The Antisocial Gamer is now available

Facebook, a domain filled with games considered "social" games... so why am I, an antisocial kind of reviewer, reviewing social games?... I don't know, listen in all the same and find out! This cast I talk about Coasterville, Treasure Legend and ramble on about topics near and far from what I am actually reviewing. Hear me rant!

Presently working on Pocket Gamer Episode 5, and hope to have it out soon. Stay tuned!

Micro Review : LEGO Indiana Jones The Original Adventures (Nintendo DS)

Micro Review
Handheld Edition
LEGO Indiana Jones The Original Adventures
Nintendo DS

I am an avid LEGO gaming fan, ever since Traveler's Tale first rolled out LEGO Star Wars back in the time of Episode III Revenge of the Sith I have been a dedicated player of the LEGO franchise... but even so not every Nintendo DS itieration of LEGO games has earned praise from me.

I have enjoyed LEGO Star Wars II The Original Trilogy but Complete Saga with all six episodes... not so much. OK, so what did I think of the DS version of the first LEGO Indiana Jones? Lets see here...

Of course it is an adapt of the first LEGO Indiana Jones game, that goes without saying... what does need to be said is that if you loved the other versions you should play this one... why? Isnt it the same game? Well... no, not exactly.

Yes it shares things in common with, say, the PSP or Wii version but this is a DS adapt. Of the DS/DS Lite and first gen PSP 1K1 to 3K1 the DS lacked the pure power of the PSP. But what the DS version usually lacks in graphical power it more than makes up for in innovation, though not all DS adapts are gems. Movie adapts usually being the worst of the lot, though I am quite pleased to say the DS adapts are always better fare. Yes I have been down on some outings like the Complete Saga of LEGO Star Wars, or LEGO Indiana Jones II, but even a less than perfect LEGO game is better than most adapts like Spider-Man or Pirates of the Caribbean on DS.

My biggest problems with this, and really any LEGO game, is that they are rather short (maybe 10-20 or so hours of concentrated effort in order to achieve 100%) and lacks a randomizer to keep Free Play fresh and replayable. I love me my LEGO games, for its humor and addictive gameplay, but it is also not a perfect franchise. It is fun, but you have to learn how to embrace LEGO games shortcomings with its good points. In this case all the gameplay you are used to, and a ton of DS unique touch screen games. And while the overall presentation is pretty good, and the mini games are themed to the Indy movies and pretty fun... its still abit short and lacks replay value. Still all in all I am going to give it a high 3 out of 5.

Next on my list? The original LEGO Batman and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean DS! Stay tuned!

Waiting to Recharge

Waiting to Recharge

Not much happened last week game content wise but while waiting for the stuff to recharge... lets note the giant gorillas in the room.

Crytek CEO wants to eliminate single player offline gaming in favor of online multiplayer games only.

Fine. I admit it. I have no idea what Crytek is, or why it is so big that people care what he wants to do with his company. But I guess they are cranking out games people want lest nobody would care what this guy wants.

So... what does he want? Who can say. Maybe...

- He heard you like them online multiplayer shooters and wants to make it online all the time...

- So they can stream online ads to you nonstop... make the games loaded with micro transactions.

- Start cranking out Facebook social media addiction gaming... because if your not up to date and know Zynga is allegedly floundering financially you'd think Farmville clones were still fortune makers.

- Maybe he wants to exclusively provide content for the XBox 720. I hear they want to make it so you have to play all your games online on the next gen 720.

But whatever the case the CEO of Crytek said he wants to do away with offline single player... of course saying it and doing it are two entirely different beasts but we will see.

But that is not the only news. Speaking of micro transactions...

EA Games wants to make all future games set up for micro transactions?

Because really who wants to buy a full game anymore. Dont you want to buy, say, half a game? After all if they chop all their games up for sellable DLC and micro transactions then surely you will get a nice tidy discounted price on the game... except what if that is not the case? What if you end up paying full price for a game that plans to drill you for the full price of a game AND for DLC AND for micro transactions... by the way just how will that work on some game genres anyway?

Speak of micro transactions and no doubt your first thoughts should be of Facebook social media games. When it comes to those kind of games you send money to buy a form of Premium in game currency, be it cash is many Zynga games, or gems used in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic mobile game. That is how we see micro transactions, but how does that translate in games like the LEGO series, Madden and other sports related EA Sports titles, or RPG strategy games in the vein of a Fire Emblem or Advance Wars? Thats in a few days as I continue this tact and discuss the possible ways micro transactions will affect how you play EA Games in the near future if they actually decide to go through with this nonsense, so stay tuned!

Next week - Hopefully back to casual updating... maybe.

Pocket Gamer Updated!

Episode 3 and 4 of Pocket Gamer is now up and available, so please check both of them out. In the meantime I'm off to work on new episodes (talking about Civilization : Revolution on the DS, LEGO Indiana Jones the Original Adventures (DS) and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on the PSP next time out!)

Micro Review (handheld edition) featuring Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Micro Review Handheld Edition
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

When it comes to world building strategy gaming on the DS the experience for me to date has been decidedly hit or miss.

Maybe it is a fairly decent though ultimately shallow experience like Age of Empires Age of Kings. Maybe its an engaging though ultimately one trick pony like city building sim Sim City Creator, or its an oh my god this game is impossible even after reading the gamefaq walkthrough 1606 aka Age of Discovery! Either way the simple matter of fact is that I don't have the best track record with city or world building sims on the DS. Does this game change that? Well... yes, but I emphasis that with astericks and warnings that this can fulfill your world building needs... if shown a proper respect of its limitations and shortcomings.

The main driving force of the game is its line up of scenarios to play through. Unlike other games of this caliber like Age of Empires, Revolution does not have a story mode. Instead you have a sandbox open play mode, a mode to play preset scenarios... and there used to be a map of the week mode... years ago when this was new, forget about this. The meat and potatoes is freeplay and scenario play.

The first, and biggest fault I have with this game is a lacking online multiplayer mode. At best if there is multiplayer it might be ad hoc local, and good luck finding a second DS owner with a copy of this game. Then again I for one was never a big fan of the pre-3DS era DS wifi so go figure. Having a game like this with lacking wifi hence is no real surprise for me, disappointing yes but not surprising by a long shot.

The game itself is a pretty fun world builder overall. Build armies, build up cities one settler built or invaded or converted city at a time, and work your way to the future, doing research, fighting barbarians as well as rival nations... overall lots to do so that's good. However even with all that? Ultimately the game feels very repetative, and the AI seems unbalanced (too easy on the first difficulty, hard as heck on 2nd, and jumping leaps and bounds from there). Also, another fault of the AI, is a lack of unpredictability. Yes it is a straightforward strategy world builder, but even I enjoy a good twist in a game now and then. Having an AI that can think past simple aggression slash passive responses would have been great.

Long story short if you embrace it's limitations you'll find a pretty addictive fun game here... wish it had online multiplayer, yeah, and I hope they fix that if they port Civilization to the 3DS but... try it. Pretty fun for a DS world building strategy game. A 4 out of 5. Enjoy!

Waiting to Recharge

Start of a brand new week (though I am abit late, sorry) so once again its time to check what is incoming and coming up while waiting to recharge... wait a sec... OK plugged in my DS Lite and GBA SP so now we are truly waiting to recharge.

Ins and Outs
GB/GBC
Since I couldn't finish either if my very exsistence depended on it, I threw Aliens vs Predator (Game Boy) and Aliens Thanatos Encounter (Game Boy Color) up for trade over at gametz. Hopefully whoever gets these fare better than me playing these.

Otherwise nothing up either way. Walkthrough wise I am going to be playing through abit of Final Fantasy Legend III in coming episodes.

GBA
Nothing really happening here trade wise. Going through the walkthrough of Shaman King right now on the podcast.

DS
The trade for LEGO Indiana Jones The Original Adventures should be wrapping up this week, so the walkthrough begins shortly, as we continue with Pokemon Heartgold at the same time.

3DS
Just did a Demo Time! with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate here, and talk about it in an episode of Pocket Gamer that is going up shortly. Stay tuned.

In the meantime going over more Demo content soon, so stay tuned.

Wii
Since the Wii is hardly a handheld I am presently working on a cast specifically for the Wii. It is just getting started development wise so stay tuned for updates.

PSP
Since the topic of Monster Hunter has come up again, what with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and all, I will be digging into the PSP and walking you through Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, one hour at a time.

Reviews
Slowly but surely I am working to get the reviewing aspect of things up and running. Starting off with Micro Reviews and working upwards from there.

I have a few reviews in mind and working to get them down and out ASAP.

Help Wanted?
Think I posted this past weekend about trying my hand at submitting for a reviewing job over at RPGamer. Not sure if I got the chops to make the cut, but we will see. Update shortly no doubt, stay tuned.

Game cast recommendations?
Good question! I can recommend quite a few comic casts, and a few of my favorite animation and pony related casts... but I am abit low on gaming casts. In fact the only one I am presently listening to is the RPG cast from RPGamer... so I am looking for recommendations on this front. If you are listening to any good gaming casts please post in the comments and tell us all about it.

Well that was a pretty busy update! Well now, time for me to get back at it! See you next time!

Content I am working on for this blog

Here is some of the regular articles I am working on tfor this blog in particular...

Short Review
Specifically a handheld and Wii version of short reviews.

It's Demo Time!
Game demo first looks, mostly from the 3DS but a few occasionally from the Wii as well.

Bits and Bytes
My thoughts on the latest things in gaming both good and bad

Waiting to Recharge
What I am trading for to bring to you review wise in the coming days.

Working now on fresh content for you so stay tuned!... also, knock on wood, I dropped a brief inquiry looking for work over at RPGamer.com (home of the RPGamer podcast that I presently listen to)... well, worst thing they can do is say no thanks and I'm off looking for work again in this regard. Still, fingers crossed and all that. Stay tuned.