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1UP zings Neverwinter Nights 2 (again)
It looks like the final chapter has been written in the ongoing saga of 1UP's Neverwinter Nights 2 review controversy. An updated review is now available at the Ziff Davis-owned gaming portal, and the new score is a 6/10 (upgraded from 5/10). Only this time, the review was written by Games for Windows editor Jeff Green, who just last week explained the decision to pull writer Matt Peckham's original review.Green echoes Peckham's sentiments about D&D-based roleplaying adventures -- "success is largely determined by the understanding of a rule set that only a genius or a 13-year-old could fully comprehend" -- but he takes great care not to bash the genre with the same reckless abandon that tainted Peckham's analysis. Instead, more emphasis is placed on NWN2's performance issues, problematic camera, and faulty A.I. -- all valid criticisms. Still, you have to wonder if this is the score Green would've given Obsidian's RPG before the events of two weeks ago, or if he was somehow influenced by the score Peckham gave the game. Like the editor said last week, "there was no way to 'win' here." See also: Metareview - Neverwinter Nights 2
How Halo 3 fixes Halo 2 multiplayer
1UP continues their month long barrage of Halo 3 coverage with a breakdown of what Bungie is doing to address the multiplayer concerns from Halo 2. In short, these concerns are: Weapon whoring Duel Wielding and the "noob combo" (plasma pistol and battle rifle) Player designations A big problem in Halo 2 multiplayer is weapon whoring. In other words, once a power weapon -- like the rocket launcher or sniper rifle -- is obtained, it cannot be obtained by anyone else until it is emptied or dropped by the player holding it. In some cases, a team will grab both sniper rifles on a large map and dominate, while the other team is denied any kind of counter measure. Another way to whore a weapon is to grab it and just not use it. As long as it is in your possession, it will not respawn, thus keeping it from everyone else. For instance, the team that grabs both snipers could also pick up the rocket launcher and sword just to make sure your team never has a chance. So, how does Bungie fix this?
Dirty pranks catch game journalists
It pays to really scrutinize those nifty game systems people randomly ship you -- even if you're a gaming journalist and people are often randomly shipping you systems. According to Ross Miller of big daddy Joystiq, the guys of 1UP/EGM really need to heed the above advice. GameVideos.com director Mark MacDonald pranked the staffers with a fake Wii setup that was good enough to fool a few. And you can see all the loldrama unfold for yourself after the jump. Beware, however, there's a little language at times. Naughty language.
1UP editors: Wii got punk'd
Even reputed game journalists are not above gullibility. GameVideos.com Director Mark MacDonald sent us word of a prank he played in the 1UP / EGM offices recently where he used pre-recorded footage of Metroid Prime 2 and Auto Modelista, a "replica Wii joystiq [sic]," and a laptop battery posing as a sensor bar to fool more than a few editors that they had gotten a retail Wii unit in early. Dan Hsu caught on quickly, after launching into a mini-tirade about unreturned e-mails to Nintendo. A few others, however, were no so lucky, even sitting down to play the games for many minutes before realizing they were mere marionettes in a sick and twisted mind game. All the embarrassment has been caught on tape, uploaded, and embedded below.
Gunpey PSP versus Gunpey DS
DS and PSP fanboys can never agree about which Q? Entertainment puzzler is the best. PSP owners love Lumines' stylish looks, kickin' music, and mellow gameplay. DS owners love Meteos' wi-fi multiplayer, intuitive touch screen controls, and hectic gameplay. Now, the DS and PSP Mizuguchi fans will be able to argue about the same game: Gunpey. The two handhelds take two very different approaches to the game, and according to 1UP, the DS gets the better version:The PSP version is the purest taste of Gunpey you're likely to receive anywhere. The skin collecting is addictive, and as long as you don't mind the brutal, linear, hours-long grind needed to collect them all, then this is probably the version most older gamers will go for. But if you're looking for a more full-featured game, with greater variety -- and don't mind the cartoony milieu of Gunpey DS -- then you will find this version not only a superior value, but a superior game.Although the DS version is more cartoony (and looks like it's for kids), it features one important feature the PSP version lacks: game sharing. I loved playing Meteos multiplayer with just one cartridge, and it's a shame that most PSP games don't seem to take advantage of this incredible feature. It's sad to think that maybe the PSP version would've outclassed the DS version if it bothered to include game sharing. Gunpey comes out November 14th.
Metareview: Every Extend Extra
Every Extend Extra started as a freeware PC app that was transformed by the music-loving Q? Entertainment folks. With flashy skins, and groovin' music, does Every Extend Extra continue the music puzzling legacy of Mizuguchi, or does it fall flat on its face? Let's see what the critics have to say: CVG (90/100) thinks the game is just as good as its Lumines predecessor: "With all the impressive music and visual tech pushing Every Extend Extra, its easy to forget that when you strip it all away there's a unique and addictive shooter lying underneath. As with Lumines, E3 is a game for those who appreciate a simple yet brilliantly-realised, score-driven experience - otherwise you might just be put off by the limited amount of raw content the game has to offer." IGN (81/100) thinks the game's a bit too short-lived, but its pretty looks keep it coming back for more: "Nine stages may not sound like a lot, and truthfully, it's not. But for some cosmic reason it satisfies nonetheless. Each one provides such a distinct arena, complete with unique musical tracks and background animations, that moving through the game gives players an actual sense of accomplishment." The Mizuguchi-worshipping 1UP (60/100) gave a surprisingly low review, saying the game's flashy nature is a bit too distracting: "It's extra flashy, extra chaotic, extra confusing. Q Entertainment's unique sense of style is in full effect, but for once that's maybe not such a good thing. All of Mizuguchi's trademark flash and pizzazz actually detract from the experience." With the exception of 1UP, it appears that the critics enjoy the E3 experience. And although it might be too short, or too flashy, the original Every Extend is included as a nice bonus. The game is now available for the budget price of $30. I'm buying it just for the awesome box art.
Editor explains retracted NWN2 review
Games For Windows magazine editor Jeff Green has posted a lengthy explanation on why Matt Peckham's now infamous review of Neverwinter Nights 2 was pulled from 1UP last week. Green's commentary offers some detailed insight into the new editorial process that will unify 1UP.com and GFW product reviews -- a system that seemingly left all parties involved with their backs up against the wall. In this excerpt, Green discusses his gut reaction after reading Peckham's review:"...when I read it, I was unhappy. I felt that right from the start, it read more like a bashing of the genre rather than a review of this specific game. I could see valid criticisms of NWN2 in the text, but I felt that the overall tone made it seem that [Matt] was just so sick of turn-based D&D RPGs that the game never had a chance on its own. I felt, if I was a reader, my first question would be: 'Why the heck did they let him review it then?' I felt that what he was saying in general was perfectly valid -- but just not for this piece."In summary, the GFW editor reaffirms 1UP's commitment to gamers, which is what drove the decision to remove the NWN2 review. Nothing like a little controversy to help kick off a publication relaunch, but in choosing to share the lessons learned by his organization, Green's retelling of these unfortunate events can benefit other trade publications.
Halo 3 impressions from 1UP and EGM
That issue of EGM isn't even out yet and the Halo 3 hype train keeps a' rolling. The editors of EGM/1UP have posted some of their thoughts and impressions of their visit to Bungie. Though they don't give away anything that hasn't already been leaked, they do announce that they definitely liked what they saw. Dan Hsu makes a time honored point, noting that the graphics weren't "that impressive for an Xbox 360 game," but it was so fun that it didn't matter. He goes on to say that he doesn't want to go back to Halo 2 now that he has been spoiled by this (pre-alpha) build of Halo 3. Mark MacDonald probably gives the most concrete info, giving speculators and Halo fanatics something to chew on. "I very rarely dual-wielded in the few hours we got to play Halo 3, and after some early experimentation, I mostly stuck with the Assault Rifle. I'd pick up a Battle Rifle or Shotgun if I had the chance, but unless I was super close or far from a target, the AR suited me just fine. More than fine. OK I f*king love the assault rifle. It might as well be an entirely new weapon. (I hope they don't mess with it too much between now and the final game.)"He goes on to discuss some of the new weapons, the new maps, and the overall candor of the Bungie team. Fans slavering for info would best be served to read his impressions first. The last impression comes from Luke Smith, who paints Halo as his Mario. His is more nostalgia and hope than the factual accounts of the other two. Still, if you love Halo, or hearing people wax romantic about videogames, give it a read.So, with all this pre-hyped hype, has anybody actually gotten the new EGM yet?[Via HBO]
Zelda impressions recap
A few days ago, Nintendo held a special press event in Redmond (we were invited, but were too busy preventing nuclear war to go) where the media could have a very long, very uninterrupted playthrough of the final build of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. No less than a dozen major gaming sites and publications have already released their in-depth experiences with everyone's favorite kinda-elf, so we've done you the favor of assembling the cream of the crop right here. The overall gist? 1) Don't wait for the Gamecube version, and 2) Holy damn this game is amazing. Of the five listed, we recommend good 'ol Matt Cassamassina's impressions; they're quite thorough.Zelda Impressions from IGN: Matt CassamassinaZelda Impressions from GoNintendo: Raw Meat CowboyZelda Impressions from 1up: Jeremy ParishZelda Impressions from Gamespot: Ricardo TorresZelda Impressions from Planet Gamecube: Steven Rodriguez
1UP pulls Neverwinter Nights 2 review
In a move reserved for only the most high-ranking of screw-ups, 1UP.com has pulled their review of Neverwinter Nights 2. Stating that the review did a "disservice to fans of the RPG genre." We have what is said to be the original review after the break.It's a very difficult decision to pull a story. An editor would normally rather suffer the wrath of an angry readership than go forth with a retraction. Not only does it show a lack of respect to the writer of the piece, but it shows a collapse in the editorial chain of command at a publication. As our metareview showed this morning, 1UP gave NWN2 a 5 out of 10, which was quite the departure from the rest of the reviews. Not that publications can't have different opinions, but seriously, when was the last time you saw a decent game get below a 7?
1up prepping Haloverload
1UP is going to be offering three full weeks of Halo 3 updates with video, podcasts, pictures, finger puppets, and posts. Are we jealous? Only a tiny bit. Are we envious? Not of all the work they'll be doing. Even they're calling it a "megafeature." After they're done, you're either going to want to storm the Bungie offices, kick the doors in, and demand your own copy of the game, or else you'll want to strangle someone at 1up because you're green with envy.We'll give you a preview of the coverage here:Week one - YAY! We played Halo 3! (post)Week two - Hey, did we mention we played Halo 3? (podcast)Week three - Guess what, we played Riiiiiiiidge Ra ... er, we mean Halo 3!!! (video)Efforts are underway by 1UP to have November named "National Halo 3 Month," more as it develops.
Major Nelson on G4: microtransactions "are about choice"
Last night on G4's Attack of the Show, host Kevin Pereira held a debate between Major Nelson and 1UP's Andrew Pfister on the much-discussed topic of microtransactions. During the segment, entitled The Loop, Major Nelson pressed that it is "about choice," while Pfister spoke for the gaming community when he said that "it doesn't appear that anybody is in control of the situation." With the recent Godfather and Lumines debacles, we're inclined to agree.Unfortunately, the segment's lead-in was awkward and the debate was way too short for either side to make an argument, but what we heard was engaging. Please, G4, give The Loop its own half-hour time slot; we'd watch it. Continue reading for the video.
Partial songlist revealed for Vice City Stories
Man, the 80s were great, and Rockstar's doing a great job of bringing back the classics (again) in Vice City Stories. 1UP has unearthed a partial songlist from the game, and it includes Phil Collins (of course), and a few other classics: Philip Bailey - Easy Lover Alan Parsons Project - Games People Play Pat Benatar - Love is a Battlefield Jonzun Crew - Pack Jam Run DMC - It's Like That Whodini - Freaks Come Out At Night Dio - Holy Diver Dokken - Breaking the Chains Ratt - Round and Round Exodus - Together Forever Class Action - Weekend Sister Sledge - Lost in Music Bobby Valentin - Mi Ritmo Es Bueno Hector Lavoe - Mi Gente Willie Colon - El Malo Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing Earth Wind & Fire - Fantasy Keni Burke - Keep Rising to the Top Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is The Assembly - Never Never Pat Benatar - We Belong Human League - Love Action Japan - Quiet Life Yaz - Don't Go Wow... this is quite a star-studded cast of artists. I can't wait to run over some prostitutes while having Sexual Healing blasting out of my radio. Hot.
Analyzing Medusa in gamer mythology
In his recent Retronauts feature, 1UP's Jeremy Parish examines the disparate interpretations of Medusa throughout early gaming. Discarding most of the intricate histories of the Gorgon sister, most game designers chose instead to focus on the two (obviously most important) aspects of Medusa: her serpentine hairdo and (sometimes) her stone-inducing gaze.Pariah gives a number of examples, with pictures, of Medusa in gaming before transitioning into a discussion on the Castlevania series and its insistence on making Medusa a flying head maneuvering in a sinusoidal pattern.One of the tales of Medusa that we haven't seen game designers capitalize on: when Perseus beheaded Medusa, Pegasus the winged horse and Chrysaor the giant sprang forth, presumably the offspring born of an night of passion between Poseidon and Medusa. [Via Wired]
Salamanders, TwinBees and more
Former blogger Rafael once said excited about Konami's classic compilation Gradius Collection: "We likey!" Well, it looks like Konami's planning to make Rafael likey for a long, long time, with new compilations of their other classic shooter series. The Salamander Collection and Parodius Collection will contain four titles each (with one bonus *secret* title for each compilation... ooh!). I'm personally psyched for Twinbee Collection, because it's by far the most recognizable of these hardcore shooters (it also has one more game than the other collections, for the budget-conscious).All three collections are planned to hit Japan in January for 4179 yen (less than $40), so importers should keep an eye out. Until then, educate yourself on these classic series by visiting Wikipedia.[Via 1UP; thanks, steve!]
PSP puzzlers featured in new season of The 1UP Show
I ran into Milky from 1UP a few times at DigitalLife, and during our video game musings, we discovered our mutual love of one thing... Lumines. The latest episode of The 1UP Show (PSP version also available) reveals some new footage and details from the upcoming music puzzler. The show reveals that J-Pop artist Mondo Grosso will headline the introductory track for the game, and it looks like a lot of fun. What isn't so fun are the new English language pop music video levels. The music doesn't mesh with the game, and the videos can be distracting, according to the Milkman. Interestingly, the graphics of this puzzle game have somehow become more beautiful. Gyuh? The rest of the episode goes to detail about the customization options in the new Lumines, and unlockables, and the new "harder" difficulty level. If that wasn't enough Mizuguchi love for you, Gunpey is featured on the episode, and there's nothing but praise for the game. With stylish good looks, a rockin' soundtrack, and some addictive puzzle gameplay, it appears that Gunpey is where PSP owners will flock to get a new puzzler fix, if Lumines feels too familiar for them. Interestingly, the show reveals that both Lumines and Gunpey have been delayed in Japan to 2007, meaning American gamers will be able to enjoy these very quirky Japanese-centric games months before the land of the rising sun. And the reason? Because PSP has become so overshadowed by the DS. Lumines II arrives in stores November 7.
Japan awards 360 for Good Design
Sure, the 360 is routinely outsold by used panties every week, but the Japanese recognize good design when they see it. The aptly named Good Design awards are given to many products that exhibit, what else, good design -- previous winners include the PSP and the DS Lite. The award was given to the 360 this year for many of its spiffy features, including: Vertical or Horizontal alignment The iconic ring of light and its functions Wireless controls Customizable faceplates The "inhale" concave design Also noted was the international design effort that put the box together in the first place. Many will recall that the 360 was designed through a collaborative effort between Hers Experimental lab of Japan and Astro Studio of the US. So, congratulations 360, for winning an award that will likely have no impact whatsoever on Japanese sales!
Valhalla Knights coming to the US
Back in August, Japanese PSP owners experienced one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs on the handheld yet. Valhalla Knights features impressive graphics and gameplay, with real-time combat and six member teams. IGN called the game one of the best RPGs of
Bethesda confirms Oblivion to PSP in Spring 2007
Yesterday, we broke news that 1UP broke news of the Official Playstation Magazine breaking news of Oblivion heading to the PSP and PS3. Did ya get all that?Well, now we get confirmation right from the source. Yeah, that's right, Bethesda has issued a press release confirming Oblivion is headed to the PSP in spring 2007. In America, the game will be published by Bethesda, while Ubisoft will publish it in Europe.As if you didn't already know, this is a huge win for the PSP and PS3. I don't think there's anyone in their right mind who would argue that the PSP is the only major handheld system on the market that has enough horsepower to properly handle a game like Oblivion.It's times like this that help me forget about things like hardware sales charts and focus on the massive amount of great games on the PSP's horizon. It truly is a great time to be a gamer.[Via Bethesda]
Castlevania heading to PSP?
One of my favorite games on the DS is Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. The series has always mesmerized me, ever since I started playing the Game Boy Advance games. Konami gave me a huge castle to explore, and tons of ways to traverse through it, and I loved it. Unfortunately, I missed what people call the best Castlevania game ever: Symphony of the Night. Yes, it's coming to Xbox 360, but wouldn't it be absolutely lovely on the PSP screen? 1UP spoke with Koji Igarashi and forced the issue:1UP: Castlevania series seems to always stick to the Nintendo handhelds, the GBA and DS. So I'm wondering, do you see yourself doing any PSP Castlevanias in the future? I mean, Konami seems to support the system pretty well -- so I'm wondering if you're personally interested in doing a PSP game. And in the very least, would you want to bring Symphony of the Night to the PSP, given that Sony is eager to start offering PS1 games for download? Igarasahi: I think the PSP is an interesting platform with a big and beautiful screen, so I would like to put my hands on a PSP version. As for offering SOTN, yes, I would love to provide it as a download if the users would want that.This is where, if I were the interviewer, I would turn into a rabid dog and scream "YES!!!" while potentially frothing at the mouth. But the love for the PSP doesn't stop there. It appears that Igarasahi-san wants to develop original games for the system as well:1UP: Can you just clarify your comments about developing for the PSP? Igarasahi: Basically, I would like to move to a multiplatform basis, so PSP is included as one of my targeted platforms.
