Bayonetta, Braid, Half-Minute Hero & Super Mario Bros Wii

I’ve been waiting for Bayonetta for quite a long time now. I can’t exactly remember when I saw the trailer in Famitsu WAVE DVD, but since then I’ve been all hype for it. [My original post of Shinohan watermark Bayonetta cover]

Bayonetta (Playstation 3)

As most of your are aware, I am a Playstation 3 owner and don’t have a Microsoft Xbox 360, neither do I want one. I am sure though, that a lot of you are aware that according to Famitsu Bayonetta for Xbox 360 has received a 40/40 rating where the PS3 version only received a 38/40 rating. This is as far as I read it on Kotaku’s article anyway. Again I don’t have a 360 so I can’t actually compare anything. There are two major things that do piss me off about the game though. For one and most importantly above anything else – loading times! Loading times in Bayonetta truly challenge your patience especially if you die the seventh time in a row on the difficulties above “normal”. On your first playthrough the Loading times (although very long) won’t be as frustrating as you will be watching the cut scenes and dialogues and etc.. So overall I guess overall this shouldn’t actually be too much a factor, but the fact that there’s no “install” option with the game does leave me a bit salty. The other thing I found a bit irritating is the variable frame rate drop. There’s actually a few instances in the game, where you will have no idea what’s going on because the frame rate drops down to a point where turning the camera turns into a sped up slide show watched on a bad cocaine trip! Now this extreme example doesn’t happen all to often, but general frame rate drops which can make the game look and feel rather clunky. Keep in mind though, that although the game’s completely localized into English this is still the Japanese version I am playing and it might be different (and hopefully IS different) once the NA and EU version hit stores.

Apart from the two shortcomings above though, this game’s absolute gold. If you’re looking at this game hoping it’d be your “This is what Devil May Cry 4 should’ve been” title, you might want to consider a few things first. First and foremost, if you the Devil May Cry Hard Rock / Metal tunes are what really pull you in on Devil May Cry, you won’t find anything like that in Bayonetta. In fact you better be ready to listen to the following a LOT! Oddly enough I really enjoy the tune, while sending Angels back knocking on heavens gates!

Also the comedic aspect in Bayonetta although subtle most of the time, can be very extreme and ridiculous. Again this is nothing bad at all just something that is a bit off to the likes of Devil May Cry. All in all, it doesn’t really matter – if you want to get the game, go and do so because otherwise you’re just missing out!

Tales of Vesperia (Playstation 3)

I’ve finally finished it! The third form of the last boss, is no pushover on a first playthrough! I started a second playthrough on UNKNOWN (hardest difficulty) and 10x EXP. I thought this would be a walk in the park. Nope not so much, the first Boss (Zagi), I actually had to fight hard as he kept on knocking me down and I was about to die! Once I get to the Post game scenarios (including the Telescopic Tower Maze thingy) I’ll start recording.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

I went to buy New Super Mario Bros Wii (helping Reggie reaching his quote on beating either PS3 or 360 Modern Warfare) just to come home and be greeting with an error after playing the game for 10 minutes “Error” “Eject Disc and reboot Wii” – something along those lines. A few Google searches later it seems this is in fact some sort of Piracy prevention mechanism. I am all for this! But… if I go to the shop, buy the game and come home to be labelled a pirate… not so much! Now although I have the original copy, my only solution currently would be (apart from buying another Wii which I am sure as hell not gonna do!) is to actually download an illegal copy of the game… is it illegal when I do own the original?… And then Homebrew channel, USB load, ISOscrub… whatever it is – it’s a bit too much of a hassle. In the end I probably will end up buying another Wii, the game’s too great to be passed up on!

Half-Minute Hero (PSP)

There’s not much I can say about this game apart from “greatness in 30 second form!”. Half-Minute Hero is a full fledged RPG, Real Time Strategy & Shmup all in little… digital download (if you bought from the NA PSN like I did). I have only played Hero 30 so far which is the heart of the game. In Hero 30 you’re tasked to beat an evil lord within 30 seconds of the game starting. In these 30 seconds you’ll have to grind levels, do side quests, get from Point A to B, find secrets, etc. everything you can think of to do in an RPG but you will need to do it in 30 seconds. Of course you get some help, the Time Goddess will stop time for you while you’re in a village / town and will also turn back time (reset the timer to 30 seconds) for a fee. This fee at first is 100, the next time it will be 200, then 300 etc. – this essentially means you don’t wanna use her unless you really have to. If you commute (this meaning you not being in front of the wheel!) and you like RPG’s, this is the perfect game for you travel boredom.

Braid (Playstation 3)

Love it! One of those games (like Vesperia) which I used to jealously look over to the 360 for. Now that it’s finally on PSN, I couldn’t be happier. The game in itself has been discussed in such great detail that I don’t really need go over all of this again. If you read this and you haven’t bought Braid, do buy it! Give them money to make another game of this caliber! (And I am not talking about a Sequel! NEW IP’s!!!)

Street Fighter IV

…I haven’t touched up my Milf (C. Viper) in ages :( – she’ll be back, especially as I am really not happy with Tekken 6 BR for console whatsover! Not one bit!