"I used to love that game!" #2 - Heaven is a Halfpipe

As technology improves, games become more complex and in most cases, 'better'. There are some games however, that do the opposite. Games where the original games are timeless, and the newer games just don't stand up any more. Sonic the Hedgehog was a victim of this for a while; Pro Evolution Soccer too arguably. However, the most obvious example is the Tony Hawk's series. 

Many of you who had/still have a PSone or a PS2 will have played a Tony Hawk's game. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and afterwards the Underground series' were games that helped define a whole genre of games.
This isn't just nostalgia speaking. I've recently re-played Tony Hawk's Underground 2 and it still stands up as an incredibly well made and fun game. So what makes it so good? Obviously the graphics aren't of the same level as modern games, but for the time they were very good. Then again, playing games for graphics is like choosing music based on the cover art. The thing that makes Tony Hawk's so good and gives it the ability to stand the test of time, is the same for any timeless game. It's easy to control and understand, but mastering it takes time and skill.

Mixing flips, grabs and manuals is the core of the game, which is easier than it sounds. The controls are easy to get to grips with without being restrictive, which is often something that is sometimes taken for granted, but is incredibly important. Once you have the core skills, you can start to link them together to create combos. It's delightfully simple yet deceptively complex.

Where the games really stood out was multiplayer. What's the point of being good at something if you can't use it to show off and humiliate your friends? Some simple modes like Trick Attack with games like Graffiti for variety increase the lifespan of the game.

I am a huge fan of games that include 'Create-a-xxx' modes, as it adds a personal touch and allows users to add things to the game that the devs never thought of. Tony Hawk's gives me quite a few of these: Create-A-Skater, Trick or Mission are interesting choices. The one that rely stands out however, is Create-A-Park. A level editor is always something that I like to see in a game because it encourages creativity, increase lifespan and makes multiplayer even more interesting. It's a very easy to use level editor but it is slightly restricting. However, considering the age of the game it is very impressive and allows for some incredibly creative levels.

In short, if you had or still have a PS2, I recommend you pick up a copy of Tony Hawk's Underground 2, if you don't already have one, and discover one of the best games on the console.

Games You've Never Played #1 - Gotcha!

If you had a Gamecube, chances are you played Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and maybe a couple of others, but that was about it. The Gamecube was a bit of a flop. But for me, my favourite game was this gem:

Never heard of it before? I'm not surprised. I've only found one other person who has played and likes this game, and that's because I recommended it to them.

Gotcha Force obtained really mediocre reviews all around from critics - a Metacritic score of 56 says it all really. It does however have huge review scores from fans and has a dedicated following who have waited years for a sequel. The story goes that one day the 'Death Force' try to attack Earth. A boy called Kou finds a 'Gotcha Borg' called G-Red and forms the Gotcha Force in order to fend off the Death Force. To do this, the player assembles a small army, or force, of 'Gotcha Borgs' to go into combat. You start off with G-Red, who is one of the most reliable borgs on the game, and obtain more and more as you play. Each borg is unique, and collecting them all is a challenge.

There is only really one word to describe the combat: Insane. It plays at a frantic pace and can be very difficult to get your head around, but it's incredibly fun once you figure out what you're doing. It isn't the most complex system - far from it - but it's awesome!

I've sunk hours into this game and sometimes I wish I never sold my old consoles, so I could go back and play this some more. Just hearing the name of this game, or thinking about playing it, makes me happy (Yes I realise this is *really* sad). If you still have your Gamecube, please go and pick this up, it's the most fun you'll have in a long time.

Oh, also, it has one of the happiest pieces of music ever:

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

The World Ends With You - iOS Game Review

The World Ends With You: Solo Remix is an iOS remake of the cult hit Japanese RPG on the DS. The original achieved very high review scores from critics and players alike, but didn't achieve the sales it probably deserved, and the phone remake has not of yet sold as many as some think it deserves.

The player controls Neku, a teenage introvert who appears to have a hatred of everyone around him. Stuck inside a game where the only options are winning or death, Neku is forced to team up to take on the 'Noise' that run rampant through the streets of Shibuya. 

In order to fight the Noise, the player uses a series of swipes and taps to activate 'Psychs'. As you go further on through the game, you'll notice yourself create your own fluid, rhythmic style, and will select your psychs accordingly. What starts off simple quickly becomes complex, but the learning curve is smooth enough to not put off newcomers. The only slight issue is that once you get into a rhythm, it can become repetitive if you don't change around, so the game throws new psychs at you to try and keep the game fresh. 

Graphically, The World Ends With You is fantastic. It uses a unique art-style, that looks stunning and suits the smaller screen perfectly. Despite the colourful cel-shaded style, it retains a serious tone. 

The World Ends With You has a very abstract but interesting plot that grips the player, and the dialogue is at times very funny. It's not a laugh out loud type of game, but there are some funny lines in there. 

As positive as this review has been so far, obviously the game will not appeal to everyone, and at a very steep (for iOS at least) price of £12.99, it's expensive to find out. The price is the biggest negative, especially with no real way of trying before you buy. This is also due to the fact that the game is unique and will not appeal to the normal casual market for the iOS systems. 

The World Ends With You is a gripping, fun and innovative game that captures the charm of the streets of Japan in it's own unique style. The gameplay is fluid and fits around the player, but most importantly is fun and simple to use. Whilst the price seems steep, £12.99 for 30 hours of entertainment is a great deal in the end, and far better than many console games.

Graphics: 94%

Gameplay: 89%

Lifespan: 90% 

Innovation: 85%

Accessibility: 81%

My Overall Score: 91%