Gaming Backlog 2010
I recently moved back to Seattle and have been looking for a job, which leads to a lot of downtime, which has allowed me to catchup on my gaming backlog. To make matters worse Toys ‘R Us recently did their yearly “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deal, which only added to my gaming backlog. So lets begin on what I have been playing.
Madden 2011
I admit it, I love Madden and sports games. I buy them each year. I find them relaxing compared to some other games out there. But this years Madden was a little different with the simplified play selection interface which leads to a much quicker game. The game plays like your typical Madden game, which an improved running game, but passing can be a pain at the higher difficulties.
Halo: Reach
I was able to pick Halo: Reach up a couple weeks after it came out, but I wasn’t able to play it due to moving and not having access to my Xbox 360. But now that I am all settled I decided to fire it up. Having a number of friends working at Bungie, I feel I need to play their games to support them, but they also make great games. Halo: Reach is nothing but polish. From the menus to the flow, the art, the music, the multiplayer. Everything just has the signs of a very well thought out game in every aspect. I am currently a couple missions into the game, and been very impressed. The only problem I have ran into is some silly partner AI and sometimes I get lost and don’t know where to go next, but find my way by just exploring for a couple minutes.
Dead Rising 2
Loading. I loved the original Dead Rising. It was fun just to wander around the mall and pick up hockey sticks and other random weapons, but sadly the sequel has some major problems. First you don’t play the game for what seems like the first 30 minutes. Just cinematic and press button, loading, cinematic and press button, loading, drive motorbike for three minutes, loading, cinematic… you get the idea. I can understand their desire to provide a more impactful story, but let me go kill some zombies! FAST!! The loading is just a flaw. With games like Red Dead Redemption allowing such open worlds with little to no loading, it is disappointing that Dead Rising 2 needs to load all the freaking time.
Super Meat Boy
I love it that the game that has been taking up most of my time is a simple jumping puzzle game. I can’t help myself how fun this game is. The campiness, the graphics, the simplicity, just makes me want to play it more. With all the huge budget games coming out, it is a simple game made by two people that has my attention. I might be in a minority, but I think that minority is growing, rapidly.
