Yu-Gi-Oh! still rocks my socks!

I have been uber busy (and distracted) but the past few months have been so much fun.  I’ve had the opportunity to jam with my kids and Yu-Gi-Oh! Fans of all ages, thanks in part to the Augusta Book Exchange and their Sunday Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments.

Box busters are still in the plans but what I am looking to do is buy a few boxes of current-gen Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and share some of our personal favorites.  We are looking at Order of Chaos, Generation Force, and Hidden Arsenal booster packs, amongst others.  That will be in the more distant future, though.

For a look at some of my more recent Yu-Gi-Oh! faves and “mini busters”, check out these posts:

http://duelpassonline.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/2011-yu-gi-oh-box-buster-preview-rise-of-destiny/

http://duelpassonline.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/yu-gi-oh-favorites-meklord-emperor-wisel/

Yu-Gi-Oh! deck building is still one of my favorite things but it’s tons of fun to try out new recipes too!

If you happen to be in the Augusta, Georgia or CSRA (Central Savannah River Area), I invite you to come check out the Augusta Book Exchange in Martinez, near the Bobby Jones Expressway Wal-Mart (which we like to call Wally World since it’s like a amusement park for some of us locals LOL).

This place reminds me of my favorite geek shop in my hometown of NYC: The Compleat Strategist.  InsiderPages describes TCS as a place where it’s cozy and easily to lose oneself for hours.  I agree and the Augusta Book Exchange is the same experience.

Local Yu-Gi-Oh! Events

Every Sunday at 2PM, the Augusta Book Exchange hosts Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments right here in the CSRA.

If you’re not very competitive or semi-retired like me, it’s worth coming by to trade cards, observe some epic duels, and chat with fellow geeks.  I mentioned earlier how Yu-Gi-Oh! attracts people of all ages.  Well, it seems our area has covered every demographic because people from all walks of life gather to enjoy Yu-Gi-Oh!

As with any competitive gathering, you’ll have your fair share of greedy, sneaky, and cocky people but, I must say, the crowd is much nicer then when I frequented places like The Meeting Grounds or The Compleat Strategist.  Be warnes: the judges can sometimes be idiots..  but that’s to be expected in sanctioned play.  Be sure to come with tough skin and protect your belongings (travel light).  Brings lots of friends, too!

Why I Heart Augusta Book Exchange

Now, I mentioned the dark side but there is more good than bad to expect at the Augusta Book Exchange…

First, they have tons of space and a huge selection of books, comics, cards, board games, and gaming supplies.  They set up at least a good eight picnic-styles for participants, with just enough room for observers to check out the action.

Second, there are some really generous people that will just give stuff away.  This is especially so with folks like myself.  We’ve collected for a long time so often we have plenty of extras or just don’t play or collect actively anymore..  so we’re passing the torch onto the younger generations.

Third, the tournament buy-in is usually $5 and, with that, you get a booster pack of your choice and around four rounds of match play (best of three rounds) dueling.  Make sure you set aside four hours to duel, trade, and check out all the cool stuff they have there.  Paying for the sanctioned duels here is well worth it and won’t break the bank.

Preparing For Yu-Gi-Oh! Competition

Those are my top three reasons for checking out the Yu-Gi-Oh! events at the Augusta Book Exchange but now you may want to know more about how to get more involved with competitive Yu-Gi-Oh! play, right?

What I would offer up right now is that you should expect to duel with several people watching and maybe even backseat driving.  It can be annoying if you do not do well with large crowds and tight quarters.  For this reason, you want to be prepared mentally above all.

Learn your cards well and the timing of effects.  Learn their limits and potential counters.  Get familiar with popular deck builds and strategies.  Every deck has a weakness.  I find that most people plan against beatdown strategies but do not consider core strategies that focus on direct/effect damage (burn decks – Nightmare Wheel, Dark Room of Nightmare, Lava Golem, Dark Door, Princess of Tsurugi, Just Desserts, Magic Cylinder, Ceasefire, etc.), stalling (decks that focus on limiting effects and countering until your cards run out or a finishing msove can be performed), or banishing (removing cards from play – very popular with decks built around Necroface and Burial From A Different Dimension).

To learn about all the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards out there, visit Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Guide.

Try dueling for fun before you do sanctioned play.  This will allow you to tune your decks and see where your strengths and weaknesses reside.  You’ll also get a chance to really learn your cards and trim down decks as necessary.  Nothing beats hands-on experience!

Most dueli

sts will tell you that you must not have more than 40 cards in your deck.  You can win with a 50 or 60-card deck but it’ll be tougher to balance your decks when you go big.

With a bigger deck, you can better prepare for stalls but key cards and winning combos can be tough.  Fortunately, with an extra deck of 15 card (or less), you can load up on synchro and XYZ monsters without beefing up your main deck too much.  I am an unconventional duelist so I tend to build decks that are flexible, rather than relying on one or two big plays like most duelists do.  I am old-school but I must say I prefer today’s synchro and special summon mechanics as fusion and ritual monsters were always a pain to play, IMHO.

I recommend bringing a big coin, dice, some beads to use as counters, a calculator, some scrap paper, and maybe some token cards.  This will make it easier to keep track of more complex plays..  and keep everyone honest.  Some tournament hosts provide these but most don’t.  Be sure to let opponents inspect coins and dice so that they know you are not up to any tricks.  Good judges will usually do this and set ground rules for all.

You reserve the right to have a judge inspect all decks.  This will insure no illegal cards are used, though some competitions will allow old school match-ups with all cards ever published.  The official list of tournament illegal cards can be found here:

Official Limited & Forbidden Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards

Now you should be ready to rock.  Remember that practice does make perfect.  If you’re relatively new to the game of Yu-Gi-Oh!, starter decks are a good way to have a core to build around.  Structure Decks, I find, are for more advanced duelists so you’ll often have to tune them, especially with decks prior to the 5D’s series.  Most decks will provide a rating from Beginner to Advanced to help you out.

Game on!

Got specific Yu-Gi-Oh! competitive play inquiries?  Leave them in the comments.  I’m no pro but I’ve followed the game since it came out and have seen expert duelists battle and build decks.  I’d love to share that experience with you!

Every credible non-fanboy review I’ve read seems to point at the fact that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 feels more like an expansive map pack than a full sequel. While Joe and other fellow gamers say that Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 are too distinct to compare, I already know Battlefield 3 will be my main game. I also know that the Gears of War 3 Season Pass looks more tempting than a Call of Duty Elite subscription.

With that in mind, there are a few things that make Modern Warfare 3 and Elite subscription tempting…

This. Is. Sparta! Err, I mean Modern Warfare 3.

The Newness Of Modern Warfare 3

The Kill Confirmed deathmatch mode in Modern Warfare 3 may actually put an end to camping. You don’t get your kills counted unless you grab enemy dog tags. I dig this and it may very well be the main mode I’ll play, unless people play Search & Destroy (still my preference due to the focus on stealth, infiltration, and team tactics).

Teams that just hang back to get killstreaks going will struggle as you can’t remotely grab dog tags. Sorry, campers and lone wolfs.. You’ll have to learn some teamwork.

Killstreaks have been tweaked so that high-level soldiers can get dynamic killstreaks unlocked in-game. This makes sense as something like the Scavenger perk doesn’t help unless you’re low on ammo, which usually happens after you mow down some enemies.

Now killstreaks may be all too familar to us by now but the way they are presented is different now. Killstreaks in MW3 will appear in the form of a skill tree of sorts now. You have your Assault, Support, and Specialist development paths. The latter is reserved for players that have logged many hours and/or kills.

Game Informer had a great preview on these features and more in their Zelda 25th Anniversary issue. It’s definitely a good read and I don’t usually pay much mind to professional reviews so that’s saying something!

Call Of Duty Elite: For Competitive And Social Soldiers

From what I’ve read, just about anything cool and new in Modern Warfare 3 is reserved for Elite subscribers or those that pre-order the Hardened Edition. Call of Duty Elite goes beyond your typical season pass and DLC discount. Here’s some intel I collected:

• New unlockables will be available every month for the first nine months of the game or so. 20 items are already in the pipelines, if I understand correctly.
• It seems clan features are only available to Elite subscribers.. Or at least the good stuff is available on a subscriber-only basis.
• Elite subscribers can find folks with similar interests by way of group memberships. There will be in-game and web-based features supporting the social media features.
• Those that subscribe before November 13th will get extra bonuses. You get special Founder status.. Whatever that means!
• Elite-only online sessions will run on dedicated servers. Supposedly, there will be heavy moderation to curb the cheating, boosting, and spawn camping that we all “love”.

So, really, Call of Duty Elite seems almost required if you want to truly enjoy Modern Warfare 3. I’m going to give the game a whirl out of the box before I invest more money here, though.

The thing that rubs me wrong here is that I don’t want a Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition to get avatar goodies and extra crap I don’t really need and likely won’t use. I’d be happy if, as someone taking a risk with pre-order, I get a discount for the Elite subscription. Instead, pre-orders mostly give you discounts on crap most of us don’t need or a chance to win prizes. Whoop-dee-doo!

Besides the social media benefits, the one thing that really appeals to me about Call of Duty Elite is the clan XP boost. This will make recruiting much easier but I wonder if the boost is only for other Elite subscribers. That would be a HUGE missed opportunity for Infinity Ward!

Again, it would have been nice to see Regular, Hardened, and Prestige Edition. $100 for a game I’m on the fence about seems like too much.. But $75 I can deal with. Just saying.

The Battlefield VS. Modern Warfare Battle Continues

Online play issues aside, I’d say DICE got Battlefield 3 right and it stands as one of the best shooters in a decade.. And maybe even EVER!

Still, there are opportunities on both sides of this battle. Battlefield 3 is my go-to game right now and in the foreseeable future but, as I mentioned before, Modern Warfare 3 is positioned to be the choice shooter for competitive gamers.

I think Infinity Ward messed up by scrapping the few things that make Black Ops a fun game (like Gun Game, which was actually quite neat). CoD points and challenges, for example, are a great way to ease the pain of constant grinding. It’d be nice to at least have an XP boost up until the first prestige. That’d make pre-orders more sexy. Battlefield 3 was smart by making mid-range weapons available to boot and maxing out ranks at Colonel. This allows you to focus on “leveling up” your weapons, vehicles, and classes.

What this does for Battlefield 3 is give you tons of achievements to aim for without making it a mundane grind. I love their progress system. It’s very natural and fun, whereas Call of Duty feels more like a chore at times.

If you get your hands on a Limited Edition Battlefield 3, the first DLC is free and it will be much more than a map pack. Modern Warfare 3 requires you to pony up more money to get the good stuff. Meh.

Supposedly, there will be some imports for us Black Ops players that have been burned. Battlefield 3 has those too but it’s nothing really special. I reckon the imports on Modern Warfare 3 will be similar, though some say the map packs will work on MW3 – I sure hope so since that was mostly a waste of money!

Battlefield 3 has stellar vehicular combat. I know real vehicles would throw off the balance in Modern Warfare 3 but it’s still worth noting. Battlefield just has more variety and fun right out of the box.

Same Old Call Of Duty Grind

I’ll be honest here. I only prestiged about once or twice on Modern Warfare 2 and I don’t think I prestiged even once on Black Ops. I’m pretty bored with the Modern Warfare game mechanics.

So why even bother to get Modern Warfare 3, you ask?

It’ll be the game that all our friends will be playing. It’ll still be one of the main games to play competitively, too. Battlefield 3 is not quite there yet as there is no private match option, sadly.

We’ll just have to wait and see if this installment will be a long-term play or a “flavor of the month” type deal. As much as I may have a bad taste in my mouth, I am curious. I wonder if Infinity Ward will really step up their game here…

Oh yeah, Modern Warfare 3 single player will continue the Modern Warfare 2 storyline, too. *shrug*

BTW, am I the only one that misses the Eavesdrop perk from CoD4? It’d be quite useful when forced to do in-game chat only…

But there are glaring issues with Battlefield 3 that are supressing the fan boy in me…

First and foremost, let’s be honest: Battlefield 3 has a nice single-player campaign (and CoD fan boys say it’s a rip-off Modern Warfare campaign).. But we’re here for the online multiplayer, regardless of whether you play on PC, XBox 360, or PS3. Now for my issues with the online stuffs in Battlefield 3!Multiplayer Mismatchmaking
I have yet to successfully connect to a server using Quick Match. When you want a quick fix, this should be the way to go. No dice here, DICE.

DICE states that they are aware of matchmaking issues but, for now, we still have the Server Browser – too bad that’s broken too!

The Server Browser is awesome and brings me back to my days as a hardcorev PC gamer. You can fave servers and filter them to your delight. Thing is, no matter what filters you use, getting into a server can be done near impossible. EA servers keep crashing and you lose connection constantly.

Battlefield 3 is almost completely a pure multiplayer experience (as it should be) so this should be where EA and DICE focus. It takes you half your gaming time just to find a good server. If you like specific settings, it’s even tougher. In the first couple of days, I was forgiving but it’s been almost a week now. This is unforgivable.

Not So Hardcore
Normal servers are nightmares unless you’re one of the crazies that put in 29+ hours by day two of Battlefield 3′s release. It sometimes feels like Halo, where you need the best weapons to get kills. I’ve had many instances in which I was in prone position with my LMG, getting tons of hit counters at mid or close range, only to be killed and see that my foe had 5 to 13% of his health left. WTF?

Good luck finding a Hardcore (HC for short) server, too. I know it’s not so much an issue on the PC side but, on the XBox 360, people are finishing up co-op and single-player modes so all the good servers are taken practically around the clock. I’ve played at 3AM, 6AM, 10AM, 1PM, 9PM.. Nada.

From what I hear, many gamers are complaining about the lack of servers overall. Connectivity issues do not help. I imagine the DICE forums are getting bombarded right about now! As I write this, all hardcore servers have been full for what seems like ten hours straight.. And waiting in the queue often results in being kicked back to the main menu.

Co-op For Two
Some were expecting epic co-op for four or more players. While this does not surprise me, co-op in Battlefield 3 only seats two soldiers. Battlefield has always been about large-scale battles so the stealthy missions are cute but not really a right fit. This only lends more to the silly Battlefield-VS-Call-of-Duty debate that seems to have no end.

Other than that, the co-op missions are challenging. The online leaderboards make you want to play them over and over again to do better. The Battlefield 3 co-op missions are challenging at just about any difficulty, too.. It was a worthwhile addition yet I can’t help to think they threw it in to compete with Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops’ slew of multiplayer options. Co-op, like many things right now, feel incomplete.. They lack real polish.

Boosting And Cheating
Ah, yes, no shooter with persistent classes is complete without losers that think boosting and cheating is cool. I hear reports of folks exploiting Nemesis bonuses to stack up points and rack up points over 30K. Ridiculous!

I’ve also seen some strange stuff first-hand, including the classic hide-in-a-wall cheat and strange glowing soldiers. Don’t know what’s up with that but smells like funny business to me. Hope this doesn’t get as silly as Battlefield 2: Modern Combat did.. Or Modern Warfare 2, in more recent times.

Nerf It Up!
This is a minor complaint but some of the weapons seem rather nerfed. Claymores and RPGs come to mind. It’s almost a non-issue in hardcore modes but, well, we already discussed that.

I hope DICE UNnerfs some of the weapons and gadgets in Battlefield 3. I understand the slight edge provided by leveling up but the gap is too wide at times, especially if you’re still working your way up to Level 15 (legit).

Speaking of nerfing, I can’t say enough how much certain classes are more appealing if you care about your score. You still rack up more points destroying vehicles and getting frags so, ultimately, it all goes back to the ‘ol K/D ratio in any game play mode. I would have to agree that the Recon has been gimped. Without air strikes and cool gadgets (at least early on), being a sniper often means slow kills and your team struggling. Of course, if your team spots enemies and covers your back, snipers can be great for taking defensive positions.

Due to the Nerfy nature of certain weapons and gadgets, you’ll typically see the same classes being played. Assault and Engineer seem to be the most flexible, though Support is fun once you unlock C4 and M18 claymores. Still, if you’re playing normal servers and like to be on the frontlines, Assault is still the way to go.

Here’s How You Can Fix Battlefield 3, DICE Developers
With the boosting stuff, a simple algorithm that compares average scores against peak scores can be used. Apply a curve to players that haven’t logged enough hours to have the insane scores/levels they currently have.

I know in-game tracking will only bog down Battlefield 3 servers further but it’s pretty easy to spot anomalies. With K/D, accuracy, and other stats actively recorded, it’s easy to see trends. Sudden spikes should be flagged. Heck, I’d even pay for dedicated servers for only legit players.

Here’s another easy win: take points/stats scored and divide by time played. Make a leaderboard based on that. Also use those averages to make it easy to spot the asshats. I miss the ‘ol vote feature and think it should come back.. Kick the suspect players and, after repeat offenses, ban them from servers. There, that was easy.

Average scores can also make for more interesting leaderboards as, right now, it’s mainly about who puts in more time. For those of us with less gaming time than we used to have, this will encourage more friendly competition.

We need more servers. I’d suggest getting rid of empty servers and doing a custom launch feature whereas select players can invoke new sessions on dedicated servers. This may reduce server loads a bit but I know that’s a long shot on the console side.

I’d love to see resupplies do more. Maybe buffs or stacking point distributions? Reward the support roles more, yo!

Future co-op modes should definitely be more along the lines of Onslaugh Mode in Battlefield Bad Company 2. Horde modes tend to do well; after all, it’s what keeps Black Ops in most collections. Wahaha!

Last but not least, make matchmaking more useful. Add filters for ping, toggleable server options, and the like.. And make it easier for squads and big teams to roll in together.

Speaking of squads, Battlefield 3 can be a viable competitive game if big teams are enabled. Roll in with 8-12 clannies for instanced, perhaps moderated battles. Again, this can be a premium feature that us Battlefield aficionados will welcome.

Oh yeah, anyone else want two-seated jets? I know I do! One person focuses on flying while the other can focus on shooting. Oh man.. That’d rock!

All in all, there are many easy fixes here but DICE needs to make an announcement in-game, right before the upcoming DLC stuff. I can see people beating this game and trading it in preemptively just because online play is such a pain in the arse.. Let’s not encourage the CoD-fanatical trolls! ;o)

What would you like to see changed in Battlefield 3?

Now, I must say, this is one of the big games I’ve been looking forward to, along with Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Mass Effect 3, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and Silent Hill: Downpour. The Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 new release line-up looks darn good!

Note how I did not mention Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It seems you can’t mention Battlefield these days without bringing Call of Duty into the mix so I’ll join the crowd by saying I can really care less if Battlefield 3 will be a Modern Warfare killer. Quite frankly, Call of Duty has gotten old to me.

Of course, if you’re in a gaming clan like I am, Modern Warfare 3 will be the game to get for competitive purposes, whereas Battlefield 3 looks tons more fun. Time to rant and have some geekgasms as we count down to the Battlefield 3 midnight launch – w00t!Battlefield 3 VS. Modern Warfare 3

If you’re still on the fence and have to choose one, my money is on Battlefield 3. I am very biased but I’ll try to be objective. Here are the key points I’ve considered when figuring out my preferred tactical multiplayer shooter:

Bang For Your Buck
Modern Warfare 3 pretty much forces you to pay around $50 for the yearly elite subscription. Without it, you’ll face more modders/cheaters, self-hosted server hiccups, and a slew of DLC charges (the subscription essentially gets you one free map pack). I understand businesses must be profitable but this is rather lame. Of course, if you pre-ordered the Hardened Edition, the elite subscription comes bundled in.

Battlefield 3 will play the same way for everyone right out of the box. There’s no forced upsells and silly business. For a frugal spender like myself, that should be reason enough to give Battlefield 3 a real try. The Battlefield franchise is also not notorious with back-to-back DLC releases. Call of Duty Black Ops has been absolutely silly.

UPDATE: Plans for tons of DLCs are already buzzing about for Battlefield 3. The good news is that each update will come with significant expansions. Back to Karkand will come with new maps and weapons, from what I hear, so at least this won’t be CoD style where you pay for three or four maps only to have people get bored with them and a new DLC come out soon after. =oX

(Oh, and the first DLC is free for all pre-ordering parties, apparently.. There’s already 9 maps and 5 gameplay modes as-is so this is exciting news. If this were MW3, we’d see the DLC a month from release at a $15 price tag. Lulz)

SIDEBAR: I dislike EA because they’re notorious for shutting down game servers and being greedy.. But folks at DICE seem to keep them in check.

There are still new gameplay features and modes I’m learning about. I was happy with the little I knew and got to experience but Battlefield 3 seems like it will have tons of awesome surprises. Did I mention I am counting down ’til midnight? I can’t wait!

Team Dynamics
Call of Duty has always been more of a lone wolf game whereas Battlefield almost forces you to play as a team. Both gameplay styles have their place but I personally love games that really encourage team tactics. Battlefield 3 is just that sort of game.

I still prefer Battlefield’s class system. It allows everyone the opportunity to play up their style. You can run-and-gun, snipe, support, resupply, recon, or do a little bit of everything.. And you can switch things up as team needs and scenarios change.

The Modern Warfare series has mostly offered to flavors of combat: run-and-gun or camp. I prefer Search And Destroy but the staple Team Deathmatch still revolves around camping to get killstreaks up and spam some over-powered abilities to further widen the gap. Meh.

Beta Taste Test
The Battlefield 3 team was bold by making the beta open to the public. Sure, there were some issues with the choice of map and lack of vehicle fun but the addition of parkour, fresh new interface, and class tweaks are all good in my book.

When I looked at the Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer videos, I wasn’t particularly impressed. There are promises of better spawns, more open maps, and less choke points (and camping) but I am not holding my breath. Call of Duty Elite seems to hint that Modern Warfare 3 will cater to the elitists and campers. Not a fan at all.

Hordes & Onslaughts
I fell in love with Onslaught Mode in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and hope to play it more in the future. Battlefield 3 seems poised to keep building upon previous successes and they keeping adding more goodies.

For those that love zombies, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 won’t have ‘em but there will be a horde mode. Either way, both games will offer a good fix here.

Battlefield 3: What’s New?

I mentioned that co-op missions will be added to the experience. This should add even more replay value. Multiplayer is what I really care about so I hope they also include onslaught right out of the box. The The Unofficial Battlefield 3 Blog at BF3Blog.com reveals quite a bit but still leaves much to the imagination.

One improvement I immediately noticed is how the campaign mode seems a lot more story-driven now. The addition of QTE makes it more cinematic and thrilling. I don’t know who this handcuffed guy you play as is supposed to be but he seems like he’d give Sam Fisher of the Splinter Cell series a real run for his money!

As much as the single-player looks sexy, I think I’ll be jumping straight into multiplayer so I hope game servers go live by midnight or at least 3AM EST.. Just saying. I know my XBox LIVE partner-in-crime KiNgDeeMNoF is with me on this (BTW, Nick Teri for winning a copy of the awesomely imperfect RAGE for XBox 360)!

The Eurogamer.net Battlefield 3 Multiplayer First Impressions article that came out about a week ago really got me amped for Battlefield 3. Dan Whitehead got to play a new map (not that suspect Operation Metro subway map). Lucky bastid. His thoughts on the game are very well-put so be sure to check that out!

BTW, for those that were criticizing us console gamers for going with the XBox 360 version, there will be a Battlefield 3 HD texture pack roughly 1.5GB in size. This pack can be installed on your XBox 360 hard drive to give the game even cleaner graphics. Not bad for a system with tech that’s mostly six years old! Of course, not that I care about eye candy but it doesn’t hurt, either.

Without a doubt, Battlefield 3 won’t be your usual “more of the usual” installment as we see all too often with popular gaming franchises. It’s clear lots of thought was put into this sequel and, really, it is a worthy sequel to Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat alike. By combining the best of both worlds, they have a real fan in me.

Fanboy moment aside, I will likely enjoy Modern Warfare 3 simply because my N-o-F clannies will join me.. But I’m far more excited about Battlefield 3 and hope others join me in the geekgasm!!

Oh yeah, those that loved destructible environments in BF:BC2 will love to know that BF3 runs on DICE’s Frostbite engine, which makes things more interactive than ever! OMG.. Will the geekgasms ever end??

Battlefield 3, Here We Come!

So there you have it: some of the many reasons I am stoked to play. I was going to include some screenshots and videos but eff that.. You have to experience it for yourself!

It may be worth mentioning that Battlefield 3 will boast over 20 fully-usable vehicles including fighter jets – thanks for that insight, BF3Blog.com! That sure beats the pants off the AC-130 and Chopper Gunner, as fun as those can be and all.

I’m counting down the hours.. Midnight can’t come fast enough. Good thing there’s still plenty of work to be done before then! ;o)

Friends that are Gamefly junkies beat the game in a day. Granted, they did not get into all the excursions of the game, that’s pretty impressive. The game’s length is just right but the climax lacks. Rather, story/campaign mode builds up a climax and then falls flat.

When one of my buddies said RAGE had the worst ending ever I said, “How bad could it really be?” I’m not playing the game for a story but I expected a big ending. I was wrong. No real boss battle. No epicness.. I was sad.Here’s a game with tons of awesome stuff but it falls short on so many levels. Allow me to illustrate!

1. Weapons and ammo in RAGE are diverse and fun.. But there’s no real incentive for spending your in-game money on the good stuff. One of my friends beat the game with mostly his shotgun only.
2. Deathmatch would have been awesome here. Make it traditional DOOM style and we’d be set. All the weapon varieties would have made this an easy win…
3. Instead of traditional humanoid combat, we’re given RAGE races and Carnage mode. It’s fun so long as you don’t play against opponents that have better upgrades than you.
4. To unlock better vehicles and upgrades in RAGE race modes, you need to play the other modes more.. I am not a fan of the rallies but Meteor Rally was great fun.
5. You can’t play the minigames online.. Really, I’d Software? That’s lazy.
6. The visceral gameplay in RAGE would have made an Arcade mode and online leaderboard awesome.. This game could have easily competed with Gears of War 3 in terms of replay value and multiplayer options.
7. Back to the vehicle gameplay modes. I don’t get why this made the cut. It’s a mere diversion.. I’d take it as an add-on or bonus feature but multiplayer could have been soooo much more!

So, yes, I am disappointed with the way the game ended even with all the warnings. It was all downhill once I inserted Disc 2 into my unsuspecting XBox 360. Tsk tsk.

The game ends with a setup that could lead to a sequel or at least some DLCs. We’ll have to see where they go with this IP. There’s still tons of potential here!

I hope someone over at Bethesda or iD Software is listening. Expand upon RAGE Frenzy, at the very least. For now, this is a game to rent or trade in ASAP. It pains me to say that since everything in this game is brilliantly done beyond what I just mentioned. I mean, the new engine looks amazing.. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for DOOM 4…

While I don’t have Dark Souls (yet?), I have been playing Too Human and it shares in the feeling of being (mostly) alone and dying lots. Here’s a game I picked up in the bargain bin and initially dismissed over a year ago. After some more extensive playing (and much frustration), I am pleasantly surprised.

Too Human (XBox 360) Cover

I would say Silicon Knights took Halo, Mass Effect, and Diablo, put them in a pot, sprinkled on some Nordic (or is it Celtic?) folklore, and cooked it all together to come up with Too Human. The fighting itself is more akin to Devil May Cry and Diablo, with a nice balance between arcade and RPG feel. The crafting, equipment, and inventory systems feel more like Mass Effect.. Yet the game feels like an MMO, as you may find it necessary to grind a bit to get past certain parts and, really, partying up is key for the group buffs. Alas, only two-player support in this one..

Deaths A’Plenty

It’s worth reiterating that, though I really love the game now, I find it frustrating that I die so much (I’m dying a lot less now using Soothing items and playing co-op but single player story mode can be brutal). A few explosive hits or direct attacks from an elite mob or leader and I’m done. It seems explosions and ranged attacks are what I am most vulnerable to right now.

My mian character’s armor is at around 300 (actually, 1000+ now at Level 36 and growing), thanks to items that give +percentage armor bonuses yet I am still pretty squishy. Good thing Bio Engineers can heal.. And they have the biggest HP pool, it seems. May be better to go with Health bonuses over Armor bonuses, actually…

SIDEBAR: Support classes and builds are tough to solo so items with Soothing help minimize aggro but it seems mainly effective against aggressive melee mobs. High-level runes are the way to go (purple or higher) to get those stats up but be sure to put them into rare items with high max equipment state (durability) so you don’t waste it on stuff you’ll soon out-grow.

I am working on completing the third world, the World Serpent, and it seems like certain parts are guaranteed to kill you four or five times in a row. Jumping and rolling only temporarily averts disaster. Baldur moves about as if he has a metric ton of crap in his pants (his movement speed and air time is determined by class, too). Rather annoying.

The good news is that you respawn close to where you die (that can be bad at times, though), but only after being forced to sit through a scene in which a valkyrie whisks you away. Each time you die, equipped items take damage. Typically, you’ll want to go back to Aesier if you die four or five times or your items will be less effective.. And you’ll die even more.

P.S. So it turns out every character is squishy except for maybe the Defender and Champion. While writing this, I played online some more and found comfort in knowing others died easily too. YAY!

Getting Started Right

Choosing the right class is huge in this game. 14+ hours in (counting pauses that still run the game clock), I’ve found that the Bio Engineer rocks but is mostly a support character. The good news is that he can heal himself (and allies) using skills or by just avoiding damage for a while. Comes in handy in between big battles but, during battles, not so much.

Here’s a look at the hero/character classes or types in the game:

1. Champion – The obligatory jack of all trades (think Crimson Elite in RAGE) hero, the Champion is the best at air combos. His aerial prowess makes him great for flashy Devil-May-Cry-style combatants looking to maximize combo meters and spam more AoE nukes.
2. Berserker – If dual-wielding weapons other than pistols is your thing, the Berserker is Too Human’s answer to the Diablo Barbarian equivalent. This guy seems to be the way to go if you like close quarters combat and prefer to stick to the ground.
3. Commando – The Commando can optimize all ranged weapons including explosives (if you go cybernetics) for massive crowd control. Alternatively, you can go the human path for increased ROF (Rate of Fire) and fast reloads, amongst other perks. The trade-off is that he kinda sucks at close range and is more of an end-game character. Also, playing the Commando can be boring for some due to low-twitch/button-mashing.
4. Defender – No game with role-playing mechanics is complete without a tank. You give up some damage dealing in favor of damage absorption and neat procs (early on, the Defender can be set up to freeze enemies or reflect damage, which is nice). This will likely be my next class to focus on as I prefer high-hit combos over quick kills (they’re rewarded better).. And it’d be nice not to be so squishy. Defenders seem to be super slow so getting max combos will be tough.
5. Bio-Engineer – This flavor of engineer is a cleric and support specialist in one. He has some awesome crowd control options assuming you can get your combo meter up with minimal damage taken. I like playing this class but he is easily the most challenging hero to play in the game.

In addition to base classes, you have three branches in your skill tree to develop but, realistically, you can only focus on one path at a time. Each path offers two or three active skills, which map to the X (battle cry AoE ability), Y (spider AoE ability), and RB (ruiner nuke) buttons. Spiders can function as turrets, mines, shields, and wards.

Once you complete the Hall of Heroes missions, you’ll have access to the Aesier home world. Here, you can shop, train, learn new moves and strategies, repair items, and choose between the human or cybernetics path… Or you can hang out with a co-op partner to trade items and sort your inventory out.

• Cybernetics – If your build requires higher DPS (Damage Per Second), cybernetics is the path for you. Commandos and Berserkers seem like they benefit more here because they’re the real damage dealers in the game. Your abilities will also receive longer durations. Cybernetic heroes can also use cannons and tend to handle taking more damage. They also get weapon-based ruiners, which introduces a whole new level of depth.
• Human – If you rely on your combo meter and hit count/efficiency, go human. For most this would seem like the better choice. Abilities recharge faster for humans, which is better for mines and nukes. The human alignment offers abilities that are nice for many classes, particularly Commando, Berserker, and Bio-Engineer, from what I gather thus far. Human alignment makes loot with more rune slots drop, too!

I went human for my first play-through because my guy is not really a damage dealer so the bonuses would end up sucking. More importantly, my combo meter keeps me and my teammates alive so maximizing combo opportunities makes more sense.

I went with the initial build of going with the stasis mine and minor heal but a smart respec for 1000 bounty seems to be working out even better.. And I realized I forgot to hit RT/LT to toggle between the Bio-Engineer (class) and Human (alignment) skill trees.

With the Human alignment, I’m looking to pimp out my ballistic skills since the first skill in the other branch seems mostly useless to me since I don’t really use the Fierce Attacks. Fierce Attacks come in handy when you can keep your distance but that’s not always an option.

On Second Thought: Having a more powerful ruiner will likely help later in the game, especially since the Vakylrie siphons enemy health for me. I still wish Fierce Attacks (same button combination as Finisher) were more easier to execute.. Still, now I’m thinking the bonuses to ruiner and spider abilities are worth it. Hmmmm… What build will you go with?

Cooperative Farming & Trading

I finally got to play online co-op (more now) and I loved it. The lag of self-hosting (versus dedicated servers) and lack of game sessions aside, I found that even beginner areas were still challenging and offered great XP. In an hour of playing with a level 1 newbie, I leveled up three times and still died as much as my pard, though I kept him healed (he was too aggressive as a Champion, really).

The trading system allows you to swap or give four items at a time, including weapons, armor, charms, and runes. I dumped some of my low level stuff to my new Too Human pard. He was super excited too!

Co-op play foregoes story elements in favor of greater battle frequency, adaptive enemy difficulties, and bigger crowds. You can only play with two players at a time, which kind of sucks (I guess it’s to keep mobs manageable and allow for attack chains/combos), but fortunately every class compliments the others well, for the most part.

If you like to farm for loot and/or grind for XP, co-op play is a great way to prepare for tough areas in the campaign. We played with round robin so loot got circulated evenly. You can also choose random or free-for-all loot distribution depending on what your goals are.

SIDEBAR: Loot and enemy levels will be determined by the highest enemy level so you may want to stick to partners within ten levels of you or someone will die often or have to hang back until they power level (and can equip better-suited items).

I’ll likely play a lot more online until I can be better-prepared for the campaign. Currently, I take out enemies fast but do poorly fighting mixed crowds (explosive and ranged attacks can be a pain when fighting aggressive melee hordes). For my character, fighting on the edges and taking to the air works best. It seems Berserkers, Defenders, and Champions do best “in the huddle”.

Loot, Craft, And Salvage

The weapons in the game each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. It’s a lot to get into here so I recommend trying out different melee and ranged weapon combinations to see what works for you. Typically, you’ll have to choose between crowd control, optimal combos, or long-range/edge fighting. Here are some combos that I find work well.

• Crowd Control – When you’re getting surrounded often, a good hammer works wonders. You can slam it into the ground to send multiple enemies flying into the air and buy yourself some time. Staves also tend to have a nice wide arc, which is why they’re the default melee weapon for commandos, but I prefer one-handed hammers combined with plasma rifles. With the plasma rifle, you get explosive seconadry attacks that affect a medium-sized area. Definitely handy for managing large crowds at almost any distance.
• Edge Combat – If you need to keep your distance, rifles are the way to go once again. Plasma ammo will give you a wider damage area while slugs will do more damage. Laser rifles are good for armored enemies but take a while to charge up and do optimal damage. As for melee weapons, you can use a sword or stave to use it’s ranged attack and plow through charging enemies while you widen the gap.
• Maximized Combos – Swords seem to be the fastest melee weapons, especially the one-handed varieties. Speed trumps damage when you’re going for maximum combos. Dual pistols work well to keep your hit counts up and regain your ground but they are limited in range when compared to rifles. Slugs and plasma are the preferred ammo for combo building.

Special Properties: Each weapon types has hidden special properties. You can see the full list in Tyr’s Workshop (the weapon shop in Aesier). What I found interesting is that two-handed melee weapons have a higher proc rate, meaning you get a better chance to root, snare, etc. That will work well for my current build as my Bio Engineer can convert enemies into allies temporarily as a passive ability.

One-handed swords are faster and have a chance to critical strike. A berserker will benefit from this most. They do the most melee damage (especially with a high DPS cybernetics build) and I’ve seen them clear out huge mobs within seconds. BTW, end-game commandos do the same, except with ranged weapons. Insane!

Dual wield weapons have a built-in speed and damage bonus. To see what I’m talking about, locate the first set of robotic arms in Tyr’s workshop. Push A to interact, as you do with any contextual-action-enabled object. This list breaks down AoE, AS, charge-up rates, and other handy information.

Tons Of Guns: Oddly enough, the “gods” of Aesir love gun play so expect many gun drops. I switch between laser and slugs mostly right now but each ammo type offers a nice benefit, as I’ve hinted. Plasma is particularly nice if you can buff the plasma blast radius. This allows you to hit multiple targets at once, which is great against large enemies with multiple armored parts. Lasers seem to be best against heavily-armored units (they take a while to charge up to max damage) while slugs are more balanced but not particularly awesome at anything. All ranged/ballistic weapons have wide AoE secondary fire (except for pistols, which you dual-wield), which can be quite handy against hordes of enemies. Slugs also have a higher ROF.

Salvage: By default, Auto Salvage will typically get rid of the lowest-value items as your inventory gets full. The problem with this is that sometimes you’ll get powerful items that have empty rune slots so try to change your salvage rules or salvage stuff manually after loot-heavy runs.

Blueprints: I’ve found that roughly one out of every 200-400 enemies will drop a blueprint (they can also be found in shops and spires). Typically, the tougher mobs drop the best loot. Elites (the bigger versions of baddies) are especially good for loot. Blueprints can be crafted into items that are the equivalent of equipment five to ten levels greater than your current experience (purple and up in QL).

Elite Gear: Keep an eye out for elite gear. They’ll have the word “Elite” in their names. If you see purple, orange items, or red, this is some of the best equipment around. Elite gear can be used in sets for added bonuses but some fellow warriors tell me you’re lucky if you get a drop in two or three play-throughs (the Too Human community is very helpful and friendly, BTW). For the record, I have yet to complete a set but I’m only about 20% through the campaign with my Bio-Engineer.. And it’s a long, arduous road ahead…

Epic Charms: Tier 3 charms show up in red. They have insane requirements to activate their bonuses (usually +1 to weapon or armor skills). I just got one that requires 3000 enemy kills with a hit counter of 20 or more – and I thought 300 was a lot!! You also need higher QL runes to complete more potent charms.

Combos And Stylish Strategy

Too Human goes beyond the hack-and-slash formula of the Diablo series by forcing you to be more strategic and stylish. If you do not get 20 hit counters or more per battle segment, you’ll find that spamming your abilities will not really be feasible. Understanding the HUD (Heads-Up Display) is difficult at first. There’s a lot going on and it’s not always clear what abilities are available at a glance, which is further frustrating during intense battles.

The most important strategy I’d say is knowing when to stockpile your combo meter and when to cash it in. I’ll explain further as it’s tricky business. Here are some tips for making Too Human a more satisfying experience:

• Ruin Them – Your ruiner is best used when you pull aggro and find yourself surrounded. In the beginning, your basic ruiner will kill all enemies around you but you can use enhanced items and skill points to boost your ruiner – definitely worth it!
• Finish Them – Using the same button combination as you do with your sentient weapon or fierce attack (both analog sticks in the same direction at once), you can unleash a finisher that will OHK many mobs or at least knock down some defenses. This helps you get more combo meter too so you can follow it up with a ruiner, spider, or whatever tickles your fancy! In the air or on the ground, air finishers are awesome for knocking off armor plates and getting some combo meter boosts.
• Back To Back – Since AoE buffs only work within a limited radius, it’s best to stay close to your fellow warriors to keep them covered and spam your buffs when possible. This also keeps your back side protected from rear intrusion.
• Slide And Juggle – Most enemies I’ve encountered can catch you in a roll but slides can help you get away faster. Doing a 2-in-1 slide-juggle keeps enemies off the ground (and off your back). This gives you more space and helps you whittle down enemy health bars. Don’t forget you can air dash, too!
• Roll And Nade – This technique is suggested by many pros but it seems to fail unless you master back rolls and enhance rolling distance. The idea is to widen the gap and cause wide area damage so, when the mobs get close, they’ll be easier to kill. If you’re lucky, you’ll get some knockbacks too!
• Juggling Fodder – Once you can consistently juggle enemies in the air, getting several enemies flying and shooting at them will help you get some nice combos. Slugs seem to be best for hit counters since they have the fastest ROF (Rate of Fire). Laser juggles look really cool.


Laser juggling can be great fun in Too Human.

• Level Three – If you don’t rely on your special abilities, keeping the combo meter at level three will give you some nice bonuses to damage, attack speed, experience, and more (you’ll see the bonuses in the lower left-hand corner of your HUD). Of course, when you’re pinned down, using ruiners/nukes is inevitable unless you like to die a lot…
• Forced Genocide – Enemies like the heavily-armored trolls do AoE (Area of Effect, BTW) damage so getting them to attack their own allies is fun. You’ll miss out on experience points but you’ll get some drops and thin out the mobs, if you do it right and survive.
• Back To The Wall – Sometimes escape is not an option so I find a corner where I have cover from ranged attacks and can hack away at melee mobs as they rush in like fools. This works particularly well with the hammer, as you can spam the ground smash and focus on tougher enemies.
• Worm Roll – Long-range combat is too risky against some of the bigger baddies and, in those cases, try rolling around them while getting a few hits here and there. For slow enemies this works very well as long as you avoid swiping and other AoE attacks. Rolling to set up an air finisher works well too.
• Polar Opposites – Some enemies are immune to melee damage but highly-vulnerable to ballistic/ranged damage (and vice versa). These are polarized enemies and they’re hard to spot at times because they change colors when attacked. They also blend in really well due to poor development choices. It’s best to get your hit counter up to 20 or more. The higher your combo meter and hit counter, the quicker you’ll cut these guys down. For huge, towering enemies, a few air finishers work wonders! Using fierce attacks or finishers against the right polarity is good for greater combo meter bonuses, too.

There are many other tricks and strategies that work well in Too Human so experiment to see what works for you. There are bouts where spamming and button mashing is a must but there’s a finesse to it all usually.

Awesome Game Mechanics, Sub-Par Execution

I love how ambitious the Too Human project was. Once you get used to the control scheme, wacky camera, and HUD, the combos are actually quite intuitive. In essence, if you can point at things, you can play. The poor camera angles and controls (up/down on the D-pad and LB) force you to adjust and re-position yourself often. It takes time getting used to the tap, push, and hold game combat mechanics.

Dying is even less attractive than it usually is since it means you have to wait a bit before you respawn. Sometimes, the game feels rigged as the difficulty progression and balance seem to be stacked against you.

Beyond that, the game is an amazing value for the current street price in most markets ($20 USD via XBox LIVE Games On Demand or under $10 USD used). It’s definitely better played with a teammate as mobs focus on human players more than NPCs. This game apparently bombed upon release, which is a shame.. I hope to see someone learn from this game and at least make a spiritual successor. The ideas here are too good and unique to abandon.

A little fine-tuning with the balancing and controls would make this game a huge hit. I’d throw in randomized dungeons and arenas for extra replay value. Really, the issues with camera control and targeting are what make Too Human frustratingly hard at times. Some enemies randomly perform OHK’s so watch out when you’re exposed.

What’s a shame is that DLC updates never were released. Apparently, Silicon Knights had the stuff ready but Microsoft Studios decided to nix the whole thing. That explains why the online shops are empty. It would have been nice to have easier item transfers between characters and that was the plan, too.. Oh well!

In spite of the glaring issues with the game, that are dedicated players still building up their characters almost four years later. Not many games have that sort of shelf life, broken or not!

The shield-hammer combo makes the Defender a real bad-ass tank!

Aerial attacks in Too Human are amazing.. when they work.

Again, I really love the combo system. You will find that you don’t always hit your intended target but, when you figure out the nuances, the combo system rivals the beat-em-up sexixness of Guardian Heroes (one of my all-time favorites). As an old-school Street Fighter fan, I dig games with fluid high-hit combo systems.. To me, it’s a huge rush watching the hit counters go up and up!!

Too Human Has A Story, Too!

I leave the story for last because, really, it’s not much of a story. Your hero, Baldur, is a god, along with familiar names like Loki and Thor.. And you all seem to worship Odin as the ultimate supreme being.

Too Human places you as humanity’s last hope, the Aesier gods, but you’re really out for vengeance and answers. Your loved one has been killed and the truths that surface are a bit unsettling.

Your quest pits you against hordes of mechanized goblins, trolls, and dark elves. You also fight the undead. It’s an interesting take on time-old folk lore but Too Human falls short in the storytelling department. It’s all about gameplay.

That said, campaign play has been mostly satisfying thus far. Cinematic cut scenes include flashbacks and real-time events that give you more background story and gameplay tips. Really, campaign play is great for getting a feel for everything but don’t expect an epic storyline like you’d find in Mass Effect or even Gears of War.

Dialogue is decent as is the voice acting. Characters have facial expressions that almost sell you on the emotion you’re supposed to be feeling, too. Thing is, the characters are mostly flat so you don’t get a feel for immersion as you would with a full-on RPG.

All and all, this is more a game to play for the action, co-op fun, and deep customization. With all the items in the game, there are easily thousands of unique builds you can make for your hero, making the game a good candidate for return visits.. But I have yet to delve deeper there! If you want a brawler with high replay value, give Too Human a try.. Keep in mind the demo is not even close to the full game (many things have changed since the demo released years ago).

Guardian Heroes FTW!

Looking for a Guardian Heroes co-op pard? Add Yogizilla on XBox LIVE! We can help each other out and squash tons of baddies together!! I’ll be removing some friends, especially those that think “Guardian Heroes is wack”. *wink*

Samuel Han of Guardian Heroes HD

When I saw Sega re-releasing classic games from the Dreamcast and Saturn eras, I got excited.. But I never expected Guardian Heroes to come back. After the initial announcement (and being teased by the undownloadable game in the marketplace), I waited patiently for Guardian Heroes HD to drop.

Guardian Heroes HD is now officially out on the XBox LIVE Marketplace – REJOICE!

Guardian Heroes For Newbies

If you’re new to the game, think of it as Castle Crashers with more epic battles, arena combat (hordes of enemies provided for your power leveling needs), deeper RPG elements, an insane combo system rivaling the Street Fighter and Marvel Vs. Capcom series, and multi-branching storylines. This game is multiplayer bliss, whether you play locally or online. What the game foregoes in terms of a deep story it makes up for with a fluid battle system, unlockable characters, and tons of replay value.

What makes Guardian Heroes special is gameplay, not story.. Though I find the story suitable for this type of game (it’s worth getting the seven different endings). When people ask what the game’s about, I ask them if they’re looking for a story or tons of fun. Guardian Heroes is in the latter camp.

I’d put this game ahead of the Streets of Rage, Gauntlet, and Golden Axe series (each of which I loved greatly – I particularly loved Guantlet IV on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive), mainly because there are so many more moves and combos to unleash, adding much more depth to go alongside the rich co-op gameplay and arcade feel. Guardian Heroes may appear to be a mere button masher but the battle system is quite refined. In the remix, they’ve added air dashes to make aerial assaults even easier to chain.

BTW, if you’re an old-school gamer, you may recognize the developers, Treasure, from games like Gunstar Heroes and YuYu Hakusho. I found this GameFAQs Guardian Heroes walkthrough by DKReaver extremely informative. Check it out. It relates to the Sega Saturn versions of the game from ’96 but still a great read and most of the info still applies to Guardian Heroes HD Remix!

Note the increased MP in the original Guardian Heroes version.. and the big pixels.

Guardian Heroes Reeeemiiix

Some of the purists out there are complaining about the changes. A few moves have been altered slightly and the translation has been redone.. But the game is mostly in-tact, if not better (I could not put it down the moment I downloaded it). You can even choose to play the original or remix versions. Thus far, I really dig the remix though I miss some of the components from the original. In Guardian Heroes Remix, the character sprites have been given a sort of hand-drawn, comic-like finish and the stages plus HUD have been given a cleaner look. As far as gameplay is concerned, widescreen really allows you to get a feel for the epic battles.

A very welcomed addition to the HUD is the inclusion of enemy status bars, complete with HP and MP bars. This makes it easier to prepare for enemy spells and combos, along with other gameplay benefits.

The dialogue may be too cheesy or campy for some but I appreciate it. The game is more tongue-in-cheek than before and it’s quite entertaining, if you’re not going to be overly critical about it.. Unfortunately, some gaming snobs will continue to criticize this amazing game so take the negativity with a grain of salt (some people don’t know a good game if it bites them in the arse).

Honestly, I found that the demo does not do the game justice. I had friends play through the inn and give it up, which astounds me considering they like fighting games and beat-em-up RPGs like Mu Online and Diablo. *shrug* It would have helped to add some obligatory training and/or pop-up tips for the Guardian Heroes noobs.

Guardian Heroes was never a high-production-value game. The script and graphics are pleasing but not ground-breaking, even now after the remix and remastering. As for the core experience, the story can be completed in two hours if you skip sidequests and arenas (there’s three arenas with seemingly endless waves of enemies to battle).

I would not say the length of the game is a bad thing. With seven possible endings, it just means you can play the game more! And this is a worthwhile buy at roughly $10 USD (800 Microsoft Points). The gameplay here is superb and I have yet to find many games that capture my attention like Guardian Heroes!

It seems changes were made to stats and level caps. In the Remix, your MP taps out at 100 but quickly gets filled up as you do advanced multi-hit combos. This adds a layer of challenge as you can’t just avoid enemy attacks, wait for MP to recharge, and keep spamming spells. On the flip side, the bosses are not as tough (or rigged) in the remix as they are in the original version.

(NOTE: MP refills slowly unless you pump points into the MEN stat, apparently. It also seems MEN determines how much spells cost, which effectively renders the 100 MP cap complaint a moot point.)

I’ll make further observations regarding stats and some of the subtle (and not so subtle) changes in Guardian Heroes HD Remix…

This versus match-up seems rather unfair.. for the computer players, that is. Poor bots.

Bonus Goodies

Arcade mode has been added to Guardian Heroes HD, providing a more visceral, intense experience – it’s perfect for those that lack patience and just wanna battle! If you like survival modes like Gears’ Horde and Devil May Cry 4′s “challenge tower”, you should love this welcomed addition. I’ve tried a handful of heroes but one of my best characters is still Randy, though the Royal Knight and Mid (plant boss) are quite effective for my style of play, too. Good luck getting past the two-minute mark in Guardian Heroes Arcade! BTW, your scores go up on XBox LIVE leaderboards, which makes this mode all the more addicting!

I managed to break the five-minute mark with 500+ points/kills using Golden Proto and the Earth Spirit. Golden Proto has a move that makes him virtually indestructible but it can be hard to spam. Both of these boss characters do massive AoE damage, too!

Versus play allows up to 12 players engaged in combat simulatenously. It’s a great way to do some real training, though there is a formal Training mode too! While Castle Crashers has fun versus play, Guardian Heroes offers a more stylish battle flavor akin to fighting games like Marvel VS. Capcom and Street Fighter, as I mentioned before. Keeping the action on rails (three planes of battle) makes it easier to execute killer combos. Really, I’d like more games to follow this formula.. Wishful thinking there, I know!

Best of all, you can play the story alone or open it up to friends or the public. I love this because it was always hard to find friends to get a big game going. With online connectivity, Guardian Heroes HD keeps you buddied up! I have yet to play a four-player game in the Remix modes, though…

Of course, there’s the obligatory sound tester, complete with 23 music tracks and 248 sound samples, more or less. This is a nice little bonus, even if it may be merely considered extra junk. It’s particularly cool because the American Sega Saturn version of Guardian Heroes originally stripped this fun little feature.

There are tons more extras including an ending viewer, original opening movie clip, and art gallery – w00t!

Core Mechanics And My Favorite Hero, Randy The Green

The core mechanics in Guardian Heroes are more complex than one may expect. If you just mash buttons, you won’t get far in normal or hard difficulties. You also won’t get a full appreciation for the game. Learning the moves in your repertoire makes all the difference.

The new control scheme is slick and responsive. It feels a lot more intuitive than the original controls, which makes this replay really worth the 800 Microsoft Points. I found that chaining combos felt easier than before. Executing magic spells has been a delight!

Speaking of magic, Randy the Green is still my favorite character. He may be weak physically but his spells do some serious damage – and they’re great for crowd control! Some bosses and elites take minimal damage from melee attacks so magic is a must! Randy, the traditional nuking mage, is a close second to Ginjirou, the classic twitch-action ninja, when it comes to high-hit combos.

Samuel and Randy givin’ da bidness, y0!

SIDEBAR: Samuel does some heavy damage and has great reach, thanks to his long broadsword. This comes in handy against enemies with pikes, big swords, and the like as their early strikes can stun or daze you, leading to quick deaths.

Guardian Heroes revolves around combos. High DPS is nice for clearing out enemies but the combos are what keep your MP filled when playing Guardian Heroes Remix. In the original, things work slightly different and the maximum MP increases as you invest some stat points. It’s something to keep in mind when figuring out your builds between stages.

Now let’s look at some of the ways to pwn this game.. Or try to! *wink*

Secrets And Strategies

According to DKReaver over at GameFAQs, there are secret areas in stages 3, 5, and 12. I’ve stumbled upon these by accident. To get to these hidden arenas, go to furthest plane (in the back) when you exit the stage (you should line up with some a wooden sign if you’re in the right place). These areas are challenging but can help you power level to better prepare for upcoming battles. There are roughly 30+ stages, though you can skip around depending on the story path you choose. The hardest path I believe is choosing to kill everyone, including two god-like races, the Skyborn and Earthblood.

On harder difficulties and story paths, you really want to reach level 35 or higher minimum (the game caps you at 200 so there’s plenty of growth there) or you’ll die a third of the game through.. Unless you’re really good! Guardian Heroes can be unforgiving so taking one hit can cost you a continue. Staying in motion is imperative so you’re not a sitting duck.

In the village arena (Stage 5), I grinded my way up to Level 125 and demolished the game thereof (though I still died a few times).. But that was on Easy difficulty. Normal is not as bad but some enemies can catch you with combos that will kill squishy heroes like Nicole/Nicore (the healer) and Randy (the mage).

The paths you choose in the Guardian Heroes story can make the game longer and harder.. Or quick and easy. Don’t expect amazing endings but you will be satisfied when you take on all evils and bring ultimate peace to this nameless kingdom.

Teamwork is a must. I find that combining Samuel Han (the tank) with Randy or Nicole works best. Ginjuro (the damage dealer) is a nimble damage dealer but is still rather squishy. Nicole (the white mage/cleric) is tricky to play but her healing and barrier abilities are almost necessary for Hard mode. This is a game that is meant to be played as a team, hence the original six-player format. Too bad most XBox LIVE players do not use headsets. It makes it hard to communicate during the heat of battle.

Sadly, it seems the Remix only supports two players and the unlocked warriors (other than Serena, who you get by beating the game on Normal) can only be used for the extra play modes. I have yet to confirm this but it’d be a shame if l can’t party up with three other players at least!

Beyond the secret areas, there are places like the inn (Awakening Stage) where you can linger about to fight more mobs. I recommend this to get some early levels in. If you go solo and get tons of hits in, this area is good to get you up to Level 8ish.

Air attacks are easier and more crucial now in Guardian Heroes Remix. With the new air dash, you can juggle enemies longer and take out stronger baddies before they get back on the ground. This is important because some enemies use magic, have AoE attacks, or block more on the ground.. Be sure to dispatch these foes first and foremost.

The Legendary Undead Hero of Guardian Heroes is an awesome ally – he demolishes!

Don’t forget to use your Undead Hero well. Typically, squishy heroes should keep him on defense but some battles require the nameless hero NPC to be kept on aggressive attack to keep the elite enemies off-balance. Putting the pressure on stronger enemies is a must to prevent powerful attacks from coming your way.

Your undead hero has an Aggressive and Berserker battle mode. The latter causes him to do a huge AoE nuke which kills normal enemies and brings down tougher enemies to a few hits. Bosses are softened up to but can often block most of the damage. Be wary of friendly fire when making contact with enemies hit by this epic nuke.

It’s worth noting that in the original Guardian Heroes, juggling dead enemies gives you more experience and hit counters. In the remix, dead enemies are indicated clearly and seem to do nothing for you.. But it’s still strangely satisfying to juggle them about!

Perfecting Your Fighting Style

The maximum combo I’ve gotten lately is around 35 hits (with Randy the Green). When you’re being bombarded, it’s hard to get some high-hit chains going, unless you have some friends covering your back.

That said, old-school Street Fighter players may really get a feel for the game’s fighting system immediately. I think of Street Fighter Alpha’s and Marvel VS. Capcom air battles mixed with the simplicity and speed of Hyper Street Fighter II (yes, the hacked coin-op arcade machines rocked).

You can dizzy enemies by hitting them with stylish combos. I find that the basic light attack barrage (two or three hits) followed by a medium hit, “uppercut”/juggle attack, and/or air assault does this well. You can often bunch up enemies and three or four baddies up at once, making this a powerful combo.

As with virtually any fighting game, strong attacks typically knock enemies back so you want to have those at the end of combo chains. You can spam quite a few light attacks for easy hit counters so long as you don’t execute the obligatory “finisher”, then follow up as the situation dictates.

Note that many magic attacks (even ones that don’t use MP, like Randy’s fiery ground smash) are what can be called infectious. Freeze, electrocute, or burn an enemy and anyone near them, friend or foe, can be hit. This can break a combo chain up for you and your pards so leave the flash for crowd control and finishers when friendlies are clear of the AoE.

Each character, including the unlockable ones, has a distinct fighting style. What Randy lacks in damage he makes up for in combos. Ginjirou’s ninja speed makes him a beast with combos on the ground and in the air. Nicole (or Nicore in the Engrish version) is more about support but she can do her thang too. Samuel Han is very balanced but his specialty resides in melee combat. Han is not as squishy as the other heroes so he’s a good beginner character for most. Once you unlock Serena, you’ll find she’s a combination of Samuel Han and Randy the Green, and she’s not very squishy.

Let’s talk about Nicore. It turns out she is one of the most powerful characters in the game. Her barrier magic can push enemies against the edge of the screen for added damage. Her healing ability comes in handy too. I need to give her more of a try but Randy is just too much fun to play and he’s my hero of choice.

Samuel Han can get an awesome sword by killing a boss in the Ground of Sorrows Stage. The sword comes courtesy of another undead hero you get to battle. This sword rocks because it gives Sam a roughly 20% bonus to every stat (indicated by the blue stat points). Talk about a huge shot in the arm!

Now, if we’re talking combos, I’ve seen the highest hit counts with Ginjirou using his electric palm strike. At very close ranges, this can be an easy 100+ hits. This ninja is about speed and combos so Agility builds are best for him…

Don’t forget to check out each character’s repertoire to learn the basic moves.. Keep in mind that not every attack is listed, though!

Stat Distribution & Character Builds

There’s no loot or drops in Guardian Heroes so stat distribution is your only method for building up your characters. Stats are still elusive to me but here’s what I’ve found during gameplay…

• STR: Strength determines how much base damage melee attacks do. The added bonuses is knockback force. If you have more STR, you can interrupt and cancel enemy attacks.
• VIT: Increasing your vitality is not huge if you’re good at dodging and blocking but it’s still a good idea to put more points here, especially if your character is made for close quarters combat. Your health bar increases with each level but the VIT stat gives you a greater boost.
• INT: For stronger, more epic spells, this is where you want to pump your points in. The more INT you have, the greater the AoE and effectiveness of most spells become. Of course, some spells can be charged for greater effectiveness, assuming you don’t get hit.
• MEN: Mentality is one I haven’t figured out yet. Typically, this is for mana regeneration, which holds true here, but I’m still unsure if there is a magic resistance bonus. Still seems worthwhile for MP-heavy heroes.
• AGI: Agility works much like the Dexterity does in most RPG’s, sans the evasive bonus. The AGL stat improves movement and attack speed. It won’t help with charging up spells but it will help you execute and recover from moves faster so you’re less vulnerable. This one is a key stat for melee high-combo builds.
• LCK: The elusive Luck stat is awesome because it randomly grants you critical attacks and damage reductions. LCK is a versatile skill that can help Nicore and Randy in particular be less squishy and deal out more damage.

The right stats can make all the difference. LCK alone has saved my behind. With INT, I can destroy many baddies at once and survive longer. These are my stats of choice since I prefer playing caster types.

Sega, We Love You

While I miss Sega consoles, it’s great to see them focusing on publishing and development. They’ve been providing excellent fan service by releasing classic game collections and remixing cult favorites. Keep it up, Sega!

If you’re listening, please fix the co-op sync issues. Some online game sessions are almost unplayable, even with good pings. This can upset people. I’d also make friendly fire off by default for the newbies; otherwise, we have to stay in our own lanes and be extra careful. Just saying.

Now, I can hope and pray that Panzer Dragoon Saga and Dragon Force are re-made.. Then my life will be complete. Ill Bleed would be nice, too. I love me some Sega Saturn and Dreamcast classics!

Get some RAGE!!

When I went to pick up Rage for the XBox 360 about an hour ago, I did not know what to expect. DOOM and DOOM II changed the FPS genre forever so I believe in anything iD does; however, as much as I love Bethesda (of Fallout 3/New Vegas and Oblivion/Skyrim fame), I worried this kick-ass union would result in another Brink WHOOPS!

I was wrong.

Rage is a game that grips you from the very beginning.. And it’s more than just eye candy.

As always, iD Software delivers unique characters (and weapons) that often ilicit WOWs and perhaps some cringes too!

I’ll be honest: I saw a few gameplay videos and read some previews here and there but, for the most part, I went in blind. The moment I picked up my pre-ordered copy, I noticed it was heavy. Rage comes with 3 discs. WOW!

Final Fantasy XIII was the last game I played with so many discs. Oh wait.. Mass Effect 2 (can’t forget that one), too.When you load the game up, the recommendation was to install the game to my HDD for optimum performance. 22GB of delicious shooter goodness. I couldn’t wait for that process to finish. I needed some instant gratification.

Okay, so you’re probably wondering about the eye candy.. Yes, the game is stunning, Gears of War 3 and Bulletstorm stunning, if not better! But eye candy is not a big deal for me. I want remarkable gameplay and high replay value.

Well, I’m only about 45 minutes in as I write this Rage Anarchy Edition (XBox 360) review.. But I’m impressed. The characters are engaging and realistic. Their facial expressions and the voice acting sells it. The environment is immersive. 20 minutes in you find yourself exploring and soaking it all in, though you’re given missions right off the bat.

Rage Frenzy - iD Software's answer to Yu-Gi-Oh TCG? Thanks for this, Kotaku.com!

What excites me as a TCG fan is RAGE’s card-based minigame (Rage Frenzy)they have. I collected three cards so far and it seems they will be used with a starter deck I’ll soon get. I can’t wait!

While I’ve been hooked on Dead Island and Gears 3 beckons, I want to break night just to see where this journey will take me. I LOVE games with easter eggs and minigames, and I know iD will deliver in spades!

So, with the Anarchy Edition you get four items by way of DLC. This includes a limited-edition buggy that I assume will be for multiplayer racing modes. You also get a double barrel shotgun, which takes me back to the glorious DOOM days.

Speaking of DOOM, this feels like an unofficial sequel. You even see a space marine bobblehead on the dashboard of a buggy you ride into camp with in the beginning. OH MAN! That makes the iD fanboy in me swoon.

I already died once.. The game will be challenging to even seasoned vets. Actually, the “death” was scripted and, well, I don’t want to spoil what happens…

HINT: It’s another RAGE minigame!

The only disappointing thing is that I could not jump into Rage multiplayer right away. I saw two modes (racing and objective-driven modes) and the promise of new content “COMING SOON!” I know, I know, there are hardcore gaming purists out there that feel you need to “beat the game” before going into online play. Not me. I like online multiplayer above all.

Alas, I sat in multiplayer game lobby to see if I could play a Quick Match of whatever. No dice. Either this is the typical zero hour server downtime or everyone was immersed in campaign play. I’m also somewhat disappointed the traditional iD Death Match option is lacking. That’d be a hoot in a massive, open-world environment.. Or even in arena-style combat (DOOM III was actually fun online though the tight corridors limited the appeal).

If you’ve played Rage multiplayer, please tell me what you think about it.. And add me, Yogizilla, on XBox LIVE if you’d like to play!

So now I’m wrapping this up, finishing my cig, and stoked to play some more.. I’m close to beating Dead Island but it will have to wait. I want to RAGE!!!

UPDATE:  Well, you know it can’t all be good so I do have another complaint..  The game just came out and you already have to get a DLC to unlock a vast sewer area that runs throughout the never-ending open world.  Not a big fan of this sort of thing.  You early adopters should be rewarded for paying a premium for your game but maybe I am asking for too much..  I may end up buying it anyway, though it goes against my principles..  Yes, the game is THAT good (sorry Nick)!*

*Ha..  I updated this exactly 10 hours later.  Hmmm..  It may be time for more RAGE.

;o)

iD Software, we heart you.. Can't wait for DOOM 4 (no corridors, please)!

These "screenshots" on the iPhone show some very tantalizing screens for the "Zombies, RUN!" game.. You can see it's already a unique video game.

Apparently, this video game is much like FourSquare (which is a game in itself) in that it takes your existing daily routine and makes it more fun.  By combining exercise and game mechanics, “Zombies, RUN!” gives you added incentives for being active.  In this manner, the game seems poised to provide both intrinsic and extrinsic value, which is great since we all know exercise is not always appealing, even if we know the health benefits.

This and related images in this post provided courtesy of SixToStart.com - thank you!

As you can see here, the routes do not have you running into walls or anything crazy.  The game takes routes you have taken and plugs them into a dynamic mission generation system.  Item drops such as med kits and ammo are randomized so it’s a fresh game every time, without you running around to random locations and having people look at you funny.

Hey, don’t look at me like that..  I’m just texting..  I’m not running away from invisible monsters – REALLY!

This is a pretty zany, if not, crazy game concept..  Which is why I think it’ll be a huge hit!  I’m surprised more folks have not followed suit with these sorts of game mechanics considering smartphones and Internet tablets alike all come with GPS devices these days (most of the time) yet they are severely under-used.

I know some folks will worry about privacy issues  but, for those that are already into the whole social media craze,  I think that’s a moot point.  If the developers are smart about it, they’ll use this is an opportunity to throw in social networking and have some co-op play opportunities.  I can also see this as being a candidate for natural product placement, though I know some gaming purists detest in-game advertising.

The potential here is great.  I’m pretty excited about this and hope Nick follows up with more reports.  This is easily one of the most interesting and innovative games I’ve seen on a smartphone since Angry Birds (though we know THAT game was a rip – Gorillas, Worms, Scorched Earth, Warheads…  yeah, been there, done that).

This game will likely be much more sticky than FourSquare, simply because it doesn’t take you far outside of your normal routine.  Even better, you get rewarded for what you’re already doing.  FourSquare takes a lot more commitment and persistent, which can make some gamers grow bored after a while.  It’d be nice to see Empire Avenue or Klout integrate something like “Zombies, RUN!” into their stats.  I know, it’s not happening but a guy can dream, no?

So, what do you think..  Is this something you’d play?  Let’s discuss.

Hey, don’t fall asleep on me guys!  Christmas in the summer time is cool.  REALLY!

Oops.. The One Piece gang may have partied too much.

Even better, I’ve been meeting tons of cool people and helping others promote their stuff via what I call the Support-A-Thon.  The premise of the Support-A-Thon is to help little-known web sites and online markters get their content in front of people that will find it interesting. No more spam, no more noise, no more pushing hard until someone finally budges.

So, I’m here to invite you to join me, Yogizilla, on StumbleUpon.  I also want to share why StumbleUpon beats Facebook and other social networks…

Joining StumbleUpon will be great fun and you can discover little gems on the Internet that may have otherwise been overlooked.  Here are the benefits of StumbleUpon:

• For Geeks.  I look at a geek as someone that likes rare finds, refuses to conform, and is often a rebel, part of an (unofficial) underground movement perhaps.  We’re unusual folks so we like unusual things and get bored of the mainstream stuff that’s always at the forefront.  Many geeks I know pride themselves at being pioneers of technology or discovering cool things before they become memes, fads, and hot trends.  If any of that sounds like you, StumbleUpon may be for you!
• For Gamers.  For the hardcore gamers, you can never have enough cool games to play online with your friends.  StumbleUpon can help you find little-known web sites to play free games, MMORPGs, web-based games, parlor-style games, social games…  Well, the list goes on and on.  Best of all, it gives indie developers a chance to share little-known video games with gamer geeks that are really looking!
• For Marketers.  StumbleUpon provides arguably the most contextual, relevant content by matching stumbles (random web surfing) based upon each Stumblers individual preferences and interests.  No more boring people that could care less about what you consider awesome content but they consider junk.  Get to the right people and drive more engaged, pre-qualified traffic to your best, most remarkable content.
• For Self-Improvers.  If you have a thirst for knowledge and learning new things every day, you’re probably what most would call a self-improvement buff or life-long learner.  Whatever you call it, StumbleUpon is filled with many pearls of wisdom just a click away.  If you dedicate a little time each day to using StumbleUpon for this purpose, you can learn a whole lot and have fun while doing so!  Even better, you can share what you find with your friends, both new and old.
• For Creatives.  Sometimes we creatives need a little inspiration to get some good projects started or pull out of a rut.  StumbleUpon has tons of ideas for crafts, writing, blogging, cartooning, and more.  Chances are you can find others looking to do the same thing as you as well as folks that are already doing it.  Then it becomes a great support and learning network in one!
• For The Bored.  Maybe you’re just bored often.  In such cases,  just set up a bunch of interests and keep clicking the Stumble button.  For everything you Like, StumbleUpon will find more and more related things each time you click.  CAUTION: This can get very addicting if you’re not careful!  LOL

StumbleUpon has been around for years but people are finally paying attention.

Why?

Cause it’s friggin’ cool..  Even moreso than Google Image searches, IMHO.  Instead of getting results that people pushed to show up buying paying for ads or perhaps spamming links, you get to find hidden gems throughout the Internet with less of the buy-this-now crap we’re all running away from.

Still, StumbleUpon has a humble 17 million users (and growing) in contrast to Facebook’s 750 million users.  That said, StumbleUpon drives more traffic due to the relevancy of search results, the minimized noise and spam, and the highly-engaged audience…

http://mashable.com/2011/08/19/stumbleupon-social-traffic/

Mashable still downplays the value of StumbleUpon a bit.  If you seed StumbleUpon via other social networks, you can grow your StumbleUpon network and hits exponentially, thus driving more traffic to your top content, increasing your search rankings, and getting both referral and organic traffic increased.  It can be insanely HUGE for content marketers, curators, and developers alike, as I keep saying.

Just make sure that when you join you don’t spam.  Be courteous and thoughtful.  Share fun stuff and mix up your blog a bit so people won’t feel like you’re being salesy or pushy.

I can’t wait to see you all on StumbleUpon so we can get to know each other better and have some fun!

…And because I don’t want you to leave without having some fun and perhaps pointless stuff to check out.  Here’s a video I picked out just for you!

P.S.  Be sure to PM me on StumbleUpon if you have any stuff you’d like me to share.  I’ll share via StumbleUpon and/or other social networks.  If it’s really cool, I may blog about it and tell my closest friends about it too!