By now it’s common knowledge that Deadly Premonition as it was released on the 360 in 2010 is one of the most divisive games ever published.  Guinness created an entirely new category for it because reviewers either loved it or hated it.  I never played the 360 version, though I watched its development over the years with interest from back when it was called “Rainy Woods” and was slated for a PS2 release.  And I liked what I saw.

You have no idea how right you are, Agent Morgan.

I’m very much a fan of companies taking chances.  It’s far too easy to fall back on sequel after sequel after sequel, churning out obvious money-makers every year until your own fanbase is so flush with Stockholm Syndrome they accept sequels literally identical to last year’s game and thank you for it.  Some of the best games in history have resulted from a company or developer taking a “what have we got to lose?” position.  They hurl themselves into the melee with only two possible results: create a spectacular game, or go out in a blaze of failure.  Live or die.

I did not mean that literally.

“Something different” gets harder and harder to do with each passing console generation.  How do you re-wire the FPS in imaginative ways to distinguish yourself from “Grizzled Space Marine Alien Chainsaw Death Squad 3″ and “The Only Colors We Recognize Are Gray, Brown, and Blood-Red 5″?  How do you resurrect the RPG format and liberate it from the world of hour-long cut scenes?  How do you make a puzzle game that doesn’t have reviewers immediately comparing it to Tetris?  I don’t know.  That’s why I don’t develop games.  I can’t answer that question.

What I can answer is why you should be playing Deadly Premonition: because almost everything you think you know about it is wrong.

She could be talking about the reviewers who skewered this game in 2010.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: “Deadly Premonition” stands as quite possibly the single greatest video game love letter to Twin Peaks since “Mizzurna Falls” on the PS1 in Japan.  There’s simply no mistaking it: from the quirky FBI agent who sees the answer to riddles in his morning coffee to the resident crazy taking far too much interest in her beloved inanimate object, from the idea of an insular lumber mill town that doesn’t take kindly to outsiders to a dark, sinister force at work responsible for the murder of a beautiful blonde teenager, “Deadly Premonition” is the video game David Lynch never knew he wanted to make until Hidetaka Suehiro Frankensteined it into being.

Here’s why budget titles (it’s a $40 game brand new right now) are worth checking out.  DP knows, right off the bat, it can’t compete with the big boys.  It doesn’t have the budget to render 27 hours of 1080p video cut scenes set to a four-hour symphonic soundtrack recorded by the London Philharmonic.  It can’t afford to mine the A-list roster of voice actors.  License the Unreal engine for level design or Havoc for its in-game physics?  Are you kidding me?  Budget titles have one thing and one thing only going for them: they take the chances nobody else will, because succeeding is the only way they can outshine the competition.  DP is survival horror, sandbox, and adventure gaming mutated to create a hybrid that would make Ford turn Eco-Boost Green with envy.

The 55-limit saves lives (and gasoline).

And because it has no other choice, DP does all of this stuff to the best of its abilities.  It’s not perfect: the graphics look Wii-level at best (despite the upgrades in this Director’s Cut), the voice acting isn’t anything to cheer about, there’s no multiplayer, no on-line component–it reeks of something that would have been cutting edge ten years ago.  If your criteria for what makes a great game is that it has to be a product of its current day and age, then close your web browser and go play another round of “Gears of War” because you cannot and will not ever understand: none of that matters, because DP knocks it out of the stadium with what it can do.

This raincoat-clad psycho has no qualms about joining that axe to your crotch.

Deadly Premonition’s story is top-notch.  The execution of said story is beautiful.  Multiple chapter breaks that can be replayed to uncover new details add in replay value that can’t be touched by standard survival horror or sandbox-style games.  The puzzle solving and inventory management is straight out of the vintage PC adventure game playbook (be here, at this time, with this item to defeat obstacle).  You come to care about the characters as you learn about them and their town.  You come to care about the town itself.  The murders are graphic and disturbing, made moreso by the lower-res graphics and voices forced to rely on implications of things done than on being able to showcase it all in glorious HD.

Also: strategically-placed hair.

But DP improves on all of these fronts spectacularly.  You are given a pistol with unlimited ammo at the start of the game, so resource management isn’t as vital as Resident Evil or Silent Hill.  You’re given the ability to progress time at your leisure (via smoking your favorite cigarettes) so you aren’t driving aimlessly for an hour waiting for the right moment to start or finish a quest.  Like the best sandbox games, there are diversions a-plenty from the main storyline: everything from a multitude of optional side-quests given by town residents to simpler tasks like fishing or roaming the town for collectables.  The ability to replay a given chapter allows the player to re-experience any part of the adventure without having to start from the beginning, and items gained or lost in those replays carry over into your main save, so you’ll find FBI Agent Morgan just the way you left him when you pick up the main plot threat again.  The game gives you kudos and penalties for everything from shaving in the morning and changing out of dirty clothes to knocking down telephone poles or smashing up other peoples’ cars.  Half the fun is getting that little ‘ding’ for doing something unexpected and earning (or losing) a few extra bucks.

She was about to earn $10,000 until she opened that door.

What most resonates with me is how thoroughly unashamed Deadly Premonition is to be a video game.  It doesn’t try to be cinema.  It doesn’t try to be grand opera, or great literature, or anything else.  It knows it’s a video game, and it’s content to allow the player to treat it as such.  It’s amateur, guerrilla game design given a second chance on a second platform–something so few neglected classics ever receive.

Who says the classic graphical adventure is dead?

I bought Deadly Premonition on the day it came out with my own money–it was worth every last cent of that $40 for me, not just because it’s such a fun game, but because I want developers to keep trying to make games like this.  Hidetaka Suehiro (SWERY) needs to make more games.  He needs that cult following given to the likes of Suda51.  And even when he fails, even when he stumbles, I want him to get up and try again.  Because that, not another Call of Duty or Madden, is the only thing that will bring new life to the gaming industry.

Serial killers gotta kill. Serially.

Get out there and support this game.  Even if you don’t think you’ll like it–rent it, borrow from a friend, read and share my review here, or the ones at Gamespot, or IGN, or GameFAQs, I don’t care.  Research it on Google.  Watch and share videos of it on YouTube.  Like it on Facebook, +1 it on Google+, I don’t care where or how.  Buy it second-hand if it’s that damned important that you save $5 on the price.  Just show the game developers of the world that we as gamers are not afraid to take chances on the unfamiliar.

Also that we’re not afraid of spooky twin children dressed as angels in our dreams.

If you want your games to be games, and not “barely-interactive movies” then this is where your money needs to be going.  SquareEnix and EA Sports will all survive without your day-one contribution to their coffers.  You picked up the controller for the first time to play something fun, something new, something exciting.  When was the last time you actually felt that feeling instead of, “here we go again”?

For me, it was with Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut on April 30th.  And damn did it feel good.  Why don’t you join me in Greenvale?  The coffee’s awesome.

Plus, think of all the fun you’ll have spending time with Deputy Thomas here.

Purchase your copy of Deadly Premonition – The Director’s Cut from Gamestop or Hastings today.

The post Review – Deadly Premonition – The Director’s Cut (PS3) appeared first on Gaming on Sony.

Rather recreating the story of Tron Bonne, here is a snippet from the Wiki page:
“The family’s leader, Teisel, is seeking an ancient ruin (the Nakkai Ruins) to try and uncover a gigantic Refractor (Diana’s Tear) that will sell for lots of zenny. He has a short rendezvous with Bon Bonne, but he and Bon are quickly subdued and captured by Glyde (for Teisel defaulting on his 1,000,000 zenny loan), a rival air pirate in the service of Mr. Loath. Tron finds out that the funds used to build the Bonnes’ flying fortress was funded by Mr. Loath, and can only watch helplessly, having chosen to act as Spotter for the mission. She is delivered an ultimatum — pay off the loan (of one million zenny), or Teisel and Bon will not be seen again. Seeing no other options, Tron suits up in a custom Gustaff mecha and, along with her army of 40 identical Servbots begins her quest to pay the ransom through any means possible—especially by theft.”

The Misadventures of Tron Bonne is a 3rd person action adventure story driven puzzle title that many consider awesome and extremely rare on the Playstation One.  Capcom only released one Tron Bonne title while the character has made appearances in many other Capcom titles, mostly fighting games.

The Misadventures of Tron Bonne is not available in any form other than the original, driving up the value.

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First of all, if you notice any similarities between Hot Shots Golf and Mario Golf on the Nintendo 64 that is because Camelot Software Planning handled development of both titles (along with creating the Golden Sun series on Game Boy Advance and they were the devs behind the Shining Force series of games to boot).  While not as cartoony as Mario’s outing on the greens, Hot Shots Golf was still able to bring in players of many age ranges and usually won them over with it’s solid game play and generally high level of fun.

Hot Shots Golf is not a golf simulation game, that would be titles like PGA Tour.  HSG is more “fun in the sun” type of entertainment, the game doesn’t take itself too seriously though there is a solid golfing engine running the proceedings.  What many at the time thought would be a one shot game became a series that has been a staple for Sony platforms from the PSOne, PS2 and PSP to the PS3 and PS Vita and surely future systems as they come to fruition.

Hot Shots Golf by Sony
Platform: Playstation One
Genre: Comical Golf
Availability:
Playstation Network
Retro game stores

The post Today in History: April 30th, 1998 – Hot Shots Golf Changed Golf Gaming Forever on PSOne appeared first on Gaming on Sony.

All of that is great and dandy but the focus of this article is Bloody Roar 2.  Being a sequel, it was destined to follow one of a few different possible routes- straight sequel just being more of the same with better graphics, all new ideas or something that blew away the original.  BR2 took the first route, with higher resolution graphics, better sound and more combos and combatants (none of which were a car).  To many critics, this was a point of irksomeness and it was brought up in many reviews and articles about the game over the years.

What fans got was the continuation of an unique idea in fighting games.  At the time, companies were having trouble keeping loading times down in their fighting games (no one wants to wait up to three seconds for the game to load mid-match).  While other companies were having trouble keeping two characters in memory, Bloody Roar 2 keeps effectively four characters in memory since each fighter could transform into a beast for a short period of time during the match.

Very few other games outside of the Bloody Roar series have tried to do the dual character battle system.  Titles like Mortal Kombat have one character that can transform into other characters from the game but not original fighters.  Bloody Roar 2 may not be the best fighting game in many gamers minds but it is still a very unique take on the genre.

Bloody Roar 2 by Sony
Platform: Playstation One
Genre: 3D Fighting
Availability:
Playstation Network

The post Today in History: April 30th, 1999 – Bloody Roar 2 Tackles PSOne appeared first on Gaming on Sony.

As a big fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead, I figured I would enjoy the zombified universe of RDR.  Turns out, I was right.  The game play hasn’t changed from the core of RDR, but what did change made Undead Nightmare really stand out.  There are zombies everywhere and you’ve got to find a cure for your wife and son, if there is one to be found.  That’s the main storyline of Undead Nightmare.  You travel from town to town clearing out zombies and making it safe for survivors…and for you to search for ammo.  Ammunition is a precious commodity in Undead Nightmare…or so the game would like for you to believe.  You get the torch early on and after using it a few times instead of drawing your guns, it is possible to build up a good supply of bullets.  I’m probably halfway through the game, though, so maybe I’ll need all these bullets sooner than I think.

The humor, beauty, and delightful open world game play from RDR makes a reappearance in Undead Nightmare and I can not be more excited to finish it.  The world of Red Dead has grabbed me again and I’m not too sure I won’t go back to the main game again after finishing this zombie-fest.  If you have not tried Undead Nightmare or the original PS3 release, Red Dead Redemption, do yourself a favor and track down a copy.  Rockstar made it easy by packaging both RDR and Undead Nightmare into a Game of the Year edition that can be found online for around $20.  Each game is worth every penny.  Personally, I think each game is better than GTA4 and I hope Rockstar returns to the wild west soon.

Buy Red Dead Redemption from our sponsor, Gamestop and get free shipping on certain orders!

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It’s April 10th, 1996, and you walk into your favorite game store.  When what to your wondering eyes should appear on the New Release shelf but a compilation of six arcade games from your youth!  Amazed at the opportunity to relive these classics, you whip out that cash and take home the black-backed CD, wondering if nostalgia really is all its cracked up to be.  Later when you’re sitting in front of the TV set, with the volume set way too high from the movie you watched last night, you pop in your disc.

“BEWARE!  I LIVE!!” bellows forth from the speakers.  Your father jumps out of his easy chair.  Glass shatters in the kitchen as your sister drops her Mountain Dew.  The dog starts barking.  Mom’s picking up the phone to call 911.  Neighbors are banging on the door to make sure you’re OK.  Sinistar, you think to yourself with a wry grin.  It’s still scary, bitches.  Welcome to Williams Arcade’s Greatest Hits on PS1.  Welcome home.

Want to experience arcade-perfect ports of Joust, Defender, Defender II, Robotron: 2084, Bubbles, and (heh heh…) Sinistar?  Here are your infinite arcade tokens with access to the dip switches.  Go ahead, feel like a kid again.  Sadly the ad for this one isn’t all that inspiring, but these games really do speak for themselves.

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If you’ve ever looked at a driving game and thought, “If only this thing had more tits, and maybe some kind of restaurant endorsement,” you are exactly the demographic Hoplight Research was hoping to reach with Hooters Road Trip.  Released March 26, 2002 for the PS1 and thus guaranteed to be ignored by everyone except hardcore collectors, fap-a-holics, and diseased gaming website editors looking for some desperate way to celebrate the day, Hooters Road Trip is just what it says on the box.

Only not.  See, the back of the box refers to “good ol’ FULL THROTTLE ACTION”, “a WHITE-KNUCKLE RALLY RACE”, and “Hard Cross-Country Drivin’”.  What the game delivers, on the other hand, is not-so-good first-gear action, hairy-knuckled stick shifting, and some of the least-complex quote-unquote Drivin’ since Exidy’s 1976 controversy-stirring Death Race.  Your reward for driving across the highways and byways of these United States is the opportunity to see some mega-short (sub-five second) video clips of actual Hooters girls welcoming you whatever state you crossed into, then applauding you for placing first, second, or third.  They don’t even offer you free wings or beer or anything for participating in this strange country-spanning event, just some new cars to unlock which perform pretty much the same as all the others in your garage.

Here’s a picture of a bunch of owls, because…you know…

Blocky graphics, muddy audio, and controls looser than some of the women picked to star in those short clips…there’s nothing good to be said about Hooters Road Trip.  You don’t want it, the guy you bought it from didn’t want to sell it to you, and the developers sure as hell didn’t want this stuck on their resumes.  It’s kind of like a prequel to The Guy Game, only without all the underage nudity that could get you arrested for owning it.  And if that’s not the greatest selling point for a video game ever, I don’t know what is.

Can I have my Super Nintendo back now, Triverse?

The post Today In Retro Gaming – Hooters Road Trip (PS1) appeared first on Gaming on Sony.

The Raven Project is one of those games that makes you wonder why anybody bothered.  Originally developed for the PC in 1995, the initial success of the Playstation made developers look around to see what could be ported easily for a quick buck.  Somebody at Cryo Interactive looked at this on-rails space-themed shooter and thought, “Yes, that will do nicely!” despite the fact that Descent, Colony Wars, and Wing Commander had all beaten them to the punch.

And how bad is it?  Look at the word “on-rails” up there.  That’s right, The Raven Project doesn’t even have the decency to let you fly around yourself.  You just watch he scenery go by planet-side or in the vacuum of space and shoot pretty much everything that moves.  It’s a blocky, boring mess made even blockier and more boring in the translation to the Playstation and the lack of mouse support.  Cryo Interactive was better known for their adventure titles on the PC (Lost Eden and Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure come to mind), not to mention a pretty darn good Dune RTS on the Amiga, so why they thought this was a good idea is anybody’s guess.  Referencing pulling teeth and Men At Work in your ad won’t win you any friends either, even in 1997:

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Zombies are abound, as usual, and it is up to the player to survive- but can you?  Playing Daryl Dixon in the Georgia countryside is not going to be easy as fans of the show surely expect. 

The Walking Dead Survival Instinct by Activision
Platform: Playstation 3
Genre: Horror/FPS/License
Rated: 18 by PEGI
Available now in most game stores in the UK.

The post The Walking Dead Survival Instinct in Stores Across the UK Today appeared first on Gaming on Sony.