Overall though, Super Smash Bros. Brawl was still a fun game to play and added some fun features that helped make the game longer-lasting.  That being said, as much as it does right, the negatives just kill the experience…

“But…  But…  IT’S STILL SMASH BROS.!”

Of course it is, but with Nintendo’s last outing with one of their BEST franchises, shouldn’t we have expected much more?  ”What more could we ask for?” you ask?  Well, let me explain.

Imagine if Super Smash Bros. was on a system like Xbox LIVE.

Fanboys don’t go crazy just yet.  Hear me out…

1. You can’t deny the success of Xbox LIVE.  Compare a system like XBL to Nintendo’s online service.  Friend codes?  Really Nintendo?  The main reason they stay with friend codes is the excuse of “online predators” but if you compare it to a system like XBL, there’s a great deal of security to prevent online abuse with things like private profiles, blocking communication, parental settings, etc.  The friend codes system makes it more DIFFICULT to add people which in theory might detract from the amount of abusers you come across, but let’s look at this another way.  How will kid’s need to add new people to their friends list now?  They are being forced to go to an external source in seek of friends to play with instead of approaching new people on the Wii.  What source am I talking about?  The internet. The internet is a FAR less secure place for kids to meet new people and I believe Nintendo is extremely naive to believe their online system is the best option available.
2. Lag. Do I really need to say more?  Go play Brawl online then go play any XBL game online.  The delay and lag is seriously unplayable in Brawl.  How can Nintendo allow this level of failure from one of their best multiplayer franchises?  Really, there are no acceptable excuses Nintendo could say that would make their fans accept such a stab to the heart.  Mario Kart pulls off online very well, but a 4p game like Smash Bros. can’t be done properly?  Get the f*** out…  This absolutely DESTROYED the longevity of Smash Bros. compared to what it would have been if it had a successful online system.  I’m sure there would still be a large amount of people playing Brawl online with their friends if it was on a system like XBL.
3. Communication. Little messages assigned to the d-pad is the best you can do Nintendo?  Seriously?  On XBL we can do things like party chat, private chat, chat with friends and new people while playing your favorite games, send messages, send party/game invites, etc.  One of the best things about Smash Bros. was playing with your friends and yelling/laughing/trash-talking about all the insane chaos that would be going on around you!  They blew it with Brawl’s online big time.  The idea of a virtual couch to go from game to game together while laughing together is nonexistent in Nintendo’s WiFi service.
4. DLC. Disappointed about the amount of characters that appeared in Brawl knowing that they were trying to include many more?  Well, with a system like XBL that would have been no problem at all.  Look at a fighting game like Soul Calibur IV.  DLC came out for both the 360 and PS3 versions that included the exclusive characters from each game like Yoda from the 360 and Darth Vader from the PS3.  With a system like this, Nintendo could’ve added characters and even put a little price on it even giving them the opportunity to make long-lasting, residual profits.
5. Updates/Patches. Problems with Brawl?  No problem.  Nintendo can easily release updates/patches to help solve some of the problems many players are having with the game.  Take tripping for example.  With a simple patch, they could make it so that the % chance of tripping would be 0 so that it would remove the annoyance of random elements in the game.  ”Well, tripping ain’t so bad!”  Oh really?  How many times have you been mid-attack or mid-combo (lolbrawlcomboes) and tripped randomly only to be smashed off the stage by your opponent.  Is that really fair?  Does that promote skill?  No.  Not only could they remove tripping, but they could also tweak some of the gameplay elements to make it play a little faster and add more hit-stun, etc.
6. Customization/Freedom. Ever felt so restricted with what you can do with Brawl online?  It would be so easy to switch lobbies from regular battle modes to event modes like the Home Run Contest or even actually adding co op online with the “story mode” and events.  The usability which be much more seamless on XBL then it is on Nintendo’s WiFi.
7. Fun. Sure, it can be argued that fun is more of an opinion because it can be had anywhere at anytime with anything.  However, I strongly believe that with the aforementioned elements that it would bring about a much more enjoyable environment than what we currently have with Nintendo WiFi.  Brawl online would feel much more natural and successful with XBL then the hassle we have to deal with for Nintendo WiFi.

Here’s to hoping a new Smash Bros. game comes out and it having a successful online service!

Spartan Armor

When I FIRST heard of Halo Reach I was thinking OMFG!  FINALLY we see other Spartans in the field of battle!

I imagined scenarios of Spartan-II’s fighting together, trying to save as many lives as possible before the ultimate destruction of Reach.  When first announcing Reach as the next Halo game, I never expected it to be based solely off the book The Fall of Reach.  However, what I ALSO did not expect was what was later announced:

A game based on the fragile Spartan-III’s (at least when compared to Spartan-II’s) and the collapse of humanity’s military stronghold planet.

At first I thought Ok…  Sounds cool.  Bungie has never let me down in the stories they made with their three main Halo titles. I’m sure I’m going to love the new game and the story that revolves around it, but I just can’t move past the disappointment of what I believe Reach should have been about…

Now, follow with me for a second and picture this.

Imagine the possibilities of Bungie doing a game based on the Spartan-II program and the deaths of most Spartans as Reach is getting destroyed by the overwhelming force that is the Covenant.  I mean, this IS after all why we ONLY see Master Chief throughout Halo 1-3 and we were constantly lead to believe that he was the last remaining Spartan.  Reach’s downfall IS the reason there are only a handful of Spartan-II’s remaining.

Creating a Spartan

So I ask you this?  Why can’t we actually LIVE through that and FEEL what happened on Reach to some of our most beloved heroes’ partners that went through that extremely arduous task to become a Spartan-II?  I wanted Bungie to dive into the history of the Spartan-II’s and what could have been such a dramatic story that lead to Master Chief saving the universe alone, without his comrades.  I mean sure, the book The Fall of Reach is all about that so why not just read about it instead?  Why not just pick up a copy and be glad Bungie didn’t tell through the history of the best warriors we have ever known?  I’ll tell you why:

Because playing through it in a game is a much deeper experience and seeing the character being brought to life on screen with Bungie’s brilliant way of storytelling would have been a phenomenal experience to go out on a bang with.

To me, Bungie is taking an unnecessary route by telling a tale of a group of Spartan-III’s (which might cause some plotholes if done incorrectly) instead of going with what, I believe, would have gave the BEST story possible.  I don’t know…  It just seems like this game is going the exact same route as ODST…  Bungie is basically saying the same EXACT things they did for ODST.

You’re playing as a group of soldiers who are not as godlike and powerful as the Spartan-II’s such as Master Chief.  You’re very vulnerable.  It lets you feel how susceptible to damage you are.

Yeah, sure, these things are great, but what happened to the Spartan-II’s on Reach?  97% of them died, didn’t they?  So doesn’t that already show that in the face of overwhelming odds, even the mighty Spartan-II’s can fall?

Angry Spartan at the death of their ally

Personally, I think that’s just a big cop out and a huge let down…

Seriously, everything they’re doing now could have easily been done with the Spartan-II’s.  NOTHING they’re doing now would lend itself as a perfect reason to use Spartan-III’s.  Nothing.  I wanted to see quick flashbacks of the Spartan-II’s being kidnapped for the program, I wanted to witness what they went through as children and the tragedies they faced as they became fully-fledged Spartans.  I wanted to LIVE through the Spartan-II’s story!

But now, what do we get?  A story about a group of Spartan-III’s that kept surviving after their missions even though they were expected to die, since Spartan-III’s are a cheaper, expendable, fire-and-forget solution to many tough situations.  Seems a lot like the ODST’s to me…

Reach Noble Team = ODSTs?

I don’t know…  I.  Just.  Don’t.  Know…  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very confident in Bungie’s skills to deliver an amazing experience for their last Halo title, but I just can’t help but to think what I believe this game should have been.  After all, if they TRULY wanted to do a GAME about the Spartan-III’s, they could have released an expansion like ODST, telling a sidestory of these seemingly weaker, but still badass group of Spartans.

Enjoy

credit to joystiq for the vid

Ubisoft-Montreal this time around did one thing that many game developers fail to do, and that is taking the feedback received from their first game and ACTUALLY listening to it. Assassins Creed II is  like its predecessor is a phenomenal game, but it flawlessly succeeds in so many more aspects which ends up taking the game to a whole new level.

Here’s the Break Down

Presentation: 2 words : Holy Shit… Ubisoft-Montreal once again show their flair for style. They couldn’t have picked a better location for their brand new adventure. The game takes place in Renaissance Italy, and by god does it look stunning. One thing to note is that the game is much more colorful than the first one, which isn’t surprising, given the location, for you have the Renaissance on one side and the dreary old Crusades in the first game. Picture this; its a game with whores and thieves, instead of your usual everyday religious fanatics. Everything that happens in the game is delivered with such a style it keeps the player wanting more.
Presentation Score : 10

Plot: The plot in Assassin’s Creed II is first and foremost much stronger and much more in depth then the first installment. It picks up directly where Assassin’s Creed  left off, continuing the story of ever so “emo” character Desmond Miles and a new ancestor; Ezio Auditore da Firenze.  The plot is delivered in witty dialogue and in game cutscenes making it a very pleasurable experience. It’s hard to write about the plot, without spoiling anything. I know that many of my friends here at iXi will kill me if I do. So mums the word. However, I can tell you this much, that the plot does answer many questions from the first game, but also gives you a strong desire to play the next  game in the franchise.(if released)
Plot Score: 9.2

Gameplay: Remember those rants about the first game’s repetitiveness? Well, if you think that now…your a complete and utter fooligan*(hooligan+fool). The gameplay from Assassin’s Creed II is in technical terms the refined and tuned engine of the first game, but with a whole bag-o- tricks.  When I say bag I mean INDUSTRIAL size bag. First things first, Free Running! It’s back and sexy as ever, there is not a game that comes close to the free running/exploration capabilities of this game, the seamless transitions from one obstacle to another is quite the beauty especially in Italia. In addition, new techniques have been added such as swimming, disarming, and actions while grabbing an enemy.   Also, there is a weapons system overhaul and its a really great thing, because now instead of being limited to 4 tools to aid in the killing of those Templar bitches, you have knives, swords, hammers, maces, smoke bombs, and many more violent ways of penetrating your enemy’s skull.  There is also a very awesome hidden blade upgrade in which you have two BadAssMotherFucking blades, one equipped on each arm.  There is so much content and so much more variation that if I were to write about every thing gameplay wise in Assassins Creed II it would take all day, and believe me …. I don’t have all day.
Gameplay Score: 9.5

Graphics: Though Assassin’s Creed II may not have the sharpest textures, or character models in the gaming  world, on the whole the game is visually breath-taking and not because of the graphic quality.It’s due to the amount of effort put in throughout the huge scale of the game. The game was running an upgraded graphics engine from the first Assassin’s Creed, but not surprisingly there were some significant upgrades.  Ubisoft-Montreal designers consistently were able to pull of  different locations with historical accuracy, but actually showed textural  differences in between the different locations, which to me was a very intriguing aspect. A location like Forli which was very dreary and murky place, actually seemed murky and dreary, while Florence was bustling and colorful, just like I learned. It was very cool to see the developers staying true to their vision.  Character models were high in detail close-up as well as their facial expressions. Each character that had an affect in the story line made a lasting impression. There was some popping and some glitching going on, but with the amount of detail put in, one cannot be too critical of this game.  Although the game’s graphics were overall good, they weren’t groundbreaking  as the first Assassin’s Creed even if it did look better. I look to see a major overhaul if there is a next Assassins Creed Game.
Graphics Score:9.0

Sound: Now I know many games are known for their original sound track, Assassin’s Creed II didn’t have a halo-esque mega symphony. However, in no way does that mean that the sound was on point with the game. The voice acting was pretty much flawless, with everyone in their funny Italian accents. The in-game sounds of people, markets, and guards were so consuming, made you feel like as if you were there buying fish. The sounds that each weapon made, the footsteps, the water, all enhanced the game further. Lastly, The music was very dynamic, it changed with mood and really set the tone of the game, making it a more pleasurable experience than it already was.
Sound Score:9.4

Final Thoughts: Hope this review helped with those who want to try this game, I wish I had more energy to write these long ass in-depth reviews, but I don’t. Frankly, Assassin’s Creed II deserved it, I hope this review did this phenomenal game by Ubisoft-Montreal justice… Even if I missed a few things.

Overall Score: 9.420-  Exceptional

This week we kick off the New Year with a discussion about each of our top 5 most anticipated games for 2010.  The breakdown of this video is as follows:

• Part 1: Introductions.  Kurokikaze and Meatwad give their top 5 most anticipated games for 2010.

• Part 2: UNKNOWN gives his top 5 list and everyone leaves with some words of inspiration!

We hope you enjoyed our brand new podcast, codenamed: The Ground Pound! Stay tuned for future episodes and feel free to drop us some comments below or sound off in our forums.

Halo Reach MythBusters

This is the first of many to come so be on the lookout for more episodes to be released once the Halo Reach media gets rollin’!

-Disclaimer-

There are a few mistakes/typos that weren’t gotten around to edit, so forgive JFKES for that.

In this episode:

• Graphics engine discussion
• New things shown in the premiere
• Our favorite campaign
• Equipment discussion
• Music discussion

http://www.superherohype.com/news/ironmannews.php?id=8927

if you can’t access that, then here’s the youtube version:

I don’t wanna spoil anything before the trailer but let me say, Scarlett Johansson as Black Windows is just……. indescribable.
Ryan Reynolds, you are one lucky @$^$%#$%

Ah, good old FOX News, I can’t believe these idiots are still on the air. They’re probably going to be around for a while… so till then we’ll just have to put up with their dodgy journalism and their constant need to strike fear into/warp the minds of people that actually watch their show. In their latest attempt at fear-mongering; FOX News decided to call out yet another game for having too much violence, that game is Modern Warfare 2.

Most of you guys probably already know what I’m referring to, but for those who don’t; In Modern Warfare 2 there is a particular mission where you play as an undercover CIA agent who has infiltrated a Russian terrorist cell. In order to not blow his cover and gain the trust of the terrorist leader Makarov, the agent has to do as the terrorist do… even if that means killing a swarm of innocent civilians in a crowded airport. The player is given the option to skip the mission and suffer no penalty to their game file. Should the player choose to go ahead and complete the mission, they could still win without shooting a single round.

Now before I voice my side on the matter, I would just like to say that personally – I feel this was an incredibly violent and graphic way to set up a plot point in the game. Should Infinity Ward have censored this? Probably not, as that would suggest that we are limiting or censoring the narrative in our fictions. This scene/mission is there to make a point and to illicit an emotional response from the target audience. You’re supposed to feel angry, disgusted, or uncomfortable.

Video games have come a long way from Mario or Pong and people just don’t seem to understand it. They’re stuck with this impression or expectation that games should be similar to hobbies; fun and simple. Sorry to disappoint you all but we’re way beyond that – it’s ok if you don’t understand it, we gamers don’t understand the Wii. MW2 is not doing anything that wouldn’t otherwise be found in hit TV shows/movies such as “24” or “The Departed”. So why is it perfectly acceptable to portray that same level of carnage in those forms? Some would argue that movies aren’t interactive but I’m fairly certain that those same people would still complain if the airport mission was a cut-scene instead of a playable mission.

Surprisingly enough, the argument of whether or not it’s too violent isn’t the whole issue. FOX News claims that the game is too violent for “kids”. I mean, how could you possibly disagree with that statement? You’d have to be a socialist commie pig who hates America to not agree – just saying. Modern Warfare 2 is entirely way too violent for kids, which is why they shouldn’t be playing it in the first place. The game is rated M for a reason folks. Now of course you could argue that kids will find a way to get ahold of the game. Hey it’s true; don’t act like you never stumbled onto your dad’s stack of porn when you were 8. Despite these unfortunate events that seem to happen very frequently, people are still allowed their right to bear arms. I find that rather amusing. It’s ok though, a child who finds a copy of MW2 and plays through the airport mission will do a lot more damage than a child who finds his dad’s loaded shotgun… and if that kid literally blows away a few buddies at school with that very same shotgun, it’s still ok. They can always blame the incident on violent video games. If you ask me, FOX News needs to start taking into account the parent factor. Say what you want about the game, but in the end, it’s really up to the parents to keep their children away from violent games/movies/shows. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that. I just don’t like how FOX News tries to force its own opinions onto the masses.

In a country that prides itself for giving its citizens the right to speak freely… can you honestly say that you’re surprised to come across something like this?

Feel free to leave your interesting and/or creative responses in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: I was joking about the socialist commie statement. If you were somehow offended by that, I’d have to question your intelligence. Sorry LOL. I have embedded a gameplay video of the airport mission for those that would like to see it. Thanks ClusterFoxtrot for the upload.

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 1:10 – Main focus is gameplay elements
• 1:20 – Melee lunge discussion
• 2:50 – Gameplay becoming more casual
• 3:30 – Spiker discussion
• 3:40 – Dual wielding discussion
• 4:20 – Reaction times, sluggish controls/movement, etc.
• 5:30 – Orange Blob was incorrect with the reload time of the SMG between Halo 3 and ODST
• 5:45 – Spartans should be depicted as how strong and agile they truly are
• 6:15 – Agility of the Spartans
• 6:50 – I disagree again with Orange Blob about how in ODST you threw grenades fast
• 7:35 – LOL!  My nephew pwns me!
• 8:05 – Halo 3’s competitiveness
• 9:20 – Skill gaps
• 10:10 – Melee lunge, auto aim, magnetism, longer weapon animations, slower gameplay, etc.
• 10:35 – BR talk and Covenant weapons
• 11:17 – Nephew attacks again!  hahaha
• 11:35 – BR as a single shot weapon
• 14:45 – Single shot BR would not replace the Carbine
• 15:30 – Usefulness of EACH weapon needs to increase
• 17:00 – Giving our thanks in time for the Thanksgiving spirit!
• 20:10 – My sick voice cracks LMFAO!
• 23:20 – Farewell messages

As always, feel free to post comments in the section below.