Alright, so it seems like the entries for God Hand are going to be a little more difficult than I thought.
God Hand has several stages and within those stages are several levels., some lasting about 10 or so minutes, even more so if I die. I just finished editing all of Stage 1 to be put up on youtube and there's 9 parts in total. Geez. So like the Super Mario World posts, I'm going to do one post per stage which means that each entry will be one giant wall of text. I might break it up into parts but expect a bit of time between each entry or entries for each stage.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Press Start: God Hand
Alright folks, we're onto the next game. This one is God Hand! One of the most underrated PS2 games in my opinion. The game was released 2006 by Capcom and was made by Capcom's Clover Studios team. Clover Studios is responsible for developing the unique Viewtiful Joe series and the amazing Okami. God Hand was actually Clover Studios' last game before they were shut down so let's share a moment of silence.
*silence*
Fortunately, the members have regrouped and are under the name Platinum Games.
Anyway, God Hand falls under the "you either hate it or love it" category. There are some glaring flaws but some outstanding aspects as well. One thing about God Hand is that this game is a true testament to being "balls to the walls" hard, eanking up there with Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and others. In fact, throughout my video journal of the game, you'll see me die. A lot. And I'm only going to be playing on Normal. But I'll let the videos and entries speak for themselves.
So, just a quick overview about the game. The story involves the characters Gene and Olivia. Gene has been given the God Hand by Olivia (It's more complicated than that but you'll find out by watching the videos) and now it seems like the Four Devas, a group of very strong demons and one human are after the God Hand for ultimate power.
The story alone seems kind of boring, right? Well, just wait till you start playing. This game is filled with humour with it's great cast of characters and enemies, most random of story segments, even some of the attacks in the game are hilarious. If finding out a bunch of gay pride members are working for the baddies, fighting a giant gorilla, and spanking a woman and knocking her 50 feet away with a final slap is wrong, I don't want to be right.
But best thing about the game is the combat system. Gene is able to equip multiple attacks ranging from punches to kicks and many more which can be used for his combos. There's some you can find but most can be bought. This is the big pull of the game, finding out which attacks string together well to create awesome and damaging combos and the combat itself is pretty slick. It's a 3D beat'em up so you get a bunch of thugs (and stranger things) to fight against and you get some cool dodges which makes fighting very fun and addicting.
So the goal for God Hand?
- To complete the game on Normal
- Complete all 51 Fighting Ring matches
- Complete the "Kick Me sign" challenge (Optional)*
*The "Kick Me Sign" challenge is more of a personal challenge. In the second level of Stage 1, Olivia puts "Kick Me" sign on the back of Gene. When you use one of the Roulette Attacks or activate the God Hand, the sign blows off. So essentially, the challenge is to not use Roulette Attacks or the God Hand and coupled with the difficulty of the game, it's one hell of a challenge.
Now for this game, and what I will be doing for all future games, is create a trailer. Something to show off parts of the game. So here's the trailer for God Hand.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjfJa2SoTnw
Expect the first entry in a day or two so stay tuned!
*silence*
Fortunately, the members have regrouped and are under the name Platinum Games.
Anyway, God Hand falls under the "you either hate it or love it" category. There are some glaring flaws but some outstanding aspects as well. One thing about God Hand is that this game is a true testament to being "balls to the walls" hard, eanking up there with Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and others. In fact, throughout my video journal of the game, you'll see me die. A lot. And I'm only going to be playing on Normal. But I'll let the videos and entries speak for themselves.
So, just a quick overview about the game. The story involves the characters Gene and Olivia. Gene has been given the God Hand by Olivia (It's more complicated than that but you'll find out by watching the videos) and now it seems like the Four Devas, a group of very strong demons and one human are after the God Hand for ultimate power.
The story alone seems kind of boring, right? Well, just wait till you start playing. This game is filled with humour with it's great cast of characters and enemies, most random of story segments, even some of the attacks in the game are hilarious. If finding out a bunch of gay pride members are working for the baddies, fighting a giant gorilla, and spanking a woman and knocking her 50 feet away with a final slap is wrong, I don't want to be right.
But best thing about the game is the combat system. Gene is able to equip multiple attacks ranging from punches to kicks and many more which can be used for his combos. There's some you can find but most can be bought. This is the big pull of the game, finding out which attacks string together well to create awesome and damaging combos and the combat itself is pretty slick. It's a 3D beat'em up so you get a bunch of thugs (and stranger things) to fight against and you get some cool dodges which makes fighting very fun and addicting.
So the goal for God Hand?
- To complete the game on Normal
- Complete all 51 Fighting Ring matches
- Complete the "Kick Me sign" challenge (Optional)*
*The "Kick Me Sign" challenge is more of a personal challenge. In the second level of Stage 1, Olivia puts "Kick Me" sign on the back of Gene. When you use one of the Roulette Attacks or activate the God Hand, the sign blows off. So essentially, the challenge is to not use Roulette Attacks or the God Hand and coupled with the difficulty of the game, it's one hell of a challenge.
Now for this game, and what I will be doing for all future games, is create a trailer. Something to show off parts of the game. So here's the trailer for God Hand.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjfJa2SoTnw
Expect the first entry in a day or two so stay tuned!
Press Start: Super Mario World Review
**My reviews are purely opinion. While I may use some facts such as "this game sold X amount of copies" or "this is one of the best selling games for X console", I will never say "you have to like/hate this game." My review will convey what I like about the game and what I dislike as well as an overview of the game and certain aspects such as story, graphics, gameplay, etc. as well as other aspects that may pertain specifically to the reviewed game. The review score is out of 10; 0 being the worst, 5 being average, and 10 being the best. Note that games that recieve a score of 10/10 may not be perfect, but in my opinion, may be one of the best games on the console, in the genre, or what the history of games has to offer."**
Super Mario World
Platform: SNES (Original), GBA (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2), Wii (On Virtual Console)
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
NA Release Date: August 13th, 1991
Super Mario World... is there anything that hasn't been said about this game? Super Mario World is one of the SNES' greatest games and one of Nintendo's finest. It's really one of the few Mario games that can actually stand side by side with Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario World was released back in 1991, alongside the release of the SNES. It's one of the best launch games and even through the SNES years, it remained one of the best.
Now let's move on to the main part of this review, shall we?
Story
Okay, so Super Mario doesn't have an amazing story nor does it have much of a story at all actually. Mario and Luigi are out flying around while Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and the Yoshi eggs. Mario returns to find them all missing and Mario becomes a man on a mission to save Peach and the eggs. In all honestly, the story suits this type of game very well. It's very simple and that's all that's needed.
Graphics
They're bright, they're colourful, and they're easy on the eyes. Super Mario World is one of the best looking games on the SNES with it's child-like appearance that can appeal to anyone. It didn't really push the limits of the SNES but the graphics were far from awful. Definitely one of the better looking games on the SNES library and that's saying something since it was one of the first games to be released.
Music
Kojo Kondo is the composer for Super Mario World as well as a large majority of Nintendo's games. The music in Super Mario World is fitting. It's nice to listen to while playing the game as it suits each level quite well (If the level is bright and colourful, the music is cheery but if it's dark like in a Ghost House or Castle, the music has a darker tone). My one complaint is that the music doesn't really stand out that much. There aren't any tunes that are particularly memorable for me. I know none of the songs will really be stuck in my head unless I'm trying to remember how one of them goes. But, it's all about how it sounds while playing and it sounds great.
Controls
One button to jump, one button to spin jump another button to run and grab things, and a dpad to move. How simple is that? The controls are perfect for this game. No need for button combinations, scrolling through menus, and all that other stuff. Three buttons (Well, some of the other buttons like Select and L/R Trigger have uses, but they're not that important). Easy to learn, easy to master.
Gameplay
This is where Super Mario World shines like a star. It's your simple travel from the left side to the screen to the right side kind of platformer. But everything in between those two sides is awesome. Each level brings something new. There are a large variety of enemies throughout the game, many obstacles to pass, water to swim through, pipes to go down, and so much more. One of the cool things about Super Mario World, which has been a tradition since Super Mario Bros. 3 are the power ups. This time around, Mario can grab a mushroom and become bigger, eat a fire flower and shoot fireballs, and brand new to this game, get a feather and don a cape which allows him to leap into the sky and fly. There's also four different types of Yoshis, each with their own special power. The original Green Yoshi gains power depending on the type of shell in it's mouth. Red Yoshi shoot fireballs, Blue Yoshi grows wings and lets you fly, and Yellow Yoshi stomps on the ground whenever it lands. Each one is useful in different situations but I have to say that Blue Yoshi is probably the best one because being able to fly is incredibly helpful. There is a lot to do in Super Mario World and it's no surprise that the gameplay is top notch. Another nice factor with the gameplay is the enemies. There's a nice variety of enemies in the game that do different things. Some just walk towards you like the Koopa Troopas while others rain fire down on you. Most of the enemies can be taken care of just by jumping on their head but some require the use of one of the powers or Yoshi. The bosses... well the bosses have some interesting quirks about them and how to defeat them but I think they're too easy. Also, some of the later bosses are fought the same was as earlier bosses, just with an added obstacle so there's not a whole lot of variety.
Level Design
Another area where Super Mario World shines. The levels in this game are ingenious. Some of them are simple while others are just mean in design. Some levels have you just running from one end to the other but some levels have you swimming for your life and then there's levels where you're dodging ghosts or traveling across a pool of lava and much more. Not too mention that there are 72 levels in total and 96 exits (some levels have two exits). In my journal for this game, my goal was to find all 96 exits and there's quite a feat, especially if you don't really know where to look but that what makes it challenging and it all adds up to great gameplay.
Multiplayer
There's not a lot to the two player game. One person takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Luigi (In this SNES version, they both are the exact same with a palette swap) and you take your turn until your lose a life. The best way to have fun in 2 player mode is to make a competition out of it and see who can make it the farthest without losing a life. There's also a way to take some of the other player's lives which is fun way to mess with your partner when he's not looking.
Likes: Just about everything about the game. The graphics, the controls, and the gameplay. There's very little wrong with the game. My favourite thing about the game would have to be the Special World levels; 8 levels of madness.
Dislikes: Nothing really. I think the music could be a little more catchier but it's still good regardless.
The the Point: Super Mario World is a superb game. It's got everything a gamer looks in a 2d platformer: good graphics, easy controls, challenges, and awesome gameplay. There's no denying the reasons behind why Super Mario World is so great. If you've never had a chance to play it, you should do so at some point as this is one of Nintendo's best games. If you can't find it on the SNES, there's a "remake" of it for the GBA (Some of the game is slightly changed) and if you own a Wii, you can buy it through the Virtual Console.
Score: 10/10
Super Mario World
Platform: SNES (Original), GBA (Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2), Wii (On Virtual Console)
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
NA Release Date: August 13th, 1991
Super Mario World... is there anything that hasn't been said about this game? Super Mario World is one of the SNES' greatest games and one of Nintendo's finest. It's really one of the few Mario games that can actually stand side by side with Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario World was released back in 1991, alongside the release of the SNES. It's one of the best launch games and even through the SNES years, it remained one of the best.
Now let's move on to the main part of this review, shall we?
Story
Okay, so Super Mario doesn't have an amazing story nor does it have much of a story at all actually. Mario and Luigi are out flying around while Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and the Yoshi eggs. Mario returns to find them all missing and Mario becomes a man on a mission to save Peach and the eggs. In all honestly, the story suits this type of game very well. It's very simple and that's all that's needed.
Graphics
They're bright, they're colourful, and they're easy on the eyes. Super Mario World is one of the best looking games on the SNES with it's child-like appearance that can appeal to anyone. It didn't really push the limits of the SNES but the graphics were far from awful. Definitely one of the better looking games on the SNES library and that's saying something since it was one of the first games to be released.
Music
Kojo Kondo is the composer for Super Mario World as well as a large majority of Nintendo's games. The music in Super Mario World is fitting. It's nice to listen to while playing the game as it suits each level quite well (If the level is bright and colourful, the music is cheery but if it's dark like in a Ghost House or Castle, the music has a darker tone). My one complaint is that the music doesn't really stand out that much. There aren't any tunes that are particularly memorable for me. I know none of the songs will really be stuck in my head unless I'm trying to remember how one of them goes. But, it's all about how it sounds while playing and it sounds great.
Controls
One button to jump, one button to spin jump another button to run and grab things, and a dpad to move. How simple is that? The controls are perfect for this game. No need for button combinations, scrolling through menus, and all that other stuff. Three buttons (Well, some of the other buttons like Select and L/R Trigger have uses, but they're not that important). Easy to learn, easy to master.
Gameplay
This is where Super Mario World shines like a star. It's your simple travel from the left side to the screen to the right side kind of platformer. But everything in between those two sides is awesome. Each level brings something new. There are a large variety of enemies throughout the game, many obstacles to pass, water to swim through, pipes to go down, and so much more. One of the cool things about Super Mario World, which has been a tradition since Super Mario Bros. 3 are the power ups. This time around, Mario can grab a mushroom and become bigger, eat a fire flower and shoot fireballs, and brand new to this game, get a feather and don a cape which allows him to leap into the sky and fly. There's also four different types of Yoshis, each with their own special power. The original Green Yoshi gains power depending on the type of shell in it's mouth. Red Yoshi shoot fireballs, Blue Yoshi grows wings and lets you fly, and Yellow Yoshi stomps on the ground whenever it lands. Each one is useful in different situations but I have to say that Blue Yoshi is probably the best one because being able to fly is incredibly helpful. There is a lot to do in Super Mario World and it's no surprise that the gameplay is top notch. Another nice factor with the gameplay is the enemies. There's a nice variety of enemies in the game that do different things. Some just walk towards you like the Koopa Troopas while others rain fire down on you. Most of the enemies can be taken care of just by jumping on their head but some require the use of one of the powers or Yoshi. The bosses... well the bosses have some interesting quirks about them and how to defeat them but I think they're too easy. Also, some of the later bosses are fought the same was as earlier bosses, just with an added obstacle so there's not a whole lot of variety.
Level Design
Another area where Super Mario World shines. The levels in this game are ingenious. Some of them are simple while others are just mean in design. Some levels have you just running from one end to the other but some levels have you swimming for your life and then there's levels where you're dodging ghosts or traveling across a pool of lava and much more. Not too mention that there are 72 levels in total and 96 exits (some levels have two exits). In my journal for this game, my goal was to find all 96 exits and there's quite a feat, especially if you don't really know where to look but that what makes it challenging and it all adds up to great gameplay.
Multiplayer
There's not a lot to the two player game. One person takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Luigi (In this SNES version, they both are the exact same with a palette swap) and you take your turn until your lose a life. The best way to have fun in 2 player mode is to make a competition out of it and see who can make it the farthest without losing a life. There's also a way to take some of the other player's lives which is fun way to mess with your partner when he's not looking.
Likes: Just about everything about the game. The graphics, the controls, and the gameplay. There's very little wrong with the game. My favourite thing about the game would have to be the Special World levels; 8 levels of madness.
Dislikes: Nothing really. I think the music could be a little more catchier but it's still good regardless.
The the Point: Super Mario World is a superb game. It's got everything a gamer looks in a 2d platformer: good graphics, easy controls, challenges, and awesome gameplay. There's no denying the reasons behind why Super Mario World is so great. If you've never had a chance to play it, you should do so at some point as this is one of Nintendo's best games. If you can't find it on the SNES, there's a "remake" of it for the GBA (Some of the game is slightly changed) and if you own a Wii, you can buy it through the Virtual Console.
Score: 10/10
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum Demo Impressions
IF YOU HAVE AN XB0X 360 OR A PS3, DOWNLOAD THE DEMO RIGHT NOWWWW!!!!
Holy crap! This is one of the best demos I've ever played. I was already set on buying Batman: Arkham Asylum when I first heard about it but this demo pretty much expelled any doubts I had about the game. The videos don't do this game justice. Actually sitting there with the controller in hand gives you such an incredible feeling as you watch the story unfold and get into the action. Enough gushing though.
A few things about the demo...
The graphics are awesome. They definitely show off the hardware's power. I believe that the graphics look slightly more realisitc on the PS3 version (textures look a bit cleaner, shadows look more real, etc.) but regardless, the graphics are a great show piece for both systems.
The controls are fairly simple. With the demo, you don't get access to many actions so how the controls work when using all the different gadgets is yet to be seen but so far, they seem spot on. Attacking, countering, grappling, throwing your batarang, moving, and all that is easy to do.
Combat is easy to get into but may be a bit too simplistic. You can hit the enemies with punches and kicks and you can stun them by swinging Batman's cape at them. You can also counter the enemy's attack (There will be these blue/white marks that appear when an enemy is about to hit you).
One cool feature is the "takedown". If you knock an enemy to the ground, you can move over to them if you execute the take down command when it appears, Batman will deliver a final blow, knocking them out. As well, if you're sneaking around the enemy, you can sneak up behind them and take them down quietly. There are also other kinds of take downs which just need to be seen.
Speaking of sneaking, it's a neat feature. You can hide and press your back up against walls ala Metal Gear style and you can also grapple onto ledges to get to higher ground. Throughout the demo there are gargoyle statues by the ceilings of the rooms which you can grapple onto and sit on giving you a great view of your surroundings. You can even swing from gargoyle to gargoyle.
Another cool thing is the "Detective Mode." This turns the screen blue. You can see people's skeletons, even through walls and such so you can get a good idea as to where they are. It also shows people's condition (Unconcious, nervous, terrified, etc.), they're heartbeat, and if they're armed. You can also get notes on some of the objects like locked doors, gargoyle locations, and pathways. Important objects get this brownish colour.
Last but not least, the atmosphere of the game. This game is on the dark side which fits Batman perfectly. Arkham Asylums combines multiple story lines from the comics and even the newer movies. But the most awesome thing? The voice actors! They got many of the voice actors from the 90s cartoon series (which by the way, is one of the best cartoon shows ever), including Mark Hamill doing his Joker and others.
All in all, Batman: Arkham Asylum is looking to be one amazing game. The demo is just torture, making me want to play the game even more. I can't praise the demo enough other than that it should be longer. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a huge favour and play it now. The game's release is just a few weeks away.
Holy crap! This is one of the best demos I've ever played. I was already set on buying Batman: Arkham Asylum when I first heard about it but this demo pretty much expelled any doubts I had about the game. The videos don't do this game justice. Actually sitting there with the controller in hand gives you such an incredible feeling as you watch the story unfold and get into the action. Enough gushing though.
A few things about the demo...
The graphics are awesome. They definitely show off the hardware's power. I believe that the graphics look slightly more realisitc on the PS3 version (textures look a bit cleaner, shadows look more real, etc.) but regardless, the graphics are a great show piece for both systems.
The controls are fairly simple. With the demo, you don't get access to many actions so how the controls work when using all the different gadgets is yet to be seen but so far, they seem spot on. Attacking, countering, grappling, throwing your batarang, moving, and all that is easy to do.
Combat is easy to get into but may be a bit too simplistic. You can hit the enemies with punches and kicks and you can stun them by swinging Batman's cape at them. You can also counter the enemy's attack (There will be these blue/white marks that appear when an enemy is about to hit you).
One cool feature is the "takedown". If you knock an enemy to the ground, you can move over to them if you execute the take down command when it appears, Batman will deliver a final blow, knocking them out. As well, if you're sneaking around the enemy, you can sneak up behind them and take them down quietly. There are also other kinds of take downs which just need to be seen.
Speaking of sneaking, it's a neat feature. You can hide and press your back up against walls ala Metal Gear style and you can also grapple onto ledges to get to higher ground. Throughout the demo there are gargoyle statues by the ceilings of the rooms which you can grapple onto and sit on giving you a great view of your surroundings. You can even swing from gargoyle to gargoyle.
Another cool thing is the "Detective Mode." This turns the screen blue. You can see people's skeletons, even through walls and such so you can get a good idea as to where they are. It also shows people's condition (Unconcious, nervous, terrified, etc.), they're heartbeat, and if they're armed. You can also get notes on some of the objects like locked doors, gargoyle locations, and pathways. Important objects get this brownish colour.
Last but not least, the atmosphere of the game. This game is on the dark side which fits Batman perfectly. Arkham Asylums combines multiple story lines from the comics and even the newer movies. But the most awesome thing? The voice actors! They got many of the voice actors from the 90s cartoon series (which by the way, is one of the best cartoon shows ever), including Mark Hamill doing his Joker and others.
All in all, Batman: Arkham Asylum is looking to be one amazing game. The demo is just torture, making me want to play the game even more. I can't praise the demo enough other than that it should be longer. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a huge favour and play it now. The game's release is just a few weeks away.
Press Start: Super Mario World - Bowser's Castle
So we've finally reached the end of Super Mario World! It only took like.. a few months. Ahem. At any rate, after this post, I'll have a review up of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Just a quick note that I did find the missing exit. It was in the Donut Secret 1 level (I placed it at the end of the Special World - PArt 2 video). Seems like I forgot about beating the level normally.
Anyway, onto Bowser's Castle. Now depending on the paths you take, this can be one of the most difficult levels or easiest levels in the game. In the first two sections, you get to choose which door you go through which determines the area you will have to go through. I went through the two easy sections.
For the first section, I went through door 2 which has me climbing on the fence and dodging a few fireballs. Unless I purposely jump down or run into the fireballs, it's very easy to go through. Then I went through door 7 which is a bit harder. You have some stationary statues shooting mini fireballs at you and gold versions of the statues that hop towards you. A little patience gets me through quite easily.
The third section (which you can start the level at if you go through the back door passage) is also quite simple. The room starts out dimmed but I hit a switch that activates a floating disco ball to shine down. In this part of the level are Ninjis, black star-shaped things that are so cute but all they do is jump so it's easy to take care of them and there's Mechakoopas which are just as easy to take out.
Finally, at the end room is Bowser. He sits on his floating bowl that has a happy face on it. There's three parts to defeating him. In the first part, all he does is float around. Not jumping at him gaurantees Iwon't get hit. Then eventually, he throws down two Mechakoopas. I jump on one, pick it up, and toss it up into the air and it lands ontop of Bowser's head, hitting him. I do the same with the next Mechakoopa. Two hits and Bowser retreats from the screen, sends down flames which are easily avoided and comes back. Peach appears on the floating bowl, screaming help, and throws down a mushroom.
In the second part of Bowser, he floats around again but stops, flips the bowl upside down, and a giant bowling ball falls and rolls my way. A good timed jump over it dodges. He does it again, sends out some Mechakoopas and just like before, Bowser takes another two hits. He retreats, flames rain down (The flame remains on the ground but there's a space in between each flame that Mario can stand in), Peach shows up and she throws down another mushroom.
The third part of Bowser is the hardest. This time, he bounces on the ground as he tries to hit me. I carefully run past him after he hits the ground and pops back up. He throws down two more Mechakoopas. It's a bit harder to hit him this time around since he's still bouncing my way but I manage to take him out all the same.
So, once I've beaten him, Peach drops down and Bowser spins away into the sky. MArio and PEach share a kiss and the end credits roll.
And there you have it. The end of Super Mario World with all 96 exits found. I won't say much about the game since I will be doing much of that in my review so keep watching for that in the next post or two.
Bowser's Castle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRgr7NA9GAA
I've included the ending and credits at the end of the game.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Procrastination is a dangerous thing...
And mixed with Xbox Live, it becomes deadly. I'm sorry, my last post as a lie. Things aren't really back on track at all (Lol). Unfortunately Xbox Live has taken over a good chunk of my gaming as of late. I'm usually playing Street Fighter 4 or Gears of War 2, with the occasional COD4. But I'm trying to play less at any rate. Expect this month to be full of Press Start posts along with other things. I'll have Super Mario World done in the next few days. Unfortunately the video I had recorded for Special World was messed up so I have to record me playing it again but I haven't had time due to me playing other things.
But, once I finish up Super Mario World, expect some new games. I'm going to be doing two at the same time to keep my on my toes. I won't give their names but one is a little known title for the PS2 while the other game is one of the Dreamcast's finests.
On a side note, I've also been addicted to rhythm games lately. I've started up playing Beatmania IIDX and some of the earlier Guitar Hero games. I'm probably going to try and get back into DDR as well. Also, I recently ordered a Pop'n Music ASC (Arcade Style Controller) which will be here in the next few weeks and I'm just dying to get my hands on it. I'm hoping that I can buy a good camcorder and record myself playing along with the game feed soon so watch out for those.
But, once I finish up Super Mario World, expect some new games. I'm going to be doing two at the same time to keep my on my toes. I won't give their names but one is a little known title for the PS2 while the other game is one of the Dreamcast's finests.
On a side note, I've also been addicted to rhythm games lately. I've started up playing Beatmania IIDX and some of the earlier Guitar Hero games. I'm probably going to try and get back into DDR as well. Also, I recently ordered a Pop'n Music ASC (Arcade Style Controller) which will be here in the next few weeks and I'm just dying to get my hands on it. I'm hoping that I can buy a good camcorder and record myself playing along with the game feed soon so watch out for those.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Press Start: Super Mario World - Star World and Special World
Wow, it's been awhile since my last post. I've been busy with things, not to mention that I had some problems with my laptop which is what I use when recording. Anyway, things are finally back on track and I got around to completing Star World and Special World.
Levels Completed
- Star World 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits), 5 (2 Exits)
- Gnarly
- Tubular
- Way Cool
- Awesome
- Groovy
- Mondo
- Outrageous
- Funky
Nothing really to comment on for Star World except that each level has 2 exits. Also, in Star World 2, I racked up a ton of lives by getting the star at the beginning and at the ? box along the way. I managed to get 16 lives in one go.
The Special World is where the fun really begins. These levels are very fun and interesting, usually deviating from the standard stuff. The most notable levels are Tubular, Groovy, Mondo, Outrageous, and Funky.
Tubular gave me a pretty rough time the first few play throughs. I need to get the P balloon and float through the entire level. One of the ? blocks has another P balloon but along the way, I would keep dying because I kept getting hit by the Volcano Lotus' fireball things since I always waited until the last second to get the second P balloon which would float by the lotus'. This is until I found out that there is a third P balloon on the ? block below one of the Chargin' Chucks. After figuring that out, this level became a breeze.
There's not much to say about Groovy other than that it's filled with Pokey's and since I had Yoshi with me, it was feeding time.
Mondo was another level that gave me a hard time. This is mainly because I kept getting hit by those stupid fish and the hammers thrown by Hammer Bro that sits on the flying blocks. The raising/rising of the water also put me in some rough spots too. Probably one of the more harder levels of Special World.
Ah, Outrageous. Full of flying bullet bills. If you're not careful, you'll be running right into them. This level is pretty fun since you have to stay on your toes.
Funky, the last level of Special World is fairly straight forward as it's just a long run to the right. If you have Blue Yoshi or get a blue shelled Koopa, you can fly across most of the level. There are a few hazards like Sumo Brothers, Super Koopas, and Chargin' Chucks. At the end of the stage, the message "YOU ARE A SUPER PLAYER" is spelled out in coins which is a nice touch.
Overall, Special World is very fun and one of my favourite areas of the game. After you beat Special World, the game changes aesthetically. Most of the colous change and some enemies change as well such as Koopas, becoming Masked Koopas.
Finally, I've reached the end of the game and the only thing left is to go through Bowser's Castle and save Peach. Watch out for the final update of Super Mario World!
Star World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQY0ILxdBJU
Special World (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZJr9SjOCo
Special World (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl7mj29qLkY
You'll notice on the Special World videos that the area is already completed at the start. This is because the videos I recorded messed up so I had to record me playing through them all over again. You'll also notice that the Koopa Troopa's and other things have changed appearances and this is because I'm in the alternate world and I couldn't seem to get back.
As well, at the end of the Special World (Part 2) video, it shows me completing Donut Secret 1. When I beat Special World and checked my data, I only had 95 exits showing and this was the missing exit.
Levels Completed
- Star World 1 (2 Exits), 2 (2 Exits), 3 (2 Exits), 4 (2 Exits), 5 (2 Exits)
- Gnarly
- Tubular
- Way Cool
- Awesome
- Groovy
- Mondo
- Outrageous
- Funky
Nothing really to comment on for Star World except that each level has 2 exits. Also, in Star World 2, I racked up a ton of lives by getting the star at the beginning and at the ? box along the way. I managed to get 16 lives in one go.
The Special World is where the fun really begins. These levels are very fun and interesting, usually deviating from the standard stuff. The most notable levels are Tubular, Groovy, Mondo, Outrageous, and Funky.
Tubular gave me a pretty rough time the first few play throughs. I need to get the P balloon and float through the entire level. One of the ? blocks has another P balloon but along the way, I would keep dying because I kept getting hit by the Volcano Lotus' fireball things since I always waited until the last second to get the second P balloon which would float by the lotus'. This is until I found out that there is a third P balloon on the ? block below one of the Chargin' Chucks. After figuring that out, this level became a breeze.
There's not much to say about Groovy other than that it's filled with Pokey's and since I had Yoshi with me, it was feeding time.
Mondo was another level that gave me a hard time. This is mainly because I kept getting hit by those stupid fish and the hammers thrown by Hammer Bro that sits on the flying blocks. The raising/rising of the water also put me in some rough spots too. Probably one of the more harder levels of Special World.
Ah, Outrageous. Full of flying bullet bills. If you're not careful, you'll be running right into them. This level is pretty fun since you have to stay on your toes.
Funky, the last level of Special World is fairly straight forward as it's just a long run to the right. If you have Blue Yoshi or get a blue shelled Koopa, you can fly across most of the level. There are a few hazards like Sumo Brothers, Super Koopas, and Chargin' Chucks. At the end of the stage, the message "YOU ARE A SUPER PLAYER" is spelled out in coins which is a nice touch.
Overall, Special World is very fun and one of my favourite areas of the game. After you beat Special World, the game changes aesthetically. Most of the colous change and some enemies change as well such as Koopas, becoming Masked Koopas.
Finally, I've reached the end of the game and the only thing left is to go through Bowser's Castle and save Peach. Watch out for the final update of Super Mario World!
Star World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQY0ILxdBJU
Special World (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZJr9SjOCo
Special World (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl7mj29qLkY
You'll notice on the Special World videos that the area is already completed at the start. This is because the videos I recorded messed up so I had to record me playing through them all over again. You'll also notice that the Koopa Troopa's and other things have changed appearances and this is because I'm in the alternate world and I couldn't seem to get back.
As well, at the end of the Special World (Part 2) video, it shows me completing Donut Secret 1. When I beat Special World and checked my data, I only had 95 exits showing and this was the missing exit.
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