STRIDER RETURNS!

These days it isn't too often we get a retro style, 2.5D action sidescroller, let alone it be good. The last ones I really recall enjoying were Bionic Commando: Rearmed and Omega Five [arguable on the latter by some]. It almost seemed as if we would never get a decent game again, as the first person shooters and rpgs have monopolized the ADD consumer and therefore the minds of the publishers as to what they're willing to spend money on to make for them.

Then there is good old Capcom, who drops us a new reboot to Strider, one of my all-time favorite action games of the early 1990's in the arcade and at home on my Sega Genesis. Those were the days I tell you, and this game brings back all those feelings again. I don't like to do "reviews" per say, but rather give my view on how this game made me feel...and it's good! 

One of the tough mini boss battles

The music, art style and animations of Hiryu [the main character and protagonist of our game] are a definite throwback to the original game, making this game feel so nostalgic to me. It's a sidescroller, so you move either to the right or left and sometimes up or down in the levels as you progress. The enemies come at you in droves and you try to survive and NOT die!!! This game can be tough, especially on the most difficult setting, and that is a huge plus in my book. I am so tired of games being so easy and just re-spawning or starting from a checkpoint right where I left off. Here the challenge lies in learning how your enemy attacks...it's patterns...which I have always felt is easier to convey in 2D games than 3D.

Jumping is again a timed perfection you earn

Jumping and attacking are the main focus, and as the game progresses this gets tougher to pull off without error. The controls are really tight and pulling off some attack/jumping combox is really satisfying. The game is also tough too. I've played it on the hardest setting and found it enjoyable to play a game that I die alot in. I just can't say how much fun [and frustration] I had playing this game and cannot wait for either a sequel or the next 2.5 dimensional game to come our way and woo us again. 

With technology as advanced as it is, sometimes it's wise to take a step back and utilize what you've learned to take a great way to create games and make it better than ever, instead of forgetting about it. 

For now though, Hiryu is back and Capcom did not disappoint me at all [OK...maybe I really wanted that cyber dragon to be made up of a bunch of soldiers pulling of a Voltron]. This game has show me that you can take an old franchise and refresh it for today's standards and give some young blood a taste of what gaming was like, without having to bear through the harsh reality of time that most games do not stand the test of. Now if we only can get a proper Castlevania, Metroid or Shinobi at this kind of care and detail, life will be good!

theFuu score: *****5/5

Ahhhh...the return of the cartwheel jump!!

METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Phantom Pain

We all knew it was coming, and that Hideo Kojima is the worst liar in gaming history ("This is MY last Metal Gear..."). Metal Gear Solid returns in it's fifth iteration...The Phantom Pain!!! I just had flashbacks to 1999 when I heard the official subtitle to Star Wars Episode 1, except not as nauseating this time.

Looks like Snake is back [or is it Big Boss? Naked Snake? WTF am I supposed to call him now?!] and as usual the trailers tell us absolutely nothing and make no sense whatsoever. I will admit I haven't played a MGS game since Guns of the Patriots, so I'm sure there is something I'm missing here, but it's Kojima's style to throw us for a loop in his reveals.

I've decided to NOT dissect the trailer at this point and NOT try to make sense of what it all means.
However, one thing is for certain...the game looks fantastic running on the new FOX ENGINE. The level of detail in what we are told is gameplay footage is amazing and what we'd expect from Kojima San.

I've loved every game in the Metal Gear series [yes even the ACiD series have some fun points] and I'm not worried it will disappoint. It's officially been announced for the PlayStation & Xbox and is definitely one to watch!