• 30Oct 08

  Why Saints Row 2 is more fun than GTA IV.

  Why do people buy video games? Maybe nowadays some buy them for the scouring of achievement points; games like King-Kong, Eragon, or everyone's favorite point getter, Avatar. Still others might buy them as an alternate reality; like WoW or other MMORPGs provide. And still others may buy games such as Wii Fit or Wii Sports as an actual activity, no matter how crazy that feels for me to say. (The fact that a video game can provide exercise, not that I think those specific games do, because they do.) However I still feel that at the center of every gamer's reasoning for purchasing a 60-plus dollar disc is to have fun. And what is fun? Well, fun is anything anyone wants it to be. Fun for a 5-year old is playing Disney related games, whereas fun for a 50-year old might be playing a trivia style game. Fun varies based on the player. I still feel, though, that at the crux of fun in games is a well put together single-player experience. The addition of online multiplayer to almost every game being produced today makes this a hard point to defend. But some of the best games, and definitely most of my own personal favorites, are this way because of their single-player mode. The single-player option is what gaming was born on and is still the main point of gaming today.

  With that said I can get into the heart of my argument; the fact that Saints Row 2 is generally more fun than GTA IV. First I will lay out the groundwork behind what I feel is a fairly unbiased opinion. I have owned every GTA in the series since III came out, oh so long ago, so needless to say I am a fan of the Rockstar product. I have always liked the vast array of things to be done within Liberty City, San Andreas, ect and always enjoyed the open-ended gameplay. Likewise I owned the original Saints Row, however at the time I owned it, I did not really appreciate it. To me it was a step backwards GTA knockoff with some of its own style and quirks, but it was the only next-gen alternative out there, so I bought it. So going into things, I would definitely call myself more of a GTA fan than a Saints Row fan.

  However with the release of each of the new games, I found myself enjoying Saints Row 2 a lot more than GTA IV and started wondering why? It was something I was really not expecting, I love GTA IV; the gameplay was much the same as the old ones, the characters seemed more developed, the story was terrific, and the environment was freakishly real. I was content with my experience and I felt like the game lived up to all hype. To be honest, I was not even going to buy Saints Row 2, in fact had it not been for my one roommate, who flat out loves the series, I probably would not have dropped my $63 and some change on it. But am I glad I did. It did what both Vice City and San Andreas failed to do in the GTA series, you see both were very close to what they could have been, but Vice City did not quite have all the parts necessary and San Andreas was so overwhelming that it became a chore. Saints Row 2, on the other hand, merged them both; it took the better story/characters and more manageable map from Vice City and combined it with the ridiculous amount of all the different things you could do/customize and the actual gang leader feeling of San Andreas, but it did it in its own way. That is what makes Saints Row more than just a GTA rip off; it adds its own attitude and swagger to the experience that you know immediately you're not playing a Rockstar game.

  While I still liked the story in GTA IV more than the Saints Row 2 storyline, I just had more fun with the Saints. Maybe it's the fact I could hold someone up in the middle of the street with a heat-seeking rocket launcher and have no real consequence for doing so, or maybe it was because I could dress my entire gang up as ninjas and laugh as they beat up flamboyant pimps. Either way I just found myself having a lot more fun and laughing a lot more during Saints Row 2. Where as in GTA IV I felt that it was more of an obligation and sign of respect to the game, story, and graphics to play it. The bottom line is that Saints Row 2 was ridiculous and absurd, but made for one of the most fun gaming experiences I have ever had, it's no masterpiece, but who needs the Mona Lisa when you are having a great time looking at Liberty Leading the People.

  take 'er easy and thanks for reading,

  The Dude Abides

  • Posted Oct 30, 2008 4:20 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 15Nov 07

  2007, The Best Year for Video Games of All Time?

  This opinion piece is a little early based on the fact that not all the holiday releases are even out yet (Mass Effect, Rock Band, Unreal Tournament, Haze, ect.) but I have been so pleased and surprised by this year's lineup of games that I could not wait much longer to write about it.

  Looking back on the last 11 months brings a vibrant smile to my face. I am an Xbox 360 owner, but appreciate good games for every platform. That means I can love playing games like Bioshock and Halo 3(although I'm not a beloved fan like most are) for my 360, but can also stare in awe at games like Crysis, Zelda: Phantom Hourglass(DS), and Drake's Fortune. With that said, when looking across each platform, it is not a stretch to say that this year's lineup could be considered among the all time greatest single year of game releases.

  There have been the blockbuster games that people had already designated as great months before they came out, like Halo and Zelda. And these games did not disappoint, but the fact that there were so many great games that seemed to come from nowhere was surprising and relieving to gamers everywhere. Earlier in the year we got G.R.A.W. 2 for the Xbox which, in my opinion was not as good as the original, but gave us a fresh new storyline, multiplayer modes, and of course maps, guns, and extra features. Along the same lines the much-awaited release of God of War 2 for the PS2 helped open the gate in 2007.

  

  Kratos in all his ass kickingglory ushers in 2007.
  

  This, too, resurrected an already great game and gave us a sequel to love just as much as it's original. Then there was the sequel to the four-year-old Galactic Civilizations. The new turn-based strategy game brought new life to a dormant game and was praised much higher then its predecessor.

  Also early this year we were witnesses to some of the biggest re-releases of all time. This includes Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion being released on the PS3, which is undoubtedly one of the best RPGs of all time. There was also the opportunity for Wii owners to pride themselves on being able to play, in my opinion, one of the greatest games ever made; Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

  

  The greatest game of all time, well maybe not anymore...

  There was also the introduction of Xbox owners into an elite club with the inevitable release of Guitar Hero 2 for the 360. And then for the computer gamers there was yet another add-on for the epic obsessive cult known as World of Warcraft. These re-releases and expansions are unprecedented in their relevance and impact on the gaming world and helped expand all the different systems.

  Now the middle months of the year are usually fairly slow in terms of game releases, with games mimicking the summer blockbuster action movies that usually are indescribably terrible and then the usual football games that don't always live up to expectations, all in all the summer is usually the lull in year for video games. But this past summer did not quite follow in suit. Releases of Forza Motorsport 2 and Command and Conquer 3 (for both the PC and the 360) started the summer out well. And then during June and July re-releases reigned supreme. The Wii unveiled a special Wii edition Resident Evil 4 along with the ever-popular RPG Paper Mario. However the Wii was not the only platform to find success in re-releases, PS3 also contributed with a redone Ninja Gaiden and the already household name of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas. Then came the much-awaited end of summer release, Bioshock. It was over hyped for some, while others thought it received all the hype it deserved. For myself though, I had not heard a lot about this supposed massive release and when I saw the reviews for it, and luckily enough for me the local game store was out of Two Worlds, I picked it up. Ever since then I have been singing its praises as not only one of the greatest games I have ever had the pleasure to play, but as the greatest story in a video game of all time. The depth, the characters, and the philosophy made me want to play the game just to find out what was going to happen next, needless to say I spent so long nights completing this video game written novel and loved every moment of it.

  

  It is stuff like this that makes Bioshock brilliant, not to mention the game itself.

  From a firestorm at the end of summer the game industry picked it up even further, and believe me I did not think this was even possible. Since August we have seen great, not just good games, on every system. Halo 3 finally shook the very core of the earth as fanboys everywhere peed themselves waiting in line for it. But along with that we also received a new RTS into the PC community in World in Conflict. Less then a month after these super selling titles we saw Zelda: Phantom Hourglass come to the DS, which in ratings was even better then the long awaited release of Twilight Princess for the Wii a year prior. The Orange Box then brought 360 and PC owners (and soon to be PS3 owners) some of the greatest FPS games of all time together all in one box. One of the best things about The Orange Box was the fact that many considered Portal, an unknown until now puzzle game, to be the best game out of the 5.

  

  Who would have thought that a puzzle game would be the best one in this lineup, this game blew my mind.

  And that is one lofty achievement considering it was sharing a disc with Half-Life 2, Episodes 1&2, and Team Fortress 2. That is five great games for the price of one, what a great offering from Valve.

  Less than a month after that groundbreaking FPS release we were benefactors of yet another great FPS in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This game provided PS3, 360, and PC owners with a new face to the always great and innovative Call of Duty series. A good campaign coupled with in depth multiplayer made this game an instant staple in FPSs. From there Nintendo responded to this with Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii, which has become a favorite in the never ending Mario line.

  

  Oh Mario it is true, the whole galaxy does love you.

  The accomplishment in its own speaks for itself, but it has also been regarded as one of the best games of an already great year. Then in the same week Crysis was apparently sent down from heaven by the Gaming God's and graced computer gamers everywhere. From what I have heard and seen in videos the graphics, story, and game play in this beautiful tale are absolutely overwhelming.

  

  Just sweet...

  And then that leaves me with my most recent purchase for the Xbox 360, Assassin's Creed. I have already ranked it up there with Oblivion and Bioshock as my favorite games for the 360 and it very well could break into a category all its own as my favorite game of all time. Now you may think to yourself that I am sounding off a little bit too much on a game that was great, but not perfect in everyway. In return I will admit my bias, as I have been waiting for this game since the moment I heard of its release. It was the game that made me say, "I am going out and buying a PS3." because in its earliest days it was not scheduled to come out for the 360. Since then I have read previews and waited eagerly for the day that I could pop it into my system and relive the crusades in the body of an assassin. I have studied religious history and the crusades is one of my fields of specific interest, yet again why my bias may be a bit overpowering for some. But with that said, I can take a real-life testimonial in the case of one of my best friends, who was not expecting what I did out of this game. He, unlike me, was not into religious history either, and was not particularly interested in the game's storyline although he admitted it sounded cool. However since opening the package he had completely changed his story and now considers Assassin's Creed to be the best and most interactive game he has ever played. While my friend and myself sing its praises we do understand the chief fault in its play, that the missions do get a bit redundant and repetitive. Other than that though I find that Assassin's Creed is a completely encapsulating, action packed, open-ended, well-written game that should be at least given a chance by gamers everywhere.

  

  Utter brilliance, I have never been in such awe of a video game.

  Now after writing about all the games we have seen and that have already proven themselves to be great we can sit back in awe and think, it is not even over yet. We still have Mass Effect, which has received rave reviews from the places that have already gotten a hold of it, as well as Rock Band, which could push Guitar Hero from the throne of music inspired games. Also there are games like Unreal Tournament 3, which has a pedigree of great games already behind it and Haze, which I think could really surprise people and may be my new incentive to buy a PS3. It is truly amazing that after such a great list of games presented in this piece that there are still games like this to look forward to.

  After taking everything into consideration I do not think it can be argued that 2007 has proven to be one of the best years for games in the history of video gaming. Based on the sheer volume coupled with the prestigious ratings 2007 very well could be at the pinnacle of video games, at least for the time being.

  Other good game not even mentioned in the article:

  • WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii)
  • Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (360)
  • Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)
  • Super Paper Mario (Wii)
  • Supreme Commander (PC)
  • Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 (PS2)
  • Europa Universalis III (PC)
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles (multi)
  • Sid Meier's Pirates (PSP)
  • Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance (PC)
  • The Witcher (PC)
  • Virtua Fighter 5 Online (360)
  • Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (360)
  • Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaro's Treasure (Wii)
  • Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow (PSP)
  • FIFA Soccer 2008 (360/PS3)
  • NBA 2K8 (360/PS3)
  • Project Gotham Racing 4 (360)
  • Warhawk (PS3)
  • Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
  • Madden NFL 2008 (360/PS3)
  • The Darkness (360/PS3)
  • Eternal Sonata (360)
  • NHL 2008 (360/PS3)
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)
  • Guitar Hero 3 (360/PS3)

  
  

  

  Take 'er easy, The Dude Abides.
  

  • Posted Nov 15, 2007 4:38 pm GMT
  • Category: Opinion
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