Sony's E3 2012 Press Conference

Check out the footage above if you missed this years E3 broadcast of Sony's Press Conference!

Microsoft E3 2012 Press Conference - (Via Gamespot)

If you missed out on Microsoft's E3 press conference, watch the above. If you were only interested in a few games/features this year, check below for starting times in the above video featured by Gamespot.

Halo 4- 5:45
Splinter Cell Blacklist- 15:06
EA Sports- 22:14
Fable The Journey- 27:13
Gears Of War Judgement- 29:50
Forza Horizon- 30:45
Bing Voice Search- 30:46
New Content Providers- 34:56
ESPN- 37:27
Xbox Music- 39:40
Kinect Fitness- 41:17
SmartGlass- 47:44
Internet Explorer- 53:10
Tomb Raider- 57:36
Ascend New Gods- 1:03:53
Resident Evil 6- 1:07:28
Wrecketeer- 1:13:02
South Path The Stick Of Truth- 1:15:00
Dance Central 3- 1:19:08
C.O.D Black Ops 2- 1:25:22

Nintendo Pre E3 Show

If you happened to miss Nintendo's pre E3 show, give it a look. The Wii U is going to be Nintendo's heavy hitter this year (again...), but will it be enough to show up Sony and Microsoft?

Blast From the Past: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Release: 5/13/1996

Console: SNES (Super Nintendo)

The SNES cart & box

So I wanted to do something kind of laid back and not so heavily detailed. Thus, Blast From the Past was created. Instead of my normal information filled article, I wanted to be rather vague with a lot of the details in the game…making the reader want to try out the game expecting at least what I told them about, and then being blown away by everything I intentionally left out when they played it. I decided to do my first Blast From the Past over a game that I poured hours into…and one that surprisingly few people (at least who I have inquired about the game) have had the pleasure to play. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

When Nintendo released SMRPG, no one could’ve known it would become the cult phenomena that it would turn into. I am the proud owner of this title on the SNES, and I still pick it up and play it to this day. Mario has since had a handful of RPG titles, but none were as magical as the first time Mario set off With Mallow, Gino, Peach, and Bowser to defeat Smithy (an evil robotic blacksmith who plays the role of the antagonist in the game). What exactly makes the game so wonderful? It was ahead of its time utilizing top notch graphics (this is 1996 we’re talking about), and the dialogue is exceptionally written and chalked full of clever one liners and humor. SMRPG was also different in the sense that it was a whole new kind story for long time fans of the series to venture out with Mario on.

The combat screen (Mario on the left, Mallow on the right)

 

The game begins where most Mario game’s end…in Bowser’s castle.  Mario is once again rescuing Princess Peach (because she is a hapless blonde) and upon reaching King Koopa himself, a giant sword breaks through the Star Road (which you may remember from Mario Kart) and crashes down into Bowser’s castle. The impact subsequently shoots the characters off into different directions as well as scattering seven star fragments. While investigating why the giant sword has appeared, Mario meets Mallow: A cloud boy who is convinced he is a tadpole…

(See how we went from normal Mario story to something else drastically?)

Mario, Peach, and Gino

Not only do we have a confused cloud child, but also accompanying Mario is a doll possessed by a celestial spirit from Star Road named Gino. I don’t want to go into too much detail in describing how you meet these two companions (as that removes some of the fun from the game), but they make lasting impressions on you. I was truly bummed out when the game ended because I knew it was more than likely the last time I would ever take the role of these two characters. Surely enough, I was correct in my assumption…Mallow and Gino were never featured in another Mario game (other than as an Easter egg). Peach and Bowser also tag along at different points and help you take down Smithy once and for all at the end of the game…but they're featured afterwards in just about every Mario title to date, making Mallow and Gino just that much more memorable.

One of several boss fights throughout the game

 

SMRPG is set up like and classic turn based game. You encounter enemies (usually by running into them or vise versa) and the battle is initiated. Once started, you then have the basic options to attack, use an item, special abilities, etc. As far as this goes, there is not too much of a leap forward in the game play that makes it stand out above anything else that has ever been put on the market for this style of game. You have MP & HP displays showing your health and magic that is remaining throughout the duration of the battles, which can sometimes drag out for quite some time (not in a bad way however). At the end of battles you receive EXP which is of course used to level your character up.

The diverse types of enemies and bosses keep the game from getting redundant and make the player change strategies frequently(going back to the time consuming part), which I always enjoy in a turn based RPG. You will face all kinds of enemies in SMRPG, from the old school “Dry bones” to Mages and everything between. 

As you level up, more abilities become available.

When you're not battling it out with baddies, you will be solving various puzzles and exploring mini dungeons and locations. Towns in the game serve as interesting places to stock up on items or perhaps save your game, even initiate some small side quests. Hidden passages and items are everywhere in this game, and it pays to explore every virtual square inch of the area provided.

One of the MANY mini games thrown into this title.

 

Even though a direct sequel was never made, the game lives on in spirit though other Mario games. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (a following RPG in the Mario franchise), a Geno doll makes an appearance; and the original title for Paper Mario was going to in fact be “Super Mario RPG 2”. The reasoning for the minimal appearances and the loss of the official SMRPG2 title is because this game was developed by Square (the developers behind Final Fantasy & Chrono Trigger) and published by Nintendo…therefore giving Square the rights to a lot of the added characters, combat styles, etc.

 

I could list tons of reasons why this game is a must play…but it is a game you have to play yourself to truly understand how glorious it is. If I wasn’t trying to figure out how to defeat a certain boss, I was laughing about something like Bowser’s minions ditching him to work for Smithy (he goes through some emotional issues after this…). Super Mario RPG introduced some mechanics that carried over into games even today such as “action commands” which are prompts that consist of a well timed button press to increase the effect of an attack or item.

I always thought "freshen up" may have been a joke (the item menu)

This title is for purchase on the Wii game channel (I think it is about 8 bucks…) and also finding a ROM for it is far from difficult. Check out this classic and enjoy the last game released for the SNES. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

My Top Ten: "WTF?" Moments in Gaming



*Contains Some Spoilers*

We’ve all been there. You’re playing a game and something happens that leaves you staring blankly at the screen while wondering “WTF?” just happened. This is just my personal compilation of moments when my jaw dropped, my heart sank, I wanted to destroy my controller, or I was just confused and left wondering what I had just seen.

10) Silent Hill 2

While this game is chalked full of moments that left me wondering what the hell was going on, one in particular left me confused. We all knew Pyramid Head was weird…but somethings shouldn’t be done…to mannequins. Ever.  End of story.

Watch at your own risk...

9) Bionic Commando: Still like that arm?

So the whole game Spencer is looking for his missing wife…just to find out she is technically his arm. This moment pretty much makes fun of itself, so if you wish to add anything to it…by all means…proceed.

8) Eternal Darkness: All of it.

Eternal Darkness is a game that is designed to screw with your mind. Moments of “WTF” are all over this title from walking into a room and realizing you’re walking on the ceiling, to an on screen image of your TV volume going up and down as if someone is messing with the remote. The biggest “WTF” moment this game as to offer however comes in the form of a blue screen that appears without warning saying your save file has been corrupted. While not a HUGELY popular game, it is definitely worth mentioning on this list.

7) Final Fantasy VII (Like you don't know which part...)

Normally this moment holds a high ranking on any list it can fit onto. While I was left shocked and disgusted by Sephiroth's actions, it only made me want to finish the game just that much more. I have always been a firm believer that RPG games need to get the player attached to the individuals in the game so that when something happens to one of them (be it good or bad) the gamer feels it emotionally. FFVII did just that…and left me starring at the screen in udder disbelief at what I had just witnessed

6) Legend of Zelda OTT: Sheik

After getting out of the Temple of Sages, Link encounters Sheik. Sheik is just one of the guys…full of information and aiding link on his quest to awaken the seven sages so that peace my once again return to the land of Hyrule. Only one thing…Sheik is not just one of the guys. In fact, he isn’t even a guy. “He” is Princess Zelda. I often like to think Link would joke around not knowing any better and saying something along the lines of “Dude, there is this Princess…and I’m not trying to brag…but I am totally going to smash that”. Poor Link...he can never catch a break.

5) Resident Evil 4- Ramone Salazar

Hands down one of the best resident evil games to date, RE4 had it’s fair share of WTF moments. I selected the reveal of Ramone Salazar simply because when I seen him for the first time, I wanted to die laughing. We had a ton of directions to go here Capcom…and you chose to make one of the many bad guys an albino midget in a Napoleon outfit (with the hat included). Seriously…wtf.

4) Samus is a WHAT?

There really are no words to describe playing through an entire game as a bad ass, and having no idea you had boobs the entire time.

3) Oblivion (The Dark Brotherhood Executions

As a member of the Dark Brotherhood, you’re tasked with killing various targets. At one point in the game, you continue doing what you are told and carry out various murders…all the while completely oblivious to the fact you just systematically executed the Black Hand. This is easily a moment deemed worthy of one saying “WTF”.

2) Halo 2 ending

By the time Halo2 had come out, I was ready to finish the fight. It was going to be Master Chief and I taking on the covenant army and saving the universe. After hours of playing through the game comes the one moment every gamer knows so well…the moment when you feel the end of the game is near, and you begin the final boss battle. After taking out the albino monkey alien, what Bungie left us with is what I believe to be one of the worst endings in video game history…and yes, I mean that. In my opinion, it rivals the terrible ending in “RAGE”.

This is seriously the last line of the game...

1) Wii U reveal at E3

When I had heard that “Project Café” would be revealed at E3, I was glued to the computer watching live footage stream. I sat through several press conferences just building the excitement for what I was sure was going to be Nintendo’s key to getting the core gamer back. A new console rumored to surpass the 360 and PS3. What I was given left me screaming “WTF”. Nintendo did in fact reveal a new console…sort of. The press conference mainly showed off the controller for the system (later revealed to be named the Wii U) which left fan boys and gamers across the nation wondering if this was for a new console, or just another add on for the Wii. I closed my window in disgust after the press conference and wondered WTF just happened, and WHERE THE F*** was my console I was so excited to see?