Just recently, I got an Xbox 360 in addition to my old Wii Console. The main reason is that too many Wii titles are designed for lower age groups. Donkey Kong Country Returns and Phineas and Ferb: The Second Dimension are okay, but I'm in need of more serious games. Not to say the Wii doesn't already have some titles in the hardcore genre.

The downside of the Xbox 360, at least to my knowledge so far, is that it has more sports games and first-person shooters than any other consoles. First-person shooters are all right... in moderation. But let's not forget the other genres that gamers could be playing these days instead of the same, tedious shooting missions. After all, who cares about graphics when gameplay is at stake.

So far, I've experience Alan Wake, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and Dungeon Siege III, and I haven't regretted one yet.

Just recently, Nintendo announced the future release of its new console, the Wii U. As a direct successor, the Wii U boasts 1080p HD graphics and a 50% better processor than the PS3 (though this fact has not been officially approved by Nintendo). The only modern video game console I own now is the Wii, but after looking at some other interesting, hardcore survival-horror games, I'm starting to wonder whether or not I should get a PS3 or Xbox 360.

Many good games (Call of Duty, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, L.A. Noire, etc.) are only available on the 360 and PS3. You'll only find a handful of horror and action games for Wii. After all, the console was initially intended for casual gamers. This fact, however, will probably change with the release of the Wii U. Sure, there are a few good hardcore games for the Wii today, but that number is no match for what the 360 and other more powerful consoles have to offer. Let's face it. Too many good games (L.A. Noire in particular) are only given to the Xbox because of its processing power.

If the claims are correct that the Wii U will beat out the 360 and PS3 in processing power and graphics, then it will definitely gain popularity. Popularity means more players, and better processing means less gameplay restrictions. If the Wii U is truly successful, meaning better popularity and processing power, then many more third party companies will start to recognize Nintendo's potential and will start to port more games to Wii.

I decided to switch to Xbox only because more third party games are available on that console. However, Nintendo obviously now has the potential to regain power. Please tell me in the comments what I should do. Should I wait until 2012 for the Wii U and hope it is successful, or should I just give up on Nintendo and get an Xbox 360 right now? Please help. This console war needs a solution.

No matter what video game console we choose, there is bound to be a few games we want to play, but can't because it isn't available for that particular console. This fact is no less true than the Wii. I love the Wii console, but for some reason, it's been having a serious video game drought.

Is it just me, or are the PS3 and Xbox 360 feeling a little too proud of themselves these days? As a fan of action games, I've been finding not many action games are being released for the Wii. Games like L.A. Noire, Silent Hill: Downpour, and other good action games are only available for Xbox 360 and PS3, both of which I do not have.

Truthfully, I think the only good survival horror game for Wii right now is Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Some mediocre ones are Calling and Ju-on: the Grudge.

My only complaint to video game designers is why they don't release their games for all consoles. Some of them don't have the courtesy to port those games to PC. I guess I'll just have to stick to watching YouTube video walkthroughs of some games I don't have the console to play in.

"Oh my gosh! Why didn't I use that healing item?"

"What the heck: I didn't save!"

"So close! Just a few feet more..."

Whatever your reaction is, all gamers have at least once experienced the horrors of losing a video game. I myself have punched holes in walls in frustration. Whether it's "You Are Dead" written in blood, or just a plain "You Lose" in big, block letters, most games have their own unwelcoming game-over screen. My definition of "horrible" here is not the mindless killing you see in M-rated games. I'm targeting the annoying, frustrating, and unfair parts of E through T rated games. I haven't played many games in my time (including a lot of the popular ones for the 360), but here is a list of sinister "losing" scenes I have experienced.

1. Red Steel 2: The Bomb

The infamous "one-hit kill" comes faster than you think, and leaves you wondering what just happened. In Red Steel 2, a swordfighting/first-person shooter based on the Wild West, red barrel explosives, flammable trucks, and suicide-bomber robots make the majority of the game's critical health-drainers. In the heat of the battle, you swing your sword a bit too far to the left toward a barrel of gunpowder, triggering a massive explosion you never wanted to be in.

2. Star Wars Battlefront II: "Houston, We Have A Problem..."

You've stolen the enemy ship and are flying back to the hanger. You slow down approaching the entrance as the engines ease their roaring. Suddenly, your game's camera angle drifts off in the wrong direction. Next thing you know, one wing of the ship collides with the side of the hanger. The result is an explosion killing many of your valuable teammates. One feature that many Star Wars fans were looking for in Star Wars Battlefront a few years ago were space battles. Star Wars Battlefront II delivered this request well with satisfying explosions and wonderful details. However, the camera angle when flying a starfighter in space is far from perfect. You'll probably won't recognize the problem flying in vast space, but when landing your vehicle in the hanger required precision maneuvers, the camera fell short. Being somewhat difficult to see the distance between your starfighter and the hanger walls, 40% of landings will fail. My overall message here is that losing video games because of a programming issue is unfair and unsatisfying.

3. Wii Sports Resort: Down the Drain

If you purchased your Wii in the more recent days, you probably received Wii Sports Resort along with Wii Motion Plus with the package. One of the games featured is swordplay, my particular favorite where you swordfight enemies to the edge of the field pushing them into the water. Although common sense encourages wild swings, you will have to tone it down a bit. The Wii Motion Plus isn't the most accurate accessory to the Wii as it mostly assumes the position of the Wii Remote rather than exacting it. Once again, losing a game because of errors in programming isn't fun. Trying to control the in-game sword while your opponent whacks you around sure isn't much fun.

Be sure to see my reviews of Red Steel 2 and Wii Sports Resort.

I'm sure you can think of more games with unfair losing scenes. Post a comment.

Has anyone ever heard of a PC game called "Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing"? It is literally the worst game ever programmed. Don't believe me? Search the game on GameSpot and watch Alex Navarro tackle this junk heap in his video review.

Big Rigs may have had some potential, but its programmers didn't have the time. According to Internet rumor (YouTube to be exact), Big Rigs was a rushed game. The game company forced it into stores much before it was finished, or tested. Although this is simply an Internet assumption, the released game, in fact, does look like a primitive prototype.

Games should never be rushed. Video game companies build deadlines that possibly affect the effort placed into programming and designing a game. It's like building a paradise island resort and rushing through the construction. Truly, there isn't a reason to rush it, and customers will be less pleased at the result.

Sequels don't function the way they should. In an interview, while discussing the release of Star Wars Battlefront II, a LucasArts developer stated that the original Star Wars Battlefront was created with a deadline, and it wasn't until the sequel when developers could finally discuss what they wanted in the game. What LucasArts did in the sequel should have been in the original game. Sequels should be released when developers strike some afterthoughts following the original game's release. Star Wars Battlefront, the original, by the way, isn't a bad game at all. It just wasn't given as much attention.

Quality over Quantity. You probably remember an expensive game called Action 52 if you grew up in the early years of video gaming. The gimmick was that the game would be a combination of "52 super video games in one cartridge". Unfortunately, this also meant each game would be given 1/52 of the total effort and 1/52 of the total time to produce than that of a normal game. Try it yourself. Each game's fun level is equivalent to playing with three sheets of paper.

Here are a few rushed games I can list from the top of my head:

1. Red Steel
2. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing
3. Star Wars Battlefront

Do you agree? Post a comment below.

-- Posted by shooterboss 07-10-2010 at 6:39 PM