Hey everyone:D!

It's been a very long time since I last posted anything, and much has happened in that time-frame, but game wise, one franchise has my hopes held.

Naruto is a popular anime over in Japan, and after just finishing the 220 episodes of the first part in the series, I must say it's one of the best I've ever seen. Coincidingly, games were bound to abbrupt from a franchise built around action and story. I admit I haven't played the Wii counterparts of the series, but the PS3 I have.

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm was an average game. Whilst visually it excellently captured the Naruto universe, it's core game mechanics were poor and the single-player campaign was abysmal. Problems in the fighting system, such as a lack of complexity in move sets and controls for a franchise that really should have no problems creating moves, limited the enjoyment of fights which were otherwise excellent. There were of course issues in the strength of certain characters and the ability to pull off 'ultimate' moves often meant a fight could be ended almost immediately. However, the fighting system could have been redeemed if there was an engaging single player story, but the confines of the Hidden Leaf stringed together with quicktime events to link in fights, really let the player down. Without the ability to explore the Naruto universe, or even have abundent interaction with the small environment you were confined to, the game was doomed for the second-hand box. However, in a small amount of time, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Generations, the third installment in the Ultimate Ninja series, will be released.

I have seen gameplay, and know what I was hoping for is not going to take place, but I would like to put forth my views as to how the series should develop to becoem a staple fighter in the video game world.

Firstly, the issue of a shallow fighting system needs to be established. More complex button commands than just different repetitions of a singular button to perform various moves need to be established, with button layouts similar to the Mortal Kombat franchise needing to be undertaken. The use of various button combos to execute different moves combined with a figthing system as complex as something like Street Fighter's would add much needed depth to combat, without jepardising the free moving aspect of the game.

Secondly, the single player story needs to be developed. Following Naruto's story step-by-step through the anime is one thing, but when it is confined to a small area with the only real aspects of a game that would function best as a fighting rpg being the combat, much potential is lost. If the single player campaign could open acess to the world of Naruto, countless missions and challenges would be presented in the way the fans of the series are crying out for. This would allow for true character progression and the player enjoying the series how they would want to.

Lastly (Probably more of a fan-boy request than anything.), there needs to be character customisation and the ability to create your own character with a unique moveset. Games have been doing this for years, and whilst certain games liek Street Fighter make this unnessesary, games that are demandign an rpg need to allow players to make their own combatents. If players could make their own ninja and forge through the Naruto world the way they want to, a truely astounding game would be created that more than just series die hards could enjoy.

I know the last of my views on the series may never take place, but there's no excuse for the game missing out on the first two. To miss vital aspects of the series like this is like striking gold, but settling for the dirt around it. There is so much untapped potential in the video game version of this franchise and it is up to Namco-Bandai to develop the series from average, to the exeptional standing it deserves, in the fighting genre.

Thank you for reading:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

It's been a while since I last blogged so I thought I may as well update my collection and through in10 mini reviews. So far, I've picked up Need For Speed Shift, Portal 2, Dragon Age Origins, Super Street Fighter IV (Not as recent, but it deserves a shout out.), Blur, Saints Row 2, Dead Nation, Crysis 2 Wipeout HD and Fury and, quite possibly the manliest game I've ever played, Duke Nukem Forever. K, here come the reviews....

Need for Speed Shift: A change in the franchises' usual street racing games, however, I believe it is a turn for the better. Massives of cars, lots of customization, a compelling online service as well as reasonably realistic racing makes this one of the best racers I've ever played. Although it's much older than GT5, it's on a level playing ground. Ifyou haven't played it, give it a shot. It's a failry old game so it costs next to nothign even for a new copy.

Dragon Age Origins: ....:O!!!!!!!!!! This is equal with Oblivion for the best RPG ever in my eyes. The graphics are great, the gameplay is superb, all the best RPG elements are present and the dialogue/storyline is some of the best I've ever come across. DEFINATELY worth a play through.

Portal 2: Portal one with some added and tweaked gameplay features. If you've played the original Portal, you've played this. There are some new mechanics such as various gels and jump pads, but they feel more like new guns in the latest COD game; more of the same. The puzzles aren't that hard if you know the physics behind the game from the original, but the Co-Op is great. However, multiplayer games tend to rely on competitiveness (...real word?), and this game doesn't have it. It'll be interesting to see what the upcoming DLC with leaderboards and challenge levels has to offer. Still a good game, but nothing new.

Super Street Fighter IV: The best fighter and one of the best competitive gameson the market today.Once you learn how to play, you'll be hooked. So, amazing..., nuff said.

Blur: Mario Kart in a real world environment. Enjoying it greatly. The different classed cars really feel different, which is great. The Mario Kart feel is more of a compliment than a complaint on realism. All it means is that the way you play will feel familiar to most gamers. Lot's of cars and a push for competitive and social gaming make this a racer not to miss.

Saints Row 2: I've only just started playing, but it feels pretty much like San Andreas so far. If you like the older GTA's, give it a shot. First time I've noticed this in a game but it's quite violent, which may be a deciding factor against buying this game for some. It's alright so far, however I'm only 3% or so in so it may get better.

Crysis 2: Great graphics, however I prefer the first one. It feels to linear comparred to the first one, and if it's going to call itself Crisis, main factors of the original game should not be changed. Online revolves around n00bs spamming invisibility cloak, so that's pretty much avoidable. The campaign has a decent story, however it's predictable and has been in about every zombie movie ever. The lack of non-linear playamongst other factors have helped to lose my interest, so I doubt I'll be finishing this one anytime soon.In conclusion, disapointed, sadly just disapointed.

Dead Nation: Free PS3 download. Not what I expected, like Saints Row 2, I've only just started playing so I can't really form an accurate opinion of it, but I'm not impressed so far. Haven't tried online, so it may get better, but so far, I'll stick with the top-down shooter in COD BO (I don't think I ever wrote anything on this. Anyway, I absolutely hate it. Zombies gets old, the online is rubbish, the campaign is good, but that's not a reedeming factor since otehr FPS's still have a better SP campaign, EG. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Which is the best FPS I've ever played, in all factors.).).

Wipeout HD and Fury: Really enjoying it. Zone mode is amazing, changing the focus of the game from speed to colours and sound (You have to play it to know what I mean.). Lot's of vehicles, lot's of tracks and lot's of modes, what more could you ask for? Great racer, definately worth checking out.

DUKE NUKEM FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!: I picked this up today so am only 5-6 missions in, but my impressions so far are that it was worth the wait. Great graphics, over manly everything and a really good online that feels reminiscent to Team Fortress 2 (IDK how, but it just does.). It was worth the 12 year wait and I'll post up my further impressions soon.

So yeah, lot's of games, some good, some bad, all PS3 titles. Super Street Fighter IV, Wipeout HD and Fury and Duke Nukem Forever are my picks of the bunch and I'll update my views in more depth soon (Once I get through some...lol.)

Happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

Lately the gaming world has been in a frenzy. PSN is hacked, Nintendo has announced a new console, countless games have been produced and what may be a little known fact, but the man who inventedcartridge gaming died. Amongst all this you can't help but think when gaming was a little more underground and when it wasn't such a large enterprise (Not that that's a bad thing, I think it's great that gaming had become mainstream, however there was a day when it wasn't.). I'm not talking about LAN D&D games or Wolfenstein sessions but what gaming was like as I (Or perhaps you.) started. I began with the 64 which was an amazing console that houses countless classics. Games like Super Mario 64, Donkey Kong 64 andthe Banjo-Kazooie franchise followed a similar formula of placing you in an open world, and then allowing you to complete objectives as you pleased until you completed enough (Which always seemed to happen just before you'd start getting sick of the game.) to proceed to a new level which you couldn't help but explore and enjoy. This formula is one that seems to be missing from mainstream gaming nowdays which is a pity because it was such an acsessable format and fun too. Other games like Paper Mario provided the best non-hardcoreRPG experience to date in myopinion and the Zelda Series :O, nuff said.

Anyway as the next generation of gaming started to develop I found myself moving to the PC, where I stayed until recently when I purchased a PS3. Being a PC gamer, who like most, didn't have a graphics card that cost the same as an old HZ Ute or enough RAM to power NASA, I played strategy games. Age ofEmpires, Age of Mythology, Earth Empire, thecompletely underarted Empires Dawn of the Modern World,Dawn of War, Warcraft 3,these were some of the best gaming experiences I've had to date.These games didn't need an hour long, movie production value, complexcut scene to get meto play, nor did they need the best graphics oreffects, rather, it was the fact that they made you think.

To win, you needed toconsider each move youmade carefully, each mineral you spent needed to be rationed and each battle required the right tactic for the right situation to win. What I am getting at here is those games made you think, and some even taught you stuff without you realising it (The history aspect of strategy games.). This was gamingat one of its highpoints. A generation was learning about Genghis Khan's deeds without having to read a text book, and without them even realising it, were developing their brains through strategy (Sort of like a complex game aof chess helps develop logic.). All the while the games were immensaly fun. You know why? This is because gamers were being challenged without the need for enemies that had the health and resiliance of Stalingrad, or difficulties curves that revolved around you being overwhealmed. The challenge of strategy games made them so much more rewarding to complete, and also made the journey to the end a more enjoyable experience through the tactics you had to think out, and then watch as they played out to help you win.

Lately though, this type of gaming seems to have disappeared. The popular games nowdays like COD and Halo seem to have no strategy behind them, with the person who has the biggest gun or the invisibility power-up being the winner. These games are mindless, and don't require much if any thought which isn't good.

When I was growing up gaming, I played games that pushed my thinking capacities to make me win, however the games that the current group of younger gamers are playing just don't.

Whilst there are still some fantastic games that develop your initiative and problem solving skills, such as Braid and Portal, too many seem to require no more from the gamer than opposable thumbs. Since the world ofRTS seems to havedeclined into a handful of games that only a minority of gamers know about or pay attention to, with even fewer playing them, it seems the current trend that the most popular games are taking is one that doesn't develop your probling solving skills, that's doesn't require strategy and that barely requires you to think. If this is the style of game that the gamer majority wants, sadly it seems like that is what they will get, and the opportunity that is using games to help develop logic will have been wasted.

As always, happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

I've got SSFIV rented for a week so that I can compare it to the classic SF2, and sofar, it's the best fighting game I've ever played. The graphics are unique with a semi-water coulour look to them and every move, sound and flashy menu has a stylistic feel to it, which I like. The fights are fast paced and the controls are good (However the BlazBlue arcade stick doesn't really work for it because it's rather unresposive for diagonal moves, but that's no problem because the controller is mapped out well and is fine to use.). The online system is excellent butlag is noticablewhen both players have bad ping (BlazBlue prized itself on having a 'no-lag' online system, which is a truely epic feature and hopefullyStreet Fighter, and maybe the dsisaster that is online Black Ops, could learn from.), however for the most part, it's fine. The community behind it isstrong and quite friendly, and it's not uncommon for players to give eachother advice orgo easy on beginners and try to show them what to do (Which is fantastic, especially for a game that has such a deep fighting system, and this sort of encouragement will only lead to more pros and therefore better matches (Which is very good.).). There's titles and icons like MW2 had which were a nice touch and arcade mode is fun with a wide variety of difficulties. Practice is there as is standard in the current generation of fighters, but the good thing about it is you can tell the AI what to do and therefore set up certain scenarios for you to try out your moveset in, which helps prepare you for the online. There's 'Challenge' mode with each level focusing on a specific move for your character ( Each character has 26 challenge levels if I remember right.), which may sound pointless but suprisingly works in teaching you what to do, even though it's no different than practice mode except for the easily visable button combination you have to do for that move. The Challenge mode is more something you have to try for yourself to understand why it's a very good feature. The symbols for what buttons you need to press are still about as readable as QWERTY is a sentance, but once you get your head around it, it all makes sense, then you just need to focus on your micro:P. I have no complaints with this game and am very impressed. Tutorials on how to play or to hone your skills would have been nice but there's a lot of good videos and forums around, and if you practice with Challenge mode andfight strategically against the AI, you should be ready for online:D! Overall it's a stunning fighter with solid everything and I didn't even mention the strategy is countering your opponents moves, but I'll put it this way, it's the Starcraft of the fighting world. This is one of the best games I've ever played and I'll definately be picking it up soon. Happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

I've recently acquired a few new games, some for Christmas and some bought in the aftermath that is the Boxing Day sales and have now aquired many a gem.

First off I got Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed 2 and Gran Turismo 5 for Christmas. Red Dead is impressive, the sheer scale of the world and depth to each character, as well as great voice acting and suberb graphics, not to mention the online, story and gameplay make this a title not to miss, even if I missed it for quite a while. Assassin's Creed 2 is good, however I prefered the first one for two reasons. 1: It was a completely new game mechanic to me so it had me hooked and every second of it was fun, so AC2 is more of the same for me. 2: I liked how the first one wove a plot around history, this one didn't seem to get that right. I finished it last night and wasn't even remotely captivated by the ending, unlike the first one which not only had climaxed the game well, but the historical part as well. Leonardo DaVinci was a nice addition to the game though, and I would like to see more of this real history in future AC titles. Gran Turismo 5.....epic. I'm a car person so this game has the most replay value out of the three for me, 1000+ cars, realistic handling, beautiful cars (Well, the premium ones are, the standard are a bit lacluster.) and a suprisingly inspired soundtrack make this one of the best games I've played for a long while.

I picked up a couple of things off the PSN store with a $30 PSN card as well. First off Fat Princess. This is a great, solid game in any sense of the word. It's strategic, yet simplistic and reminds me of the old RTS days, trying to work out military tactics. You can rush, horde resources, play defensive, offensive and anything inbetween. The maps show truely great level design and the humour is well done. This is a title not to be missed, and there is a free demo avaliable that lets you play online or solo on a single map for unlimited time. The second game I picked up off the store is Braid. This is perfect. First off kudos to the sound, the music is truely inspired and makes the whole gameplay experience that much more immersive. The gameplay itself is rather simple, but it's how its implimented that makes this game outstanding. The puzzles are clever in a good way and once you've solved them all an explination for the game is held that may leave you confused, or (Like me.) up late contemplating its meaning. This is the best game I've played to date and is an easy 10/10. If you haven't checked this title out you've got to, it's perfect. Also I would like to note that in the debate on if gaming is art, this is. Art can be taken many ways by different people and is meant to leave you with something, and Braid, once completed,does that. I could surely rant about how this game is a masterpiece on so many levels for days but I'll move on.

I picked up another game called BlazBlue Calamity Trigger with an arcade stick for $39 (Transfers to about US$25, not on the financial market but comparing the price of games.). It's a very Japenese fighter (EG. It doesn't say 'Round 1', but instead 'Rebel 1' (???), and intro's each fight with 'The wheel of fate is turning' (?).), but so far I'm really enjoying it. The story's are portrain in an anime like fashion,which is done well and so is thefighting. The hardware (Arcade stick.) issolid, however the analoge stick only allows for slight movement, which is probablyfor the purpose of micro but seems strange at first.The online's good with no lag which I commend.It's not Street Fighter, but it still holds its own and is worth checking out if you can get the arcade stick bundle, which is great value. Whereas SFIV has a similar bundle for $270 (......yeah, that's ridiculous.).

So yeah, that's my gaming loot:P! Happy gaming (I know I will be:D!):D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

After downloading the 1.05 patch for the PS3 copy of Call of Duty Black Ops I went to play online. After connecting to the multiplayer server I got a message saying that my account was reset. May I make it perfectly clear: I don't and didn't cheat, swear, boost or have an offensive emblem so I can't see any reason for someone to report me. I was at the start of level 50, working my way towards getting to prestige 1 and now this has happened (I also had all the guns and a lot of CP's.). I've now lost over a day of gameplay and anything that I had to show for it, and I'm not raging, but I'm not happy. I am now unsure about playing again just in case someone randomly reports me for something to do and my account gets reset again, losing even more gameplay time. Treyarch really need to examin each reported case individually towork out whetherthey aretrue or not to stop honest gamers from losing their progress because someone thought it'd be funny to report you (They say they do this but judging by the amount of disgruntled gamers losing their progress unjustly, they obviously don't.). They also needsome sort of section on their website where you can leave your account name and console so that they can check up why your account was reset and restore it if it was done unjustly. I'm more than happy to have Treyarch check all my recently played games and my account so that I can provethat I didn't deservemy account being reset. Does anyone know how to restore your account if it was reset for no good reason, such as by asking Treyarch to check it out? Any help would be greatly appreciated and as always, happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

I picked up Call Of Duty Black Ops the day it came out (Not the midnight release however, I find that strange.) and although I've only put in about 2 hours, I'm impressed. I played through the first two single player missions on veteran and liked what I played. The graphics are good (Very polished.), the explosions are fantastic, truely, the sound is great, the story is the usual COD but that's not exactly a bad thing, in fact it means your in for an action packed solid single player experience (Kudos to Treyarch on getting that right.). The gunplay is great and very solid. The only complaints I have about it are the meele system, it's not bad but in such a big production I would have liked it to be better. The new Medal of Honour had a perfect meele system, they had the look, feel and distance perfect, hopefully more games get meele systems like this, it was perfect. The other complaint is the diving/slide thing. I really like the idea of this, especially when it is done right, but it felt a bit too clumsy for my liking and the distance you slide is not as right as Medal of Honour's one. Yet again, the Medal of Honour dive/slide system was better though. It felt much more accurate and just generally better, but the button layout for it is better in COD. Hopefully this gets fixed up in a patch although I doubt it. Hopefully the next COD developer get the meele system and dive/slide (Which I very much like both style wise and tacticaly.) and just do what the new Medal of Honour did, because they were the two best bits of that game. Besides that though I didn't really like Medal of Honour, it lacked something that I can't quite put my finger one.

Anyway the zombie mode is fantastic, especially with 3 friends and will keep you on your toes as you search for where they are breaking in. But now, the multiplayer. The multiplayer is unbelievably good. Theatre mode is a fantastic feature, so are the COD points. I think in general the multiplayer is a big step up from MW2. Whilst playing, your HUD seems more stylised and smooth to reduce a 'blockiness' feel the last COD had. This is fine but I liked the solid HUD in MW2 and the blocky writing saying what you did, it gave the game a good sense of knowing what you did and what to do. Also the highly advertised customization is a welcome feature, although I would have liked customization for your character, to make it uniquely personal.

All up though this game is better in every way from MW2, and that's saying something because that game was great. I'll post some more as I put some more hours in but to all FPS, action or multiplayer fanaticsout there, get this, you won't regret it. Happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

If anyone has any questions about Australia fell free to ask (Politics, education, what it's like, whatever.):D! Happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

The Australian federal election was concluded yesterday with Julia Gillard winning. All the independents except one (Jeff Kennet I believe is his name, interesting bloke, could do a lot of good for this country.) sided with The ALP (Australian Labour Party.) so now Labour isthe government, which is good becauseTony Abbott wasquite frankly rubbish. Anyway, not much else to say except the usual, some election promises will be broken.

Labour's fine, but what Australia really needs is a goverment that are truely committed to helping Australia, and won't letanyone get in their way, something truely revolutionary. The problem is that Julia Gillard is listening too much to people complaining and not looking at the benefits some of her policys would have, such as the mining tax (Mining companies were going to have to give 40% of their taking to the government, which is fine, and if they don't they canbuger off and some other companies will wake their place and hapily pay the tax.), so shes altering policies that shouldn't be changed and going way too soft. She needs to lay down some policys, enforce them and be done with it all. Anyway, happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.

Hey everyone:D!

It's been about a week since Australia went to the polls and still no outcome:P! The power rests with the independents and which side they choose to side with (Labor or Liberal.). The only problem is they are now demanding large sums of money for their ellectorate in order to side with a party. Anyway I'll post another blog once Australia's new Prime Minister is decided (At the moment it's Julia Gillard, Australia's first female PM, although I don't think she's very good, but at least she's better than Liberal's Tony Abbott (I think that's the right spelling, I really should check sometime.).). Happy gaming:D!

Crunk_Dog.