Bad News

If anybody reads this, I have moved over to my new website fully. If things don't work out, I may move back here. Go to for my new website.

Previews

Preview for Secret Agent Clank: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/06/box-previews-secret-agent-clank.html

Reviews

Review for Bully: Scholarship Edition: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/06/box-reviews-bully-schoalarship-edition.html

Review for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/05/box-reviews-guitar-hero-iii-legends-of.html

Review for Super Mario Galaxy: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/05/box-reviews-super-mario-galaxy.html

Review for Mario Kart Wii: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/05/wroom-racer-acquired-star-he-whizzes.html

Review for Ratchet and Clank: http://boxgaming.blogspot.com/2008/06/box-reviews-ratchet-and-clank.html

Box Reviews: Ratchet and Clank

This is a break from my usual structure, as I am reviewing a PS2 game. Ratchet and Clank was the beginning of a franchise, spawning many sequels, and even the recently released Secret Agent Clank for the PSP. I'll get in to that one next time. RaC: ToD (I like abbreviations) was a critical success, gaining many high reviews, raving it for it's spot-on graphics. Unfortunately, I do not have a PS3, because I do not wish to file for a loan. But, I can bring you the original, creatively titled, Ratchet and Clank.

This game starts off by an alien thing (called a blarg), named Chairmen Drek whose planet is overpopulated and polluted, so he decides to build a new one. This mean that he will be destroying almost every planet in the galaxy. Meanwhile, at a robot factory that builds henchmen for Drek malfunctions, and a little robot is produced. He finds the plan, and immediately sets off in search of help. He crashes into the planet Veldin, and Lombax Ratchet finds him. The two immediately set off to find him.

This game is a 3d platformer, so that would normally mean finding Drek and jumping on his head 20 or so times. But Ratchet and Clank isn't a normal platformer. Ratchet's packing heat. So that means while you'll most defiantly be jumping all around, you will also be gunning down hoards of enemies while doing it.

There are an assortment of guns to be found in this game. The one you are first equipped with in the game is the bomb glove. This glove shoots out bombs. The weapon variety goes from a simple machine gun to a gun that turns your enemies into chickens. My favorite weapon goes to the pyrocitor which is basically a flamethrower. While not the most creative, it is the best weapon that I choose to use. There are upgradable versions of these weapons, available on the second play through. But these cost gold bolt, which are just hidden items in the worlds.

All of the worlds are not just levels, but worlds. Every one of the levels is actually a different planet. And you travel there by ship. Over the course of the game you can access many different ships, none of which are customizable.

Speaking of bolts, bolts are the currency found in the game. There are crates littered around the area. Brown wooden crates carry bolts, and crates with a 'G' on them carry ammo for the various weapons. Because the enemies are mostly robots, all of the enemies are bound to carry a few bolts on them.

And don't think that this game is all about jumping and shooting, as there are plenty of gadgets to help you on your way. The first gadget you come across is the Swingshot. Sometimes in levels there are green and yellow orbs. Green orbs, if you have the Swingshot, just pull you to them. Yellow orbs let you swing like an airborne swing set. Another memorable gadget is the Magneboots, which let you walk on slim metal catwalks.

Clank is a gadget all in himself. He has three backpacks he can wear. The heli-pack is the first backpack you come across. For some bolts, Clank earns Ratchet some very fancy moves. The first is a very high jump. The second is a very long jump. The third is the ability to glide in the air after a jump. The thruster pack has the same moves with just one advantage, the astroslam. This enables you to jump in the air, and slam into the ground hard. You use it twice in the game, but you can use it to slam enemies too. The hydro-pack is used to swim against currents and faster too.

My biggest gripe against this game is that it's too darn hard. For the most part of the game, you get four health orbs. Each time you get hit, you lose an orb. You can find crates that have health in them, and those orbs are a big help. I should also mention that these health orbs are called Nanotech. You can buy more Nanotech at one of the levels, but the most Nanotech you can have is 8 Nanotech. With no leveling up of the weapons until challenge mode and the enemies getting harder every level, this makes for a rather challenging game. I should also note that when you die, you get push back a good bit of the level.

The graphics in this game are good, not fantastic, but good. But the animation is rather well done. Bravo for animation Insomniac. The sound is the same way. There is no memorable music but the sound FX are great.

Graphics: 7/10 Good graphics but awesome animation.

Gameplay: 8/10 Would be 10/10 if it wasn't too darn hard.

Sound: 7/10 Good soundtrack but awesome FX.

Multiplayer: N/A
Charm: N/A I'm going to stop this category.

Replay Value: 8/10 Challenge mode gives you a bolt multiplier, harder enemies, and upgraded weapons.

Overall: 8/10 This would be the perfect platformer, but the presentation and difficulty bring it down a notch.

Guitar Hero Metallica

Besides Guitar Hero Aerosmith, there is a new Guitar Hero game coming out. It isn't Guitar Hero On Tour or Guitar Hero World Tour, but a new game. Guitar Hero Metallica. This will be just like Guitar Hero Aerosmith. It will have songs by Metallica and songs that have influenced Metallica. It is due for a Q1 2009 release.

Box Previews: Secret Agent Clank

Secret Agent Clank is the newest Ratchet and Clank game for the PSP, following Size Matters. This installment has the robot sidekick all on his own, with his secret agent persona.

The story: Clank is breaking into a museum for who knows why when he sees a figure getting arrested. After a DNA test, Clank finds out that it is Ratchet. Clank knows Ratchet didn't commit any crime, and goes off to clear his good name. Meanwhile, in jail, Ratchet must compete in arena challenges, much like Anhialation Nation in RaC 3. He also meets all of his enimies from the previous games(I think. Don't quote me on that. Gamespot said he meets all of his arch enimies, so that's what I assumed.)

Clank gets an updated melee move set and an assortment of spy weapons. The spy weapons can be upgraded much like all of the weapons could be in the previous games. For the first time ever, you can play as Captain Quark. Not like in RaC 3, where you just played the Quark Comics,but in full 3D, or as much 3D as the PSP can handle.

There is also the option of stealth kills. This game is a lot like Hitman, where you can take the sneaky way out, or you can take the gunnery. But I think the game awards you for sneakiness (I think). Now the way stealth kills work is that you go up behind the enemy, repeat a four button code, and he kills him. The game will also have some rhythm minigames in them, sort of like the GTA SA thing like the dancing and the low-riders. Buttons roll in from the side, and you have to press them when they hit the line to the right.

So there is my preview of Secret Agent Clank. The release is scheduled for June 17 this year.

Box Reviews: Bully: Schoalarship Edition

Bully for the PS2 was released 1-2 years ago, and it was a critical but not a commercial success. The game caused controversy, as it basically said, "Kids are allowed to be violent and sexual in high school." But others said that the game promoted good things, like sticking up for bullies, and self defense. No one knew who was right, but nobody cared, because it was an awesome game. And two years later, it arrives on the Wii and 360. And I'm here to tear it apart. (note: pictures are from 360 version)

Let me be the first to say that the Wii version is considered the best, because even with highly superior graphics, the 360 version is notorious for being corrupt with glitches and bugs. Speaking of graphics, the Wii version looks no different than that of the PS2, witch isn't saying much. But the animation is the best animation I've seen in a while. Sometimes I just pause the action just to look at the graphics and animation. It's just that good.

The actual game play is no different than that of the PS2 version. you still jump and punch and kick and beat up kids, prefects, and cops. You still use your slingshot and marbles and spud gun and stink bombs. You can take pictures and go to class, which is really just one of many mini games used to get items and skills.

Some of the mini games are really neat. My favorite is the music class. You pound on the Wiimote or nunchuck when the corresponding notes drop down. It's sort of like DDR for dummies. The least inspired ones are math, geography, chemistry, and shop. Math and Geography just make you pick a choice. Shop and Chem are just simple movements. Photography really isn't a mini game. You whip out your camera, go around town, and take pictures. Wow.

The soundtrack is the best original soundtrack ever. In the Guitar Hero review, I mentioned that that video game had the best soundtrack, but this one is too, in a different kind of way. The music really has a charm to it, like SMG. The jingly tune of the bike, to the hard theme of fighting, it all makes me happy. I give this best original soundtrack of 2007. You just have to hear it.



The dialog in the game is also as superb. It is actually a hybrid of comedy and seriousness. It's like a tomato. It's a fruit and a veggie, two totally different things, and yet it is still great. My favorite line in the game is Gary. When Jimmy asks, "What's your problem man?" Gary goes, "ADD primarily, but also my parents, life, and western civilization." It's funny stuff.

The story goes like this. Spoiler Alert! Young Jimmy Hopkins is forced to go to boarding school while his mother and father go on a yearly honeymoon. Jimmy Hopkins meets Gary, Gary helps him, Gary tries to thwart Jimmy. Jimmy takes over the school factions. Gary corrupts the school. Jimmy saves the school after being expelled. End of Spoilers.

The factions are really neat. You got the bullies, the nerds, the preps, the jocks, and the greasers. There are only 60-some kids in the school and town, so you'll get to know everyone you pass. In most missions, you either earn respect for one faction, or decrease it for another. If you come across a person for a faction you don't have respect for, they'll pick a fight with you. At the end, you'll get all factions respect +100.

And lastly is the control. For the Wii, you run with the stick, punch with the Wiimote and Nunchuck, and pause with 1, view objectives with 2, switch weapons with + and -, and the rest is motion control. It all works together nicely.

Graphics: 9/10 Great animation but also nice graphics.
Game play: 8/10 Short game. Fun while it lasts, which isn't vary long.
Sound: 10/10 Music is wonderful, and the dialog offers a chuckle or two.
Multiplayer: 3/10 This game has multiplayer, but all it is is classes.
Charm: 7/10 The music is the only charm.
Replay Value: 5/10 You won't want to play it after you finish it.
Overall: 9/10 With great game play and a gripping storyline, Bully is defiantly a game you should pick up.

A Note on Previews

I haven't posted a preview yet, but I'd like to give some info. I do not have any access to any pre-release games, nor E3 or any press conference. I have to wait and spend my hard-givin money on games, just like you. But I gather communilative previews from sites such as IGN or Gamespot. Then I take all of that information and put it into my own words. I will give credit to those sites, and note any direct quoting.