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The title of this podcast is The Overworld. The title refers to the top-down, third person view of a world map in games such as Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. The overworld of a video game can be a vast place and this podcast will attempt to follow the vast world of gaming. In addition to being a podcast, The Overworld will also be a gaming blog. There will be two blogs – one for the podcast and one for daily postings. The website for The Overworld is http://www.theoverworld.net
My name is Cloak and this is my first ever podcast. So, I’m a little nervous about Episode 1. Let’s hope it goes well. The blog portion of the show will include show notes, images, and trailers from the topics of discussion.
Square Enix acquires Eidos plc
On February 12, 2009, Square-Enix announced it was going to attempt to buy Eidos plc, which is the holding company for Eidos Interactive. Eidos Interactive is the UK-based publisher of such games as Tomb Raider, Hitman, Thief, and Legacy of Kain. On April 22, 2009, Square-Enix officially took over Eidos plc for a reported 84.3 million pounds or approximately $120 million dollars. What does this mean for Eidos Interactive?
New PSP
1UP.com reports Sony will showcase its new PSP at E3 2009 in June. The new PSP system will reportedly not use UMDs. Instead, Sony is moving towards a digital download delivery model. Sony seems to release a new model of the PSP every year so what are the advantages of buying now? Why not keep using that PSP 3000 or even 2000 and wait until next year? If you own a PSP 3000 or earlier, how will you play the games that you have already bought? Will you get a free download for those games? Those are all questions I have.
I bought the PSP 3000 the week it came out. Apparently, it has an LCD screen with a higher contrast ratio, shorter response time, and improvements to visibility in highly lit areas. I know one thing – it still isn’t all that great playing in the car during daylight hours. Technology will obviously get better with time but why must we buy a new console every year just to experience the improvements? What’s going on Sony?
The new PSP, which may be named the PSP Go!, will reportedly hit shelves in Japan in September 2009 while the North American release will come a month or two later.
Games Currently Playing
I’m currently playing Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy VIII for the Playstation, and Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain for the Playstation. This is my first time ever playing through Final Fantasy IV on any system, I’m playing through Final Fantasy VIII for the eighth time, and I’m playing Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain for the fourth time.
Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS is a remake of the classic Final Fantasy II for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game has been remade several times before, but this is the first time the game is fully 3D. You play Cecil, dark knight and Lord Captain of the Red Wings of Baron. After being sent on many mysterious and brutal missions, Cecil questions the King of Baron’s motives in stealing crystals from select towns. Aided by several people wanting to stop the destruction of the crystals, Cecil finds out the real enemy is Golbez who replaced him as Lord Captain of the Red Wings. Golbez is seeking the crystals. Cecil, along with his allies, attempts to stop him.
Final Fantasy VIII was released for the Playstation in 1999. The main protagonist of the game is a young mercenary by the name of Squall Leonhart. Squall is a very introverted, anti-social person who is very serious about his work. Once he meets the other party members, he starts to open up more and more throughout the story. Squall and his counterparts are a part of the elite, mercenary force, SeeD. SeeD’s objective is to eliminate the sorceress in power. The game has many twists and turns and the young party ends up fighting a foe that greatly overshadows the powers of the early villains.
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain was released for the Playstation in 1996. The game is an early Playstation game so it has a 2D top-down interface. Kain plays the part of an anti-hero. He’s not really a good guy, but he’s also not a bad guy. You control Kain as he seeks vengeance for his murder. The necromancer, Mortanius, revives Kain and makes him a vampire after his death so that he may seek his vengeance. What transpires after is much more than a mere vengeance quest.
MMORPG Review – Shot Online
Visual Presentation
Visual presentation should not be confused with graphics. In my opinion, some of the best games ever have 8-bit and 16-bit graphics. So, I won’t be focusing on how great and spectacular the graphics are. Visual presentation will weigh a few factors but mainly how the game looks and feels and if look and feel are synchronous. Graphical user interface (GUI) will be focused upon in addition to the ease with which the gamer can pick up on what each graphical icon means. The way the camera reacts will also be under review as this is an important aspect in any game. Another important measure is if the visual aspects of the game go well with the game itself. This is not to be confused with if the game has beautiful graphics or not. I have already explained that graphics don’t make a game. A game could have beautiful graphics, however, and not have a very good layout. Some graphics may seem out of place for the setting also.
Shot-Online has the typical “mystery meat” navigation that is seen in many games. They have nice little pictures, but unless you scroll over them to see the tool tip you might not immediately recognize what each symbol means. The game gives you the ability to change the color scheme of the bar at the bottom, but the colors are limited. For some reason or another, my cursor changes from a ball on a tee to a ball on a southwest arrow. This isn’t a major problem but just a continuity issue.
The camera in Shot-Online is very good. To see where a shot will land, you hit the tab key. To move the camera, you hold the right mouse button and drag the mouse. It’s really quite simple.
The main area where players can communicate and make trades with each other is called the Square. The Square is a very odd island that is not very robust. You can go from one end of the Square to the other end in less than a minute. To put it simply, it’s not very vast.
The clothes that can be worn by the players in the game are horrendous. You can dress up like Arnold Schwarzenegger from a future life on Neptune or you can resemble a maitre d’. Most of the hairstyles are also ridiculous.
Visual Presentation score: 6.5 / 10
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Content
Reviewed will be the frequency of updates and content in addition to the quality of the new content. It really doesn’t matter if you release content every week if the content is worthless so quality if a must have.
Shot Online has a huge problem is delaying updates or not releasing them at all. I started playing the game is 2005. Since then, they have changed the Square, put in a handful of courses, added some ugly clothes, and put in a tournament system where only a select few can even win. When they do finally release content, it gets old very fast. They don’t release a whole lot of quality content. They mainly release items in their item mall to make money. That seems to be all they care about these days.
Content Score: 2.0 / 10
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Gameplay
The game is a very accurate simulation of golf. The physics engine is very good. The only real problem is it’s not like real golf at all. When you get to about Level 50, there is no real challenge anymore because you can shoot outrageous scores like –18 or better. This could never happen in real golf.
There are a few quests in the game, but nothing really interesting.
Gameplay Score: 7.0 / 10
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Sound
The sounds of Shot Online are very typical. You hear sound when you hit the ball and when it lands. There are a few soundtracks that get repetitive after a while and are not very inspiring. The sound could be a lot better. When I play, I turn the music off because it gets extremely annoying and repetitive after a while. I just listen to my own music.
Sound Score: 3.0 / 10
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Support
The support in this game is decent, but not great. Game Masters answer questions but sometimes they take up to a week to answer them. I understand that they probably get a lot of inquiries, but you must talk to your customers. There is a rarely a GM logged into the game. So when someone is acting like a moron in game, there is no one there to mute them.
There have been some instances when a player loses some of their in game items due to bugs. Sometimes the GMs will answer and sometime they’ll just apologize and tell the person they can’t get their items back. This doesn’t seem fair.
Support Score: 4.0 / 10
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Value
By value, I mean long-term playability. Is the game fun for a year or just a month? Can your players accomplish everything relevant in the game in a year or in three? Human beings have to be entertained. Grinding in a video game for levels or money is not very fun. A player must feel a sense of accomplishment every time he or she logs out so that they’ll come back the next day. If it takes you a month to accomplish one task playing every day, the game designers won’t keep their users happy for long.
You can get a decent set of clothes and clubs if you just use the Item Mall. There’s nothing special about that and few rare items that can be gotten from the game itself. The only rare items to my knowledge currently in the game that you can only get inside the game are level 100 items. By the time you reach Semi-Pro at around level 41, you can play every course in the game but one. By this time you can also start to shoot pretty good scores. It’s just a leveling game at this point. Achieving Tour Pro at around level 61 is this game’s last glory. Getting to level 100 isn’t worth dedicating your life to it.
Value Score: 5.5 / 10
Shot Online Final Score: 4.7 / 10
Legacy of Kain: Prodigal Sons
The last time an official Legacy of Kain game was released was November 11, 2003. Fans of the series expected at least one more game to be released to complete the saga. In 2009, there still has not been word of a new game in the works. The only news that has come of a new game in the works was the cancellation of the Legacy of Kain: The Dark Prophecy project. This game was assumed to be the conclusion to the series.
For the fans that still remember and love the series, they still eagerly await an official release of a new game. Until then, we’ll just have to make due with a very promising fan game called Legacy of Kain: Prodigal Sons. Legacy of Kain: Prodigal Sons is a fan game made by Jake Pawloski. The website for the game is http://lokprodigalsons.webs.com.
The game is a Soul Reaver prequel and takes place approximately 150 years after Blood Omen 2. The story follows Raziel as Kain’s top vampire lieutenant. The Raziel seen in the opening sequence of Soul Reaver will be the Raziel that is focused on for this game. It is a very interesting idea and I’m sure it will be very popular in the Legacy of Kain fan community. The game was made using 3D Game Studio.
As a fan of the Legacy of Kain series, I’m happy to see that someone took initiative and made a fan game. It should be very interesting and a fun game. This isn’t a conclusive game to the Legacy of Kain series, but it is something new that I’m sure fans will enjoy.
IGN Reader’s Choice Top 100 Games of All Time (81-100)
#100: ESPN NFL 2K5 (Gamecube, PS2, Xbox)
ESPN NFL 2K5 is an American Football game developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega. The good things about this game are the $20 price tag, a change up from Madden games, and the opportunity to play in 480p ED on the Xbox version. The graphics and gameplay are just as good as the Madden series at a lower price. Sadly for Sega and ESPN, this was the last game produced in this series.
#99: Madden NFL 2005 (Gamecube, PC, PS2, Xbox)
Madden NFL 2005 is just about as good as it gets. The game has the great graphics and great gameplay we have grown to love about the Madden series as well as many new features. This is the first game in the Madden series to feature the Hit Stick, which is usually activated by moving the right analog stick in the direction you want to hit. Many a time I used it to force fumbles and lost helmets. The game also features Storyline Central, which has a newspaper for every NFL city. This game definitely deserves to be on the list.
#98: Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (Game Boy Advance)
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising was released for the Game Boy Advance in North America on June 23, 2003. It is a turn-based strategy game that features both a Campaign mode and multiplayer gameplay. I’ve never played this game, but I must say it must be a good game to make the list since it’s a sequel. We all know that most of the time sequels can never measure up to the original game, but it apparently did in this case. It belongs on the list.
#97: Paper Mario (Nintendo 64)
Paper Mario was released in North America for the Nintendo 64 on February 4, 2001. The storyline is very similar to other Mario games in which you must save the Princess Peach from Bowser. The great thing about this game is it’s an RPG. I’ve never played this game, but the fact that it’s an RPG makes me want to get it on Virtual Console for the Wii. This game belongs on the list.
#96: Pikmin 2 (Gamecube)
I’ve never played Pikmin 2 and I must say it looks very odd from the box art. It’s a real-time strategy game released for the Nintendo Gamecube on August 30, 2004 in North America. The great thing going for this game is it looks very original. The graphics look odd, but also look very well done. As a sequel, it must be a very good game so I think it belongs on the list.
#95: Advance Wars (Game Boy Advance)
Advance Wars was released in North America on September 10, 2001 in North America just one day before the horrible terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. The game was delayed in Europe and Japan for this very reason. Like its sequel, it’s a turn-based strategy game that looks like it involves a lot of tanks. I could be wrong because I’ve never played the game. In addition to Campaign mode, there is a multiplayer mode. The game looks very interesting and looks like it easily belongs on the list.
#94: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Oblivion is quite possibly the most massive RPG game we’ve seen in recent years. The game is praised for its many hours of gameplay. It was released in North America on March 20, 2006 for the Xbox 360. It features open-ended, non-linear gameplay, which is one of the strongest reasons why this game is on the list. The game has a plugin titled Knights of the Nine and an expansion pack titled Shivering Isles which adds an additional 30 hours of gameplay. Both of these were included in the Game of the Year Edition, which is the one I own. I still haven’t gotten around to playing this game yet, but it looks awesome in every way. I actually am surprised the game is this low on the list. It seems like it should be higher.
#93: Half-Life (PC)
Half-Life is a first-person shooter released in North America for the PC on November 19, 1998. I’ve never played it, but I have heard how popular it is and that it has expansion packs, a sequel, and many third-party mods. The game has a single-player mode, but it appears multiplayer mode is where the game gets its critically acclaimed reputation. As one of the great first-person shooter games, this game definitely deserves to be on the list of greatest games of all time.
#92: WWF No Mercy (Nintendo 64)
The reason this game is on the list is questionable. To be fair, I’ve never played the game and I’m not really interested in wrestling at all. However, I wouldn’t really consider a wrestling game among the greatest of all time and I wouldn’t put it ahead of any of the games below it. The game was released in North America for the Nintendo 64 on November 14, 2000. The game does feature a “Create-a-Wrestler” feature that seemed well before its time. I still wouldn’t consider this game one of the greatest of all time. I mean, it’s a wrestling game. Come on.
#91: Madden NFL 2004 (Gamecube, PC, PS2, Xbox)
Madden NFL 2004 introduced the popular Playmaker feature to the Madden series. This game features Owner mode, which allows you to control most everything that goes on in your stadium. Just to note, Michael Vick, who is on the cover, broke his leg in preseason and didn’t appear until late in the regular season. The “Madden Curse” continues here. I guess it’s also relevant to say that Michael Vick has been cursed in his personal life as well doing federal time in the pen for dog fighting. I doubt he’ll ever see another cover of anything.
#90: Unreal Tournament (PC)
Unreal Tournament is a famous first-person shooter that was released November 30, 1999 for the PC. To my knowledge, this game is still being played all over the world with people hosting their own servers. This game was one of the revolutionary multiplayer first-person shooters with this format being the game’s main focus. I’ve never played the game myself, but I can say that this game belongs on this list. I remember years ago being asked if I played Unreal Tournament. So, I am well aware of the popularity. Maybe one of these days I’ll have an opportunity to play it.
#89: Chrono Cross (Playstation)
Chrono Cross is the first Square game to make an appearance on this list. Chrono Trigger has been famous for many years and has been re-released many times most recently for the Nintendo DS. The second Chrono game doesn’t fall short either. It was released in North America on August 15, 2000. While this Square game may not have sold as many copies as its Final Fantasy games of the time, this title is still strong and has long been praised for its plot, characters, and battle system. It reached Greatest Hits status in North America. This game belongs on the list.
#88: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (Nintendo DS)
The Castlevania series has produced several games. I have lost count of how many there are. A game has been released on virtually every system and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is the first game released from the series for the Nintendo DS. Even though I’ve never played the game, it seems to have a great number of features. The game has multiple endings and multiplayer capabilities. Unfortunately, the story seems to be a little short but I’m sure this game lives up to the Castlevania name. I don’t know if this game belongs on the list of greatest of all time, but that’s just my opinion. Is it the greatest Castlevania game ever or are there more of the series on the list? I guess we’ll find out in future episodes.
#87: Forza Motorsport (Xbox)
I’m not really into racing or car games, but this game caught my eye the first time I read this list. It looks incredible. It was released in North America on May 3, 2005. There are hundreds of cars in the game that can be upgraded and customized to the user’s liking. It definitely looks like a great game. I’ll add it to my must play list.
#86: Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, Xbox 360)
Since its beginning, the Grand Theft Auto series has sold millions of copies worldwide. The craze over the new Grand Theft Auto IV has been equally alarming. The game was released worldwide for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 28, 2008. Grand Theft Auto IV, like its predecessors, offers sandbox gameplay where the world can be explored and missions can be done at your leisure. I haven’t gotten the chance to play Grand Theft Auto IV yet, but if it’s anything like its predecessors, the experience should be phenomenal. It absolutely belongs on this list.
#85: Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
Kingdom Hearts is a Final Fantasy, Disney hybrid that was released by Square on September 17, 2002 in North America. The game features many characters from both Disney and Final Fantasy. Kingdom Hearts is more of an action role-playing game than seen in earlier Final Fantasy games where the battle used the Active Time Battle system. In my opinion, this is one of the most innovative games ever released by Square because of the two worlds of Disney and Final Fantasy being linked. The game definitely earned its spot on the list.
#84: Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance)
There have been more Metroid games released than I can count. Metroid: Zero Mission is for the Game Boy Advance and was released in North America on February 9, 2004. Metroid: Zero Mission is a remake of the original NES game. As well as being a re-release of the original, the game features added content. The graphics have gotten a near complete overhaul and look much better than the original. I’ve never played a single Metroid game, but I do know the original story somewhat. This is a great choice for the list.
Survival-horror games have always been one of my favorite genres. Enternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a survival, horror game that was released for the Nintendo Gamecube on June 23, 2002 in North America. The player goes through several time periods and plays a total of 12 characters. The timeline goes as far back as 26 BC where the player controls Pious Augustus. The game was not a best-seller by any means but has received critical acclaim both from the video game press and fans. Just by researching what the game is all about, I now know I want to purchase a copy myself.
#82: Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgame$ (Game Boy Advance)
Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgame$ was released in North America on May 21, 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgame$ stars Wario who wants to start a video game company. He gets help from a lot of his friends to finish his games. The player tests the games by playing them. I’ve never personally played the game, but the mini-games that are included in this game make it seem like it is worth playing. I can see it being on the list, but I don’t know if I would put it at #82. It seems like it should in the 90s.
#81: Mass Effect (PC, Xbox 360)
One thing is for sure – Bioware makes great games. From the creator of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire comes Mass Effect. Mass Effect is a sci-fi action RPG that was released in North America on November 20, 2007 for the Xbox 360. The game was later ported to the PC on May 28, 2008. The graphics for this game make you question your own reality. I’ve yet to play this game, but Bioware makes great story-based games. I have played through Knights of the Old Republic four times and every time was wonderful. There was some controversy over a sex scene in this game, but I don’t think there was ever any actual nudity. Someone may have to correct me on that. People need to stop attacking video games. No one attacks smut in movies, so why focus on games? Games aren’t for kids anymore. They aren’t being targeted.
Wrap-up
In Episode 1, I talked about some gaming news – the Square-Enix acquisition of Eidos plc and the new PSP that will be introduced at E3 2009. I discussed what games I’m currently playing and gave a little information about those games. I came to the conclusion that I probably need to start playing some more recent games. What can I say; I’m a classic gamer.
I did a review of the MMORPG Shot Online. I gave it an overall score of 4.7 / 10. I talked about Legacy of Kain: Prodigal Sons, a fan game made by Jake Pawloski that looks great. Finally, I took at loot at numbers 81-100 of IGN’s Reader’s Choice Top 100 Games of All Time. I discussed a little about each game and evaluated whether each game was a good fit on the list or not.
That’s the end of Episode 1. I’ve had fun doing this episode. I hope everyone who downloads this podcast has fun listening. Go easy on me please. This is my first podcast ever. Thanks everyone.
