Assassin's Creed. The story revolves around Desmond Miles and his ancestors, whose memories he can access through a machine called the Animus. In the first game, Desmond is forced to live through the memories of Altair by a man called Warren Vidic. Vidic works for a company called Abstergo. Working with him is Lucy Stillman, who is voiced by Kristen Bell, who you may know as "Veronica Mars" or "Sarah Marshall". The Altair segments are set during the Third Crusade. Altair is a member of the Assassin's Brotherhood, and his targets are all members of the Knight Templars, setting the big "war" between the two factions that would continue into later games. The object of both of these factions is to obtain Pieces of Eden, artifacts with the power of mind control. Eventually Altair has to kill his leader who was a Templar in disguise who was in possession of one of these artifacts. Altair claims it, it projects a map of Earth, Abstergo is actually a Templar company looking for these Pieces of Eden, the map shows them where they are. Desmond was going to be killed, but is saved by Lucy who is actually an Assassin, Desmond starts retaining some of Altair's skills and "see's" the previous Animus subject's projections of the world ending in 2012. The writers of this game clearly went to the same school of plot twists as Hideo Kojima. That all sets up nicely for the next game.

 

The last thing you see in the game...'cept the XboxWorld logo. Unless they are secretly Templars...

Which I almost didn't play because I didn't like Assassin's Creed. I thought it was a great concept, but I gave up half way through, it just got very repetitive and dull. I had to be convinced by a friend to play AC2, and I'm glad he did. Despite only getting half-way through, that was enough time to realise that everything had been improved. Then I forgot about it. For two years. Eventually, I decided to watch someone play Assassin's Creed and then picked AC2 up again in the summer, got to roughly the same point as I did before. Then I forgot about it. For eight months. Or more specifically, since three days ago. Now, it's time for me to FINALLY complete this game.

So Far...

This will be the only game I'll ever jump into half-way through. The reason I've done this is because I simply want to play it, and also I have Brotherhood just sitting there gathering dust and I feel I need to play it before it raises some sort of dust army to kill me and take this golden apple I found. (oh, the most common PE in the game, at least so far, is an apple. SYMBOLISM). ANYWAY, I'll try to sum up the story but I'll try not to go too much into spoiler town as I did up above there.

Lucy saves you from Abstergo, takes you to secret Assassin hideout, introduces two new associates: Rebecca; a "cool, yeah, radical" kind of girl who is in charge of keeping their own form of Animus running, and Shaun, your stereotypical snarky Brit who does databasing and research (he is voiced by Danny Wallace, who's a rather famous funny guy/author in Britain). This time it's Renaissance Italy and you play Ezio Auditore, who is much more likeable than Altair in every way. Long story short, his family gets betrayed, his dad was an Assassin, Ezio follows in his footsteps, kills a bunch of Templars connected with his families murder, befriends Leonardo da Vinci (aka, one of the best supporting characters in any game ever), fled to Venice where we're now helping the Thieves to kill some old guy. That's it in a nutshell. Oh, and that guy who wrote all those symbols up there? Subject Sixteen (Seventeen being Desmond). He seems to be living in the Animus now, revealing 'The Truth'. I think I'll talk about that when I'm done with it. Although you've most likely have played it already, I'm very wary about giving spoilers away to games I already like. I'll wait for the proper Review for that.

 

Our hero, Ezio Auditore, if his beheading went terribly wrong...

The Plan

Each day starting from tomorrow will have a little write-up, explaining how far I've progressed (which might be low-to-nothing on days I have to work) and then accompanying them will be more interesting stuff. Most of the posts will be about something related to the game, though not necessarily about the game either. These posts will focus on specific voice actors, writers, game companies, real events talked about in the game, soundtrack etc. So, look forward to that, I guess if you want.

Obligatory Explanation Post

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night/other to you. My name is Stuart, I'm a Scottish lad who likes to control virtual people using a hunk of plastic with buttons on it. I'm not alone, there are millions of other people just like me. We tend to be called 'gamers'. As one of these 'gamers', I have ended up with a large amount of games. Some people might call it too much. But the thing is, most of them (particular the ones bought in the last four years) are just sitting there after being played once or not at all. This cannot continue. So, before the day I die (I'm 19...a bit too young to be thinking of that sort of thing), I plan on largely reducing my backlog of video and computer games.

 

Pictured: Still more organised than my collection.

So, why on earth have I decided to blog about it? Honestly, no idea. It seemed like fun. The idea (and I stress that it is still an idea and will expand and evolve as time goes on) is that I basically muse about whatever game I happen to be playing. Just random thoughts, experiences and the like. Eventually, if I feel the game deserves it, I will review it, even though chances are most of the games I end up playing will be well known. It just brings closure, y'know? Right now, the idea is to devote around a week to a certain game, but there are no real deadlines.

Right now, I'm playing my way through Assassin's Creed 2, so that'll be the first game on this journey. I'm already halfway through because that's how far I got before I came up with this idea. I won't just be talking about the games though, if I find anything interesting related to the game in question I'll post about that too. Don't say I'm not good to you. (seriously, don't say it, or I will get angry). 

 

Starting off nice and obscure...

My "backlog" can be found by clicking the "here" on the description near the top of the page, but it is only half done at the moment. I still need to add all my PC games...so many PC games...sigh. 

 

This. This is truth.

Until next time,

Stu.