Probably one of the most boring things you can do is watch someone play a great video game. They are having all the fun and you are stuck watching said fun. Sure, it can be entertaining (certainly there are some games worth watching...), but in the end, it gets dull. Especially dull if you also never get to play yourself. That's a one way ticket out the door for me. However, there is always a exception to the rule. The exception for me is M.U.G.E.N...
Superman vs Thor
If you are unaware what Mugen (as I will write it for the rest of the post), it is a gaming engine for computers to allow characters from most 2d beat-em-up/fighting franchises to be put together for a battle royal. Think of it as a customizable fighting game where you control the roster. I am way behind this in all ways; conceptually, thematically, everything. It feeds my desire for cross-overs and fighting games. So far, all that I have seen has been most impressive. Characters I never would have guessed to be in a fighting game can be in there. Odd examples:
-Ash from Evil Dead...
-Strong Guy...
-The cast of Family Guy...
-An escape key (huh?)...
Now, it's a fact that I don't exactly do a lot of research before I post on this blog. It pops in my head and I write. So, what has puzzled/intrigued me about Mugen is the (what I consider) truly unique characters and what they can do. Step back a moment: I understand repainting previous characters to look like the ones you want. I understand uploading dialogue from a variety of media for the voices. What I haven't been able to grasp is (to me) creating unique characters with unique attacks with lines I don't know where they came from. Take, for instance, Thor. He has only appeared as a support character in previous game, so there isn't a lot to work with. An amature programmer figure how to do him, and he has a graphic intensive move set. It just impresses and astounds me what people can do...
Wonder Woman vs Jean Grey
Someday, I'll download the program for Mugen and make my own roster. If it has online multi-player, more the better. I do hope that one day (and maybe that day has come) Mugen can be ported to a Wii or an Xbox or whatever the current popular game system is (and that I already own [c'mon, Gamecube]). If you are a fan of fighting games, customizablity, or even seeing a specific character or franchise in a video game, check out some of the online Mugen videos. Just make sure to watch the ones with the sound effects and not the ones with the metal or techno music. I love video game sfx...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Admission is free...
My eyes water and ache. My head pounds painfully in time with my heart. My fingers; they tremble and shake. I have become irritable. The time has come to admit it, publicly for all to see. I am an addict, but I have no shame. Look, ye readers, what has its claws into my very soul:
This game, released in the 1980's from the former Soviet Union, is easily one of the most addicting games I have ever played. And I do mean EVER. Since hooking my Nintendo up, I have enjoyed playing many NES games I haven't played in years. However, now that I have been (spoiled by...) playing modern games with advanced AIs, I find that many of the games I used to enjoy more can be beaten through pattern recognition, muscle memory, and constant repetition (thus lowering the overall fun level of some games). Not so with Tetris...
If you are unfamiliar with Tetris (how many of my generation isn't...), the point is to drop blocks (every shape composed of four square blocks...) to eliminate lines of blocks to reach your goal. The beauty of the game is every time you play it, it is different. It's like you build a puzzle while, at the same time, you undo it. It requires great hand-eye coordination and quick thinking. AND IT'S SO DAMN ADDICTING! If there never was a 'Tetris Anonymous', there really should be. Even in today's realm of modern games, I know few others that I would play for hours and hours and hours like Tetris. Super Smash Bros. maybe, but Tetris is so simple a game. It's perfect...
My family and I, back in the day, would have Tetris competitions every so often. Let me tell you, we can be a competitive bunch. Thankfully, it's all in good fun. But the thing I loved about our family Tetris time is that we would always turn off the sound and put on The Alan Parsons Project (usually The Instrumental Works). If you don't know them, look them up (This post is about Tetris, sucka!). Beyond enjoying APP, Tetris would speed the music up once you reached the top, throwing you off your game (Dad would get so mad...). Also, since APP usually has a good beat, it was ideal for playing the game. As a result, I can't help but think of Tetris when APP is on. Thanks Dad...
If you've never played it, you are missing out. Then again, if you haven't played it, you don't have the addiction inside you. As a kid, it was almost embarrassing to be in a Pizza Hut, just staring at the in store console because you didn't have a quarter on you. Think about that: I wanted to PAY to play a game I already owned. Now THAT is addiction. Thankfully, weening is a process I think that, with time, I can truly be free of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go play some Tetris...
This game, released in the 1980's from the former Soviet Union, is easily one of the most addicting games I have ever played. And I do mean EVER. Since hooking my Nintendo up, I have enjoyed playing many NES games I haven't played in years. However, now that I have been (spoiled by...) playing modern games with advanced AIs, I find that many of the games I used to enjoy more can be beaten through pattern recognition, muscle memory, and constant repetition (thus lowering the overall fun level of some games). Not so with Tetris...
If you are unfamiliar with Tetris (how many of my generation isn't...), the point is to drop blocks (every shape composed of four square blocks...) to eliminate lines of blocks to reach your goal. The beauty of the game is every time you play it, it is different. It's like you build a puzzle while, at the same time, you undo it. It requires great hand-eye coordination and quick thinking. AND IT'S SO DAMN ADDICTING! If there never was a 'Tetris Anonymous', there really should be. Even in today's realm of modern games, I know few others that I would play for hours and hours and hours like Tetris. Super Smash Bros. maybe, but Tetris is so simple a game. It's perfect...
My family and I, back in the day, would have Tetris competitions every so often. Let me tell you, we can be a competitive bunch. Thankfully, it's all in good fun. But the thing I loved about our family Tetris time is that we would always turn off the sound and put on The Alan Parsons Project (usually The Instrumental Works). If you don't know them, look them up (This post is about Tetris, sucka!). Beyond enjoying APP, Tetris would speed the music up once you reached the top, throwing you off your game (Dad would get so mad...). Also, since APP usually has a good beat, it was ideal for playing the game. As a result, I can't help but think of Tetris when APP is on. Thanks Dad...
If you've never played it, you are missing out. Then again, if you haven't played it, you don't have the addiction inside you. As a kid, it was almost embarrassing to be in a Pizza Hut, just staring at the in store console because you didn't have a quarter on you. Think about that: I wanted to PAY to play a game I already owned. Now THAT is addiction. Thankfully, weening is a process I think that, with time, I can truly be free of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go play some Tetris...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)