Shaping Sounds - Thoughts on Sound Shapes

Title: Sound Shapes
Console: Playstation 3, Playstation Vita
Genre: Music, Platformer
Developer: Santa Monica Studio, Queasy Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release: August 7th, 2012

Ever since I first played Super Mario 64, platform based games have always held a place in my heart, with each level in the game having different obstacles to overcome in order to reach the end and rescue Princess Peach.

Sound Shapes is like that, just without all the Mario elements, and having more focus on music rather than constant princess rescuing.

The basis of the game is to get a mysterious ball like being to a record player at the end, all while avoiding various obstacles such as lava, lasers, and even small enemies.

A screenshot from "Galaxanoids", one of the four stages in the "D-Cade" album.

While trying to get your way to the end of each stage, you can collect a series of coins. The more coins you collect, the more music will play in the stage. In the main campaign mode, if you get hit by an enemy or injured from an attack, you'll restart at the last checkpoint you were, but any coins you collected after re-spawned are reset.

The campaign itself consists of five sets of albums (or levels in this case), hence why the game is a music platformer. In order, the campaign consists of the following:

                          "Hello, World" - Music by: I Am Robot and Proud (Shaw-Han Liem)
                          "CORPOREAL" - Music by: Jim Guthrie
                          "Beyonder" - Music by: I Am Robot and Proud
                          "D-Cade" - Music by deadmau5
                          "Cities" - Music by BECK

Even though that the campaign itself is short with each album consisting of four levels, I don't have a big problem with it being that length, as the music from all the albums are catchy and unique in their own ways.

Also, if you have a Playstation Vita, Sound Shapes is on sale for $10.49 for Vita owners in part of the one year anniversary of the Vita's release, so go download Sound Shapes!

Thanks again for reading, and I apologize for the lack of updates!

-Anthony-

Fire Emblem Awakening Discussion Part 2

After pretty too much delay, I bring to you the second part of my Fire Emblem Awakening discussion which will focus briefly on character classes, battle layout, and conversations.

1. Character Classes and Weapons

In Fire Emblem: Awakening, each character is specified by a different class, which allows them to use specific weapons in battle that can either deal damage or help out other allies in battle. Characters can use swords, lances, axes, tomes, staves, and other items to assist them in battle.

The Avatar, shown above is part of the Tactician class, one of the new playable classes in the game who can wield swords and tomes.

While most characters can use weapons to battle others may not have that luxury. For instance, Clerics use staves in order to heal other players in order to gain experience rather than by fighting.

Some character classes such as Mages and Archers who wield tomes and bows can attack enemies from two spaces away (but in this case Mages can also attack up close, while Archers cannot). Lancers who wield a Javelin can also attack enemies two spaces away.

Characters can also be promoted to other classes or change classes (via specific items). In the case of the Avatar he can be promoted to a Grandmaster or change to any other class entirely.

2. Battle Layout

Shown above is the layout of one of the battles in Fire Emblem Awakening. Blue units are your characters, Red units are enemies, and while not shown here, Green units are allies.

The general condition of battle can be to either A: Defeat all enemies in battle or B: Defeat the leader of the enemies, which ends the battle automatically.

While in battle you can view the enemy's status and weaponry. And in regards to weapons (specifically swords, lances, and axes) there's something you should pay attention for.

Sword wielders have an advantage over characters with lances, lance wielders have an advantage over axe wielders, and axe wielders have an advantage over swordsmen. Wielding a weapon that is weak against an opposing weapon that is strong will harm your chances in battle, but it won't always be the case.

Characters can also pair up together in combat and enhance their allies' statuses, and sometimes even help out in battle alongside them. Winning battles while paired up will not only give them experience, but it will also allow them to have special conversations, which will be mentioned finally.

3. Conversations

Characters can have up to three to four special conversations which can be done outside of battle. Male characters conversing with female characters will have four conversations (the fourth being an eventual marriage) while same gender characters, characters who are siblings to others and siblings to parents will only have three.

Depending on which two characters are interacting, the scene will be different with each character as they are all unique in their own way.

While I have given some information about the game, the most important thing for anyone to do is to experience the full game themselves and learn about what goes on the world each game takes place in.

Thanks again for watching,
-Anthony-

Yet Another Brief Update Post

Hey guys, sorry for the late posting, but due to having to dedicate more time at my job, I haven't been able to get time to work on a new blog as of late. I'm hoping to turn this around by at least giving a tentative list of blogs that will be coming out.

The following will topics will be covered in future blogs:

-Fire Emblem Awakening Part 2 Discussion
-More Than the Big Three - Steam Box, SHIELD, and Ouya

The following games may be reviewed as well. Again, also tentative:
-Persona 4 Arena
-Okami HD
-Fire Emblem Awakening

I apologize in advance.
-Anthony-

"Journey" At The Oscars

 

 Now, I know what you guys are thinking: "Why do video games have to ANYTHING to do with the Grammy Awards?" Well in this very rarely seen case, one video game has been able to make the cut and be nominated for a Grammy for "Best Score Soundtrack Album for Visual Media." And trust me, I'm not kidding.

Title: Journey
Genre: Adventure
Console: Playstation 3
Developer: thatgamecompany
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Digital Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Collector's Edition Release Date: August 28th, 2012

Journey is the third game developed by thatgamecompany and the last game published under their contract with Sony Computer Entertainment, the other two games being flOw and Flower. The soundtrack, which the game was given the nomination for was composed by Austin Wintory.

In Journey, you play as a mysterious red robed figure traveling through the desert in order to reach the top of the mountain. Along the way players can meet up with other players (via Playstation Network) and work together to reach the mountain and discover new areas and learn more about the history of the robed figure.

Players can meet with other random players via the PlayStation Network. Image shown is two robed figures nearby the Broken Bridge, the second area in the game.

As previously stated, Austin Wintory, composer of the game's soundtrack, was to give players a sense of emotion that builds as you progress further and further on in the story.

Even though that Journey is the first game to received a Grammy nomination for it's overall soundtrack, it is not the first video game to receive a nomination. The first game to do so was Sid Meier's Civilization IV, being nominated (and winning) for "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals" with it's opening theme "Baba Yetu".

Baba Yetu Music Video:

 Journey's competition for the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Grammy include soundtracks from the following movies: "The Dark Knight Rises", "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "The Artist", "Hugo", and "The Adventures of Tintin". It would be quite a shock to see a video game soundtrack win against several popular movies.

To end this blog, here's a taste of one of the tracks from Journey, "I Was Born For This".

You can download the full soundtrack for Journey from Amazon or itunes, or you can check out the Journey Bonus Bundle on bandcamp, which includes tracks/remixes from Journey and flOw.

The Oscars will air Sunday, February 10th, at 8 P.M. EST.

Thanks for reading!
-Anthony-

On Hold - Fire Emblem Discussion Part 2

Hey guys. Due to the fact that Fire Emblem Awakening was delayed due to a shipping error, I'm going to have to postpone my discussion about Fire Emblem until later. However, that does not mean that there will be no content this time around, I'll just have to focus on something else momentarily. Thanks, and keep on watching! -Anthony-

Anticipation: Fire Emblem Awakening

Title: Fire Emblem Awakening
Genre: Tactical Role-Playing
Origin: Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: February 4th, 2013

To be particularly fair, I've never played any of the Fire Emblem games since they've started coming over in the west with the seventh title in the series, but after a long time of waiting, I'll finally own my first Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem: Awakening.

The Fire Emblem series has a rather unique history to it, in which it was never released outside of Japan, nor no one knew about the series or characters until Super Smash Bros. Melee, when Marth and Roy appeared as newcomers. The interest in both characters led Nintendo to release the Fire Emblem games in both the United States as well as Europe.

Gameplay wise, throughout the series, it's a role-playing game that involves strategy, by controlling a group of warriors to take down various enemies in a turn based system.

Awakening's story follows the prince Chrom in his adventures throughout the world of Ylisse. He notices a neighbouring nation act suspiciously, and it is up to him and his band of soliders, known as the Shepherds in order to keep the country at peace.

I feel that there's a lot to explain that goes into detail, so because of that, there will be a continuation of this blog next time around.

Watch the trailer right here: More stuff coming soon!