Be Your Own Video Game Critic!

As a staff writer here, I really like to take an analytical approach to most of the video games I have played. I also love to read the Video Game Critic's takes on every video game he plays (www.videogamecritic.net) and love to watch Classic Game Room on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/InecomCompany). I just want somewhere to post my feelings and opinions for games that aren't Genesis games, so I thought why not start a post? Feel free to do this for every game you play.

I'll put the one I just posted in the General Game Thread just to start things off:


I've played an assload of video games this weekend, and thought I'd chime in on them with a grade and short review, a la Video Game Critic

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - A+. I can't wait to get this game! Wow, I thought they couldn't get any better than the first one, and the gameplay is spectacular! I just love the two player scenarios (I guess it's their way to make up for not allowing guests on Xbox Live). And the SNOWMOBILE!

NCAA Football 08 - A-. This is my NCAA Football game of choice, even though they don't have most of the MAC stadiums available to play in with my CMU Chippewas. The game play is fluid, not difficult to pick up and is fun to sink my teeth into.

NCAA Football 10 - B-. Wow. I thought this game would have been spectacular. It looks spectacular, they finally have CMU's stadium (even though it looks exactly like it did in 2005 and not now), and the motions are almost life like. So what was it that I didn't like. YOU CAN'T PLAY DEFENSE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE! All you have to do is pass it 90% of the time and be smart about it and you will win. My friend and I played this Friday and we played three games. He beat me the first time big (21-0 21 skunk rule) and then I chose someone other than CMU and I won against Florida and Michigan both by the score of 78-77. WTF!

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection - B+. I liked this disc, and I love raking up the achievement points (almost ridiculously easy for some of them, some of them really difficult - the Mean Bean Machine one especially), but I liked this game. The only thing I took offense to is why they put some games in there, like ESWAT and Alien Storm, those games weren't really great.

Gameboy:

Super Mario Land 3: Warioland - A. I like this game, it's a welcome refresh from the regular NES games.

TMNT: Back From The Sewers: B. Not bad for a TMNT gameboy game, I thought that this game was a little too easy to wipe through the enemies and just get to the bosses, who were just a bit harder. Meh.

TMNT: Fall of the Footclan: B-. Much similar to the other one, this one was even easier! This one gives you other weapons and attacks besides the normal ones. Kind of boring after the first level.

Star Wars: F. Exactly the same as the miserable, miserable, miserable NES game.

Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: D. Basically just a port of the balls hard but fairly decent SNES title, this game has poor graphics, and irritating gameplay. It's disappointing, though very well ported. It just sucks.

Wave Race: F. I guess if you wanted to make a jet ski racing game on gameboy, this would be the way to do it. It sucks though! You can't ever get an advantage on the opponents position, the display flickers and the game can't figure out what place you're in sometimes. Balls. Cool logo and cart label though!

Wheel of Fortune: D-. Wow, Gametek, I know this was an early GB game, but come on! Who wants to play a very slow version of WOF with really bad wheel physics and slow gameplay? I can just imagine this game being not too bad for 80's road trips and passing around the Gameboy, but it could be better. It's basically a Tiger handheld version of the game, but it's slow and there's a timer on everything!

Who Wants to be a Millionaire 2nd Edition: B. It's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: 2nd Edition sans Regis. Sans anyone!

Super Mario Brothers DX: A. Wow, they took the classic SMB, zoomed in the camera, and added a whole new mode plus a bunch of other doodads! I really like the challenge mode, it spices it up even though I think some of the score challenges are too tough. This is a must buy if you want to play a new version of SMB.

Mario Golf: A. Wow, what a portable golf game! I can't imagine a better portable golf game up until Hot Shots Golf Teed Up! There's a huge story mode you can play too! Just check this one out. Great game. Mario Tennis for GBC is kind of the same way, though not quite as fun as Mario Golf.

The Critic and CGR are probably my favorite reviewers. They're pretty unbiased, which is really rare. I've been reading the critic's reviews since '04. I learned about this place from his site. CGR is my favorite thing to watch on youtube. I could watch it all day. The best part is that he doesn't ruin it with pointless obscenities/anger that are supposed to be "funny" like most video reviewers.

Mark Bussler (CGR) is hilarious. His subtle humor is exactly in line with mine. I have to pace myself with his site, otherwise I can watch it for hours on end.

Read Sega 16's interview with him!

If you have any games you want to critique, feel free to write them here! I should have mentioned that more clearly. There should be a forum (like a place to say, not a whole forum, do you know what I mean?) for reviews for non-Genesis games, and I decided to see how one would go.

EDIT: OMG really, InternalPrimate? I had no idea that he was actually interviewed by the site! I love that guy!

Yep, I interviewed Mark and reviewed his DVD a while back. It's still my only interview for the site, and I had a great time doing it. The two features were written in a really shitty time in my life, and Melf had to put up with multiple delays by me. I'll never forget how supportive everyone was at the time.

What's great is that at the time, Mark didn't plan on reprising the site (one of the last questions asked addressed that). I was very happy to see him start back up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Sports Guy

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection - B+. I liked this disc, and I love raking up the achievement points (almost ridiculously easy for some of them, some of them really difficult - the Mean Bean Machine one especially), but I liked this game. The only thing I took offense to is why they put some games in there, like ESWAT and Alien Storm, those games weren't really great.

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I may be wrong, but I get the impression these tend to be fan favorites despite all the poor reviews. (I really dig Alien Storm myself)

Gamespot Profile :
http://www.gamespot.com/users/Gumpre...ews;username;2

Gamespot Reviews:
http://www.gamespot.com/users/Gumpre...ut;header;more

Left 4 Dead 2 Preview that I wrote:
http://www.gamespot.com/users/Gumpre...ll-about;blog1

M.A.G. Preview I wrote:
http://www.gamespot.com/users/Gumpre...ll-about;blog2

My own Super Awesome reviews, all indexed.

SNES:

Gradius 3 A-
A great shooter that's hampered by slowdown, but in this case it can be very helpful. Unlike the arcade version, it's difficulty level is not pure evil. The music is amazing. The weapon customization is great and adds a lot of replay value.

Mega Man X3 A
The best of the SNES MMX games. The gameplay is fluid, the stages well designed, the visuals are interesting. The weapon set is the best in the series after X1. The only gripe I have is the music, which is embarassing for a Mega Man game. The tunes are repetative and the intrumentation is horrible. One of the best games from late in the SNES life.

Reviews I started writing on beaten shmups this year:

http://1cclog.blogspot.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Redifer

My own Super Awesome reviews, all indexed.

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I found this sometime last year when you posted your review of console browsers. Big fan of your Super Mario Galaxy review.

I'll do a mini review of Assassins Creed II when I get it.

NFL 2k2: B+. The game is spectacular for Dreamcast, but there are a few problems. First, the buzzing of the game disc is louder than the commentary. Second: The default difficulty is ridiculously easy, then the pro level is hard as balls. I think the graphics could have been a smidgin better too, but this is really a fun fun game for when you don't have your Genesis or Xbox 360 around!

Crazy Taxi: C (+ maybe) This game is fun, but boy is it shallow. And what's up with not being able to enter curse words as your name!? That's a key factor! Plus, some of the people don't give you enough time to get where you need to go and the arrow leads you only on the roads, so once you go off, it doesn't know what to do.

Star Trek (Game Boy): C+. This game makes up for the awful NES version, and is fun to boot! But, it is kind of hard. It's kind of like Asteroids meets Moon Patrol meets that Moon Lander game. But the on planet part SUCKS! You can only walk and fire in 4 directions! Unacceptable. Even then, you have no real idea where you are going. Damn, the first part was so good too! Still better than the NES version.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Sports Guy

Star Wars: F. Exactly the same as the miserable, miserable, miserable NES game.

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I'm sorry, but how is the NES Star Wars game not completely the best game that came out for the NES period????
It had multiple characters for you to play as, switchable in real time, overworld exploration on the first planet, FPS game play, flight simulation through the asteroid field...what am I missing? Lots...I'll have to talk about this later I guess.

Oh, and Crazy Taxi always gives you enough time to take people where they need to go, that is, until you start getting closer to 0. I forgot the exact cut off time, but it's between 10 and 20 seconds I think.
You just always have to know that you need to crazy boost like mad, crazy drift, and do that thing that makes you go faster than crazy boosting...I don't remember, it's been a little while since I looked at the terminology.

It helps to have the map memorized so when they say "I want to go to the bank!" you know exactly where it is, and how to get there...just like a real cabbie would.

I have a review of TMNT IV: Turtles in Time up on my blog.
(Click the link in my sig)