If there is one video game icon who got to celebrate his birthday this year, it’s Link. Legenda of Zelda turned 25 this year, and not only do we get a 3DS remake of one of his greatest adventures (Ocarina of Time), a new Wii game (Skyward Sword), but we get a free version of Link’s first multiplayer outing, Four Swords. Originally an add-on to the Game Boy Advance remake of A Link In To The Past, Four Swords became a surprise hit among fans and critics alike. It is only available until February 20 of next year, so if you have a DSI, DSIXL, or 3DS, hurry up and download it.
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First off, I want to apologize. I know it’s been a while since the last $20 GOTW, but moving, along with an unwelcome hard drive failure have kept me busy. Thankfully now I’m back, and so is the $20 GOTW. Next week, I’ll have something even better. Anyway, with it’s spiritual successor hitting storeshelves next week, now is the perfect time to take a look at 2009’s sleeper hit, Demon’s Souls. Developed by From Software (Otogi, Armored Core, King’s Field), it’s noted for it’s punishing difficulty, deep RPG gameplay, and unique online modes.
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Spore was perhaps Will Wright and Maxis’ most ambitious game to date. Although it wasn’t perfect, it’s level of customization is rivaled only by Maxis’ other big franchise, The Sims. While it may have caught some heat with the whole creationism vs evolution debates, a key part of its gameplay is how things evolve over time. Like Enix’s EVO from nearly 2 decades prior, Spore’s big hook is that it makes a controversial subject such as evolution a fun part of the gameplay.
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If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s what 2k Interactive (standing in for Irrational) must have been thinking when making this follow up to one of 2007’s most beloved new IPs. Bioshock 2 is more of the same, but when the original was as good as it was, fans won’t mind.
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A few of you Poweteers might remember a little known PC game called MAD TV. In it, you played as a TV exec who competed against other execs for TV ratings, TV/Movie licensing deals, lucrative advertising contracts, and the affections of the lovely nature show producer on the top floor. Obviously it wasn’t based on the sketch comedy show of the same name (although they were both inspired by the same satire magazine). Although it received little fanfare, it was unique and fun. Years later, Realmforge and Kalypso Media released M.U.D TV (which stands for Mad, Ugly, Dirty Television), a game that is more than inspired by the classic title, although the developers claimed they never played it. Anyway, the game is just as fun as the game it apparently isn’t based on, even if the game gets a bit too difficult at times.
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Back in the 90s, there was a little known game called Barkley: Shut Up and Jam. It had it’s high points, but really, it was a little more than a rip off of NBA Jam, which was released a short time before. It got a sequel which was just as forgettable. Years later, a group of developers known as ‘Tales of Games’ used a copy of RPG maker to create a sequel. Instead of another NBA Jam clone, this sequel would instead be a role playing game about one of the greatest ballers in the sport. Oh, and according to it’s creators, the game’s story is canon.
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Hoard is an example of why a game doesn’t necessarily have to have complex graphics or gameplay to be fun. In Hoard, you control a dragon, and your job is to cause as much chaos as you can while building a stockpile of gold. You steal treasure, kidnap princesses for ransom, burn down buildings, and scare villages into offering tribute. Of course you’ll have to deal with wizards, knights, thieves, and other dragons. Up to 4 players can participate in either co-op or competitive modes. While the game is simple enough to get into, the gameplay mechanics are deep, and as you progress, strategy and planning become important. You can upgrade your dragon’s abilities, and the upgrades you choose also fit into your strategy. Hoard may not be Call of Duty, but at least it’s good for a quick fix. And really, who doesn’t want to be a badass dragon?