Deja Fu

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A feeling that somehow, somewhere, you've been kicked in the head like this before.

I Really Need to Buckle Down

I write a few reviews, build up a nice healthy buffer, and then let it all drain away.

I’m still around, it’s just that The Man has his boot on my neck at the moment. No, I haven’t been in jail, unless you want to wax poetic with metaphors about ennui. I’ve just been busy with the job.

Anyway, I owe another review and hopefully will finish this book that I’ve been near the end for a week now. Until then, enjoy Blizzard’s announcement of a Diablo III class: the Archivist.

-K

Just When I Thought I Was Out

Downloadable Content, or DLC for short, is going to be the death of me. Just when I thought my wallet would stop springing leaks every few weeks, a veritable slew of content for games I’ve finished is being released.

First, Lionhead releases Knothole Island for Fable 2. This adds an island off the coast of the mainland with new quests, clothes, and weapons to collect. Then, Bethesda releases a small expansion for Fallout 3 – Operation: Anchorage, which adds a nice quest where the player attempts to defend an Alaskan base against a Commie invasion. Bethesda also has two more expansions which be released in the coming months. Finally, Criterion plans on releasing a series of content packs like the Legendary Cars pack, in addition to the free updates they’ve already released. In the works is the first of a series of islands with more stunt areas as well.

We won’t even discuss the number of songs released for Rock Band, or Guitar Hero.

This seems to be a growing trend and I approve. These are all great games and more content for them is quite welcome. I only hope they get spaced out a bit more and they continue to cost a relatively small amount. It would appear to be a nice revenue stream, but my guess is only if it isn’t abused. Epic charging $0.55 fora video showing me the location of a collectible in Gears of War 2, when I can get the same information from YouTube is pretty dumb.

-K

Crayon Physics

I really liked Braid. It was not only a well-told story, but introduced an unique twist to the classic “Mario” platformer at its core. What was even better was that it was an independently developed game, outside the mega-publishers that dominate the landscape.

So when I saw another game with unique gameplay and style, I decided to share it with you. Watch the video below and see if Crayon Physics tickles your fancy as much as it does mine.

http://www.vimeo.com/1849263
-K

Roads? Where We’re Going…

Straight from Criterion, the makers of Burnout Paradise comes the announcement of the Legendary Cars Pack. It’s four cars added to the game, and rumor has it they will cost money this time around, but when you see what’s in store, I think you’ll agree it will be worth it.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another company put so much effort into improving a console game as Criterion has done. As a result, they’ve got one loyal customer for some time to come.

-K

Braid

Good games are rare things all on their own. For example, of the hundreds of titles available for the XBox 360, I own maybe twenty or so and have played less than a hundred (Gamefly rules!).

So when a truly great game comes along, it’s definitely memorable. The thing is that those games usually come from a studio where a collaborative effort (sometimes guided by an auteur) is the main creative force. Budgets are usually in the millions. The man hour count alone would stagger most people’s imaginations.

Then a game like Braid appears and the entire world is turned upside down.

Braid is a puzzle/2-D platformer and the creation of indie developer Jonathan Blow, which takes these tried and true staples of the arcade game and, with the added mechanic of time reversal, a compelling, well-written story (that resonates emotionally, not just intellectually), beautiful art and a haunting soundtrack, transcends the genre to become something close to art, rather than just entertainment.

As I’ve seen in other reviews, to talk about Braid’s content or mechanics too closely is to spoil enjoyment of the game itself. It really should be experienced with as little known about it as possible. The game does use time as a mechanic, that can be said, and it does so in a way that evokes comparisons to Alan Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams. If you know the book, you’ll know to what I am referring.

The game itself is short, about six hours seems to be the average, and some of the puzzles can be frustrating until you figure out the key, but there’s nothing here to prevent anyone from completing the game. It all works and once you figure out a puzzle, you’re left feeling triumphant and clever, which should always be the case.

At the moment it’s only available on the XBox 360 via XBLA, but I’ve read a PC version will be released early in 2009.

One way or another, you should make a point to play this game. Experiences like this are rare and should be enjoyed and there are much, much worse ways to spend $15.

-K

My XBox360 Gamertag

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