Chapter 15: Retrospective Aladdin (Sega Mega Drive) Review

-credit armadillo444

So as you could probably tell, there was no review on Thursday. This was because I didn't really have an XBox360 game to review, since i'm still working my way through Saints Row 2 and Prince of Persia.

So instead, for every week there isn't a Thursday XBox game review, there will be a retrospective game review on the Saturday. This will mostly consist of SNES and Sega Mega Drive games (These the only old school consoles currently in my residency).

So where better to start than with a game based on the best Disney film ever in the history of ever, Aladdin? (A lot of people will say Lion King is the best, a lot of girls will say Beauty and the Beast, but none of them have Robin Williams on improv mode)

The game on the Mega Drive was created by Virgin Interactive (Richard Branson?) All the games across the different consoles it was released on were different. But the Sega Mega Drive one is widely regarded as being the best.

For a start the gameplay is much better than the SNES version. In the SNES game, you can jump, climb and swing on posts and that is it. When it comes to enemies, you can either jump on them classic platform style or throw apples.

In the Mega Drive version, you get a sword! So instantly it's 10 times cooler (Although when did Aladdin wield a sword in the film?) You can still throw apples as well.

(Why you can throw apples in either game is beyond me. Is this because Aladdin has an apple twice in the film? And can do that cool trick where he flips it off his shoulder? Or when Jafar was eating one out of Jasmine's hands in that perverse scene towards the climax?)

Also rather than just jump, climb and swing, there are a number of ways to get across the levels like flying ropes, moving blocks etc.

Plot-wise, the game follows the plot of the film and also throws in a couple of random levels. (Remember when Aladdin just decided to take a stroll in the desert? Or when he went into Genie's lamp? No? Me either)

Graphically, the Mega Drive version looks a lot crisper than the other versions. Musically, it sounds better too. The 16-bit music in Aladdin is one of the best in any Mega Drive game in my opinion. Some levels have standard generic music but other levels feature 16-bit versions of 'Friend Like Me', 'Arabian Nights' and 'Prince Ali', which is awesome.

The game is relatively short which is a problem. We, by which I mean my housemate Scott, completed the game in around 80 minutes. Another small nitpick I have with the game is that the SNES level where you're on the magic carpet escaping the Cave of Wonders is a lot superior to the Mega Drive. The Snake Jafar boss fight is a lot cooler on SNES too. It is also seems very easy to gain extra lives, which could be good or bad however you look at it.

Overall though, this game is brilliant and if you own a Sega Mega Drive or plan on getting one, you want to get this game. Along with the Lion King game, it's arguably one of the best Disney games ever on any console. (Kingdom Hearts may be up there though)

Pick it up, play it and savour it. This is a game you will thoroughly enjoy playing. And unlike some games, you will want to pick it up and play it all over again in the future. Simply a classic.

Rating: 10/10

Gamerpoints achieved so far: N/A

Chapter 14: Achievements of the Week 6-13 March

-credit tchuntfr

With a distinct lack of XBox action again this week (bar about 6 hours yesterday), the chances are slim that I will build upon last week's awesome-for-me Oscar worthy total of 270 gamerpoints.

The rundown of this week's achievements are below.

Also this weekend will be blog-tastic, as I shall retrospectively review Aladdin on the Sega Mega Drive, and add some more witty, insightful content.

Or worst comes to worst i'll post a funny video.

So stay F5'd (that's the refresh button).

11/03/09- Reality Star (Saints Row 2): Completed all levels of FUZZ (15G)

11/03/09- Going the Distance (Saints Row 2): Threw someone a long, long way (5G)

12/03/09- Soprano (Saints Row 2): Sung along to the radio (10G)

12/03/09- Love Thy Neighbour (Saints Row 2): Grabbed 50 human shields (5G)

Total Gamerpoints: 35

I know, I know, it doesn't look good. Not. One. Bit.

But there's always next week...right?

Gamerpoints review so far:

• 13-20 Feb: 160
• 20-27 Feb: 60
• 27-6 March: 270
• 6-13 March: 35

Chapter 12: Is It Wrong to Look Back and Wish?

-credit -Marlith-

Once again my deepest apologies for the lack of updates over the weekend. I was away in Norfolk for a friends surprise 21st birthday party. I had little internet action therefore HNTPX (abbrieviation...yeah) was left desolate. So sorry for that.

Now I love my XBox360 (not in a weird way). It's the console for me; a casual gamer who loves to play multiplayer and single games alike, who can't afford the behemoth that is PS3. It's awesome (I did have a Wii for about a month in 2007 but it hurt my wrists).

But ever since the Sega Mega Drive entered my house 2 weeks ago, i've been looking back and thinking of getting a new old console. Now I already own a SNES, a PS2 and an XBox360 in my gaming collection. But i've been twitching for either a Sega Dreamcast or a Nintendo 64.

Now i'm more inclined to go N64 as after my SNES, my gaming allegiance switched to Sony and then Microsoft. So I missed out on the delights of Mario Kart 64, Super Mario 64 and the Legend of Zelda games amongst others.

I can get one of these consoles relatively cheap on the old Ebay, but i've been thinking, is it wrong?

I mean we are supposed to be in this great era of gaming, with the Wii, XBox360 and PS3 all offering their different takes on gaming. But more than ever, people seem to be looking back and buying older generation consoles.

Is it a case of nostalgia? Wanting something you enjoyed so much when you were younger? Or is it deeper than that, and really gamers just enjoy the simplicity and fun of previous generation games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Brothers?

Are Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft catering to what the modern gamer wants? Or just delivering what they think noughties gamers expect with technology now?

It's quite a deep argument for this blog, i'll grant you that. So lets take break, have a snack and come back at a later date. For now, I shall continue to ponder this conundrum along with the meaning of life (to complete Super Mario Brother 3 perhaps?).

For more reading on the seventh generation console wars, I send ze to Zero Punctuation from 2007. Laugh, enjoy, return, comment.

Chapter 11: Achievements of the Week 27th Feb-6th March

-credit Paperghost

Another week has come and gone and it's time for my achievements run-down for the past seven days.

It was looking pretty bad, possibly even worse than last week, due to Mega Drive mania taking over in my house. But fortunately I pulled it together last night with a hardcore Saints Row 2 session with Dan.

Here's the run-down:

05/03/09- Brother's Keeper (Saints Row 2): Defeated the Brotherhood (40G)

05/03/09- Seperated at Birth (Saints Row 2): Completed all Brotherhood missions in co-op (25G)

05/03/09- A Brighter Future (Saints Row 2): Defeated the Ultor Corporation Epilogue (80G)

06/03/09- Vengeance (Saints Row 2): Exacted revenge on Julius (15G)

06/03/09- Partners in Crime (Saints Row 2): Completed all campaign missions in co-op (100G)

06/03/09- Hello 47 (Saints Row 2): Killed all Hitman targets (10G)

Total Gamerpoints: 270

A respectable score. Get in !

Chapter 10: Prince of Persia Review

As you can see i've decided to drop Roman numerals in my blog titles. Mainly because I don't know 10 onwards. Also, it was a pain.

Anyway, after a week of Mega Drive shenanigans, it's back to XBox matters at hand.

This week's review is Prince of Persia. Now I never played the previous instalments in the series, even though according to Ben Croshaw, the Sands of Time trilogy were the best games on PS2.

I was given this by Dan to play and decided to give it a bash. Now bear in mind, 5 weeks later, Saints Row 2, SFIV and a Mega Drive have disrupted me playing this game properly so i'm about quarter of the way through. So my review is purely on what i've seen so far.

The game plot is something along the lines of evil prisoner is freed, covers the world in black goo and you (Prince of said Persia) and a magical assistant have to go around to each area defeating baddies and making the grass grow once more. Meh, the plot is weak and thin but is enough to get the gaming moving.

Personally, I feel this game is one of those you play when you want to relax, when you can't be bothered with anything too heavy. I think it's the parkour element. You cannot die because when you are about to plummet to certain doom, magic lady pulls you back. So it's casual and easy.

The parkour is good in the game, although sometimes I press the wrong button and the Prince decides to jump onto well...nothing. That's frustrating. Also, sometimes my brain can't work out the simplest of routes from A to B and so the Prince contiunously has to be bailed out of meeting Beezlebub. I can safely say I won't get that achievement for being saved less than 100 times.

The fighting aspect is easy too. Press X, Y and B during a battle and you'll thrust your sword forward, throw Elika at the baddie or throw him in the air and go Ryu on him temporarily. Nothing too it really. The baddies i've fought so far haven't been too challenging, but as I said i'm in the early stages.

Graphically the game is good for 360 and is colourful and vibrant. A problem I do have with the game is that the main character is a dick. He sounds American and speaks like an arrogant dick most of the time. It's annoying. Why you would ever want to play as someone like that is beyond me. Unless the game was Skins and you could play as Cook.

Another problem I have is that after about 20 mins of play I start to get bored. It's all good and well parkouring your way through the levels every now and then. But doing it every time you want to get somewhere gets monotonous. Maybe it's my lack of adventure but I couldn't play this game for hours straight.

Overall, Prince of Persia is a decent game. I think if you're not a fan of the series already, or a fan of parkour, then a rent is probably best. I've been told the game is around 8 hours complete so you could do it in a weekend. I'll continue to play it off and on but it'll never be a game that encaptures me for days on end.

Rating: 7/10

Gamerpoints achieved so far: 160/1000

Chapter VIIII: Sonic & Knuckles is Insanely Hard

Its been a slow week so far on this blog. On Thursday, there will be the weekly review. This week's is Prince of Persia, so stay viewed for that.

Meanwhile, I'm still eternally struggling with the Mega Drive. Being a SNES kid, I find the pace of Sonic ridiculous, and the lack of Goombas disturbing.

Arrogantly, I've by-passed trying to solo complete Sonic 1 & 2 (I completed Sonic 2 in Mallorca on my cousin's Mega Drive when I was 14. Who needs sun and sea when your holiday home has a 90s game console?), and instead decided to give Sonic & Knuckles a bash.

While it is fun being Knuckles and gliding everywhere, the difficulty curve is all over the place. Act II, Flying Battery Zone is insanely hard. I cannot get past it. I tried with about 4 lives and 2 continues and just could'nt do it. Stupid game.

I've completed 3 Metal Gear Solid games but I can't get past Act 2 of Sonic and Knuckles?

Pah.

Feel free to comment below on a) how i'm terrible generally at games b) how Sonic and Knuckles is actually easy or c) why this blog is now talking about Mega Drive and not XBox and is totally defeating the object.

Normality will resume tomorrow. I promise.

Chapter VIII: Playing Other Consoles is a No-No

So there was very little activity on this blog this weekend. That is my fault. I'd like to say I had a good reason for this, something along the lines of helping those in need by climbing Mount Kilimanjiro, or helping elderly ladies cross the street.

But in reality I was taken in by another console, not just that....a SEGA MEGA DRIVE!

*Cue dramatic Danny Elfman music*

For my housemates 21st birthday me and Dan bought him a Sega Mega Drive and 11 games for £30 off a friend.

Now naturally, if you have a new (ish) console in the house, you are going to play it.

Boy did we play it.

Mainly the pure beauty that is Sonic the Hedgehog 2. (we have Sonic the Hedgehog but that got by-passed. No super charge? WTF?)

Several times over the past 3 days that game has been put on, and each time we play the same levels, getting to the same point, before we are distracted and have to start all over again. (no saves= gay)

Super Street Fighter II we also have; funnily enough easier to master than IV.

We also have some random games like Two Tribes? Mig-29? and some crazy Dungeons and Dragons game where you are attacked by bears with shields.

All the while I have played about 2 hours of XBox all weekend (mainly Saints Row 2), have no achievements to show for it, and my progression is getting seriously hampered.

So in conclusion, to take something away with you from today's rant:

Don't live in a house with 2 XBox360s, a Super Nintendo, a Wii, a PS2 and a Sega Mega Drive II.

You will get distracted.