With the big Sony announcement looming, the Bosscast take some time out to look back at the life and times of the PlayStation 3. Also covered on the show are the games we’ve been playing, which include Far Cry 3, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed on the 3DS, Borderlands 2, Picross 3D, and Trials HD.
Jett – In Third Person
Jason – Downstab
Mat – Biff Bam Pop
The Sleeping Dogs origin story has been documented ad nauseam, so I won’t do that here. Nor did it matter to me much, anyway. I’d never played a True Crime game before, and even after it came out to mostly positive press, it still wasn’t a game on my radar. Had it not been for its awesome demo, I probably would have let this one slide. Though I can’t speak to the game’s quality before it came out, the end result is pretty rad. This is one of the most fun open world games I’ve played since Grand Theft Auto IV, and might be my favourite one yet.
Size matters, or at least that’s what Activision wants us to believe with Skylanders Giants, the follow-up to the smash-hit Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Besides providing gamers with an all-new adventure, some new characters and new figures, it also introduces the concept of giant Skylanders, which are larger figurines that manifest into larger in-game characters. But does the age old ‘bigger is better’ adage apply here?
Though I am far from rich, money historically hasn’t been much of an issue when it comes to my gaming related purchases. Sure, I couldn’t afford to buy every single game I’ve ever wanted brand new, but I’ve been able to buy virtually every game I’ve ever wanted since I started working over a decade ago. Even as a teenager making minimum wage as a stock boy, I had room in my budget for hot new releases or games I passed on initially that have dropped in price.
This year, while in the midst of planning for Steff and I’s move, I had an epiphany: I can’t keep spending like this anymore.
Mat returns from a press-only Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance event and shares his stories of slicing, dicing, and dying repeatedly. Jason and Jett talk way too much about who they think are top-tier Skylanders. The Bosscast also open up their hearts to talk about the role of emotional response in video games. Beyond that, tune in for chatter about Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken Version 2013, Sleeping Dogs, Balloon Fight, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Sneak King!
Jett – In Third Person
Jason – Downstab
Mat – Biff Bam Pop
Not too long ago, I played through Lollipop Chainsaw. It was mediocre at best, but its humour and short length offset its failings just enough for me to play it through to completion. While Bayonetta in many respects is a better game, I don’t think I’ll ever get past its halfway point. What gives?
Great. Another zombie game. We don’t already have enough of those yet, right? While I’m more than tired of the zombies in video games and other forms of fiction, I’m willing to let my fatigue slide if a particular piece of media brings forth a new twist on the trope. From Plants vs. Zombies cutesy tower defence, to the human drama of The Walking Dead, there’s still room for growth.
ZombiU draws heavy inspiration from Dark Souls, while making great use of the Wii U GamePad’s defining features to create a survival horror experience unlike anything out there. Though it has its quirks, and the overall gameplay may turn off some, it’s very cool for what it is.
Up to this point, this match made in fighting game heaven has been anything but. Having lost many of its potential fans through the on-disc DLC debacle, and a myriad of gameplay issues (among other things), this seemingly sure-fire hit has been the biggest bust in the genre for quite some time.
With that said, fighting games always evolve. From Street Fighter II to Super Street Fighter II Turbo, it can take a few iterations before perfection is found. Capcom is hoping that they get it right the second time with Street Fighter X Tekken Version 2013, which is a free major patch being introduced tomorrow.
Call me stubborn, but I’ve been a staunch believer in the fact that nothing can top the Mario Kart franchise. Besides the fact that it created the genre, the vast majority of kart racers haven’t even come close to matching the series’ quality, regardless of which version of Mario Kart you put under the microscope. While I’ll always have a spot in my heart for the franchise that started it all, Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed takes a serious run at the crown.
Striking while the iron is hot, here’s my Kickstart Guide to Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition! Unlike my Universal Fighting Game Guide stuff, this is game-specific and a bit more simplified so that even beginners can gain a quick knowledge boost. Definitely worth a read if you’re looking to level up in the world’s hottest fighting game.
Check out my Kickstart Guide to Super Street IV: Arcade Edition on Splitkick!
In Third Person 