Playstation's Move is Here, Should You be Excited?

On Friday I went to Kmart and purchased the $99 Playstation Move Bundle (you get a $25 Playstation gaming coupon with purchase) and was excited.  I had read some of the reviews and it looked like it was getting a B or a C rating.  I wanted to kick the tires for myself.  First off it is easy to hook up.  Simply plug in the "eye" and charge the stick.  The move stick uses the same charger as the controller so no need to buy the charging station.  It charges fairly fast and was ready to go in just under half and hour.  The stick is lighter then Wii mote and the buttons are mapped well with "T" button as the trigger (makes sense). 



So lets get to the game Sports Champions.  The game has six events including disc golf, archery, gladiator, volleyball, bocce ball and table tennis. 

Disc golf - This was hard to get used to and I felt the move was almost tracking me too well.  Great at a party and was easy to start.  The game gives you three discs like clubs.  It was hard to master but was pretty good entertainment wise - B

Archery - I just had the one move stick on Friday and this is one of the games you have the option of using 2 sticks.  Playing against the computer is pretty fun at the bronze level.  Its not just shooting at a bullseye.  In the second challenge I shot at watermelons that appeared then disappeared.  Better then anticipated and was anxious to see how it worked with 2 sticks - B

Gladiator - I was actually a little disappointed with this.  Again this is one you can use 2 sticks or 1.  It was easy to learn but did not seem all that much fun.  The stick is accurate but I just not that impressed.  I just kept swing at people's legs and it seemed to work most of the time.  The shield bashing is kind of cool because as you use it your shield breaks apart.  Again I will try it later with 2 sticks - C

VolleyBall - In my opinion the ace in the deck.  I found myself working a small sweat over this one.  You can use 1 or 2 sticks again but this was great with just one.  Great tutorials and easy to learn.  Learning to jump serve was great and waving the stick to block .  The best of the bunch - A

Bocce Ball - The tutorials were nice but I'm guilty I have never played this before so it there was a bit of curve before the fun could be had.  I need to spend more time with this one before I grade it - Incomplete

Table Tennis - Sounds like a great concept but not so much.  I had higher hopes for this one but was let down.  I found this game to be the most inaccurate when it came to the stick.  Fun but got boring fast. - C

There is a demo disc that includes some of the upcoming and current games for Playstation Move.  The demo disc is neat to show off a few things the Move can do.  Eye Pet was a stand out I don't know if I would buy it but it is a way to get people intrigued by the new capabilities.  The disc is a nice touch to add with the bundle and some of the demos are on PSN so its not a dealbreaker if you don't buy the bundle but I have a small complaint.  I was looking foward to the Tiger Woods 11 demo but it does not support left handed golfers, yet each of the Playstation Sports Champions games ask you that first.  I guess EA is too concerned about their online league passes to make a complete demo (maybe if I paid $10...) so I think I will wait for the John Daly golf game.

All in all I will be the first to admit it was cool even though Nintendo did motion controls 3 - 4 years sooner but I will argue that it didn't stop me from buying the move or a new cell phone because it had more "bells and whistles" on it.  Technology is always going to improve and I'm guilty I will be an early adopter when I can be.

Final Grade - Playstation Move Sports Champions Bundle  - B

NHL Slapshot Review & a Move Date

First let  me start this review by saying that I am a Penguins half season ticket holder and have played some type of "beer league" for the last 15-20 years so I already love the game of hockey.  I did not buy NHL2k10 for the Wii last year so NHL Slapshot is my first "motion controlled" hockey experience.  This is EA's first time bringing the NHL to the Wii and did they break out the guns.  With each NHL Slapshot comes a "stick" to use.  I know we have all seen the tennis rackets and golf club attachment for the Wii but the stick is not quite as cheap.  There is a tutorial at the beginning of the game on putting together the stick and how to put the Wii-mote  into this contraption.  This is actually one of the flaws, the segment goes kind of fast and I can just see parents constantly hitting the reset button.  My advice:  look at the stick first and attempt to put in yourself so this way you have some idea whats going on.  Now that the stick is put together you are ready to play.  Just like its NHL big brother Bill Clement will teach you how to move and play.  The controller is somewhat accurate but it makes you wonder why Motion Control plus was not used.  It was a huge hit with Tiger Woods but the plus will not even fit inside the stick.  There are plenty of game modes including season but the hit of the party will be the simply play now option.  You can play in any division, I suggest Pee Wee.  Call me childish but I like the fact they put NHL jerseys on the kids.  Its like you are watching Sidney and Alex growing up on the ponds.  This play is set up a lot like NHL arcade (3vs3), which again is great party game.  I had fun playing but the stick sometimes did not recognize the shot and my teams AI might have been amped up a little but it was still a blast.  I can not stress enough that the game is easy to learn and fun to play.  The graphics are average but this game has potential to become a yearly series on the Wii and knock the folks at 2k down again.

Grade: B

Power Foward with high potential

Sony Move comes out this week, there seems to be some confusion on what day.  Some reports say Friday others Sunday.  The point is by the end of the weekend I will be buying it.  I am going to buy the bundle.  I have a camera but I was doing the math.  The stick is $50, the game Sports Champions which is said to have the best range of games is $40, an exclusive demo with 10+ games on it and the camera.  I figure I can ditch the camera at Gamestop or sell it.  I think I will get a Nav stick also.  Also Move has started to show up on the Sony Rewards website. I will post pictures later this weekend.

Sony Move & Amazon Warehouse Deals

The anticipation for Sony Move is at a fever pitch right now, the new Kevin Butler ads premiered last night during the Saints / Vikings game.  He is staying with a family for "90 days".  His twitter account is great (its under the Kevin Butler) and should be fun over the next few weeks.  I wonder if Microsoft is worried that this will steal some of the thunder from Halo: Reach.  I doubt it, those commercials are proof that they could do a Halo Movie.  Sony Move intrigues me with the 1:1 ratio.  I have seen the reviews on X-Play and on CNET but I think the jury is still out.  I believe people will want to see how Move works on their current library.  I know I have Heavy Rain (this is a great game) and want to see how it works.  I am not a FPS guy but might give games like Killzone 3 and Time Crisis a try.  I remember playing all the "gun games" in the arcade and am anxious to see how it holds up.  Time will show how it holds up and I will be giving my full review the week of the 17th.  I will buying it first day but it is unknown if I will "nerd out" for it.  I have the Sony camera already so I think I will buy a game (Sports Champions), the nav stick and the Move controller (maybe 2 of these).  Should be fun I am looking foward to it.

Speaking of buying and just random checking a website, here is my first plug for website.  Go to http://www.amazon.com/ and search Warehouse deals.  Amazon Warehouse for video games, this is kind of the scratch and dent section of a grocery store.  Games and systems can be cheap but they are one of a kind and will come with cosmetic "faults".  Sometimes I will just randomly check the site for "deals".  I have heard of $65 Nintendo Wiis (very few) and $100 Xbox Arcades (like new).  The description is usually pretty accurate and they the return policy is still in full effect for the items that come from the actual Warehouse.  Its a crap shoot but still fun, none the less.  Good luck and happy hunting...

Finishing God of War 3 and a Busy Tuesday Release Day

God of War 3 - Grade: B+

This summer I vowed to beat the God of War trilogy and did (both had been in my backlog since February/March).  I have heard around the net that the ending was a bit of a bummer for the series but I disagree.  For those who haven't finished the game or those who don't want to know, its good and well worth your time.  Here is my review:

First the cinematics on this game are incredible.  It honestly makes you wonder why there is not a movie for this game.  With so many one liners like "It's not my life you should be worried about..." it writes itself but back to the game play.  It's a good game and if you have ever played any of the GOW series its the same but in a good way.  The control scheme is easy to learn with very few "what button is that" moments.  They have plenty of tutorials on the side to remind you, especially with the harpies.  The boss battles are great again but the puzzles are easier then either God of War with the musical puzzle being the most fun.  I did not use the internet for any of this game which is a first for me in the series but I have also beat the first two games so I had an idea what to look for.  Side Note: I won't ever buy "Strategy Guides" but have been known to look on line if I am just frustrated beyond belief.  My advice for if you ever stuck in a GOW game look for a place to climb. All in all the game was fun and not a chore to finish.  The end boss battle is not the hardest boss battle in the game in my opinion but brings closure to the trilogy (make sure you watch the credits to the end it adds a bit of intrigue).  With all the blood and the other "mini games" (GOW vets you know what I'm talking about) the Mature rating is dead on.  I finished this game in just over 10 hours total.  If I had to rate the games according to difficulty I would say that the third one is the easiest.  I always play my games on normal so the difficulty should be the same for all 3. 

One thing I like about the GOW series is you got "extra content" when you beat the game.  Not just the normal costumes but "How they made the game" videos.  It was very cool and very informative. If you ever thought of a career in games from tester to designer this is a MUST.  I just wish they had a "Play all" option.  Its gets a bit old with some of the segments at 4 minutes or less.

Today is Tuesday the 7th which means new releases.  Today Kmart will be getting my money (again) for several reasons.  NHL 11 $20 (PS3) gaming coupon in which I will use it on NHL Slapshot for the Wii (at Kmart you get an extra NHL stick).  Also they MS points, if you buy 1600 points you get $10 gaming coupon.  Also Batman: Brave and Bold (Wii) is at Toys R us with a free T shirt.  This one may have to wait.  They have a buy 1 get 40% off second but they have a list of games and those are often a pain.

Any questions shoot me a comment.

What I hope to do with this blog...

I'm a "gamer" I think.  I have all the major systems and play them regularly (couple times a week), not so much with the Wii but frankly I blame the good folks at Nintendo for that.  I buy my games because I want to so I have something and I like to show off my collection.  Also I can take my time playing a game or if something better comes out I can always throw it in and not have to wait.  I shop the best prices and get the biggest bang for the buck.  I have some loyalty to stores but not much.  Currently Kmart, (yes Kmart) is getting most of my money.  My favorite website is cheapassgamer, they usually know about the deals and everyone is pretty cool.  They have a place to trade games like Goozex but better.

I have had high hopes for games and ran out the first day to buy them (Sonic the Hedgehog PS3 raise your hand) and been disappointed.  I have "nerded out", which means to wait out at midnight with other gamers for first day release, (Batman: Arkham Asylum) played when I got home for 2 hours and ,like a 8 year old, did not want to go to bed.  Later in the blogs I will tell you what games I have and a letter grade with a short review just to catch up.

I do play games to completion or till I can't stand it anymore, I don't just play them for a few minutes write a review and move on.  I will reviewing both new and new to me games.  Here is what I am playing on all systems right now:

PS3: God Of War III
Xbox 360: Monopoly
Wii:  Super Mario Bros. Wii
PSP: Little Big Planet

In the next few weeks I will be getting Batman: The Brave & Bold (Wii), NHL 11 (PS3), NHL Slapshot, the new EA hockey game for the Wii & on the 17th Playstation Move, on XBL Limbo (loved the demo).

Thanks for reading I hope to do a couple of posts a week.  If you have a question don't hesitate to ask...

Rock away