10 Reasons Why MapleStory Is Great!

Right, I’m annoyed. Someone I know said that MapleStory was a mediocre game. And now I’m here to prove them wrong. Yes, because I always blog about my daily gaming life with people I know. Anyway, I should let you know, I have always had a soft spot for MapleStory – true, I’ve had a bit of an on-off relationship, but I still like it. Seriously.

1.    Clever use of graphics

I seriously don't get how these graphics are bad...

The first thing they said was this: “I don’t like how it’s a 2D scroller with weird graphics” … or something like that. Well, when you compare the graphics to a 3D MMORPG, you’ll find that MapleStory’s graphics are a whole lot more polished and tidied, whereas most 3D MMORPGs have quite a few graphical limitations. It’s like saying that for a gig at a restaurant, you’ll play a piece that’s simple, but you’ve practised a lot, or a complex piece, that hasn’t been practised quite as much. The graphics in general are very very cutesy and charming, so it all balances out. And it's not so pixelated now too (they changed the resolution.).

2.    Superb sound and music

Now, I know a lot of MMORPGs have great music … but still, you have to admit, MapleStory has some beautiful tracks in there. Really, there are some fantastic scores … but I guess that’s a given, seeing as it is a fairly popular MMORPGs. Oh, and since it’s a 2D scroller, there’ll always be different maps, most of which have differing themes to them, which means a ton of variety, which is really great. And plus, when you’re fighting monsters, the cutesy sounds they make … it adds quite a bit of flair to playing, so everything’s been tuned very very nicely with sound.

3.    Heaps of classes

Now, in terms of balancing the game and all that stuff, the amount of classes is just ridiculous. But from a gameplay point of view, it's fantastic. There are 15+ classes to pick, and even though they all fit into a category, like a mage-type, or warrior-type, or thief-type, they all have a different style of playing. And it's seriously fun just to keep making more and more characters just to play around with the classes.

Yes... because tons of classes are necessary to keep a MMORPG alive...

4.    Easy rhythm

There’s just this wonderful pace you get from doing storyline quests and even grind quests – you fall into this nicely repetitive pattern; it’s hard to explain really. You just got to play it to feel it. 

5.    Polished up

Now, this is quite the general term, but it’s true. The graphics, sound, UI, quests, mapping, and etc, are all very polished up, after years and years of experience. They’ve made it pretty sleek and useful, and in general, it has a very pleasing effect to both the eye and the instinct.

6.    Ridiculous amounts of randomness

Um… Not sure if it's good or bad … Well, it's not that ridiculous... Ok, there is some random stuff, like the monster designs and some weapons found in the Cash Shop, but these contribute to that whimsical and carefree attitude that MapleStory gives off. It's this kind of randomness that makes MapleStory ... well, MapleStory.

Randomness x 9999 = MapleStory!

7.    Idiot-proofed

I’ve seen a lot of MMORPGs … and some of them just plonk you straight into their world without another word – sure, you can always read about how to do stuff … but I can’t ever be bothered. But MapleStory has been idiot-proofed once, twice, thrice, a billion times. You can’t go wrong – they teach you EVERYTHING. Well, aside from some more complicated stuff. Anyway, MapleStory will carefully guide you through, which is really a joy if you’re a newcomer.

8.    Customisation galore!

There are so many ways to make your character yours. Ok, most of them are options through paying real-life money, but even without paying cash, you can still dress up your character in all sorts of outfits, equip awesome weapons, and all that stuff. It's a very free environment, where all characters will not look alike. 

9.    Simple but effective

MapleStory doesn't have any complicated stuff. Well, there are some other complicated thingies introduced that are a bit gimmicky, but overall, it's a simple game. Go through a couple of story based quests, and then grind and do grind quests, and job quests and yeah. It goes on. And it's fun. That's what makes up the "effective" part.

10.    Easy and fun gameplay

 Press Ctrl to do normal attack. Press Alt to jump. Assign skills (press K) to keyboard. Press I to get items. Also assign to keyboard. And when you level up, press S to develop your character. Press Q for quests. Alright! You now know have to play MapleStory! Just like that! Anyway, everything happens in real-time, so no more of that yucky turn-based stuff. Mash that hotkey until all monsters die! It's a whole bunch better than sitting and waiting. There's even some platforming thrown in the mix too - jump quests (where you jump up platforms) are extremely satisfying when completed. Except when you can't finish them. Then you will hate them.

... Whew. That was a long rant on how MapleStory is awesome ... but it is. It's developed over the years, and it's become quite fun for the newcomer. To the veterans, it's not so great, for nostalgic reasons. Other than that, MapleStory is still an incredibly great game that every gamer should not miss. So go download and play! 

Star Wars 1313 - A Mature Star Wars

Star Wars. We’ve all heard of it; pretty much half the planet has. And us gamers all know about it’s … sometimes mediocre but sometimes fantastical games! (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic forever!) Anyway, I’m getting off topic. I’m here today to give my thoughts on the new Star Wars 1313 – a different take on this world of guys who whack each other with beam swords and the Force.

Everything about this screams "epic reimagining!"

So, Star Wars 1313? Heard of it? Well, even if you have, I’ll explain anyway. It’s basically the Uncharted of the Star Wars franchise. Ok, I’m getting the feeling that every game has this need to copy off Uncharted which copied off Tomb Raider. Never forget Tomb Raider, got it? Uh, anyway …

So as I was saying, Star Wars 1313 is not another “become-Jedi-kill-people-with-Force/lightsabre” type thing. Nope. As I said earlier, think of it this way. Imagine Uncharted … and now think of a Star Wars version of it. Pretty … interesting, isn’t it. Anyway, it’s a 3^rd Person shooter, set in the slums and underworld of Coruscant, and it is very very nice. It’s all about the dark world in the city, with bounty hunters, murderers, bad people, and so it gives off quite a mature, gritty feeling, which is quite a new thing for Star Wars. It aims to be the newcomer that'll change it all, and well, I think it's going pretty good. 

Yes. Yes indeed.

Now, here are my own thoughts. It’s a very exciting new take for Star Wars, concept wise, and the presentation of it is just brilliant. It’s got that Hollywood-blockbuster feel to it, but at the same time, it feels dark and gritty – it’s just great to see all of this. By the way, it is EPIC. The cinematic fights, and gameplay is just ... stunning. Really. The graphics are just gorgeous. Seriously, they are. And the sound is pretty good, with exciting battle music and what not, but the gameplay is … well, an exact copy of Uncharted. Don’t get me wrong, I love Uncharted, but … it feels too similar, but that could be because I barely know it. But combat-wise, it looks fairly alike. But who knows? There might be some gangster like gameplay in there too! Overall, it’s a nice package, but there are some conceptual problems I have with it (too much like Uncharted!) but it’s a fresh new take on Star Wars – best game since KOTOR. Yup.

Yes, because all games require you to be scrambling for your life on a burning piece of debris.

I'll be sure to follow this game. You should too! I'll probably talk about it again when I'm in the mood.

Nintenviews - All About Nintendo

Do you love Nintendo? Well, that’s a dumb question to ask, everyone does! If you’re a big time fan of Nintendo’s games, consoles, or anything to do with it, then Nintenviews is for you! It’s a blog dedicated to the wonders that Nintendo pushes out!

Now, the blog covers a variety of stuff from ... well, Nintendo, like consoles, even ones like the Nintendo 64, games, going into the nitty-gritty of the history, and most importantly, reviews on Nintendo stuff. The blog is really well organised - a page there tells you absolutely everything you need to know!

Here's the link!

http://nintenviews.blogspot.com.au/

Yep, it's a thumbs up to Nintenviews!

You know, I quite like using this picture. Thumbs up!

7 Kinds of People Who Play Dating Sims

Ok, so we all know there are hundreds of types of games (well, kind of anyway.). Now, one of the most … interesting kinds are dating sims. Most people generally don’t go there, and when you hear someone you know is playing one … it’s just … facepalm moment.

You KNOW it's a dating sim when incredibly attractive people talk to you in perfect poses, with text at the bottom, and choices to pick...

Now what kind of people play it? Well, that’s obvious, but it might just be interesting to know … for all I know, the person next to you, or even some random stalker you have may be playing dating sims…

(Note: To people who play dating sims, I respect you, and I am not trying to demean you in any way. If you are hurt during the reading of this post, I am deeply sorry. If you don’t like it, please don’t read it. That was a very long note indeed.)

1.    People who are … unattractive to the opposite (or same) gender

To be fair, I included gay/lesbian gamers, because they exist too, but anyway… Generally, this is one of the most common types of people who play dating sims – they fulfil their love lives with non-existent people …who are attracted to them because their programming told them to.

2.    People who can’t get boyfriends/girlfriends

Uh… This is fairly similar to the first one, but still… You could be very attractive but might not be successful in love. Anyway, as I said, people who fit under this category drown their sorrows in programmed love.

3.    People who actually LIKE dating sims (generally very lovey-dovey)

Now, this is a bit rare, but you could just simply enjoy dating sims for what they are – a window into life’s best. Dating sims aren’t necessarily bad, and so there still is a fanbase … kind of.

4.    People who are extreme gamers, and are looking to play every type of game

Ok, I’m kidding. This section probably doesn’t exist.

5.    People who are “preparing” for love

Normally, I'd say something more sentimental, but the boy in this picture probably had practice with dating sims ... ok, maybe not. Love level x 9999!

Another really random one. But it could be possible, you know! Boys/girls who are a bit younger might be trying to get some “practice” before the real deal… which sounds a bit inappropriate for them, but hey, practice makes perfect, right?

6.    People who were introduced to dating sims by friends (who have been converted)

Wow… This post has a whole bunch of random ones. But yes, you could’ve been converted by one of your lovey-dovey friends into playing dating sims, as strange it sounds.

7.    Girls between ages 12 – 17

This isn’t exactly a type of person, but I’ll include it anyway. Well, I think anyway. Generally, girls in that age group are all in a constant love mood. (I’m being very stereotypical here…) Of course, males play dating sims too ... except they generally don't admit it.

This was totally random, by the way. But now you know what kinds of people play dating sims! If you fall under one of these categories … good luck getting that dream/virtual person!

Tails vs Yoshi!

Sidekicks always have to be there. Whenever there’s a popular character out there, he/she/it always (or at least, most of the time) has a sidekick. This time, we’ll be covering a battle between Tails and Yoshi – Sega’s kid fox and Mario’s dinosaur friend!

Cuteness:

Tails:

Cuteness level x 99999999!

So adorable, it makes you sick! Nah, jokes. Tails just has this really cute look that'll make any cute-fan scream. I mean, you can't go wrong with a two tailed fox, with the cutest eyes and colour scheme.

Yoshi:

Yes! Cute indeed! Just not sickeningly cute like Tails. Sorry Yoshi.

Voice Acting

Tails:

Oh god. What is wrong with you, Tails?! Every game or so, Tails gets a new voice actor, most of which are whiny, annoying, and don't have feeling. Sure, it sounds kinda cute at first, but trust me, you'll start puking sooner or later. Your ears will bleed, and you'll pretend you don't know who Tails is. There, a long rant about Tails' lack of good voice acting.

Yoshi:

Yoshi!~

YES! Awesomest sound effects/voice! Gotta love the cute noises he makes! YOSHIII! ... Anyway, it sounds natural and adorable, so it's all good. There might not be voice acting, but I think Nintendo knows that voice acting usually ruins most games' sound in general.

Personality:

Tails:

A two tailed fox with a heart of gold! Anyway, Tails is a sweet character and aspires to be like Sonic. Tails has that trait where you always try hard, blah blah blah, and all that nicety stuff. Personally, I think he's got a very nice overall personality!

Yoshi:

Well... There's not quite enough chances to show Yoshi's personality ... so... Um, it's a bit hard. 

Uniqueness:

Tails:

Design-wise, Tails has a pretty unique look to him. I mean, how many two-tailed foxes are there anyway? Unfortunately, personality-wise, ol' Tails is just another character based on a frequently-used archetype.

Yoshi:

It's a fricking dinosaur/dragon/Nintendo idea! Seriously, the idea for Yoshi was indeed clever. As always, Nintendo comes up with the best of ideas; Yoshi just has a truly unique thing about him, and it's proven by how many people know who Yoshi is.

Usefulness:

Tails:

Uhh... Well, as much as I like Tails, he does get a bit on your nerves sometimes, even if he's not meant to serve any sort of purpose in one of the games. Overall, when you think of using Tails, it's not exactly exciting. 

Yoshi:

I cannot describe it. Yoshi is usefulness in a character; whenever you get to use him, it's as fun as can be. Just look it up on Wikipedia or something. Seriously, Yoshi can do soo much...

Yoshi!~~~~

And now, the results!

Tails = 2 points!
Yoshi = 3 points!

YAY! Yoshi won! Insert winning quote from Mario Kart for Yoshi! Now let me say this, I like Tails a lot, but Yoshi in general has just been designed and polished a quite a bit better; after all, it is Nintendo. Not being gamist (it's a word I made up; being biased against gaming companies) at all, of course.

Dead or Alive: Is it Dead or Alive?

We all know how games franchises and their companies can fall from grace easily, (think Sega) but is the overly sexualised fighter Dead or Alive one of those who have snuffed it? No, not really.

Made by the creators of Ninja Gaiden, Team Ninja of Tecmo Koei, Dead or Alive is one of those games that don’t shine above the rest, but then again, aren’t technical disasters. Yep, just in the middle. So why is it still fighting fit? Well first of all, it’s actually a pretty good game in general, though it’s no Tekken or Virtua Fighter. It also has a fairly good fanbase out there, and just like the Fable series, has a creator with a big mouth (I’m looking at you Molyneux). In this case, you get Tomonobu Itagaki. He pretty much defines the word “blunt” – he hates Tekken, and has overtly said so … many times over.

Anyway, Dead or Alive’s taken a few heavy hits: a 6 year hiatus + loss of original creator + new director made a mess of Ninja Gaiden 3.

So as you can see, not a great spot to be in. BUT! It seems that Yousuke Hayashi (new director) is starting to be smart now. And now, Dead or Alive 5 is coming to town!

You noticed the cool explosion and character pose, before the boobs, didn't you!

Anyway, Dead or Alive 5 is now considered to have a good fanbase now, and trust me, I’ve seen a school newsletter say that “it’s one of the big games coming up.” Just saying, E3’s made Dead or Alive 5 much bigger. An entire tournament was made for Dead or Alive, which probably boosted the audience. Not only that, but the exhibition turned out pretty well too.

Adding onto that, Dead or Alive 5 has stuck in a few new things, such as Power Blows, which are like super moves but less super, Critical Bursts, new Danger Zones, meaning the stage design is skyrocketing, Cliffhangers, which are exactly what they sound like, and graphics. Oh, the graphics. Dead or Alive 5 is taking a much more mature and realistic turn here. It’s like everything has improved. And people have noticed this new fighter coming along.

Yes... DOA5 is much more mature ... And obviously, they include "sensual swimsuits" in the special edition...

With a strengthened fanbase from E3, and much more improved design, Dead or Alive 5 is being released on September 25 (in my region). So, dead or alive? Definitely alive.

4 Common Mistakes in Gaming

Yes, we all play games. And most of us make some of the dumbest mistakes while playing them, which ruins the experience of the game ... unless you’re playing a terrible game, which I recommend you don’t do.

1)    Spoilers

You might think that avoiding spoilers is incredibly easy, but trust me, it’s actually not. One day I might be looking for the solution of a really frustrating puzzle, (I’d probably be playing Legend of Zelda) and then I stumble on the solution in a walkthrough ... and one line down, is a huge storyline giveaway. That’s happened too many times to me now... Unless you’re the type who likes knowing everything, spoilers are an absolute don’t in gaming.

2)    Rushing

I see this everywhere. People can’t wait a second for good parts in a game, and just trade it off ... with more battling. It’s really sad to see such interesting bits wasted, and usually it’s dialogue which is passed over. Some games, like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its equally dialogue-intensive sequel, feature some fantastic dialogue, and I’ve seen people just plough through it. And then they don’t know what to do next.

Although, skipping over side quests, and just generally avoiding the subtler parts of a game can be considered rushing; not something I’d do.

3)    Cheats (depends on game/gamer)

This little mistake is stuck on every big gaming site, and although it’s pretty dependent on games and the gamer, it pretty much defeats the purpose of a game. You’re meant to get stronger, and feel like you are growing with your character ... not start out with 9999 HP and 9999 MP.

4)    Getting angry

Awwww.... Having a little temper tantrum, are we? How cute.

Well, maybe you won’t look as freaky as this kid here, but you’ll probably be angry enough to throw a brick at me. So if a puzzle/battle/annoying glitch/etc bogs you down, don’t worry. Be happy. I’d tell the kid to be happy too. When you’re angry, you tend to miss out on important messages, and you panic a lot more easily. Generally, you just don’t play as well as you normally do.


So you hopefully have an image of what NOT to do when you're playing games, yeah?