Welcome to Episode 97 of The Gameslave Podcast. This week we have a lot more games then we normally end up talking about, and then we end on a Zelda rant. Really need to learn how to stay on topic.
Notes can be found on the podcast page.
Do you ever have an issue with playing a game that you know is supposed to be good; a game that by all rights is a great game, but you just can't get yourself to interested in it? I recently started playing Saints Row The Third on the PS3. My friends have said it is a funny game. Reviews have said that it has great gameplay and is extremely entertaining to play. However, I have a hard time staying interested in it because of the type of game it is. Since this is the only reason I can think why I'm not enjoying this type of game for what it is, means that I'll have to talk about some of my game history.
How can I not like this?The gameplay in the Saints Row series is based (loosely) on the GTA series. This is a series that has never once interested me. I have not played GTA III, Vice City, or San Andreas, so you get where I am going with this right? Now at its core, Saints Row uses the same open world formula as GTA; which envolves stealing a car and killing people at its core. The game setting is present day with the average person present. Saints Row may not take itself seriously, but it is close enough in game play and style to GTA that the humor isn't enough for me to separate them. I'm trying to find the motivation to keep playing Saints Row The Third, but a current era game without some fantastical element is not my normal draw. I enjoy typically enjoy superhero games (inFamous), fantasy games (Skyrim), or high technology games (Mass Effect).
So you see my problem with Saints Row The Third? It is a truly great critically acclaimed game, that just does not scratch my gaming itch. I know that others people have games that give them similar issues. ZeldaQueen is a an RPG fan that never got into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for example, but what games do you have issues with? Sound off in the comments.
And here we are, at the last article for The Second Annual Gameslave Awards. Here is where we award the best game of 2011. There were many contenders for this game, as a number of great games came out this year. But there can only be one. Your nominees for best game of 2011 are:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Batman: Arkham City
Star Wars: The Old Republic
2011 gave the gaming community some really great games. Too bad where there is light there is darkness. This means we had some really bad games come out this year as well, and these games cannot be ignored. So let me give your our nominees for the worst game of 2011:
Duke Nukem: Forever
X-Men: Destiny
Thor: God of Thunder
Through out 2011 many good game came out. Then there were game that, while not bad, were not what we expected them to be thanks to hype or a previous game. So lets look at our nominees for most disappointing game of 2011:
Dragon Age II
Rage
Brink
So what's the fun of talking about the past if we don't at least glimpse at the future. So we all mentioned the games we most want to see in 2012, and voted on which one we can wait for the least. The nominees are:
Diablo III
Mass Effect III
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Bioshock Infinite
Darksiders II
OK, I will admit this seems like an odd category to have. But lets admit that we don't all have time to play a game right when it comes out. As such there was a majority vote to at least list the games that some of the staff did not get a chance to play until they were no longer eligible for the awards. These games are:
Rune Factory 3
Defense Grid
Mass Effect II
Fable II
No real award is being given hear, since none of these are eligible (as previously mentioned). But if you have not had a chance, give one of these a go.
Remember when all they NPC's spoke in text boxes if they spoke at all? That was a much simpler day, and sometimes still a better option (looking at you Metroid: Other M). But now with larger storage abilities and greater technologies our characters are coming alive. There are bringing emotions and urgency to our quests that did not exist before. I know I am more likely to complete quests a little bit sooner if the NPC actually makes me feel the urgency. To that we offer our nominees for the best voice acting of 2011:
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Portal 2
Dragon Age 2
There are two types of art in a game. The first is very obvious, without graphics you have no game. The second has become more vital though, and that is a soundtrack that brings the game alive. So to that we present the award of the best original music of 2011. Our nominees are:
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
It was a dark and stormy night; the sun had just crested the mountains; as you looked over the wind swept plains; without a proper atmosphere a game with great story and fantastic game play will not entice a player to keep going. As such we took the following nominees and rewarded one for the best atmosphere of 2011:
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Batman: Arkham City
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
