A Look to the Past: Games of the Years 1993 - Myst

1993 

Myst (PC)

Perhaps the most original winner from the entire list, Myst did what no game had done before. While hit games like Mega Man 6, Link's Awakening and Sonic CD kept rolling out, Myst took a brave move; and it paid off big time. It presented an imaginative world steeped in mystifying mystery and riddled with riddles, creating an unforgettable atmosphere in the process. The story was dark and intriguing, forcing player to takes things very slowly in order to progress. Reading tarnished books with hidden meanings lurking between pages, exploring abandoned worlds locked with complicated puzzles, and deciphering strange mechanisms and buildings were commonplace activities. There was no fighting, no dying, and next to no direction. Instead, the player was given a first-person perspective from an unknown individual and merely dropped-- quite literally-- into the Island of Myst. Clicking on the still frames of rendered scenery and interacting with its objects was more than enough to draw in millions of people.

Do you know how long it took me to figure out the puzzle of the lighthouse? A long time, that's how long!

Visually, Myst was a masterpiece. An archaic masterpiece by today's standards, but a masterpiece all the same. Like all the other elements of the game, it managed to forgo conventions and create a thick atmosphere of surreal creepiness. It really feels like another world in there. The game even used live-action cutscenes to non-laughable effects, which was and still is a wonder. Perhaps the most important achievement of all was that Myst truly proved that video games aren't just for kids, and did so in a truer sense of the word "mature" than did shock factor games like Mortal Kombat and Doom. Difficult, obtuse, and at times confusing, Myst was not an easy game to complete. But the challenge was entirely different than that of its fellow video games, and very few games even today can match its vision. It was certainly ahead of its time in 1993, and its gripping tale is still well worth a look.

A Look to the Past: Games of the Years 1992 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

1992 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

I was already moving onto 1993 after quickly deciding on '92's Game of the Year; namely, Sonic the Hedgehog 2! However, I was astounded and flabbergasted to discover that I had overlooked one of the most remarkable games of our lifetimes: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. As hard as it is for me to let one of my favorite platformers of all time slide to the wayside, I couldn't overlook the significance of such an important achievement. In a world of fun albeit simple games such as Super Mario Kart and The Lost Vikings, this landmark installment to the Zelda series was epic in the true sense of the word. The tale began during a raging storm, leading the young hero out from his safe house and into a grand, imposing castle. One endangered princess and several puzzles later, the entirety of Hyrule was at the player's fingertips. The overworld was huge, chock full of battle, secrets, monsters, magic, and a whole lot more. Exploration mixed with real-time combat to create an excellent recipe for adventure, and in 1993, that was pretty much the coolest thing currently on the planet. The dungeons were top-notch too, of course: your brain was as necessary as your wits to make it through in one piece.

Beware the cuccos: they are not your friends.

Easily besting the series' previous two installments, A Link to the Past perfected the formula and brought a slew of classic Zelda trademarks to the table. This game introduced the Master sword to the franchise, along with the hookshot, a bevy of amazing songs, and other such staples. It was also the first game in the series to legitimately hold up to today's games (at least in my opinion), and could certainly be well-received even now after a few touch-ups here and there. It's clear that A Link to the Past made a name for itself with its many innovations and super high quality and has subsequently gone down in video game history as one of the finest. You can be sure that we haven't seen the last of this remarkable series in this Look to the Past, for the future holds installments of even greater power!

A Look to the Past: Games of the Years 1991: Super Mario World

1991

Super Mario World (SNES)

To say that Super Mario World was the best game of 1991 is no light statement. Sega was right behind with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario's only true rival, and the epic Final Fantasy IV was right in there too.  However, if ever a perfect platformer were to exist, Super Mario World would be it. A big, colorful world comprised of locations named after various foodstuffs awaits the player, throwing wonderfully-designed level after level at him every step of the way. Vanilla Dome hid within its caverns more giant, angry moles than you could ever hope for, as if taunting Mario to venture their twisting pathways. Butter Bridge boldly tested the player's wits, but a magic cape will drastically reduce the probability of plummeting plumbers. The Forest of Illusion is confusing and mystifying, but its hidden secrets keep even the most hopeless adventurers coming back for more. Needless to say, Super Mario World is a huge game.  Hours and hours can be poured into this game, and if you can finally unlock all the devious secrets, you can do it all over again to find it as fun as ever.

The music playing here is so groovy it's almost painful.

The fact that you can do all this on a dinosaur named Yoshi makes it even better. Yoshi, of course, debuted in Super Mario World, adding lovable drum beats to all the already amazing songs! I'm not sure if it's possible to get tired of this game's music. It's as classic as the game! But the true crowning achievement, and why Super Mario World snagged this award in the first place, is the gameplay. Of course almost every game, in the end, depends on its gameplay; but Super Mario World thrives upon it. The gameplay is without a doubt what every 2D platformer aspires to reach even today. In fact, I'm pretty sure that even some of the 3D ones do too. Forget 1991; Super Mario World is up there for Game of the Ever!

A Look to the Past: Games of the Years 1990: Super Mario Bros. 3

To me, 2010 sounds like the future itself; and with games as advanced as Heavy Rain and Mass Effect 2 coming out these days, that just might be true. I found myself wondering what would be 2010's Game of the Year (for me and the collective opinions of millions of gamers) and if it would be as revolutionary as it rightfully should be. It's also fascinating to realize that taking away twenty years brings us back to the year 1990 and directly in between the release of the Genesis and the SNES, which in turn highlights the incredible progress games have made; not only in terms of tech specs, but in every area imaginable. With all that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the past twenty years and award each of them with a Game of the Year winner-- a kind of hall of fame if you will. I'll be adding on one game every week until we reach the end, so keep checking back for new entries. Naturally I can't have played every game that came out in the last twenty years, but I've played enough to make a rather informed opinion. Therefore, that is what I shall do. (Make an informed opinion, not play every game that came out in the last twenty years.)

1990

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

A fitting start for this monumental list, Super Mario Bros. 3 was one heck of an entry to the Mario series. A lot of fellow players would no doubt agree with me, as it's one of the best-selling games of all time, and is no stranger to praise. Back in the simple days of gaming, Super Mario Bros. 3 brought together everything good about the previous Mario games and made those things even better. It was the first Mario game to use an overworld for choosing levels, which is used even now by games like New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy. The signature Mario oddness was present as well, allowing Mario to hop around in a giant boot known as Kuribo's Shoe. That's weird.

When surrounded by turtles suspended by floating clouds and blocks, one should always wear a raccoon suit. Everybody knows that.

In my mind, Super Mario Bros. 3 was the first game in the series to really nail the perfect control that all platformers strive for, and that alone is strong reason for Game of the Year status. Even the ground-breaking Final Fantasy was bested by this excellent title, for Super Mario Bros. 3 had very few flaws and was jam-packed with fun. Let's hope that the video game community continues to use this game as inspiration, hearkening back to a time when flying plumbers were more popular than bald anti-heroes with guns.

Portal

8.5 - [Excellent]

Gameplay: 10

Visuals: 8

Music: 7

Sound: 8

Value: 5

Publisher: Valve Corporation

Developer: Valve Corporation

Multiplayer: N/A

Console(s): PC, XBLA

Reviewed on: PC

ESRB rating: Blood, Mild Violence

BMR rating: Blood, Mild Violence

Good points:

Mind-blowing portal system - Fantastic puzzles - Causes players to think in new ways- Humorous and well-told story - Convincing atmosphere - GLaDOS - Portals are super cool!

Not so good points:

Heart-shatteringly short

It's very rare that an entire game can be carried by a single concept; a concept that, at first glance, appears to be akin to a gimmick. However, the aptly-named Portal has such a brilliant mechanic going for it, you'll be thoroughly entertained from start to finish, even if the end does approach all too soon. It's not just the portal system that keeps things interesting, though: ridiculously clever level design, an interesting story, and hilarious writing sets Portal apart from the crowd. In fact, there's never been anything like Portal before.

After the stage is set, putting you in control of a nameless subject in a sterile company's testing center, you soon gain control of the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (or, if you don't feel like wasting your breath, the portal gun). The smooth, polite, disembodied voice of GLaDOS will guide you through your exercises, which is where most of the game's wonderfully dark humor comes from. Without spoiling too much, the story more or less feels like a slow descent into madness as you uncover terrible truths and wander the giant Aperture Science complex looking for cake. The atmosphere is foreboding as it provides a strange mixture of state-of-the art technology with total abandonment... except for GLaDOS. She is always watching.

Luckily, as previously mentioned, you have your portal gun to help you out. You can fire either a blue portal or an orange portal, but can only have one of each active at once. Portals can stick to most flat surfaces and are just large enough for you to hop through. The really crazy this is that they act as doorways to each other: walking into one will lead you out the other. For example, if you fire your orange portal to a place you can't currently reach, and then fire your blue portal at a nearby wall, you can walk right through the blue one and come out through the orange one, transporting you right up to that unobtainable spot. It works both ways, of course, so you could walk right back through the orange one and end up back on the ground. This simple technique allows for infinite player creativity, and forces you to think in entirely new ways.

If a picture if worth a thousand words, why am I even bothering to write this blog?

Finding new, inventive ways to use the portals is half the fun. You can use your forward momentum to send yourself flying through one portal and out the other; you can fire portals around the room, using them as portable portholes to get a better view of a dangerous situation; you can trap a deadly turret in a perpetual free-fall between two open portals. Anything you can think up (as long as the terrain permits it) goes. The levels are expertly designed in every possible way, always making you think without ever becoming frustrated. I'm no puzzle game mastermind, yet every time I got close to really getting stuck, I had an "AHA! I'll try THIS crazy idea!" moment It's insanely gratifying to think outside of the box and see your wacky plot actually work. New ideas are continuously thrown your way as the challenge ramps up along a perfectly paced arc, and there are plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.

The game looks and sounds great. Ambient music keeps things feeling creepy and technological, and the visuals are shiny and detailed. Everything on the surface has a very rounded and disinfected look, but the pockets that reveal the inner workings of Aperture Science paint a very different picture. This contrast becomes a fascinating artistic and plot device. The voice acting-- specifically GLaDOS'-- is topnotch, and the mysterious computerized voice delivers many laugh-out-loud snippets of dialog. At times I felt like I was actually trapped in a bizarre testing center, running around and trying to stay alive; and that's special.

Now there's something for you to think about

The only problem? The game is short; short like an under-grown Ewok, you could even say. Even at my rather leisurely pace, I finished the game in several hours. Replaying the levels is entertaining, but most of the magic is taken out once you know how to solve all the conundrums. There are some advanced maps and challenges to complete, which ramp up the danger level and give you certain objectives to complete, respectively. These bonuses are a fun and difficult diversion, but they obviously don't hold a candle to the story mode. Portal is easily worth the asking price, but it's a short-lived experience. Other minor flaws include some bumpy rides through portals every now and then and some messy physics here and there, but they hardly amount to anything worth worrying about.

Portal is an outstanding accomplishment. It offers some of the greatest puzzles known to mankind and presents its package with style, humor, and sophistication. It never lets up as it constantly shows you funny and interesting ways of playing a game. If only it was more lasting, Portal really would have exceeded all boundaries. It's exciting to think what else Valve could do with the extremely innovative portal gun in the future; it seems like they've only scratched the surface of the fascinating little device. I'm sure many of us await the sequel with baited breath, but in the meantime, I can certainly say one thing for sure: this is a triumph.

Star Fox 64

8.5 - [Excellent]

Gameplay: 9

Visuals: 9

Music: 9

Sound: 9

Value: 7

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Multiplayer: Offline versus

Console(s): Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console

Reviewed on: Nintendo 64

ESRB rating: E (Violence) [Note that this is the recently assigned rating for the Wii version]

BMR rating: E (Violence)

Good Points:

Excellent visuals and sound design - Fast and arcadey gameplay - Likable setting and characters - Welcome variety built around a strong gameplay system - Well-designed levels - Classic quotes - Value-boosting branching paths

Not So Good Points:

Short-lived - So-so multiplayer - Cheesy voice acting (if you really call that a bad thing)

What happens when the world of Star Wars and Nintendo collide? Well, nobody can tell for sure, but I'm willing to bet it would turn out whole a lot like Star Fox 64. As the defining entry in the Star Fox series, this action-packed space epic has become a true classic, and for good reason. Thrilling action and memorable moments abound in this spacecraft-focused shooter, and it's liable to be one of the most impressive-looking Nintendo 64 games you ever see. The ride is short, but you'll find yourself going back over and over again to discover which route is truly the best way to defeat the evil Dr. Andross.

Who is Dr. Andross, you ask? Only a diabolical mad scientist with a fleet of powerful spaceships and a malicious will bent towards the total domination of the Lylat System. He also happens to be a monkey. In fact, the entire cast of Star Fox 64 is built up of anthropomorphic animals, exluding the robotic R.O.B. 64. The emphasis is by no means on the narrative, but Star Fox 64 presents a cast of likable (and admittedly borderline annoying) characters and an appropriately melodramatic space opera setting. Who could forget the Star Wars-esque asteroid field level, or Peppy Hare's iconic advice related to barrel roles? Yes, Star Fox 64 wants you to have fun, and believe me when I say it does an excellent job.

Most of your time will be spent in the cockpit of an Arwing, a versatile and very cool-looking starfighter. The game plays out as an on-rails shooter, sending you automatically charging forward into a host of dangerous obstacles and enemies. Swooping all around the screen and shooting down as many bogeys as possible is fast-paced and fun, and you'll have to think quickly to take the right paths and avoid the plentiful returning fire. Throwing in barrel rolls and launching bombs at just the right time takes skill, and the better you are, the better your score will be. You'll also have to be prepared to help out a teammate in need; keeping your buddies alive will pay dividends in the future. They might drop you an item or two, take out a tough bad guy, or even analyze a boss's total health. Speaking of the bosses, they're one of the highlights of Star Fox 64, and some of them even require all range mode, which sends you off the rails and into a fully 3D arena. These fights are quite entertaining, especially when dogfighting the roguish Star Wolf team. In addition to the Arwing, you'll have the chance to hop into a submarine known as the Blue Marine and a tank called the Landmaster, both of which are a welcome change of pace.

While you were deciding whether to go for the bomb power-up or the laser upgrade, your wingman Falco just went down. Nice going.

Star Fox 64's presentation is almost unrivaled considering the time of its release. The graphics are detailed and expansive, featuring beautiful undersea ruins, frantic moving space stations and billowing worlds built up of scorching lava. Water reflections and zillions of laser bolts take advantage of the 64's hardware, a feat made more impressive when considering the game's pace. An amazing musical score fits the space epic perfectly, with exciting strings and triumphant horns that accompany instant classic songs. The game also features real-time dialogue, a revolution at the time, which introduced a new feeling of immersion and a bevy of charming quotes. Whether you hate Slippy or not, you have to admit that you'll never forget him/her. On top of all this, Star Fox 64 was the first game to use the Rumble Pak, which truly makes it "the coolest cinematic gaming experience there is." (For more information on this, I highly recommend viewing the informative promotional video at the end of this blog post.)

It wouldn't be a stretch at all to finish Star Fox 64 in one sitting; after all, you can't even save your progress as you make your way through the map of Lylat. However, the game is extremely replayable, and it will no doubt take you a good while to find all the hidden levels and secret warps throughout the excellently-designed stages, let alone get the best ending. Each level is unique and well-made, which makes going back for more very inviting. But despite the built in replay, Star Fox 64 is, in the end, a pretty short experience, and its light amount of content is its biggest problem. There's a multiplayer option for up to four players, but the handful of modes are a decent distraction at best.

Fans of good old fashioned shooting will find a lot to love in Star Fox 64, and its endearing qualities and snappy gameplay make it a fantastic, arcade-style adventure. Whether you want to buy the original Nintendo 64 cartridge or the Wii Virtual Console version is up to you, but it should be noted that the latter does not include the rumble feature, which is a crying shame. But either way, you really can't go wrong with this beloved title. So do yourself a favor; pick up a copy of Star Fox 64, fly into the deepness of space, and... I'm sorry, but I have to say it: do a barrel roll!

The following is a promotional video from Nintendo Power advertising the launch of Star Fox 64. It is also the best promotional video ever created, and has almost as many quotes of pure gold as does the game on which it's based. Enjoy!

Blue Mage's New Year's Resolutions

(Please note that, although this lying weblog post claims that is it December 26th, 2009, I assure you, that was when the draft was saved, and today most certainly is January 1st, 2010. Indeed.)

Greetings, Internet webpage viewers! It is I, Blue Mage, at the dawn of 2010-- or rather close to dawn, all time and space considered. Despite the evening hours of the day, it is still indeed January 1st, 2010, and I am fully committed in all my blue glory to adhere to my strict resolutions for this glorious new year. I at first was hesitant to put in writing a list of needless improvements (for, as you must know, despite my humble exterior, I am... well, I am rather near perfect when one considers my thankless job and dim-witted partner). However, upon further examination, I have decided that a blue mage with goals is a better blue mage. And so, I present to you my New Year's Resolutions. I have made the informed choice of picking ten such goals and arranging them in a list format, as I am very "in tune" with the Internet world, and I find that such an idea is extremely original.

#10: Learn to use two control sticks at once

It most certainly burns my figurative bridges when I attempt to play the oh-so-popular "first-person shooter" video games that are regularly released. My satisfaction would be no small matter if I were to utterly destroy the imbecilic online gamers that consistently torment me whilst I struggle uselessly with the controller. My last attempt gave me no such satisfaction; merely carpal tunnel syndrome.

#9: Buy an Xbox Live headset

Once I successfully master the art of dual-stickery, I shall immediately purchase a microphone and earpiece in order to fully mock and humiliate my pitiful opponents as an ill-bred tennis player ridicules his one-legged adversary.

#8: Travel through time/space in order to visit Dimentio

As the only slightly muddled commenter "Samuel" has suggested on my own Blue Mage Page, meeting Dimentio would be a distinct pleasure. I am unsure currently how I shall go about doing so, but mark my solemn words, I shall discover the way to finally shake Dimentio's hand before 2010 is over.

#7: Sue Nintendo

I have not forgotten about the appalling transgressions committed by Super Mario Galaxy, nor will I. If my way is not gotten, I shall rig Nintendo's next Electronic Entertainment Expo keynote address screen to display such biting text as, "Reggie Fils-Aime is not smart." They shall regret it for the rest of their unfortunate days.

#6: Publish "The Big Book of Blue Mage Quotes"

I am but a simple Blue Mage, yet my endless repertoire of shockingly clever sayings and idioms are far too valuable to be lost in the depths of time. Having this large, stately volume on one's coffee table would say, "Despite my questionable decorating tastes, I am not just anybody." It would say, "I know of Blue Mage; I am somebody."

#5: Reach the level cap in Final Fantasy XI

I spend much of my free time engaging in daring battles and stunning experience point expeditions in Final Fantasy XI, and I am determined for my "Blue Mage" character to reach the very highest level there is by the end of 2010. I do not know what that level is, but that only serves to make the goal all the more exciting. Once I am there, I will gently remind my fellow guildmates of their inferiority.

#4: Travel to Japan

I simply cannot wait until March 9th. I must play Final Fantasy XIII now. I need only acquire funds for such a worthy investment. That, and finish my splendid Sazh Katzroy costume.

#3: Buy a Chu Chu

I suppose one could make such a purchase on eBay?

#2: Train my Chu Chu

My first lesson for "Chuey" shall be undoubtedly to sing the Chocobo theme song. This worthy endeavor shall provide hours of educational fun for both pet and master.

#1: Discover a way to get the inane failure known as "Emblem 180" fired

I mean no offense to any persons, yet a Blue Mage can only take so much before action must be taken. Not only are Emblem 180's reviews (to put it tactfully) drivel, but he throws his loyalties in with the impertinent Super Mario Galaxy crowd. Furthermore, he also cheats-- yes, mind you, cheats-- in a great many of the video games we play. He claims that "Soulcalibur IV" has a, in his own words, "block button" when I can discover no such thing. And do not get me started on his assuredly hacked "Halo 3" abilities. Indeed, with no question about it, I have no choice but to plot his demise.

Those ten items, my loyal readers, shall all be checked off one by one before the dawn of 2011. This is an exciting year, is it not? Thank you for reading my list. I unquestioningly assume it was enlightening. This is Blue Mage of Blue Mage Reviews wishing you well in 2010.

Trine

8.5 - [Excellent]

Gameplay: 8

Visuals: 9

Music: 8

Sound: 8

Value: 7

Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive

Developer: Frozenbyte

Multiplayer: Offline co-op

Console(s): PS3, PC

Reviewed on: PS3

ESRB rating: E10+ (Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol)

BMR rating: E10+ (Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol)

Good Points:

Fantastic, dreamlike visuals - Beautiful music - Charming setting - Entertaining physics - Solid platforming - Co-op is great fun

Not So Good Points:

Occasional framerate problems - Feels a little too short - No online play so far - Some quirks regarding the physics and spell casting system can get annoying

In a time of blockbuster epics, hard-hitting first-person shooters, rhythm game spam, hard-hitting first-person shooters, casual mini-game collections, and hard-hitting first-person shooters, Trine is a breath of deliciously fresh air. Set in a fantastical world of magic and castles, Fozenbyte (the masters behind... well, nothing anybody really remembers) takes a cue from the classic Blizzard game The Lost Vikings and creates a memorable game brimming with dangers and adventures. Allowing up to three players to participate, Trine brings together several unlikely heroes on a quest to restore peace to a darkening kingdom. The goal is, naturally, to work together; but depending on the nature and number of participants, finding creative ways to kill one another can be half the fun.

The first thing you'll notice upon starting your journey is Trine's simply beautiful presentation. The entire tale is related in a storybook-like manner, complete with likable character archetypes, magic spells and even a delightful narrator who reads the story with the absolute perfect voice. Dreamlike visuals cast visions of enchanted forests along with glowing flora and fauna, and haunted graveyards come to life with the skeletal undead and eerie moonlight. Everything looks spectacular, and I guarantee that you'll find yourself stopping to gaze about in wonder at the scenery ripped straight from the imagination. A fitting soundtrack helps to reinforce this image with melodic pianos and soft strings, complete with a leading crescendo of magnificence that is Trine's theme song. The voice acting is also well done for the three lead characters; namely, the cunning thief, the not-so-cunning knight, and the poor wizard who just can't seem to learn the fireball spell.

Trine is full of physics and fun, and I have personally found the two to go together like peanut butter and jelly, both of which often have messy results. The gameplay takes place in 2D space, despite the gloriously 3D graphics, and will have you switching between the three heroes to overcome all sorts of challenges. The thief can fire arrows and swing about speedily using her trusty grappling hook, which is a vital tool during some of the trickier platforming sections. Next is the knight, a hulking warrior with a sharp sword and a sturdy shield; when you're surrounded by animated skeletal corpses, he's the man to call. Last but certainly not least we have the wizard (and just between you and me, he's far more useful than this blog's supercilious mascot). This blue-hatted spell-caster can conjure up boxes and manipulate all kinds of objects with his magic, allowing you to drag around just about anything via a cursor floating around on the screen. It works quite a bit like the cursor from LittleBigPlanet's level creator. This is where things really get interesting.

Believe it or not, Trine looks even better in motion.

If they want to get anywhere, the players must place faith in one another to perform crucial tasks, such as, say, protecting the party from a giant spiked ball falling from the sky. While the wizard is immobile as he uses his magic energy to stop this deadly trap, the knight may have to defend him from oncoming enemies. If the knight feels that he'd rather make his escape early and leave the old man to his fate, it's entirely possible that the wizard will lose his composure and become surrounded by monsters as said giant spiked ball plummets downwards to crush them all under its unforgiving giant spikiness. It's during moments such as these (moments in the game, I mean; not such moments as total lapses of vocabulary as you just witnessed) that no amount of scripted events can replicate. But there are also brilliant moments of teamwork, in which everybody cooperates to ace a specific situation without even taking damage. Trying to gain access to experience points and treasure chests tucked into the nooks and crannies of the levels provides for constant goals and daring feats, and also doubles as a means to level up. All of the characters can unlock new spells, weapons, and stat-increasing items, so there's plenty to work and go back for. Combat isn't particularly deep, but takes quick thinking; especially for the wizard, who is quite incapable of defending himself if he is out of magic energy. The platforming is tight and responsive, and although the physics will give you the occasional headache (especially when drawing specific shapes with the wizard is required), there are generous checkpoints dotted throughout the stages, and your completed tasks in a level are saved even when you are sent back to one of these markers, so it's hard to complain.

Clearly, Trine is a great deal more fun when played with multiple people. Trine is currently only playable offline, but the developers have mentioned adding in online play at a later time. I myself have only had the chance to play with one additional player, but that's quite enough for a great time. However, this does present a slight problem. With three players, each person is assigned a character to play as. With only one player, you switch at will between the three characters yourself. With two players, both people can switch when they want, which can often take the teamwork element out when the thief is just handed off between the two players as they take turns maneuvering difficult jumps. My solution for this is to simply make up my own rules; that is, one person chooses the wizard (as he is, in my opinion, the most fun to play as and the most commonly needed) while the other guy gets the thief and the knight. Alternate between levels, and there you go. You can find your own favorite way to play, but I find that this method works very well.

The inventive creativity that is rewarded to reach all the hidden items, the smooth flow of the gameplay, and the inspired story and setting will keep you happily busy through all fifteen levels, but sadness does finally dawn when the ending credits roll. Aside from a ridiculous ramp up in difficulty during the final level (in which every failure results in a loading screen), there's rarely a dull or overly frustrating spot, and thus it feels like the adventure ends all too soon. Even so, the $20 price tag still ensures that Trine is easily recommended to any gamer with a penchant for wondrous visuals and a fun co-op game at a budget price. The time spent in this mystical fantasy world will be well-spent, and the memories of angry shouting matches followed by copious laughter will live on even after you, inevitably, live happily ever after.

(NOTE: The screenshot was taken from the PC version of the game.)

A Look to the Past: Mario

Here we have a new feature for Blue Mage Reviews: A Look to the Past! Video games have a rich and highly entertaining history, so every once in a while it's nice to think back on the beginnings and times of yore to enjoy some nice reminiscing. To start out we have arguably (and probably) the most classic of the classic, Super Mario himself! Woo-hoo! Yee-hee! Wha-ha! As you can see, I easily slip into the Mario mindset. Speaking of Mario, are you excited for New Super Mario Bros. Wii? You are, right? Because I am! It comes out this month in fact, so this seems like an excellent topic to start with. There are a lot of Mario games out there you know, and many of them are super awesome. We'll be taking a look back to the greatest Mario game of each major Nintendo console, excluding the Game Boy as I've never played the Mario Land games. I really should get around to that. But hey, let's get a move on! Console #1 up ahead!

NES - Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the most critically acclaimed and best-selling video games of all time. That ought to count for something! It's also insanely fun and, in my opinion, the greatest NES game of all time EVER! It even bests the original Super Mario Bros. in every way, which is no mean feat. It introduced the overworld to the Mario series, which remains a staple in the 2D games to this day. And let's not forget about the music! Some of the best tunes from the entire franchise were created here. It also had amazing level design and variety. You could even find a raccoon suit and therefore gain the power of flight! The coolness of that equals and nearly surpasses its nonsensicalness.

Enjoy your Bioshock and your Modern Warfare and your Killzone and your Assassin's Creed, but at the end of the day, we all know that this is a real video game.

SNES - Super Mario World

Super Mario World is better than Super Mario Bros. 3. In fact, it's also the best SNES game, and the best 2D Mario game, and quite possibly the best sidescroller in the world! Not bad, huh? If you want some more trivia, then KABLAM, here you go! This is Nintendo's first SNES game and the first game to include Yoshi! That's a lot of eye-popping facts for just one game, but this is an eye-popping game, so who's really surprised here? Super Mario World took everything from Super Mario Bros. 3 and expanded it, refined it, and made it way more fantastic. Ah, the hours spent running around and jumping on Koopa Troopas while dodging Bullet Bills and grabbing coins, or getting lost in those spooky ghost houses, or trying to find all the secret warps... yeah, a lot of people have great memories of this classic, obviously myself included. And don't even get me started with the music; you can't get much more nostalgic than those catchy and lovable songs! But let me make it clear before we move on: This game isn't so good just because of the good memories. Its gameplay and overall design is largely unrivaled even to this very day!

Koopa combo!

Nintendo 64 - Super Mario 64

Da-ding!

It's-a me! Mario!

Hello!

And from that point on you could stretch Mario's face (attached to his floating head) in any manner you choose until you press start and begin the adventure. Anyone who owns or, in the past, has owned an N64 surely knows of what I speak, for my words refer to a great classic of our time. This is the game that brought the perky plumber into the third dimension, full of polygonal wonderment! Now you could explore the colorful world of Mushroom Kingdom in glorious 3D, and what a sight it was. A favorite moment for many was donning the winged cap and soaring into the sky, and even the rather messed up Nintendo 64 controller couldn't stop the fun. The trend of memorable music and excellent level design doesn't stop here, regardless of whether you're exploring Princess Peach's Castle, climbing Cool Cool Mountain, or hopping around the explosive Bob-omb Battlefield. However, unlike the previous games, I can't quite award Mario 64 the achievement of "Best Game on its Respective Console." No, that had to be reserved for Ocarina of Time. I'm so predictable. But anyway, incredibly enough, this installment sparked a whole new kind of Mario game that would continue on to rival the epicness of its 2D counterpart.

Don't just stand there! Go collect some Power Stars! Or save a princess! Or eat some ravioli! At least go fire Toad, he's really annoying!

GameCube - Super Mario Sunshine

Unsurprisingly, another one of Mario's rad platformers gets the splotlight, although this one isn't quite as popular with my fellow gamers. Sunshine is certainly a well-liked game, but some people didn't quite take to its quirks. First of all, Mario has this water nozzle called F.L.U.D.D. strapped to his back, which is helpful in all kinds of crazy ways. Second of all (can I say that? Second of all?), the game has a definite tropical paradise theme to it. The music and the strangely realistic locales highlight this stylistic choice, and while it's certainly unique and pretty-looking, it's unarguably less Mario-ish than other titles. That being said, it's still an amazing game, with water that still looks beautiful in today's world of HD madness. There's a ton to collect and a ton to do, and while it doesn't quite stack up to the legendary Super Mario 64, the relaxing vibe and smooth controls will soon win you over. Oh, and triple-jumping? It's SO FUN in this game!

Mario's entrance onto the GameCube made a splash! Eesh, that was bad, but absolutely something I would say.

Game Boy Advance - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Now this is a change of pace! Not only is it the first game on the list that lacks the word "Super" in the title-- wait, I take that back. It's hiding, but it's there. But back to the topic at hand. And look, it's not even a platformer! Why, it's an RPG! And it stars Luigi too! Who would've thought? So yes, Superstar Saga is an engaging, action-packed, well-crafted RPG filled to the brim with utter hilarity. I'm serious, this is the funniest game this side of Monkey Island. While neither the heroic Mario nor his cowardly brother Luigi can form sentences beyond a single word or incoherent mumblings, they couldn't be funnier as they interact with each other and the accompanying talkative (and generally pretty weird) cast. Of course, I just wouldn't be a true Mario & Luigi fan if I didn't mention Fawful, the delightfully bizarre and evil jerk who speaks in a profoundly odd manner. Example quote:

"Finally! Now is the time where my true might shines, like many angry sunbeams of rage!"

And there's a lot more where that came from! As for the gameplay, the turn-based combat required you to input button commands at the right time to execute both offensive and defensive maneuvers, which really keeps you on your toes. Also, lots of collectables and other assorted good stuff will keep you busy for hours on end. It might even be the greatest Game Boy Advance game of all time! Mario is awesome!

Honestly, it's just not worth trying to explain what's going on here. Just play the game yourself!

Wii - Super Mario Galaxy

Now we're back to normal! We have here another excellent Mario platformer, and it's super duper magically AWESOME! To understand the full extent of its awesomeness, you'll have to play it yourself, but if you'd like an explanation of the awesomeness, then perhaps you should check out my review for it here. Or, if you'd simply prefer a small taste of the awesomeness, you can just keep reading. Mario Galaxy takes good old Jumpman into the far reaches of outer space, and everything goes crazy. Gravity is altered in a very cool way, which drastically changes things up, and the epic music sets this installment apart from the rest. But I know what you're thinking. How can Mario breathe in space? Well, I've thought long and hard about this very fact, and I've come to the conclusion that, well... let's face it. This is a Mario game. Do you honestly think that the gameplay-focused minds of Nintendo will actually include a detailed answer in the game explaining the "mystery" as to why Mario can survive in the turmoil of the nothingness that is space? Of course not. Like everybody else, I've come to accept the fact that we'll have to wait until Super Mario Galaxy 2 to find out.

...how? How does he do it??

DS - Mario & Luigi 3: Bowser's Inside Story

Mario Kart DS and New Super Mario Bros. are both high-quality Mario experiences on the DS, but there's a game out there that topples them both. After the lackluster Mario & Luigi 2, the third installment in the fantastically funny franchise (nice alliteration, eh?) is easily better than its direct predecessor, and possibly even defeats the original. I can be a little squeamish around kidneys and blood cells, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who wasn't exactly dying to explore the bowels of Bowser's body (another clever alliteration!). However, Mario & Luigi 3 makes it completely fun and almost not disgusting at all! Playing in and as Bowser gives the game an exceptionally varied flow, all with a coat of triple-A Nintendo sheen. Laugh out loud moments and an engaging combat system mix with platforming, item collecting and a bunch of cool mini-games. Mario Kart is a little on the shallow side and New Super Mario Bros. is a little on the short (and easy) side, but Bowser's Inside Story suffers no such imperfections and deftly swoops in to take the prize for Best Mario DS Game in the World of All Time as of This Writing.

Mario & Luigi 3: The Bowels of Bowser was the original title, although it was later deemed too accurate to sell well.

I'd say that was a successful first installment of A Look to the Past. Mario sure has impacted the gaming world, eh? Oohh, do you want to know what my #1 favorite Mario game out of all of those is? It's a really tough choice, but I'll have to go with Super Mario... something. Gah, you can't expect me actually pick one? Okay, fine, I'll pick one 2D game and one 3D game. Will that do? Okay then. My two favorites are Super Mario 64 and Super Mario World! Super Mario 64 is just a pure joy to explore while Super Mario World was the first Mario game I ever played and its gameplay is essentially perfect. I'm sure many people agree with my picks, but I'm equally sure that there are others who would vehemently disagree and shout at me about it. If you're one of the former, congratulations. If you're one of the latter, feel free to post your opinions with the knowledge that I will fairly and impartially delete your messages.

Ha ha! Just kidding.

Bye for now!

QuickBlog: Republic Commando

8.0 - [Excellent]

Gameplay: 8

Visuals: 8

Music: 9

Sound: 9

Value: 6

Publisher: LucasArts

Developer: LucasArts

Multiplayer: Offline versus, online versus (online is PC only, if it's still up and running)

Console(s): Xbox, PC

Reviewed on: Xbox

ESRB rating: T (Blood and Gore, Violence)

BMR rating: T (Blood and Gore, Violence, Mild Language)

Good Points:

Excellent voice acting - Memorable characters - Exciting action - Atmospheric sound and visual design - Awesome music - Intelligent AI - Easy-to-use and effective squad commands - Fun weapons

Not So Good Points:

Short campaign - Lame multiplayer - Occasional bugs and glitches - Really needs a sequel (I'm not sure if this one can count, but it's true)

When a game takes on a license, be it a popular movie, book, or epic poem (the latter of which is not unheard of, albeit less common), the first thing to go is usually the quality. Whether it's because of a tight deadline or a publisher in it to make some easy cash, even the most competent products can feel generic and uninspired. This is not the case with LucasArts' Star Wars-themed first-person shooter, which is easily one of the finest Star Wars games to date. You play as Delta Three-Eight (also known as "Boss"), the leader of an elite squad of clone troopers called Delta Squad. Three fellow members of the team will accompany you throughout the game, each with their own unique and memorable personality. First up is Scorch, the wise-cracking comic relief figure of the crew who happens to be extremely good at rigging explosives and watching them blow up. Sev, the gravelly-voiced sniper with a grim sense of humor, can always be counted on to make the shot that counts. Lastly, there's Fixer, the most clone-like of the squad due to his sensible and loyal nature, who can naturally slice or repair anything mechanical. All the characters are voice acted excellently. In fact, Temuera Morrison (the voice of the Jango Fett and the clones from the Star Wars movies) plays the role of the Boss, which adds some wonderful authenticity. You'll get to know and love each member, which is surely a highlight of the game.

Battles require thought, skill, and a whole lot of adrenaline.

The storyline takes place between Episodes II and III from the Star Wars saga and weaves an interesting though fairly straightforward tale. The action is intense and very satisfying, with cool enemy design, smart AI, and a number of weapons and tactics available for you to use. Perhaps the greatest weapon in the game is this super-awesome blade that shoots out from your wrist at a moment's notice. Knifing the heads off battle droids never gets old. You can command your teammates to perform certain maneuvers as you navigate the dangerous levels, which is vital for keeping Delta Squad alive and the bad guys dead. The game takes an obvious cue from Halo, complete with a shield-based health system, a haunting chorus as a major musical theme, and other similar elements. However, Republic Commando doesn't come off as a copycat with no fresh ideas; it really feels like its own experience. The blend of John Williams' traditional Star Wars music strikes a perfect balance with Republic Commando's own score, and stays that way with the character design and sound effects. Even though it's based on Star Wars, the liberties they took with the troopers and the gritty, darker artistic style sets it apart in a very, very good way. The game is moody, thrilling, and filled with fascinating details that take advantage of the Xbox's hardware. It's too bad that the multiplayer is rather unexciting and that the game is so short. Of course, the whole package isn't glitch-free, but it's a blast the first way through and still a really good time to replay. If you're looking for a Star Wars fix, or just a great first-person shooter, look no further than Republic Commando.

Sonic the Hedgehog

3.5 - [Bad]

Gameplay: 3

Visuals: 4

Music: 8

Sound: 5

Value: 7

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sonic Team

Multiplayer: Local co-op, local versus

Console(s): Xbox 360, PS3

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

ESRB rating: E10+ (Fantasy Violence)

BMR rating: E10+ (Fantasy Violence)

Good Points:

Varied and great soundtrack - Lots to do - Good multiplayer

Not So Good Points:

Oh boy, here we go - Confusing story with way too many characters involved - Quantity and not quality in terms of gameplay - Busted graphics along with poor frame rate - Bland voice acting - Horrendous loading times - Uncooperative camera - Frustrating blend of technical problems - Mostly pointless town stages

Let's get this out of the way first. This game may be called Sonic the Hedgehog, but it has little to do with the original Genesis classic, and that's a real shame. For simplicity's sake, we'll just call it Sonic 06, for it was released in November of 2006. This game for the Xbox 360 and PS3 is broken, fundamentally broken, and makes enough mistakes to dig its own grave three times over. Does that mean there's no fun to bad had anywhere? Not exactly; if you dig deep you can find some genuinely entertaining moments, and plenty of good ideas that just happened to go terribly, terribly wrong. But despite its best intentions, the game's glitchy nature always drags it back down, which we will soon explore in all its unfortunate glory.

But first, let's take a look at what has Sonic running about this time around. As it turns out, the beautiful city of Soleanna is having its Festival of the Sun, and the strangely realistic-looking human Princess Elise is there to celebrate with her people. However, the diabolical Dr. Eggman crashes the party and pulls a Bowser by kidnapping the princess. That means it's up to the Blue Blur to stop the mad doctor, and the chase is on! The story gets a lot more complex than this, though, including Shadow the Hedgehog's intense discovery of his purpose in life (again), the newcomer Silver's world-warping adventures, and a complicated time-traveling plot. It's all rather hard to follow and tends to break its own rules, especially since Sonic Team managed to cram in every Sonic character out there this side of Big the Cat. The game was obviously aiming for a sprawling, epic plot, but it'll most likely leave you scratching your head with a blank expression on your face. Nevertheless, the story has its moments, and can be rather interesting for Sonic fans who are wondering what will happen next to their favorite characters.

Far worse than the muddled story is the gameplay, which is generally frustrating and fun-free. There are three basic level designs: Sonic levels, Shadow levels, and Silver levels. Sonic levels play like the previous 3D Sonic platformers, except for the fact that these are terrible. The familiar homing attack is back, and you'll find yourself running, jumping, and bashing robots in spades. The levels have a nice variety to them, including activities such as snowboarding, running away from a giant whale a la Sonic Adventure, and even carrying Princess Elise out of harm's way. The problem is that each and every one of these activities contains terrible controls and an abundance of glitches. The animations are choppy and unsatisfying, and you'll constantly find yourself wrestling with the camera and falling off ledges. If any previous games in the series gave you these problems, be prepared to find that this one really takes the cake for poor gampelay and can't even be compared to any of the older and far better games (except, possibly, for Shadow the Hedgehog, but let's not go there). Ironically, the worst stages in a game called Sonic the Hedgehog belong to the speedy hero himself.

Shadow's stages are thankfully devoid of handheld armaments (very unlike his previously mentioned game), but do boast quite the supply of hard-hitting vehicles. You can fly in a high-tech jet, swoop around in a hovercraft, zoom along in a motorcycle and (my personal favorite) shoot things up with a heavily-armed buggy. Some of these are decent while others are are terrible, and the levels ranges from open-ended icy tundras to fast-paced train chases. When not sitting moodily behind a steering wheel, Shadow is moodily using his Chaos powers to combat his foes with hand-to-hand combat techniques. It can be entertaining to rapidly karate chop a flaming monster in the head for a while, but I still think driving around in a buggy is better. When all's said and done, Shadow fares better than his good-natured counterpart despite the over-the-top baditude, but that doesn't mean he avoids all of the same shortcomings.

It's much, much less fun than it looks. Trust me.

Surprisingly, Silver is the best of the bunch. His stages essentially play like a clunky, buggy version of The Force Unleashed, and I will admit to the sadness of that being one of the best compliments I've given out thus far. The creatively-named silver hedgehog has telekinetic powers that allow him to grab objects with his mind and then hurl them at his opponents. He can also create bridges and walkways out of the terrain, which is contrived but mildly cool. The fact that you can move around objects such as crates and boulders opens up the opportunity to build your own ways through the levels, which can actually be rather creative and fun. As with the other characters, the controls will drive you nuts, but I've had some good times playing as Silver.

Special sections will also occasionally pop up, allowing you to play as a handful of other characters. Unfortunately, these guys control even worse than the main characters, and truly feel like a last minute addition. On top of all that variety, there are town stages that task you with running around an open area and completing side-quests for the locals. But these aren't any fun either, as the minigames are simple and unremarkable. To make matters worse, the load times are abysmal and unintelligently implemented. You'll find yourself listening to a resident's plea for help, then loading for a terribly long time, then getting the details on the mission, then more loading, then playing the short mission, then some more loading... you get the idea. None of the load times from any part of the game are anything but tedious, but they're even more apparent during these situations. You can buy extra items to grant you special abilities with the rings you collect within levels (which is a fun option), but aside from this, the town stages aren't really much more than glorified level selects.

If you're tired of being frustrated and lonely, you can grab a friend and enjoy some split-screen multiplayer action. A number of levels are available to play in both a co-op and race mode, both of which work fine. And in classic Sonic fashion, you can go revisit old levels and try to get better ranks and times on them, including the boss stages. This would all be a lot of fun if the actual gameplay wasn't so shoddy. Sonic 06 has a lot in it, but that hardly makes a difference if it's not fun to play.

In terms of visual quality, the game isn't an eyesore at first glance. The character models look quite respectable, and while you won't see anything remarkable, there's a bright design to the graphics. The CG custscenes especially look impressive. No, it's the glitches and the poor animations that sink this boat. Everything seems to just barely hold together, and navigating the levels do nothing to help this area. From Silver's rushed telekinetic throwing animations to Sonic's embarrassingly stupid head-first cliff-jumping button sequences, your eyes are constantly irritated with unfinished graphics. To make matters worse, a handful of areas slow the frame rate down to a crawl, which is hardly ideal for a game supposedly about speed. It's also jarring to see the cartoony Sonic hanging around with a character more reminiscent of someone from Final Fantasy, Princess Elise, and a more realistic-looking and thinner Eggman. The fact that there's a kind of love story going on between Sonic and Elise makes things even weirder.

Speaking of awkwardness, let's cover the voice acting real quick. Very few of the actors sound invested in their characters (Sonic seems to be bored and/or sleepy the entire way through, and Rouge just isn't even trying), with a few notable exceptions such as Dr. Eggman and Silver. Eggman's performance is perfectly fine, and Silver's is really bad in an extremely good way. At one point the excitable hedgehog loudly proclaims, "I have to defeat all of the enemies in this area!" as he punctuates each syllable with robotic yet admirable force. I can't help but to like him; he tries so hard all the way to the end. The rest of the sound design does it's job well, but isn't anything special.

That's levitation, holmes!

The music is easily Sonic 06's greatest strength. Unlike the rest of the game, it doesn't feel rushed or mutilated; in fact, it's mostly very, very good. Each tune fits its scene well, and there are some really excellent tracks, including a few great guitar riffs, techno beats, and an assortment of other styles. The final boss song is particularity awesome. Not all the songs stand out, but the music as a whole does stand far above the rest of the game in every way. The character themes are kind of hit and miss, though. They're all at least a little bit lame, but can also be all too catchy. For example, Sonic's hip-hop infused theme can be ridiculous, but the guitar solo is amazing. The game disc would certainly be of more worth if you could use it as a music CD.

Sonic 06 doesn't have to be a bad game. It has great music, a plethora of gameplay types, and worthwhile reasons to keep you playing. But despite anything it has to offer, everything is simply ruined by awful gameplay. It doesn't help that the game tries to do too much at once while attempting to create an epic storyline that just doesn't work. It all points to an overambitious agenda; there even more features that got cut along the way. Given more time, Sonic 06 might have been able to pull itself together for an enjoyable experience, but that is definitely not the case. Also take note that this is coming from a huge Sonic fan-- I enjoyed all of the previous 3D Sonic games a lot, and Sonic Adventure 2 is one of my favorite game of all time-- but there's no excuse here. Even rabid fans of the series should know what they're getting into with this game. Take caution: Sonic 06 is one of the worst Sonic games ever created.