Wii Sports Club has been available to download in Japan for a week now. Now, gamers across the globe can enjoy a free 24 hour trial of both Wii Sports Club's Tennis and Bowling games, each with new modes, enhanced controls, online play, and upgraded HD visuals. Are any Wii U fans out there enjoying the trial versions so much that they're going to get the full versions?
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sonic: Lost World (Wii U) Review
Welcome to the first review of November. We're kicking off a month of famous icons with Sonic the Hedgehog. His latest game is Sonic: Lost World. Let's find out if you should take a visit to Lost Hex with our review.
Sonic's transition into 3D hasn't been anywhere near as smooth as his former rival Mario's. That's understandable, as taking the speed and platforming of the series and putting it in a three-dimensional space is rather challenging. However, Sonic Team's past two console iterations of the Blue Blur have been nothing short of wonderful, Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. Sonic Team hopes to go for the hat trick with Sonic: Lost World for the Wii U. For every two things the game gets right, there's one annoying issue that prevents Sonic: Lost World from truly being great and of the same caliber of its past two predecessors.
Sonic and Tails are chasing a retreating Dr. Eggman aboard the Tornado airplane when suddenly they are forced to make a crash landing on a spherical world known as Lost Hex. Unfortunately for them, Lost Hex is home to a group of Zeti known as the Deadly Six, and Eggman has them under his control. That is, until Sonic kicks away the special conch instrument that allows Eggman to harness their power. Thus, the Deadly Six go on a rampage and take over all of Eggman's robots. Now, Sonic, Tails, and Eggman must work together to not only defeat the Deadly Six but to save their own planet. It's an interesting dynamic shift having Sonic and Eggman working together. However, the Deadly Six as a whole are just really lame villains. They're so lame that not even Archie Comics probably wouldn't have come up with them.
There have been many comparisons of Sonic: Lost World to Super Mario Galaxy, and those comparisons aren't fully unfounded. Sonic does traverse spherical planets both large and small and other areas where he can walk on the underside. There's also a plethora of platforms and land masses that rest in the air, completely forgoing the laws of gravity. Outside of these 3D areas are 2D sidescrolling areas. Sometimes levels consist of both types of areas, while some only contain one or the other.
In total, there are seven worlds within the game, each spanning four zones. (Why Sonic Team didn't stick with calling them acts, I'll never know.) Each zone has five red rings to collect. These are not mandatory, but collecting all of them within the game adds to the challenge and unlocks a special "super" bonus to enjoy.
There is plenty of level variety to keep things fresh. One of my favorite levels occurs in the Tropical Coast world. It has Sonic luring large rolling fruit towards holes that will juice said fruit, creating transport to other islands in the sky. Another level is reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country's mine cart levels, requiring Sonic to grind on multiple rails, leaping over carts and chasms. Then there's rolling around as a snowball in a Super Monkey Ball-esque level, avoiding the sight of a mechanical owl by hiding behind bushes and other obstacles, running and jumping along humongous, sweet confectionery treats, and being chased by a sand cyclone in a 2D segment.
However, not every level is terrific. One such level in Frozen Factory is a casino-based level akin to something from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Certain parts of the level require Sonic to enter a pinball table, where losing means parting with a life. Sonic has to reach a certain score, and then make it to the exit. This wouldn't even be fine if the pinball physics worked well. It's just frustrating, especially going for the third red ring in the level.
That's another issue with Lost World. To borrow from Bean's own statement, there isn't so much of a difficult curve as there is a difficulty roller coaster. One level can be a cakewalk, while the next will allow you to get well acquainted with the game over screen. Then the next level is back to being a breeze and fun to play. Sonic: Lost World doesn't do this a lot, but the game can have some really high highs and some really low lows. I only wish a better balance was made, as the game is quite fun and usually the good kind of challenging instead of the cheap kind.
Other times frustration comes from the lack of proper (or any) explanations from the game. Almost all of the game's tutorials come from needing to tap the GamePad screen to view them, but only when a question mark surrounded by a collection of rainbow circles is on the screen. It's easy to miss them, and even then, Sonic: Lost World doesn't really explain much of the finer details. At no point in the game does Lost World mention that with the Asteroid wisp (wisps, by the way, really feel thrown in and use gyro and GamePad gimmickry for controlling them-- poorly, I might add), you can hold the jump button in midair to temporarily hover. Nor does the game mention how to run along one wall and run across the corner of the wall to continue running. Certain boss fights are an effort in frustration, as the objective on how to beat them is not very clear.
This would all be okay if getting lives was an easy experience. It's unfortunately not. Many past Sonic games have the famous rule that collecting 100 rings grants you an extra life. This is not how it works in Sonic: Lost World. The only way to get lives is to collect them yourself from levels. As many of the levels are difficult later on, it's all too simple to get a game over, requiring the player to start the level from the beginning. This is fine, but when we're talking about truly aggravating (in the sense that they are poorly designed) levels, one practically needs to farm lives. That is absolutely asinine that I had to do that because of a few less-than-perfectly-designed levels.
What I do really like about Sonic: Lost World is how much better the Blue Blur controls and handles. In past Sonic games, you went straight from walking to running in a matter of seconds, making some of the tougher, more delicate platforming challenges more frustrating and difficult to do. There was a lesser focus on control and a larger focus on pure speed. Sonic: Lost World's controls make it so you can have a balance of both control and speed. Without holding anything down, Sonic walks around levels. By holding down the ZR button, he starts running. Holding down the ZL button allows Sonic to perform his signature spin dash. This setup at first takes some practice to get used to, but once it is mastered (or at least when the player gets comfortable with it), Lost World has some of the best handling of the blue hedgehog in any 3D Sonic game.
A new addition to Lost World is Sonic's ability to perform various parkour moves. He can run up as well as along walls, pending he has the momentum. In past games, when Sonic was going full speed and he would make contact with a wall, he would come to a screeching halt. In Sonic: Lost World, going full speed and making contact with a wall makes Sonic run up it. If he has enough speed to reach the top, he'll climb the ledge and be on higher ground. When there's two walls running parallel to one another, Sonic can begin dashing along one wall, quickly jump to the other, and go back and forth between them so he doesn't slow down and fall.
Sonic's jump, homing attack, and kick abilities are all mapped to different buttons. Certain enemies are vulnerable to one move, while others require a different approach. This goes down with the boss battles, as well, which are relatively easy overall. You see, Sonic's homing attack can be charged by being near the enemy Sonic wants to attack. As Sonic is near, the target on the enemy grows, the homing attack gets more powerful. A fight that would take ten normal hits to fell a boss will only take two powered-up homing attacks to down a member of the Deadly Six.
Another great thing about Sonic: Lost World is the game's old school sensibilities. What I mean by that is that there's plenty of nods to the Genesis/Mega Drive days-- animal capsules, practically every foe in the game being a classic enemy from Sonic 1 to Sonic & Knuckles, and so forth.
Sonic: Lost World goes for a more colorful, cartoon look than past Sonic games, which leaned more towards realism. There are some darn awe-inspiring vantage points and sights throughout the game. Lost World's frame-rate generally stays at a locked 60 FPS, keeping up with Sonic's sensational speed for sure. Meanwhile, the voice work is hit and miss, but usually a hit, especially with Dr. Eggman's dialogue. As for the music, Sonic: Lost World has a marvelous main theme, but almost everything else falls a tad short. I have trouble remembering most of the themes in the game, which is quite unlike other Sonic soundtracks that stayed with me long after I powered off whichever system I was playing the games on.
Despite the worthlessness of Wisps (proving that Sonic Team has no clue what made Wisps great in Sonic: Colors), the difficulty roller coaster that is the game, poor or missing explanations on important game concepts, and ridiculous lives system, Sonic: Lost World was still a very enjoyable experience for me. There's plenty of variety, the levels are mostly interestingly designed, the nods to classic Sonic games are appreciated, and the hedgehog's handling and controls are basically the best I've experienced in a 3D Sonic game yet. Sonic: Lost World really does put the player in a love-hate relationship with it. Some levels are great while some just drag your mood down considerably. If you have the need for speed and want a Sonic game unlike any other, take a trip to Lost Hex with Sonic: Lost World.
[SPC Says: 7.25/10]
Parkour Sonic Can't Lose
Sonic's transition into 3D hasn't been anywhere near as smooth as his former rival Mario's. That's understandable, as taking the speed and platforming of the series and putting it in a three-dimensional space is rather challenging. However, Sonic Team's past two console iterations of the Blue Blur have been nothing short of wonderful, Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. Sonic Team hopes to go for the hat trick with Sonic: Lost World for the Wii U. For every two things the game gets right, there's one annoying issue that prevents Sonic: Lost World from truly being great and of the same caliber of its past two predecessors.
Sonic and Tails are chasing a retreating Dr. Eggman aboard the Tornado airplane when suddenly they are forced to make a crash landing on a spherical world known as Lost Hex. Unfortunately for them, Lost Hex is home to a group of Zeti known as the Deadly Six, and Eggman has them under his control. That is, until Sonic kicks away the special conch instrument that allows Eggman to harness their power. Thus, the Deadly Six go on a rampage and take over all of Eggman's robots. Now, Sonic, Tails, and Eggman must work together to not only defeat the Deadly Six but to save their own planet. It's an interesting dynamic shift having Sonic and Eggman working together. However, the Deadly Six as a whole are just really lame villains. They're so lame that not even Archie Comics probably wouldn't have come up with them.
 |
| Careful, Sonic. You don't want to get a bad case of vertigo! |
 |
| Why don't you just use some robotic worms for bait instead of yourself, Sonic? |
 |
| It's just another day at the beach for the Blue Blur. |
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| Sonic is usually very cool, but right now he's feeling a little bit of melon-choly. |
 |
| Frozen Factory Zone 3? Welcome to my hit list. |
Other times frustration comes from the lack of proper (or any) explanations from the game. Almost all of the game's tutorials come from needing to tap the GamePad screen to view them, but only when a question mark surrounded by a collection of rainbow circles is on the screen. It's easy to miss them, and even then, Sonic: Lost World doesn't really explain much of the finer details. At no point in the game does Lost World mention that with the Asteroid wisp (wisps, by the way, really feel thrown in and use gyro and GamePad gimmickry for controlling them-- poorly, I might add), you can hold the jump button in midair to temporarily hover. Nor does the game mention how to run along one wall and run across the corner of the wall to continue running. Certain boss fights are an effort in frustration, as the objective on how to beat them is not very clear.
 |
| This stuff goes straight to my hips. |
What I do really like about Sonic: Lost World is how much better the Blue Blur controls and handles. In past Sonic games, you went straight from walking to running in a matter of seconds, making some of the tougher, more delicate platforming challenges more frustrating and difficult to do. There was a lesser focus on control and a larger focus on pure speed. Sonic: Lost World's controls make it so you can have a balance of both control and speed. Without holding anything down, Sonic walks around levels. By holding down the ZR button, he starts running. Holding down the ZL button allows Sonic to perform his signature spin dash. This setup at first takes some practice to get used to, but once it is mastered (or at least when the player gets comfortable with it), Lost World has some of the best handling of the blue hedgehog in any 3D Sonic game.
 |
| The beginning of Silent Forest Zone 1. |
Sonic's jump, homing attack, and kick abilities are all mapped to different buttons. Certain enemies are vulnerable to one move, while others require a different approach. This goes down with the boss battles, as well, which are relatively easy overall. You see, Sonic's homing attack can be charged by being near the enemy Sonic wants to attack. As Sonic is near, the target on the enemy grows, the homing attack gets more powerful. A fight that would take ten normal hits to fell a boss will only take two powered-up homing attacks to down a member of the Deadly Six.
 |
| Sonic does things like this for kicks. |
Sonic: Lost World goes for a more colorful, cartoon look than past Sonic games, which leaned more towards realism. There are some darn awe-inspiring vantage points and sights throughout the game. Lost World's frame-rate generally stays at a locked 60 FPS, keeping up with Sonic's sensational speed for sure. Meanwhile, the voice work is hit and miss, but usually a hit, especially with Dr. Eggman's dialogue. As for the music, Sonic: Lost World has a marvelous main theme, but almost everything else falls a tad short. I have trouble remembering most of the themes in the game, which is quite unlike other Sonic soundtracks that stayed with me long after I powered off whichever system I was playing the games on.
 |
| I'm freeeeee~ Free-fallin'! |
[SPC Says: 7.25/10]
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Why Gamers Are Absolutely in the Right to Show Dissent to Certain Games Journalists
Two topics that continue to fester in my mind in regards to the games industry are gaming culture and games journalism. You might have noticed in the past that we at SuperPhillip Central have written scathing articles in the past talking about how gaming culture and journalism are very poor. However, we try to always preface our rantings and ramblings about gamers and journalists by saying certain gamers and certain journalists and not generalize the whole community. When we don't, we try to apologize, and we then admit we were wrong in doing what we did.
This is where a lot of "professional" gaming journalists have failed in the past year. We saw sites and writers actively insult their own audience beginning with the Mass Effect 3 ending scandal. Some sites called dissenters "entitled", while one writer called the complainers something along the lines of souls living in their parents' basement with Cheeto-covered fingers. Did they apologize? No. They simply added to the fire with subsequent controversies, throwing in more and more insults and how gamers were "wrong" and "ignorant" and companies were in the "right." This has now reached inferno levels due to Adam Sessler's recent Twitter outburst, comparing gamers to chemical weapons dealers (false equivalency, yes?), and most importantly various journalists downplaying the flaws of the Xbox One.
I find it disingenuous when the media downplays the weakness of the Xbox One when compared to the PlayStation 4. Unlike some journalists in the industry who happily receive review copies and free systems (ironically, some of them feel entitled to receive them), the consumers and gamers who read their articles and pieces have to be careful with their money and want the best product possible for the money they worked hard for. They expect the truth. By downplaying one system over another by not revealing all of the facts, the journalists who do this are essentially lying to their readers, destroying any trust they once had (if they ever had any to begin with) with their readers.
I know that if I bought a $500 system and was believing the words and stories told by various journalists, only to find out that a $400 system was actually the more capable system all along, I'd be rather peeved. I believe this is the crux of why so many gamers are angry right now, and rightfully so. It's not about system wars. It's about a fundamental flaw with industry's means of reporting and gathering news.
What we're seeing is that a vocal group of journalists is not respecting their readers. They have next to no respect for their gaming audience, and it's really saddening. We've never seen it this bad before. They show, as Mr. Sessler has revealed, absolute contempt for gamers. While some of the contempt is much deserved, (just look at reactions to review scores for much hyped games, the death threats the director of Bayonetta 2 received for making the game for Wii U, etc.), a lot of it isn't.
Some journalists seem to be painting all gamers with a broad brush. Being 27, I would not like to be put in the same category as a ravenous 12-year-old just because I demand not to be lied to and/or misled. I'm not raising a stink due to system wars. I just want my hard-earned money (being a college student is rough in the States, you know) to go the farthest. Saying "don'r worry about the lower resolution and lower FPS-- it's all about the games" is, again, disingenuous to me. When the multi-platform games generally run better on the cheaper system, I get a little vexed when I'm told to ignore it and get the $500 system.
I feel that the most vocal and angriest of gamers are the ones who have soured so many games journalists' opinions on gamers as a whole. People like me are guilty by association. I'm a gamer. These fanboys (as much as I find that word to be idiotic and juvenile), trolls, and haters are gamers, too, so we must be one in the same. That obviously isn't how it works.
Instead of admitting he was wrong and letting him and everyone else move on, Adam Sessler doubled down on his anger with gamers. Other journalists continue throwing softballs to the Xbox One, as if it's the perfect machine and the differences between it and the PS4 are negligible (besides the price, of course), luring unsuspecting gamers and consumers into purchasing the more expensive option. On the other side of the proverbial fence, gamers seem to be getting more and more aggravated with the journalists who are supposed to honestly cover their loved hobby and industry. With the way things are going, someone is going to have to back down, and something tells me it is not going to be gamers, the side with much greater numbers.
What do you think about this situation? Note that we at SuperPhillip Central are not interested in either eighth generation platform at the moment. Regardless, do you think something's got to give in this entire situation?
This is where a lot of "professional" gaming journalists have failed in the past year. We saw sites and writers actively insult their own audience beginning with the Mass Effect 3 ending scandal. Some sites called dissenters "entitled", while one writer called the complainers something along the lines of souls living in their parents' basement with Cheeto-covered fingers. Did they apologize? No. They simply added to the fire with subsequent controversies, throwing in more and more insults and how gamers were "wrong" and "ignorant" and companies were in the "right." This has now reached inferno levels due to Adam Sessler's recent Twitter outburst, comparing gamers to chemical weapons dealers (false equivalency, yes?), and most importantly various journalists downplaying the flaws of the Xbox One.
I find it disingenuous when the media downplays the weakness of the Xbox One when compared to the PlayStation 4. Unlike some journalists in the industry who happily receive review copies and free systems (ironically, some of them feel entitled to receive them), the consumers and gamers who read their articles and pieces have to be careful with their money and want the best product possible for the money they worked hard for. They expect the truth. By downplaying one system over another by not revealing all of the facts, the journalists who do this are essentially lying to their readers, destroying any trust they once had (if they ever had any to begin with) with their readers.
I know that if I bought a $500 system and was believing the words and stories told by various journalists, only to find out that a $400 system was actually the more capable system all along, I'd be rather peeved. I believe this is the crux of why so many gamers are angry right now, and rightfully so. It's not about system wars. It's about a fundamental flaw with industry's means of reporting and gathering news.
What we're seeing is that a vocal group of journalists is not respecting their readers. They have next to no respect for their gaming audience, and it's really saddening. We've never seen it this bad before. They show, as Mr. Sessler has revealed, absolute contempt for gamers. While some of the contempt is much deserved, (just look at reactions to review scores for much hyped games, the death threats the director of Bayonetta 2 received for making the game for Wii U, etc.), a lot of it isn't.
Some journalists seem to be painting all gamers with a broad brush. Being 27, I would not like to be put in the same category as a ravenous 12-year-old just because I demand not to be lied to and/or misled. I'm not raising a stink due to system wars. I just want my hard-earned money (being a college student is rough in the States, you know) to go the farthest. Saying "don'r worry about the lower resolution and lower FPS-- it's all about the games" is, again, disingenuous to me. When the multi-platform games generally run better on the cheaper system, I get a little vexed when I'm told to ignore it and get the $500 system.
I feel that the most vocal and angriest of gamers are the ones who have soured so many games journalists' opinions on gamers as a whole. People like me are guilty by association. I'm a gamer. These fanboys (as much as I find that word to be idiotic and juvenile), trolls, and haters are gamers, too, so we must be one in the same. That obviously isn't how it works.
Instead of admitting he was wrong and letting him and everyone else move on, Adam Sessler doubled down on his anger with gamers. Other journalists continue throwing softballs to the Xbox One, as if it's the perfect machine and the differences between it and the PS4 are negligible (besides the price, of course), luring unsuspecting gamers and consumers into purchasing the more expensive option. On the other side of the proverbial fence, gamers seem to be getting more and more aggravated with the journalists who are supposed to honestly cover their loved hobby and industry. With the way things are going, someone is going to have to back down, and something tells me it is not going to be gamers, the side with much greater numbers.
What do you think about this situation? Note that we at SuperPhillip Central are not interested in either eighth generation platform at the moment. Regardless, do you think something's got to give in this entire situation?
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Top Ten Sonic the Hedgehog Soundtracks
A week ago to this day, Sonic: Lost World released on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, the latest in the Blue Blur's line of fast-paced games. We figured we'd take this opportunity to look back at some of our fondest soundtracks of the series. Yes, "butt rock" and all! This top ten list attempts to not factor in nostalgia in our game rankings, so we're ranking these games on things like great rhythm, melodies, the amount of songs of each soundtrack that we enjoyed, etc. However, if you feel we didn't list a classic Sonic game that you think has a better soundtrack than what we've listed, we'd love to hear your thoughts!
10) Sonic Heroes (PS2, GCN, XBX)
We begin our list with an interesting experiment from Sonic Team, a three-character team system. In Sonic Heroes, one character could speed through levels, one could fly, and one could smash through certain objects with their power moves. The soundtrack is vintage Jun Senoue, featuring plenty of rock, including several decidedly cheesy team themes.
9) Sonic Rush (DS)
An unorthodox Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack, Sonic Rush had the talent of the composer behind the Jet Set Radio series to elevate it into the memories of many a Sonic fan. The soundtrack featured plenty of voice samples and a groovy assortment of rhythms that makes Sonic Rush Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld soundtrack.
8) Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3, 360)
One of three of us actually got all of the achievements on this game. What a masochist. Perhaps the only positive we can mention of Sonic the Hedgehog's 2006 atrocity is that the music was phenomenal. Though, if you are into humans kissing bipedal blue hedgehogs on the lips, then maybe you'd find more to like about this game than we did. Jun Senoue was nowhere to be found in this soundtrack, but that's alright. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) delivered many guitar-driven pieces anyway, great instrumental tracks, and one killer final boss theme.
7) Sonic Colors (Wii)
Sonic's debut on the Wii was not very good. The soundtrack was excellent, and it just barely missed the cut on this list, along with Sonic 3D Blast's Saturn version and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Regardless, while Sonic and the Sonic Rings does not have a place on this list, Sonic Colors indeed does. Its rich assortment of tracks made Sonic's space odyssey all the more exciting. Tomoya Ohtani, Kenichi Tokoi, and Hideaki Kobayashi, and Mariko Nanba all came together for an excellent Sonic the Hedgehog score.
6) Sonic Adventure (DC)
Variety is the spice of life, and if you peel the outer layer of Sonic Adventure's soundtrack's skin off, you'll uncover much more than pure rock-driven pieces. There's techno, jazz, and rap. Sonic Adventure's score was primarily written by Jun Senoue. His rock sensibilities gave the Sonic the Hedgehog series a whole new brand of attitude. While some dislike this dynamic shift, we approved as there was plenty of good music to listen to as we played.
5) Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)
We prefer Sonic Adventure 2's soundtrack to its predecessor's due to the fact that there's an even greater assortment of musical styles present. Each of the six playable characters had their own styles that represented them. Sonic had light and peppy rock, Shadow had a darker edge to his themes, Knuckles was all rap and hip-hop, Rouge had smooth jazz, etc. Also, who could forget one of the most heralded themes in post-Genesis Hedgehog history Live & Learn?
4) Sonic Unleashed (PS3, 360, Wii, PS2)
After the bad taste that was left in the gaming world's mouth from Sonic the Hedgehog's seventh generation debut, Sonic Unleashed was like a breath mint. Sure, it had its moments of tasting like bile, but overall it was an improved taste. The soundtrack covered a myriad of musical genres and had sounds from all over the world, as you can witness by listening to these examples. Just note that Empire City - Night is only present in the HD versions of the game.
3) Sonic CD (SCD)
We are of the stance that prefers the North American version of the Sonic CD soundtrack. We believe it has the more memorable themes, greater rhythms, and better sounds. Spencer Nilsen, David J. Young, and Mark Crew composed the music for the North American version, imparting some smooth rock and even smoother sounding vocals. We're also suckers for Sonic Boom over Sonic - You Can Do Anything.
2) Sonic Generations (PS3, 360)
Take some of the most well known themes from the entire Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and remix them into one grand soundtrack, and you have the music of Sonic Generations. A host of past and present Sonic Team composers worked on this magnum opus of the Blue Blur's best sounds, containing remixes of Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, City Escape, Seaside Hill, and even lesser known themes from Sonic 3D Blast and Knuckles Chaotix. There must be some majorly terrific soundtrack to beat Sonic Generations.
1) Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GEN)
Perhaps this is a cop-out, as we are including the entire Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles games into one (just like our based Blue Blur intended... hurt us for using a meme on this site). Regardless, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles contains the most memorable themes of the franchise, and they still sound marvelous. Most of the time old school and new school Sonic fans don't agree on much, but one thing that most of these two parties can agree upon is that the music of Sonic 3 & Knuckles is absolutely tremendous and timeless.
10) Sonic Heroes (PS2, GCN, XBX)
We begin our list with an interesting experiment from Sonic Team, a three-character team system. In Sonic Heroes, one character could speed through levels, one could fly, and one could smash through certain objects with their power moves. The soundtrack is vintage Jun Senoue, featuring plenty of rock, including several decidedly cheesy team themes.
9) Sonic Rush (DS)
An unorthodox Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack, Sonic Rush had the talent of the composer behind the Jet Set Radio series to elevate it into the memories of many a Sonic fan. The soundtrack featured plenty of voice samples and a groovy assortment of rhythms that makes Sonic Rush Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld soundtrack.
8) Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3, 360)
One of three of us actually got all of the achievements on this game. What a masochist. Perhaps the only positive we can mention of Sonic the Hedgehog's 2006 atrocity is that the music was phenomenal. Though, if you are into humans kissing bipedal blue hedgehogs on the lips, then maybe you'd find more to like about this game than we did. Jun Senoue was nowhere to be found in this soundtrack, but that's alright. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) delivered many guitar-driven pieces anyway, great instrumental tracks, and one killer final boss theme.
7) Sonic Colors (Wii)
Sonic's debut on the Wii was not very good. The soundtrack was excellent, and it just barely missed the cut on this list, along with Sonic 3D Blast's Saturn version and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Regardless, while Sonic and the Sonic Rings does not have a place on this list, Sonic Colors indeed does. Its rich assortment of tracks made Sonic's space odyssey all the more exciting. Tomoya Ohtani, Kenichi Tokoi, and Hideaki Kobayashi, and Mariko Nanba all came together for an excellent Sonic the Hedgehog score.
6) Sonic Adventure (DC)
Variety is the spice of life, and if you peel the outer layer of Sonic Adventure's soundtrack's skin off, you'll uncover much more than pure rock-driven pieces. There's techno, jazz, and rap. Sonic Adventure's score was primarily written by Jun Senoue. His rock sensibilities gave the Sonic the Hedgehog series a whole new brand of attitude. While some dislike this dynamic shift, we approved as there was plenty of good music to listen to as we played.
5) Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)
We prefer Sonic Adventure 2's soundtrack to its predecessor's due to the fact that there's an even greater assortment of musical styles present. Each of the six playable characters had their own styles that represented them. Sonic had light and peppy rock, Shadow had a darker edge to his themes, Knuckles was all rap and hip-hop, Rouge had smooth jazz, etc. Also, who could forget one of the most heralded themes in post-Genesis Hedgehog history Live & Learn?
4) Sonic Unleashed (PS3, 360, Wii, PS2)
After the bad taste that was left in the gaming world's mouth from Sonic the Hedgehog's seventh generation debut, Sonic Unleashed was like a breath mint. Sure, it had its moments of tasting like bile, but overall it was an improved taste. The soundtrack covered a myriad of musical genres and had sounds from all over the world, as you can witness by listening to these examples. Just note that Empire City - Night is only present in the HD versions of the game.
3) Sonic CD (SCD)
We are of the stance that prefers the North American version of the Sonic CD soundtrack. We believe it has the more memorable themes, greater rhythms, and better sounds. Spencer Nilsen, David J. Young, and Mark Crew composed the music for the North American version, imparting some smooth rock and even smoother sounding vocals. We're also suckers for Sonic Boom over Sonic - You Can Do Anything.
2) Sonic Generations (PS3, 360)
Take some of the most well known themes from the entire Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and remix them into one grand soundtrack, and you have the music of Sonic Generations. A host of past and present Sonic Team composers worked on this magnum opus of the Blue Blur's best sounds, containing remixes of Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, City Escape, Seaside Hill, and even lesser known themes from Sonic 3D Blast and Knuckles Chaotix. There must be some majorly terrific soundtrack to beat Sonic Generations.
1) Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GEN)
Perhaps this is a cop-out, as we are including the entire Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles games into one (just like our based Blue Blur intended... hurt us for using a meme on this site). Regardless, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles contains the most memorable themes of the franchise, and they still sound marvelous. Most of the time old school and new school Sonic fans don't agree on much, but one thing that most of these two parties can agree upon is that the music of Sonic 3 & Knuckles is absolutely tremendous and timeless.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) Play Together TV Commercial
November 22 is a big day for gaming. Xbox One is releasing, three Nintendo-developed titles are coming out, and the big one for Wii U fans and owners is Super Mario 3D World. Here's the commercial Nintendo intends to air shortly, if they haven't begun so already.
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM - 500 Reasons to Enjoy Edition
This is a momentous edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGM. This edition is where we have reached are 500th VGM! It's been two years or so since we began this version of the list, and it's amazing to think back at all of the great music that has been featured on this weekly segment. This week we have music from The Wonderful 101, Tetris, and Super Smash Bros. Melee!
v496. The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - The Won-Stoppable Wonderful 100
The Wonderful 101 was overlooked by many Wii U owners, but then again, it seems every title on the Wii U is overlooked. What is selling on that thing anyway? Regardless, hearing this vocal theme during epic moments of The Wonderful 101 energized players to push their gaming skills beyond their own limits.
v497. Tetris (GB) - Type A
Let's go old school for a moment, shall we? You cannot have a favorite VGM list without having this game and this theme on it. It's Tetris's Type A theme, an infectious melody that stayed with players long after they shut off the power to their Game Boys. Tetris was a game that sold Nintendo's portable system to the history books, and the game's addicting gameplay was a reason for that.
v498. Kirby Air Ride (GCN) - Sky Sands
Kirby Air Ride was quite an unorthodox racing game, created in part by the mind behind the Kirby character and series, as well as Super Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai. You see, speed was controlled by one button and one button only. As for the race, Sky Sands is a desert course that takes place miles above solid ground. This Arabian theme suits the course perfectly, wouldn't you say?
v499. Puppeteer (PS3) - Across the Plains
We recently reviewed Puppeteer, and we enjoyed the game overall. It had a lot of story sequences that broke up the flow of the game, but all-in-all it's a solid title. The presentation is but a part of that, but we were really astounded by the soundtrack, composed by Patrick Doyle. Across the Plains delivers a very Southwestern America, Mexico desert-type feel to it.
v500. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) - Great Medley
Here we are! The big one! VGM number 5-0-0! We've selected a big one, too, for this great occasion. It's the Great Medley, incorporating a myriad of themes from many of Super Smash Bros. Melee's combatants. In North America, the CD that this medley is a part of was available to Nintendo Power subscribers. We actually have an original copy of it, and orchestrated performances of Smash Bros. music makes it a gem in our music library.
v496. The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - The Won-Stoppable Wonderful 100
The Wonderful 101 was overlooked by many Wii U owners, but then again, it seems every title on the Wii U is overlooked. What is selling on that thing anyway? Regardless, hearing this vocal theme during epic moments of The Wonderful 101 energized players to push their gaming skills beyond their own limits.
v497. Tetris (GB) - Type A
Let's go old school for a moment, shall we? You cannot have a favorite VGM list without having this game and this theme on it. It's Tetris's Type A theme, an infectious melody that stayed with players long after they shut off the power to their Game Boys. Tetris was a game that sold Nintendo's portable system to the history books, and the game's addicting gameplay was a reason for that.
v498. Kirby Air Ride (GCN) - Sky Sands
Kirby Air Ride was quite an unorthodox racing game, created in part by the mind behind the Kirby character and series, as well as Super Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai. You see, speed was controlled by one button and one button only. As for the race, Sky Sands is a desert course that takes place miles above solid ground. This Arabian theme suits the course perfectly, wouldn't you say?
v499. Puppeteer (PS3) - Across the Plains
We recently reviewed Puppeteer, and we enjoyed the game overall. It had a lot of story sequences that broke up the flow of the game, but all-in-all it's a solid title. The presentation is but a part of that, but we were really astounded by the soundtrack, composed by Patrick Doyle. Across the Plains delivers a very Southwestern America, Mexico desert-type feel to it.
v500. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) - Great Medley
Here we are! The big one! VGM number 5-0-0! We've selected a big one, too, for this great occasion. It's the Great Medley, incorporating a myriad of themes from many of Super Smash Bros. Melee's combatants. In North America, the CD that this medley is a part of was available to Nintendo Power subscribers. We actually have an original copy of it, and orchestrated performances of Smash Bros. music makes it a gem in our music library.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Review Round-Up - September 2013 - October 2013
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| The Hero of Wind, Link, is the lead of our Game of the Month(s)! |
Rayman Legends (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC, Vita) - 9.0
Metroid Prime Hunters (DS) - 8.5
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS) - 9.25
The Wonderful 101 (Wii U) - 8.0
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U) - 9.5
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS) - 8.0
Puppeteer (PS3) - 8.5
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| You might not have sold well, Rayman, but SuperPhillip Central still loves you. |
Central City Census - November 2013
The leaves are beginning to turn, so that must mean we're in the deep stages of autumn now. November is here, so it's time for a new Central City Census to be posted. Before we get to that, let's take a glimpse at last month's results.
October 2013's CCC asked which of the three eighth generation consoles would you be planning on owning by the end of this year. The majority of you are sticking with only the Wii U for now. That makes sense to us, as the Wii U will have the most interesting library since the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 won't have as long a period of time to establish their own libraries. In second place, 17 of you said you weren't getting of the three. Next in line, 15 of you stated your next gen combo for this year will be the PS4 and Wii U. Not a bad combo at all. We thank all of you for your votes!
Publishers seem to be increasingly heading more towards digital distribution for selling their games. Concerning this eighth generation (Wii U, PS4, Xbox One), which route are you primarily going to go-- retail or digital? Census will close on December 1.
Nifty November: Twelve Games to Look Out for This Month
It's the first of the month, so do we even have to ask you what time it is? Okay, we'll do it anyway. It's time to check out what are the most interesting games to be releasing this upcoming month. November is the start of the holiday shopping season, and you can bet that video game publishers are putting out their big guns this month. November 2013 will mark the debut of not just one, but two brand-new gaming consoles to the market. With them comes a host of new titles to get hyped on. SuperPhillip Central has taken the liberty of listing the top twelve titles that you should be anticipating. As always, release dates are subject to change, and these releases are based off the North American launch dates. Which games will you be picking up?
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Multi)
Release Date: 11/5
This year, the Call of Duty franchise has some fierce competition. Battlefield 4 released last month on current generation platforms. It will also release on next gen platforms. The latest in the Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Ghosts, will release on current generation systems in four days, and will also appear on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 close to their respective launches. By now, gamers know what to expect with Call of Duty-- intense gunfights, militaristic action, and perk-based multiplayer. While we don't really have a soft spot for the Call of Duty series, we understand why the series successfully entertains other gamers year after year.
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PS3)
Release Date: 11/12
After several failed experiments with the Ratchet & Clank series with All 4 One and Full Frontal Assault, Insomniac is returning the franchise to its roots with Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus. The game will feature a whole slew of new weaponry to upgrade and gadgets to assist Ratchet and Clank in their adventure. Many characters from past games, including Captain Qwark and the gang from Thugs-4-Less from Going Commando, will also be present. Outside of the 3D sections of Into the Nexus, special 2D platforming puzzle segments starring Clank will be featured. We can't really say no to classic Ratchet & Clank gameplay with a budget price of $29.99. We hope you can't either!
Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4)
Release Date: 11/15
The PlayStation 4 has suffered from delays in a handful of key launch titles. That hasn't stopped the deserved hype for the platform's launch, however, which just so happens to be two weeks from today. Without a doubt the most talked about launch title for Sony's new hardware is Guerilla Games's Killzone: Shadow Fall, a first-person shooter that will be a great technical showcase of the PlayStation 4's hardware. While the genre is one that we suffer fatigue from, we're certain that many new PlayStation 4 owners will enjoy a return to the Killzone universe when the game launches on November 15.
Knack (PS4)
Release Date: 11/15
We're such suckers for a good action game, so was there ever any doubt that we'd be most excited for Knack as our most anticipated PlayStation 4 launch title? Game director Mark Cerny has been quoted as saying the game can be viewed as a combination of Crash Bandicoot, Katamari Damacy, and God of War-- an interesting mix of games for sure! The titular hero can use other substances and merge them with his body depending on the level to solve puzzles and take down enemies. We're also anticipating this title, as it comes from Sony's Japan Studio, a studio that didn't deliver much output this past generation. One of the games they did deliver, however, Puppeteer, was a great one.
Need for Speed: Rivals (Multi)
Release Date: 11/19
A cross-gen release, Need for Speed: Rivals returns the series to an open world setting, much like its predecessor, Most Wanted. The game will feature a myriad of racing types, as well as dynamic weather system to make the game world seem much more alive. The choice is available for players to become a racer or a cop, and you can be sure that each side will possess its own set of unique challenges, meaning one should eventually play both sides to get the most out of the game. Autolog from Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2012 returns, allowing players to challenge their friends and compare times. If you have the need for speed, Rivals will give it to you when the game releases on November 19.
Forza Motorsport 5 (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
November 22 is a big day for releases, and obviously the biggest is the launch of the Xbox One. It's been a console mired in controversy, and while we have no plans to purchase one anytime soon, we have to admit that the launch lineup is much more appealing than what the PlayStation 4 offers. Forza Motorsport 5 is an absolutely brilliant-looking racing simulator with some stunning visuals. It's the type of title that you can show to your friends and family and go, "yes, THIS is the power of the Xbox One." Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Forza franchise is always highly entertaining, too!
Ryse: Son of Rome (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
The team behind Crysis delivers this Xbox One exclusive launch title. When Ryse: Son of Rome debuted, many were not impressed with what was present content-wise. There were many quick-time events involved, which many feared dumbed-down the gameplay. The trailers that followed eased many gamers' concerns, and this action-adventure title set in alternate universe of the days of the Roman empire seems like one of the top Xbox One launch titles to pick up when the system and the game releases November 22.
Dead Rising 3 (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
One of our favorite new franchises from the seventh generation of consoles (Wii, PS3, X360) was Dead Rising. While it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, due to requiring adept time management skills, the original is our favorite Xbox 360 exclusive. Dead Rising 3 takes the series to new heights with a larger environment to explore, a new character as the star, and the same craziness of gameplay that makes killing zombie after zombie an engaging activity. Throw in some psychopaths as bosses and practically anything you find can be used as a weapon, and you have a captivating Xbox One exclusive.
Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)
Release Date: 11/22
Since we're such big platformer fans here at SuperPhillip Central, you can be rest assured that we're insanely hyped for Mario's 3D platformer debut on Wii U. At E3, the debut trailer didn't really excite a lot of people, but subsequent footage has certainly hyped a plethora of gamers. We feel foolish for ever doubting Nintendo EAD. The number of interesting ideas present in Super Mario 3D World makes us giddy with excitement. We'll have a full review of Super Mario 3D World when it hits store shelves November 22.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
Release Date: 11/22
The Zelda team has recently been trying to defy expectations of what a Zelda game should be. Their latest attempt at something fresh for the franchise is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The shake-up for this game involves renting items instead of earning them in a dungeon, using found item to solve said dungeon's puzzles, and then using that same item to defeat the dungeon's boss. A Link Between Worlds takes place within two parallel worlds, Hyrule and Lorule. As big fans of A Link to the Past, the nods to that game present in this new 3DS installment can't stop us from being insanely happy.
Tearaway (PSV)
Release Date: 11/22
From the creators of the fantastic LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway is a PlayStation Vita exclusive that utilizes practically all of the system's unique features, such as the rear touch screen and frontal touch screen of the system. Players can choose between a male character or a female character at the beginning of the game, and then enjoy a platforming adventure that will most likely capture the imagination of its players. Media Molecule has a great track record with their games, so questioning the quality of Tearaway seems to be a bad gamble. We anxiously await our chance to try out Tearaway when it releases November 22.
Ys: Memories of Celceta (PSV)
Release Date: 11/26
The awesome Ys series finally debuts on the PlayStation Vita in North America on November 26. The game once again uses the character of Adol Christin, who at the beginning of the game suffers a not-so-nifty case of amnesia. Through exploring the forests of Celceta, Adol will piece together who he is. Ys is known for being a fantastic action-RPG franchise, and with the upgraded visuals allowed by the Vita, Memories of Celceta looks to be one of the more exciting games in this already entertaining franchise.
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Multi)
Release Date: 11/5
This year, the Call of Duty franchise has some fierce competition. Battlefield 4 released last month on current generation platforms. It will also release on next gen platforms. The latest in the Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Ghosts, will release on current generation systems in four days, and will also appear on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 close to their respective launches. By now, gamers know what to expect with Call of Duty-- intense gunfights, militaristic action, and perk-based multiplayer. While we don't really have a soft spot for the Call of Duty series, we understand why the series successfully entertains other gamers year after year.
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PS3)
Release Date: 11/12
After several failed experiments with the Ratchet & Clank series with All 4 One and Full Frontal Assault, Insomniac is returning the franchise to its roots with Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus. The game will feature a whole slew of new weaponry to upgrade and gadgets to assist Ratchet and Clank in their adventure. Many characters from past games, including Captain Qwark and the gang from Thugs-4-Less from Going Commando, will also be present. Outside of the 3D sections of Into the Nexus, special 2D platforming puzzle segments starring Clank will be featured. We can't really say no to classic Ratchet & Clank gameplay with a budget price of $29.99. We hope you can't either!
Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4)
Release Date: 11/15
The PlayStation 4 has suffered from delays in a handful of key launch titles. That hasn't stopped the deserved hype for the platform's launch, however, which just so happens to be two weeks from today. Without a doubt the most talked about launch title for Sony's new hardware is Guerilla Games's Killzone: Shadow Fall, a first-person shooter that will be a great technical showcase of the PlayStation 4's hardware. While the genre is one that we suffer fatigue from, we're certain that many new PlayStation 4 owners will enjoy a return to the Killzone universe when the game launches on November 15.
Knack (PS4)
Release Date: 11/15
We're such suckers for a good action game, so was there ever any doubt that we'd be most excited for Knack as our most anticipated PlayStation 4 launch title? Game director Mark Cerny has been quoted as saying the game can be viewed as a combination of Crash Bandicoot, Katamari Damacy, and God of War-- an interesting mix of games for sure! The titular hero can use other substances and merge them with his body depending on the level to solve puzzles and take down enemies. We're also anticipating this title, as it comes from Sony's Japan Studio, a studio that didn't deliver much output this past generation. One of the games they did deliver, however, Puppeteer, was a great one.
Need for Speed: Rivals (Multi)
Release Date: 11/19
A cross-gen release, Need for Speed: Rivals returns the series to an open world setting, much like its predecessor, Most Wanted. The game will feature a myriad of racing types, as well as dynamic weather system to make the game world seem much more alive. The choice is available for players to become a racer or a cop, and you can be sure that each side will possess its own set of unique challenges, meaning one should eventually play both sides to get the most out of the game. Autolog from Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2012 returns, allowing players to challenge their friends and compare times. If you have the need for speed, Rivals will give it to you when the game releases on November 19.
Forza Motorsport 5 (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
November 22 is a big day for releases, and obviously the biggest is the launch of the Xbox One. It's been a console mired in controversy, and while we have no plans to purchase one anytime soon, we have to admit that the launch lineup is much more appealing than what the PlayStation 4 offers. Forza Motorsport 5 is an absolutely brilliant-looking racing simulator with some stunning visuals. It's the type of title that you can show to your friends and family and go, "yes, THIS is the power of the Xbox One." Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Forza franchise is always highly entertaining, too!
Ryse: Son of Rome (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
The team behind Crysis delivers this Xbox One exclusive launch title. When Ryse: Son of Rome debuted, many were not impressed with what was present content-wise. There were many quick-time events involved, which many feared dumbed-down the gameplay. The trailers that followed eased many gamers' concerns, and this action-adventure title set in alternate universe of the days of the Roman empire seems like one of the top Xbox One launch titles to pick up when the system and the game releases November 22.
Dead Rising 3 (XONE)
Release Date: 11/22
One of our favorite new franchises from the seventh generation of consoles (Wii, PS3, X360) was Dead Rising. While it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, due to requiring adept time management skills, the original is our favorite Xbox 360 exclusive. Dead Rising 3 takes the series to new heights with a larger environment to explore, a new character as the star, and the same craziness of gameplay that makes killing zombie after zombie an engaging activity. Throw in some psychopaths as bosses and practically anything you find can be used as a weapon, and you have a captivating Xbox One exclusive.
Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)
Release Date: 11/22
Since we're such big platformer fans here at SuperPhillip Central, you can be rest assured that we're insanely hyped for Mario's 3D platformer debut on Wii U. At E3, the debut trailer didn't really excite a lot of people, but subsequent footage has certainly hyped a plethora of gamers. We feel foolish for ever doubting Nintendo EAD. The number of interesting ideas present in Super Mario 3D World makes us giddy with excitement. We'll have a full review of Super Mario 3D World when it hits store shelves November 22.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
Release Date: 11/22
The Zelda team has recently been trying to defy expectations of what a Zelda game should be. Their latest attempt at something fresh for the franchise is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The shake-up for this game involves renting items instead of earning them in a dungeon, using found item to solve said dungeon's puzzles, and then using that same item to defeat the dungeon's boss. A Link Between Worlds takes place within two parallel worlds, Hyrule and Lorule. As big fans of A Link to the Past, the nods to that game present in this new 3DS installment can't stop us from being insanely happy.
Tearaway (PSV)
Release Date: 11/22
From the creators of the fantastic LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway is a PlayStation Vita exclusive that utilizes practically all of the system's unique features, such as the rear touch screen and frontal touch screen of the system. Players can choose between a male character or a female character at the beginning of the game, and then enjoy a platforming adventure that will most likely capture the imagination of its players. Media Molecule has a great track record with their games, so questioning the quality of Tearaway seems to be a bad gamble. We anxiously await our chance to try out Tearaway when it releases November 22.
Ys: Memories of Celceta (PSV)
Release Date: 11/26
The awesome Ys series finally debuts on the PlayStation Vita in North America on November 26. The game once again uses the character of Adol Christin, who at the beginning of the game suffers a not-so-nifty case of amnesia. Through exploring the forests of Celceta, Adol will piece together who he is. Ys is known for being a fantastic action-RPG franchise, and with the upgraded visuals allowed by the Vita, Memories of Celceta looks to be one of the more exciting games in this already entertaining franchise.
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