Be Your Own Video Game Critic!

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11-14-2009, 08:14 PM
The Sports Guy

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.
11-14-2009, 08:26 PM
zetastrike

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.
11-14-2009, 08:30 PM
InternalPrimate

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!
11-14-2009, 08:36 PM
The Sports Guy

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!
11-14-2009, 09:07 PM
InternalPrimate

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.
11-14-2009, 10:21 PM
old man

Quote:

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.

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)
11-15-2009, 01:54 PM
sega fan

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
11-15-2009, 02:12 PM
Joe Redifer

My own Super Awesome reviews, all indexed.
11-15-2009, 05:56 PM
zetastrike

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.
11-15-2009, 06:01 PM
Kollision

Reviews I started writing on beaten shmups this year:

http://1cclog.blogspot.com
11-16-2009, 09:44 PM
InternalPrimate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Redifer

My own Super Awesome reviews, all indexed.

I found this sometime last year when you posted your review of console browsers. Big fan of your Super Mario Galaxy review.
11-16-2009, 09:58 PM
Metal_Sonic

I'll do a mini review of Assassins Creed II when I get it.
11-29-2009, 11:12 PM
The Sports Guy

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.
11-29-2009, 11:43 PM
PimpUigi

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sports Guy

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

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.
11-30-2009, 12:21 AM
Karakasa-Obake

I have a review of TMNT IV: Turtles in Time up on my blog.
(Click the link in my sig)
12-17-2009, 04:40 AM
The Sports Guy

Stuntman: Ignition (Xbox 360): D+. Stuntman games might have the most promising outlook of any arcade driving game for me (besides maybe a Burnout game) in the last 10 years and they always go and mess it up with horrid gameplay and really confusing scoring. At least this game looks good and the story is at least original and interesting. My friends and I didn't even realize we were just practicing until like 10 minutes in to the reherasals. There's a jump in the practice level that makes you fail for no reason, too! This game is annoying, but it had promise.

Amped 3 (Xbox 360): C. Everyone I knew had this demo on their Xbox 360 but no one actually owned the game! The demo was great, but the game goes overboard I think on the popart and the overt advertisement. Plus, the gameplay itself isn't that great and it's way too easy to land tricks. There's too much stuff in the way to make this a viable snowboarding game. Had to LOL at the loading screen that asked what they were going to call Amped 4, like they knew this game wasn't anything special.
12-17-2009, 05:50 PM
MitsuruX

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sports Guy

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.

I don't know why those RPG like modes were never included in the home versions... The GB and the GBA Mario Golf games are top notch... :)
12-17-2009, 06:14 PM
KenshiroX

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sports Guy

Stuntman:

Amped 3 (Xbox 360): C. Everyone I knew had this demo on their Xbox 360 but no one actually owned the game! The demo was great, but the game goes overboard I think on the popart and the overt advertisement. Plus, the gameplay itself isn't that great and it's way too easy to land tricks. There's too much stuff in the way to make this a viable snowboarding game. Had to LOL at the loading screen that asked what they were going to call Amped 4, like they knew this game wasn't anything special.

Exactly my thoughts when I rented it. I actually hated the popart, it really annoyed me, and the game was too bland for any fun.
12-26-2009, 05:34 AM
The Sports Guy

Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) A+. Woof. This game is exactly right. It just is. I mean, what can you say that hasn't already been said? It takes everything that's great from the first bazillion games and makes it 360-ized. I LOVE THIS GAME. I'm about 2/3rds done, and I can't wait until I get the two expansion games. If you haven't ever played any of these games, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?

Hit the Ice (Genesis): C-. I'm writing a review for this game and it's just sucking all the fun out of this game that I had remembered back in the day. it's an arcade hockey game that gets it wrong basically, but is still fun.

More to come tomorrow.
01-04-2010, 01:42 AM
M4R14NO94

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetastrike

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.

I second that. The funniest thing about CGR is Mark's awesome jokes and "smart-ass comments" (as he put it in his Beatles Rockband review). One of my favorites is the following line from the Daytona USA review:

Quote:

"Gentlemen"? They forgot the LADIES who might be playing this game. And if they are they must be from G.L.O.S.: the Gorgeous Ladies Of Sega; and their theme song is from BWP, Bitches With Problems

Also, from the same review:

Quote:

What you should do is record this music, put it on your iPod, then when you go on a first date with someone put this on the car stereo, full blast, and then drive like a maniac. Who knows? Your date might be a member of G.L.O.S., the Gorgeous Ladies Of Sega... unless she is a member of GLON, the Gorgeous Ladies of Nintendo, in which case she'd probably slap you and get out of the car. Will console rivalry EVER end?

And from another awesome review, Ridge Racer 7

Quote:

Clearly I should have designed this game. The first thing I'd have done is replace all of the voice acting with lines like THIS: "Screw this game! Let's get a beer and play Xevious!"
01-04-2010, 05:46 PM
M4R14NO94

http://www.mobygames.com/user/sheet/...heetId,115185/
My reviews on MobyGames. As of today (January 4th, 2010), I only wrote a review of the GBA version of Earthworm Jim 2
http://www.gamespot.com/users/killer...;contributions
My reviews on GameSpot. NOTE: some reviews are in Spanish (with some words commonly used in my country, Argentina), and others have some grammar mistakes (for example, "goed"). Looking back, I was a pretty terrible reviewer back then (except for those that I wrote in 2008).
A bit of trivia: the Target Earth review is actually based on a mini-review I wrote on my cellphone a couple of months before writing that review on GS.
One thing I can not believe is that, on my Zero Tolerance review, I said that the SNES version of Wolfenstein 3D was a hit. And I also included how I got the game.
Maybe after seeing how bad those reviews were, you might have a laugh (so did I)
01-04-2010, 05:58 PM
Melf

I have some impressions of modern games (not really reviews, I guess) on my blog.