Bayonetta

This week's review is Bayonetta, the new sexy over-the-top action game from developer Platinum Games.  Director Hideki Kamiya, the man who created Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe, described the game as "non-stop climax action," we shall see.

Needless to say this game is rated M for Mature.

Story

The back story is 500 years ago there were two factions, the Umbra Witches and the Lumen Sages, followers of darkness and light receptively. Both factions oversaw the passage of time in the world.  At some point a great war broke out between the factions with the Umbra Witches being hunted down by Lumen Sages and regular humans alike. 

Flash forward 500 years.  The Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages have all but vanished off the face of the earth, with statues and ruins all that's left to mark their ever being here.  Bayonetta wakes up in a coffin at the bottom of a lake with complete memory loss.  The release of magical energy of her awakening kills the innocent diver that found the coffin.

Flash forward another 20 years.  Bayonetta is tracking down leads to help restore her memory.  These leads bring her to the city of Vigrid. and this is where your adventure begins.

Controls

There is actually two sets of controls for this game, depending on what difficulty you set it at.  The levels are Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, and "Non-Stop Climax."  For the Very Easy and Easy levels you can use Very Easy Automatic mode where you can play the game with just one hand.  The game will automatically place Bayonetta, all the play has to do is pres a button for the action.  You can play those levels with normal controls if you wish to.

The normal controls are fixed, meaning you can't reassign the buttons if you want to.  This was a bit of problem for me since the lock-on button was the right shoulder button, it felt awkward there for me.  I would have like to reassign it to the left shoulder (which is assigned as the taunt button).  Otherwise the controls were very good and tight.  I tend to be a button masher, but even I was able to reel off combos and other various forms of damage pretty regularly.

The game also has quick time events where you have to hit the matching button as they flash on the screen.  Some of these pop up at the most incontinent time, like say in the middle of a combo.  That said, when I did get to pull them off they were very rewarding.  Whether they were torture attacks (involving everything from guillotines to iron maidens) or climax moves (where Bayonetta summons a demon to finish off a enemy) they were always a big rewarding action.

Gameplay

Bayonetta is a straight up third person action brawler of sorts.  Yeah you have guns, but you'll find yourself fighting it out more often, just for the fun.  There are tons of combos you can pull off.  One really cool thing they have in the game is that during the loading screens you can practice the combos.  There is even a list of all the combos you can scroll through that shows you how many times you have pulled off that combo.

The levels are kind of linear and you can only explore so far before you run into a wall, visible or invisible.  Even so there are rewards for exploring what there is.  Hidden treasures, bonus levels are scattered about for players to find.

Gaphics and Sound

The graphics are truly gorgeous, sexy even, but then again I think that was on purpose.  Kamiya did state that he wanted the game to be fashionable and sexy.  He even admitted that Bayonetta was, in many ways, his  ideal woman.  Now I played the Xbox 360 version, it has been reported that the Playstation 3 version graphicly is not as good, that it looked a bit muddy.  Platinum Games only developed the 360 version, they handed the code off to Sega for porting to the PS3.

Sound-wise the game is really spot on.  The voice acting is great and the music is a very catchy pop-jazz of sorts.  I'm half tempted to find the soundtrack. 

Overall 

Bayonetta is sexy violence, that's the first thing that popped into my head when I got into the first big fight.  The way they set up her actions, it's almost like she's dancing.  Kamiya wanted to create a sexy, but powerful female lead character and he succeeded.  I think I've said "sexy" a lot in this review, but it fits.  The game oozes it right along with the action.  If John Woo and Quentin Tarantino ever teamed up and made a game this would be it. 

The story is a little hard to follow, especially when they are telling it during fights early on, but eventually it comes around.  Plus one of the hidden goodies you find is a series of journals that give the history of the Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages.

Bayonetta gets a 4.5 out of 5.  The only things holding it back from a 5 is the slight control issue and the awkward quick time events.  Really I had fun with this game and still am since you can go back through levels to improve your score or find the things you missed.  I hope they make a sequel.

Bayonetta is rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes.

Energizer Power and Play Charging Systems

This week we are going to do something different.  We are going to take a look at some hardware.  The Energizer Power and Play Charging systems by Performance Designed Products for the Xbox 360, the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.  Will they keep going, and going, and going, and going..............

Let's start with the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 chargers.  Both are very similar in design.  Each stand will hold two controllers and charge them.  The PS3 charge actually goes a step further and has two USB ports on the side so you can charge two more PS3 controllers if you have additional USB cords.  A very nice touch.  I did not try it, but in theory you could charge other USB items with the PS3 charger, which makes it sort of a multi-tasker.

Both the 360 and the PS3 charges hold their respective controllers firmly and were fairly easy to connect and take out.  While charging they glow red around the where they mount, and then glow green when fully charged.  Charging time was about the same as if you were charging them connected to their respective systems, just a few hours.  And I have to say they actually look kind of cool in their mounts, kind of like a "gaming trophy" of sorts.  Both are AC powered.

The Nintendo charger took a very different design, appropriately since the Wii-motes are a very different design.  It reminded me of a knife block in my kitchen.  It also hold four Wii-motes instead of just two.  It also came with 4 rechargeable NiMH battery packs and 4 special battery covers with opening for the contacts to be able to charge the batteries.  This is a very nice touch helping you save money on buying batteries over and over.  When you slot the Wii-motes in this charger also glows red for charging, green for fully charged.  A nice touch they added is slots down the sides for the wrist strap so you do not have to remove it.  Unfortunately they is no way for you to be able to charge the Wii-motes with the padded protective sheath on, you still have to take that off.  Charging time was pretty much the same as when I recharged regular rechargeable AA batteries, just a few hours.  It's AC powered

Overall I was very happy with all three of these chargers.  Keeping my extra controllers charged up and ready for when friends come over or when the controller I'm using dies and I don't want to be wired or wait while they recharge is cool.  Like I said I like the design of the PS3 and 360 charges, but while functional, the Nintendo charger still looks like a knife block.  Still If you are thinking about getting a charger for any of your systems I can easily and highly recommend any of these.  They live up to the Energizer name they have been bestowed.

The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 Energizer Power and Play Charging Systems sell for $29.99

The Nintendo Energizer Power and Play 4X Charging System sells for $39.99

They can be found most places.  I found them at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart  and at Performance Designed Products' web site, www.pdp.com

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

This week we check out the latest installment of the classic Nintendo Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Story

The quick back story is in ancient times a great battle between good and evil happened on the world.  The evil (Malladus) was banished and imprisoned by the "chains" that cover the world that all converge on a tower that is essentially the "key" to keeping the evil banished.  As time went on the battle became a legend and the "chains" became tracks for the steam trains.

Link is a train engineer in training.  He is on his way to the castle where Princess Zelda will preside over his graduation to Royal Engineer.  At the ceremony she slips a note to Link telling him she does not trust her Chancellor and to meet her secretly.   At the secret meeting she tells Link that the Spirit Tracks are disappearing but the Chancellor won't let her leave the castle to investigate.  She asks Link to help her.  To do so she ask Link to disguise him self as a guard recruit, ie. dress in the classic Green Link outfit.

They are able to slip out of the castle and take Link's train to the Tower of Spirits.  Before they get there though track they are on disappear and then they are attacked by the Chancellor and his second in command Byrne.  Link is knocked out and Princess Zelda's spirit is forced out of her body.  The Chancellor and Byrne take Zelda's body to be used a vessel for bringing back Malladus.

When Link comes to he is at the castle.  He soon finds out the Princess Zelda is a spirit that only he can see and hear.  Zelda believes that they must go to the Tower of Spirits to get her body back.  Once they get there they meet Anjean who explains what is going on and what must be done to restore everything back to the way it was.

And I stop there, going on would really start spoiling the story.  Let's just say it's another great Legend of Zelda story.  Nintendo does not disappoint, especially with one of it's own AAA titles.

Control:

The controls are almost exclusively the stylus and the microphone.  The stylus though is used the most.  It's used to guide Link, used for combat, guide the train on the tracks, fire the train's cannon and more.  Surprisingly it was pretty simple.  The microphone comes in use for a fan like weapon where you aim it with the stylus and then blow into the microphone to blow what ever you aimed at away.  At certain points you will use the microphone and stylus to play a pan flute.

 

Gameplay:

As with most Legend of Zelda games it's all about the adventure and puzzles.  Sure you fight monsters, but all the bosses have a set pattern to defeating them, the puzzle is figuring out that pattern.  Some puzzles will use Link's various weapons, others will use the Princess.  Since she is a spirit she can possess Phantom Guardians and use them to assist Link.  The Guardians are practically invulnerable so they are handy for blocking flame jets or walking through lava.  The only problem, even though she's possessing a hulking suit of armor, she is still afraid of mice.  This is where Link becomes "the hero."  :D

There is also a multiplayer game, but at the time of writing I had been unable to find friends to play.  It's basically a collect the gems type game where the winner is the one with the most gems at the end.

 

Graphics and Sound:

The graphics are really good on the DS.  They art style is taken from the Wind Waker, so more of the cartoon style.  The sound is great and classic sound effects and themes from the series abound.

Overall:

It's really hard to find faults with any Nintendo AAA title.  They know these are their system sellers and that there is a loyal fan base.  The story is fairy tale-like, not too heavy on the drama and enough humor to keep it all light.  Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks will not disappoint any Zelda fans except those that didn't like the Wind Waker art style, even those fans will play it.

There is plenty to do in the game besides the main storyline, there are side quests like transporting cargo, or passengers, which becomes a bit of a mini-game in that they want you to drive the train a certain way.  Sort of a lottery in that you mail postcards off and you can win items.  You can even trade items with friends who have the game. 

All that said I do have a couple minor faults with it.  The pure stylus movement control did have a bug in that if I dragged it too near a doorway Link would automatically walk through it.  It was very frustrating in one village where the narrow path went right past a doorway for a hut.  The second is the playing of the pan flute.  While I commend Nintendo with coming up with the unique idea, I was a bit winded after trying to play some of the note combination's.

So overall I really enjoyed the game though.  It gets a 4.5 out of 5.  If you like adventure games with some puzzle solving, this game is for you.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 or older for Mild Fantasy Violence.

Guitar Hero: Van Halen

So this last fall saw the release of two music rhythm games dedicated strictly to one band each, The Beatles Rock Band & Guitar Hero Van Halen.  Surprisingly you can almost tell by the way the names are placed how well each band was handled by their chosen game company.  The Beatles Rock Band has gotten rave reviews.  The game was done so well that bands that have never given thought to being in a video game (ie U2) are seriously considering the possibility.  Harmonix did a top notch job on reflecting the early years and personality of The Beatles.  Much better than their first semi-foray into a single band game in the AC/DC Track Pack.

But I'm not here to talk about The Beatles, AC/DC, or Harmonix.  Nope we're here to talk Guitar Hero Van Halen.  Activision's latest entry in to the over-saturation of Guitar Hero.   

Those of you out there that bought Guitar Hero 5 during the games first month of release had a chance to get Guitar Hero Van Halen roughly 2 months before it's regular release (if you haven't redeemed that offer by now you're too late).  The game itself came out on December 22, deep in the heart of the holiday season.  Let's see if this is a game you want to search out in this post holiday season.

Story:

No story in the career mode of the game.  This is something Neversoft has seemed to have moved away from over the course of their watch of the Guitar Hero series.  While it was kind of neat to have in the game, it's really not needed, nobody is buying a music rhythm game for it's "deep story."  The career mode does follow closely the format of Guitar Hero Metallica.  You start playing a couple Van Halen songs then a collection of other bands, then back to Van Halen, rinse, repeat.  Along the way you'll be unlocking venues, instruments, clothing, and Van Halen members (present-day and "classic 70's/80's era").

Here's where we come to one of the quirks of the game that I don't like.  Van Halen stated that they want Guitar Hero Van Halen to reflect the band as they are today.  Which means the band members you will be able to unlock are David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Wolfgang "Wolfie" Van Halen.  No Michael Anthony, no Sammy Hagar, and for you hardcore dedicated Van Halen fans, no Gary Cherone.

Kind of a snub to Michael as one of the men just as responsible for Van Halen's sound as is Eddie's guitar mastery.  I kind of understand the lack of Sammy Hagar considering the game has none of the "Van Hagar era" songs, but again he had a huge input of some of their success too.

Still that's neither here nor there.  Their game they get to decide.  Still they are missed.



Control:

If you've played Guitar Hero or Rock Band you know the controls, nothing new here.  The game does take advantage of some Guitar Hero specific things such as the new guitar controllers touch sensitive neck slider and the Expert+ mode on drums, requiring a second drum pedal (or really fast feet).  Overall though no surprises here.

Gameplay:

Again, if you've played Guitar Hero before, you know this game.  Hit the matching color buttons/drums as the "notes" cross the "strikeline" on the "highway."  Unless you're the singer then you have to sing the right pitch.

 For those of you that have nightmares of the "Hot for Teacher" track from Guitar Hero World Tour, there is no need to worry about checking back into therapy.  While Eddie does some amazing things on guitar not all Van Halen songs are punishing monsters.  Guitar-wise the tracks are fairly well selected and paced so that they some what gradually work their way to "OMG my hand is gonna fall off."  The classic solos of "Cathedral," "Spanish Fly," and "Eruption" are at the very end and are very challenging, especially if you try to play them properly with "hammer on's, pull off's," and on the touch slide.

The song selection for Van Halen as I said is all Roth era songs.  I would have liked some Van Hagar songs, but that is not to be for now, maybe in a future version.  As for the rest of the song selection it's a very hit or miss hodge podge of bands that influenced or were influenced by Van Halen.

Here lies another problem with the game.  The name Van Halen evokes a party hearty feeling.  The band you would listen to in your '77 Trans-Am with the T-Top as you cruised the strip.  VanHalen's own admission is that they are the world's biggest bar band.  So the choice of some very unparty-hearty pop-punk or thrash metal is kind of a wrench in the works.  As much as I love Judas Priest, "Painkiller" really feels out of place as does Blink-182, The Clash, Foo Fighters and others.  This kind of reflects the fact that a majority of the newer bands in the game were picked by Wolfie Van Halen.  Not saying he has bad taste, just bad choices when you hear them played along side Van Halen.  Those songs just don't bring the same mood as Van Halen's songs.  Those songs may seem to fit for someone the same age as Wolfie, but a little research would point out that most gamers are in their mid-30's, Van Halen fans pushing into 40's/early 50's.

Still it's not as jarring as the eclectic mixture on Guitar Hero 5, it has more focus which helps hold it together.

While we are talking about Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero Van Halen does not have any of the features present in GH5.  Such as drop in/drop out play or multiples of one instrument.  This game was built on the same foundation as Guitar Hero World Tour and Metallica.

The full track list is at the end of the review.

Graphics and Sound:

All songs are pulled from the master recordings and sound good.  Graphically, Neversoft has hit cruise control since they pretty much match the rest of the Guitar Hero series.  Not necessarily a bad thing, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but it would be kind of nice to see some different graphics in the logo/tattoo creator.  The graphical representations of the band look really good.  I'd almost be they look better than their real life counter parts at this point. Dave and Eddie strut and jump around the stage in the game as well as they did back in the day.

Overall:

While I did have some problems with the game, bottom line is I had fun playing through the game.  As such I give it a 4.5 out of 5.  Gonna show my age here, but the album "1984" came out while I was in high school.  A lot of this game took me back to those days.  A lot of my air guitar/air mic, came to a pseudo reality in the game.  If you are a Van Halen Fan this is a must purchase.  If you know a Van Halen Fan, this is an excellent gift.  Guitar Hero/Rock Band fans will love this too, it brings a lot of fun.

While it may not sell as well as The Beatles Rock Band, nor share the same high production values and sharp focus, it should not be completely looked over either.  Hopefully it doesn't get lost in shuffle in the post holidays. This title shows Neversoft have come a long way with the series and a little tweeking here and there they can be equal the series creators, Harmonix.

Guitar Hero Van Halen is rated T for Teen for Mild Lyrics and Mild Suggestive Themes.

PS: For all you hot shot expert guitarist, here is your goal.  Nail 100% on the "Eruption" solo on expert after less than an hour of gameplay....and no this is not me.  I'm a medium level guitar player.