This is the first part of what I hope will be a long series of blog posts in which I review the past week's major gaming news. I'll summarize what I consider to be the most significant happenings while also voicing my opinions on them. Whether it will be gushing over a new game announcement or criticizing industry business practices, I hope to entertain and inform with my rambling musings.
So without wasting any more time on a dull obligatory introduction, let's get started!
Aliens: Colonial Marines succumbs to the bad licensed game curse
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As a major fan of horror films and games, Aliens: Colonial Marines had been on my radar since the day it was announced. The first Alien movie is one of my top 10 favorite films of all time, earneing my love with its memorable characters, perfect pace, and the underlying tension it uses to build up to each heart pounding plotpoint. Its sequel, Alines, while focused more on action than the slow-paced creeping terror of the original, was just as enjoyable.
With such awesome source material and the talented developer Gearbox behind the wheel, Aliens: Colonial Marines seemed like a guarenteed success from the start. Licensed games had come a long way in terms of quality over the years, and there was no reason not to exspect a similar treatment for Aliens that Batman: Arkham Asylum and Transformer: Fall of Cibertron had given to their liscensed properties. After five years of developement, everyone was hoping for a game that would do the franchise justice. Something that would give both horror and FPS aficionados a satisfying dive into surviving a Xenomorph infestation.
Unfortunately, after months of hype and eager anticipation pumping it up to be the licensed game of the year, Colonial Marines was panned on released by professional critics and mainstream gamers alike. At the time of this posting, the game's Metacritic score stands at an abysmal 42 out of 100.This response is a new lowpoint in the slow decline of the Alien franchise, which has been tarnished over the past decade by unremarkable sequels and spinoffs.
I haven't played Aliens: Colonial Marines, and after watching countless gameplay videos and reading multiple reviews, I probably never will. The main problem, besides graphical, AI, and story shortcomings, seems to be that the game doesn't build upon the strengths of the series. Xenomorphs apparently pose little threat to players, negating any sense of fear and tension the game could have delivered. As far as I'm concerned, an Aliens adaptation that isn't scary isn't an Aliens adaptation at all.
Another problem brought up by critics is how little Colonial Marines adds to the serie's fiction. Instead of offering fans a new experience to enjoy, it retreads the same concepts that already been seen on the silver screen. It makes callouts and references to the films without inventing its own memorable plot points.
I had a feeling this would be a problem when I heard the game would take place in Hadely's Hope, the setting of the second movie. This not only didn't make sense within Aliens' continuity (Ripley, Hicks, and Newt nuke the colony to smithereens at the end of the second film) but I couldn't see where it left the developer room to expand the property's fiction. Apparently, and unfortunately, I was right.
I expect gamers will soon forget Aliens: Colonial Marines until the end of the year, when we will all be reminded of it when we read Game Informers Top 10 Disappointments of the year.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team announced for 3DS
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I don't usually treat Valentine's Day differant than other day of the year, but this year was different. Nintendo gave gamers a perfect valentine, announcing a slew of exciting new games for the 3DS. The one that especially caught my eye was a new entry in the Mario & Luigi series.
The concept behind Mario & Luigi: Dream Team couldn't possibly be more fun and whimsical. The primary setting of the game appears to be Luigi's dreams, which Mario enters to solve puzzles, platform, and fight enemies. Besides being a unique concept for an RPG, it also makes Luigi the front and center focus of the game, and let's be honest. Everyone likes the green little dude a lot more than his heroically bland big bro.
I'm ashamed to say I haven't played a Mario & Luigi since the first one, Super Star Saga, on the Game Boy Advanced. Partners in Time sort of turned me off with its focus on the baby Mario Bros and time travel. I've also procrastinated on checking out Bower's Inside Story, despite how excellent I've heard it is. Nonetheless, I loved the first Mario & Luigi game so much that I still consider myself a big fan of the series. I can't wait to get my hands of Dream Team, though hopefully it will be sooner rather later.
Donkey Kong Country Returns coming to 3DS
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While a handheld port of a years old game might not seem like breaking news, Donkey Kong Country Returns coming to the 3DS is a big deal for me personally. I never got around to playing the Wii original , and this port might be just what gets me to finally play it.
I actual prefer playing games on handhelds when I have the option. It's easier for me to fit play sessions into my busy schedule with handheld gaming's pickup-and-play style. While this can often mean putting up with inferior graphics, I don't expect a massive visual discrepancy between Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and the Wii game. Who knows, considering how underpowered the Wii is, the 3DS version might end up looking better. There's also the possibility of getting new exclusive content on the 3DS, which is always a plus.
Playing Donkey Kong Country Returns on a handheld would be natural for me, considering my history with the series. I wasn't old enough at the time to experience the first three Donkey Kong Country games on the SNES. I played their Game Boy Advanced ports instead . For me, the series will always feel most at home on a handheld, and it looks like I'll be able to enjoy Retro Studio's reboot of the franchise the same way I enjoyed the originals.
Sluggish Wii U Sales Reported
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January sales figures for Nintendo's Wii U game system came in this week and they weren't a cause for celebration over at the house of Mario. The system sold only 45,000 to 59,000 units last month, a worse month of sales than the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 have ever experienced.
Now before anyone starts prophesying Nintendo's doom, there are a few things to keep in mind. One is that pundits had predicted that the 3DS would be a failure after mediocre early sales. However, after a surgical price cut and injection of countless amazing games into its library, the 3DS today is healthy and profitable.
The Wii U is in a similar situation. It simply doesn't offer enough robust features and software for the price Nintendo is asking for it. I predict this will likely all change once more compelling game are released for it. With a Wind Waker remake and exclusive sequel to Bayonetta on the way, along with countless other games yet to be announced, the Wii U's fortunes could quickly turn around.
I think another part of the problem is that Nintendo hasn't done enough to market the Wii U to consumers. The system, in both name and design, looks awfully similar to its predecessor if you don't count the touchpad controller. Hardcore gamers likely haven't warmed up to it due to memories of the Wii's weak graphics and meager library of compelling games. Nintendo's casual audience, on the other hand, is probably still satisfied with their Wiis for now. They won't start picking up Wii U's in mass until the Wii U has had time to take root in the media and popular culture.
With all this in mind, I think it is far too early to start likening the Wii U to the Sega Dreamcast, Sega's ill-fated final foray into the hardware market. The Wii U has a tough act to live up to after the Wii sold like McDonald's hamburgers, but Nintendo has proven it can beat tough odds and still come out on top at the end of the day. You won't find me betting against them any month of the year.
My score for the week is a B+ The announcement of Nintendo's new 3DS offerings saved it from being defined by its noteworthy disappointments.
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