Archive for the ‘PS2’ Category

Whither Vic Viper?

Radiant Silvergun

Today, Destructoid asks: where have all the spaceships gone?

When did you last play a space shooter? Better yet, if you’re under the age of 20, have you ever played a space shooter? Back when it was a popular genre, we used to run to the local 7-11 with a fistful of mom’s laundry money, eager to plow through a hectic sea of deadly asteroids and insect-shaped enemy craft.

Since those days when high scores meant something, it seems every other genre that existed at the time has grown and evolved into something amazing. Rally-x paved the way for Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Pitfall became Tomb Raider. Even other classes of shooters like Contra have led to great games like Gears of War.

Why, then, have space shooters hit a darwinian roadblock? If Metroid can move through generations and still be fun, why can’t Galaga?

It’s a valid question. I think I’ve been looking for a good space shooter myself; the last one of any real worth I played was Ikaruga, and there’ve been times I’ve debated getting a Sega Saturn just so I can go back and play Radiant Silvergun (especially since someone’s finished translating the rather epic story). Heck, I’ve even thought of picking up R-Type Final for the PS2. And yet I haven’t. (Actually, the last ’shooter’ I bought in any fashion? Gradius, on the virtual console. Prior to that? Rez. I love Rez to death, but that’s another story altogether.)

Dtoid asks at the end:

What do you think, robot friends? Would you jump at the chance to play a 3-D spaceship game built for the 360, or do you think this genre is no longer viable and should be forgotten about?

I have to say I’m unsure - at least, about the 3-D part. I think part of the appeal of the space shooter is simply that it is uncomplicated in terms of gameplay (now, as for staying alive? that can be deadly). Putting things in 3-D naturally introduces all the complications that come with trying to dodge shots that are now coming from in front of you; depth is really hard to judge when you have no shadow, it seems. (On the other hand, there is Rez. Rez is not about the challenge, though.)

Maybe I should break out XNA Game Studio when I get home - I’m almost itching to try my finger at doing this myself, and the overhead or side-scrolling shooter is pretty much the standard demo project for just about every game development system ever. Hey, it’s worth a shot.

Worth four simultaneous shots, in fact, if I have Options.

Gradius

March 7th, 2007 · Tags Development, Nostalgia, PS2, Video Games, Wii | Comments Off

Crying over spilled zombies

Resident Evil: Outbreak

Looks like the end of an era: Capcom announces it’s shutting down the Resident Evil: Outbreak servers, mere days after Konami announced a kill-by date for the Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence servers.

Capcom regretfully announces that the server for our Playstation 2 online game Resident Evil Outbreak: File#2 will be closing at the end of March 2007.

Since Resident Evil Outbreak File#2 was released in August 2005 , Capcom has provided a server enabling consumers to experience the online element of this game free of charge.

Regretfully, conditions now dictate that we must close down this server effective from March 31, 2007. Naturally it will still be possible to play the game offline, but the online component will no longer be available.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have been loyal members of the RE Outbreak community for the past months.

Fan reaction was, of course, tragic. … Wait. Outbreak still had fans?

I think I am going to cry. This is the worst news ever. I am very very very disappointed with Capcom. Not only has this forum gone sour, and no new games kept my interest, but my FAVORITE Capcom game of my literally many many many Capcom games is going to go foul as well. This is a HUGE massive disappointment. Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak File#2 are almost literally the only games I play, and I play them for several hours a day online. Last night I played both, and I actually just got off from playing File#2. These games are simply not fun offline. I think this is a bad decision, because I know many many people who play these very often like I do.

Apparently, very devoted fans.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They can not take the game I love!!!!!!!! I will fight them to the end to have this server remain!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can I contact Capcom about this?!!!!!!!

… Seriously.

March 5th, 2007 · Tags Capcom, PS2, Video Games | Comments Off