Video Game Vault - Dead or Alive 3 (Xbox)

BEFORE I GET STARTED ON THIS;
I know I haven't done a Video Game Vault in a while, and I apologize for that.  Life has made me busy, and I haven't bothered to work on a new one.  I'm currently working on getting a few new games ready for Video Game Vault (as I have a good backlog set up), so expect those soon.

This Video Game Vault article was originally started back in May of 2014, but I accidentally forgot about it after a while.  Since my opinion on this game hasn't changed, I'm not changing anything I've added since.  However, I did remove one section, as I found it unnecessary to include for these series of articles.

Again, apologies, and thanks for understanding!

- Brendan/Shadow (October 25th, 2014)

#1 Reason to own an Xbox right here!

One of my many, many guilty pleasures, as far as game genres go, is fighting games.  For the longest time, I always said nothing could top Super Smash Bros. as the best fighting series.  Probably because I found games like Street Fighter and games like that way too difficult.

However, recently, I've been playing a ton of fighting games.  The ones I've played the most, as of recent, are Marvel Super Heroes (Saturn), Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (Saturn), Virtual Fighter 2 (Saturn), Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Dreamcast), and (of course) Super Smash Bros. (N64).  I needed some new fighting games to play, as some of these were already tiring me a bit, so I took a quick trip to a used game store I usually go to.

And there I saw it; Dead or Alive 3 for the original Xbox.  $5.95 (technically got ripped off, but it was only $1-$2, so I have no issues with this), and ready to be in my hands.

Out of every fighting series I've always wanted to try, Dead or Alive is one that I seemed to be semi-interested in.  I wanted it because of all the positive reception I've heard on it.  Yet, half of me was uninterested, because I knew it was just cheap fanservice everywhere.  While I don't care for fanservice that much, it's hard to enjoy a certain game, when it's shoved down your throat to the point where you question if you're the intended audience.

Nevertheless, I picked it up, as I wanted to play something fun (and all the other DoA games were either ports of their SEGA Saturn/Dreamcast counterparts for Xbox, or the, "Xtreme"ly cheap fanservice attempt called, "Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball".....Yeah, you get the idea on the latter).

So, I got home and popped the game into my original Xbox, hoping to find something fun that ISN'T as full of fanservice as I hoped....
And Great Scott!  The game was fantastic!

OK, so there was fanservice, but it was only there for a few characters.  And even then, it felt terribly mild anyways.  But besides that, the game was basically some of the most fun I've ever had in an Xbox game, or fighting game in general.  It felt a lot like Virtua Fighter, but with new gameplay mechanics.  No words could describe it, so I decided to make it this weeks game for Video Game Vault so I could have an excuse to talk about it.  Let's get moving!

First Impressions (Before Playing):

Hmm....Dead or Alive....Totally doesn't make me think of sex appeal or anything.

Beautiful....Simply, Beautiful.

Seriously, though; after hearing everything about DoA, I thought the game was gonna have some of the most blatant fanservice to ever hit video games (then I was quickly reminded of that Beach Volleyball game again, and changed my mind).  But to be on the more positive side, I thought the game would have great fighting mechanics that I have never seen in a game thus far.  Even if that wouldn't be the case, though, I would've been happy with traditional fighting gameplay, but with something different.

First Impressions (After Playing):
OK, let's talk about the graphics for a second.  Let me just tell you right now that this game is one of the best looking video games on the Xbox.  The landscapes, the character models themselves, and even the (nicely made) fog effects all look beautiful running on the Xbox.  Add to the fact that the game always moves at a solid 60 FPS, and you've got one fighting game that's bound to keep your interest visually.  The character models also have some nice graphical features to them as well, with hair, long clothing, and the "fanservice areas" (you know what I mean) moving based on the environment, or based on the character's movements.  Very well done, but I could've went without the fanservice.

The voice acting is very well done, but there's a slight catch to it; it's all in Japanese.  Luckily, Tecmo was nice enough to include some English Subtitles on the bottom of the screen, so you know what they're saying.  While it is odd that Tecmo avoided dubbing the game, I at least applaud them for giving us something good.

The Game Itself:
The story of this game is....well, it's kind of complicated to even say that this game has a story.  You see, this game has a different story in Story Mode, depending on who you choose.  As I haven't played as all of the characters yet, I can't comment on all of them.  But each character has a different story.  That's really all you need to know.
Sorry if I'm being vague there, but I have no idea how to explain that part.

But of course, this is a fighting game, after all.  It would be silly to focus primarily on the story.  Each button does something different.  The control stick moves the character around the plane, the control pad allows you to move around and jump/duck, and the other buttons either punch, kick, and block.  What makes DoA more interesting than games like Virtua Fighter, however, is the fact that it mixes the 2D fighter gameplay (ala-Street Fighter), and the 3D, Virtua Fighter gameplay all together.

And yeah.
It works.
Like, really well.

The game controls extremely well.  Every character I've played as thus far moves at a very nice, fluid pace.  The action never gets slow, and the hitboxes are very accurate on the character models.  This keeps the game fun, without feeling rushed or hated.

There are various modes to play in.  There's Story Mode, which is basically the meat of the game.  In this mode, you play through a character's story, and beat a final boss.  Each character has a different story attached to them, so it won't feel like you're playing through the same thing all the time, like in other games like Super Smash Bros.' Classic Mode, or most Capcom fighters.  Then, there's Time Attack mode, which is basically Story Mode, if it were turned into an Arcade Mode, and included a timer.  Nothing amazing, but still good amounts of fun.  But I must say, one of my favorite modes has to be Survival Mode.  This mode allows you to fight in a caged ring, against as many characters as you can, until you die.  I can honestly say that I played the crap out of this mode.  It's really fun, and definitely worth your time.

There's also Tournament Mode, Versus Mode, and Training Mode.  I'm sure all of those are self-explanatory, so I won't bore you guys with all of that.

The Verdict:
Dead or Alive 3 is a really solid fighter.  If you can get past the fact that there's some fanservice in there, you'll be surprised at how good of a game this can be.  It is an Xbox exclusive as well, so if you have an Xbox, there's one new game you can own on the system.  The game currently goes for around $3-$4, whether it comes with the case or not, so it's not that bad of a deal, for a game like this.  Overall, if you're a fighting fan, or just want something new on your Xbox, this is the game for you.

Other games like this:
Virtua Fighter 2 (Saturn) - Believe it or not, this was actually the Dead or Alive franchise's inspiration.  Virtua Fighter plays very similar to DoA, with the only exception being that Virtua Fither mostly plays on a 2D-ish playing field, while DoA uses the 3D field to it's advantage.  Really solid game, and a really cheap one on the Saturn as well.
Virtua Fighter 4 (PS2) - Basically a prettier Virtua Fighter 2, with some added features.  Pretty solid game.  Plays almost like the game above, but with a few tweaks here and there.

Mortal Kombat VS. DC Universe (Xbox 360/Playstation 3) - Widely considered by many as the worst Mortal Kombat game in the series, MK VS DCU is practically Dead or Alive, if it had a gritty, non-sexualized, bloody reboot.  The buttons are even pretty much the same, if you get the 360 version.

Best Atari 2600 Games Every Owner Should Have

Oh, the Nostalgia!

I'll admit it; as far as retro gaming goes, I like to play games that last me a while.  So, I mainly play retro games on my Dreamcast, Saturn, Nintendo 64, Xbox, PS2....You name it; I'm playing it.
That being said, I have a great love for Atari's 2600 console, despite the games generally only lasting about 2-10 minutes in length.  It ultimately created home console gaming, and made it what it is today.  However, we can all agree that the 2600 has a sizable amount of games that....weren't that great.

Let's face it; when you were a kid, you probably played the crap out of Atari's port of Pac-Man, thinking it was the best thing since buttered toast.  Then, you play it again, and realize that it wasn't even that good to begin with (don't fret; it happens to everyone).

That's where I come in.

While I only have 21 Atari 2600 games (as I've recently started collecting for it), I have quite a few games in my collection that I feel many owners of an Atari 2600 should try to get.  Some on this list are quite common, and their names will make you think, "Yeah, yeah.  I know that one already!".  However, there might a be a few you've possibly never even heard of before!  So, fans of the 2600 that want something new, or newbies just discovering the 2600; this one is basically for you.

Please Note:While this guide has a pretty good selection of games, I Heavily suggest watching MetalJesusRocks', "Atari 2600 Games That Don't Suck" series on YouTube.  It's a 2 Part series that shows you some of the best the 2600 has to offer, and there are a ton of games in those videos that I won't be covering here, as I don't have a big enough selection of games.  He definitely took a lot of time, going through all of his 2600 games to pick the best games on the system, and it's definitely worth a look.  Here's Part 1, if you choose to check it out (don't worry; this guide will still be here when you're done).

Additionally, I will not include every game in my collection; only the ones I think any 2600 gamer should own.  There are a few I will include at the end as, "Honorable Mentions", so they will still be known as good games to try out.  But this list will be going on what games I feel are some of the 2600's best.

1.Asteroids

I'll be as honest as I can, regarding this one; I was never really a big fan of Asteroids.  I found the game to be very difficult to handle, and pretty darn hard (I'm a wuss, I know).
Nevertheless, the 2600 port of Asteroids is, ironically, very well made.  It's almost arcade perfect, and very enjoyable.  The controls are still difficult to handle, but that's to be expected.  The asteroids in the game are also multi-colored, since the 2600 didn't have the power to use the same effects as the arcade version.

The joystick can be pushed left and right to turn your ship around, while pushing (and holding) up on the joystick makes you move forward.  Pushing down on the joystick causes your ship to teleport somewhere else on the screen.  Of course, the button on the controller is used to fire bullets.

The goal of the game is simple; shoot asteroids to get points.  If you get hit, you lose a life, and get respawned at a random location on the screen (usually the middle of the screen).

While the ship flies around in a slippery manner, and the teleporting is not an enjoyable feature (to me at least), the rest of the game is pretty solid.  This game can easily be obtained for anywhere around $2-$5 on eBay, for those interested.

2.Berzerk

This one was actually quite a surprise for me, to be honest.  I got this game with 3 other 2600 games on eBay for about $6 (yes; with the shipping).  At first, I thought this game wouldn't be all that good, as I had no idea what the game was.  However, I was still hesitant to start the game up and see how it played (especially since I payed a few dollars for all these games already; why not, right?).
Let's just say this game ended up in my Atari the most when I got it.

For those unfamiliar with the title, Berzerk is a top down shooting game.  The joystick controls where your character moves, and where he aims, while your only button is used to shoot.  If you're familiar with the Arcade game, "Robotron", then this game will be right up your ally, as it plays similar to it (with the only exception being Berzerk is a tad slower, whilst Robotron is a frantic, fast paced shooter).As you can see from the video, Berzerk isn't that great in the graphics department (looking like one of the weaker looking titles for the 2600), but don't let that fool you; this game is fantastic.  Especially if you're a shooter fan.

Your goal in Berzerk is to shoot down the robots in the level.  When all the robots are defeated, you can walk out of the room, and go to a new area.  However, if you get hit by a robot, touch a robot, or touch any of the walls, you lose one life, and go to a random room.  The rooms are pretty easy, for the most part, but the robot AI is pretty weak, and sometimes, you'll end up with robots hitting the wall, giving you extra points.  This is a good thing, but it decreases the challenge a bit.  However, the game makes up for this by spawning you in a random location every time you die.  Most of the time (about 99%, to be exact), the game literally spawns you close to a robot!  This makes it so you have to have extremely fast reflexes to counter this.

Even with the problems that plague Berzerk, it is still a fantastic game to own for your 2600, and one of the best shooters on the system.  Heavily recommend it.  The game is even pretty cheap too, and is available on eBay for a good $4.

3.Demon Attack

Let's be honest here, guys; if you even OWN an Atari 2600, chances are, you have a copy of Space Invaders.  And that is completely fine.  However, if you're tired of Space Invaders, and want a great clone of the game, Demon Attack is the one to get for sure.
For those who are conscious over buying a video game with the name, "Demon" on it, I promise you that there are absolutely no demons in this game (well, to my knowledge, at least).

If you've played Space Invaders, the controls are basically similar.  Left and Right on the joystick to move your ship.  The only button to shoot.  Simply put; if you've ever played a shooting game on the 2600, the controls are almost always the same.

What makes Demon Attack different, however, is the fact that the game has a good mix of two popular games released at the time; Namco's Galaga, and Taito's Space Invaders.  This game features enemies that fly around the screen (similar to Galaga), with the Space Invaders, "move left and right" formula.  At first you would think it wouldn't work, but if you check out the video, you'll see that the results are well done.
As far as goals; just shoot the enemies, and you move on to another wave.  If you beat all the enemies without losing a life, you gain one life (up until a specific point, of course).

If you're into fast, frantic shooters, want something different for your 2600, or want a game that plays like Space Invaders or Galaga, Demon Attack is your #1 best option.  And the game is really cheap, too!  You can get the game for $4 on eBay, as of this writing.
4.Frogger

We can all agree that Frogger is one of Konami's best simplistic arcade games of all time.  So many people will automatically recognize this game from the name alone, due to it's huge appeal on the Gaming universe.  And surprise!  It's on the 2600 as well!

Everyone's played Frogger by now, so the controls should be easily remembered.  However, to those of you who haven't played Frogger (you guys should be ashamed, btw), you only use the joystick for this game to move.  The button does absolutely nothing, so don't push it at all.

The goal of this game is simple; you are a frog, and you want to get to your lily pads at the top of the screen (which are not present in the 2600 version, surprisingly).  You have to avoid getting run over by cars, falling into the lake, and being eaten by alligators (introduced in later waves) to make it through.  Do any of these, and you lose a life and have to start over.  If you get all your frogs from Point A to Point B, you go to a new wave where there are faster cars, and possibly alligators.
One feature I noticed regarding this game is that the 2600 version allows Frogger to go off the screen while riding on a log/turtle's back.  The original Arcade version does not allow this, and doing so in the Arcade version causes Frogger to lose a life.  So don't panic if you're stuck in the 2600 version; just wait it out if you have to.
Just like Berzerk, Frogger isn't necessarily the best looking title on the 2600, but the gameplay makes up for it big time.  If you're a fan of Frogger, or just want a nice game that many Arcade fans will easily recognize, Frogger is the way to go.  Compared to the other 3 games listed before this one, however, the game costs a little more than usual, but it will not break your bank.  A copy of 2600 Frogger can be picked up on eBay for $6, as of this writing.  That seems like a lot (especially since it's an Atari cartridge), but it's not $10 or more, so you should be fine.

5.Jr. Pac-Man

I ironically picked this game up earlier today, so this is a semi-last minute addition.  However, Jr. Pac-Man is a version of Pac-Man I didn't expect to be great, but somehow ends up being so.

If you have never played Pac-Man in your life, I feel sorry for you (no really; I do.  How could you miss that game?).  But if you're unfamiliar with the game, you play Jr. Pac-Man the same way.  You use the joystick to move around, and the only button on the controller is not used.

Your goal in this game is the same as Pac-Man; collect all the power pellets, pick up any bonus items jumping around on the screen, and go on to other levels in the game.  Additionally, if you pick up a big power pellet, you have the ability to eat the ghosts chasing you (who all turn blue, by the way).  If a ghost touches you, you lose one life, and go back to where you started (with the game remembering which power pellets you ate).
One thing I find cool about this game is the fact that the maze doesn't cover the whole screen.  To my knowledge, none of the other Pac-Man games for 2600 do this.  Is this a flaw, though?  Absolutely not.  The screen scrolls with Jr. Pac-Man so you can get to those lower/higher areas.  It's definitely very well done, as this shows what the 2600 was capable of at the time.  The ghosts still suffer from some flickering (a common problem with Pac-Man titles on 2600), but they're not as bad as the 2600 conversion to regular Pac-Man (trust me on this; please trust me on this).

If you want a Pac-Man game that's not bad, and does some cool things with the 2600 hardware, Jr. Pac-Man is definitely the way to go.  Just like Frogger, this game does go for a little more than numbers 1-3 on this list, but will not break the bank.  You can get Jr. Pac-Man on eBay for $6, as of this writing.

6.Missile Command

Atari 2600 Veterans already know that Missile Command is one of the best games available for the 2600, and also one of the best arcade-to-home conversions on the system.  So, if you've been a 2600 owner for a long time, this one seemed obvious from the start.  What 2600 Newbies don't know, is that this is one of the best games to own on the system; especially if you're an arcade gaming fan.

The controls in Missile Command are simple.  Move the joystick in any direction to move your blinking cursor over it, and push the only button to shoot a missile.  Not too hard, yet satisfyingly easy.  The controls are nice and smooth, so you should have no complaints, when using them.

The goal of Missile Command is to shoot down incoming missiles with more missiles (cuz that makes sense).  You must also defend your bases, and your own launcher.  If it hits a base, you simply lose a base.  If it hits your launcher, you lose missiles to fire.  If all your bases are shot down, the game is over.
Additionally, if you gain enough points (I believe it's about 5,000), you earn a new base!  This only occurs when you lose a base, however, so don't expect one to happen when you've already got all your bases.
One cool thing to note is the fact that this game was watered down a bit to fit with the 2600 controller.  In the original arcade version of Missile Command, you were in control of three launchers.  However, in the 2600 version, you only control one.  This is because the 2600 only has 1 button to work with, which would make the other 2 launchers unnecessary.

If you like great Arcade-to-2600 conversions, and want a great game, Missile Command is one that you should get for sure!  As of this writing, you can pick a copy up on eBay for about $3.

7.Ms. Pac-Man

As we all know, the original Pac-Man got a pretty bad conversion for the 2600.  Little did anyone know that Atari would try again in 1987 with Ms. Pac-Man, to great results.  While it was late to the party, as the NES was already dominating the US market, it was good to know that the 2600 got at least one faithful port to a Pac-Man title.

There's really nothing I can add to this, regarding controls and the goal of Ms. Pac-Man, since it's basically the exact same as Jr. Pac-Man.  So, please go back to Jr. Pac-Man for more info on this game.
However, I will note that this game doesn't have the scrolling that Jr. Pac-Man possesses.  That's basically the only difference.

If you want a Pac-Man game, and don't feel like getting Jr. Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man is the way to go.  And it's also a tad cheaper too, going for about $4-5, as of this writing.

8.Pitfall!

It's generally agreed that, if you want a good platformer for your 2600, Pitfall! is the number one choice for you.  Many 2600 owners have this game, and with it's great gameplay, who wouldn't miss out?
Ironically, Pitfall! was my main reason for investing in a 2600, as I had played the game on the PS2 game, "Activision Anthology", and loved the game.  It made me interested in more of the 2600's library, so I thank Pitfall! for sure, for introducing me to this system.

In Pitfall!, you push left and right on the joystick to move left and right.  The only button jumps.  Simple as that, really.  If you're near a ladder, you can also push up and down on the joystick to move up and down the ladder.  When on a vine, you push down on the joystick to get off of it.  The controls do feel a bit aged, but with great practice, you'll discover one of the best titles the 2600 has to offer.

The goal of this game is to go through the jungle and avoid the many dangers in it.  This includes quicksand, water, alligators, snakes, and scorpions.  You must also avoid running into logs, as they will reduce your score, and slow you down.  At the end of each stage, there is an artifact for you to collect.  Grab it for bonus points and more time on the clock.  You also have 20 minutes to beat a level.  As I haven't let the game run for 20 minutes, I don't know what happens afterwards.  If anyone knows, please let me know.

If you're a platforming fan, Pitfall! is one of the best games to own for the system.  Unfortunately, this one is a bit on the pricey side, as far as 2600 games go.  Pitfall! goes anywhere from $5-$7, as of this writing.

 9.Pole Position

Arcade fans should easily recognize this title!  Pole Position is one of the many Namco games that diehard fans of the company have enjoyed for years.  Thankfully, it got a great conversion on the 2600!

As far as controls go, the joystick does a big portion of the work.  Pushing left and right on the joystick moves your car left and right.  Pushing up on the stick will change the gear your car is set to.  The only button on your controller is used to brake.  Very simple controls for a very simple game.

Your goal in Pole Position is to race against some other racers to get to the finish line.  If you hit a car, you blow up, and have to gain speed again.  You only lose if you don't make it to the finish line in the time above the screen, or if you don't make it to the goal in a certain time (I have not figured out where the clock has to be for the game to kick you out/accept you, so apologies on that).
What's interesting about the 2600 version of Pole Position is the fact that the car moves automatically.  In the arcade version, you had to hold a button in order to accelerate.  However, in the 2600 version, you're allowed to move forward automatically.

Granted, Pole Position isn't AS CLOSE to the arcade version, but it's still a worthwhile purchase, if you're into arcade games.  Pole Position is also very cheap, and will only cost you about $3-$4 on eBay, as of this writing.

10.Space Invaders

This one was terribly obvious from the get-go, but if you have a 2600, you MUST get Space Invaders!  This was the 2600's killer app (similar to Pokemon on the Game Boy), so there are tons of copies of this game, making it the most common.

The controls are similar to Demon Attack, so please go to the Demon Attack section from earlier in this guide for more information on how it controls.

Your goal is to beat all of the aliens by shooting at them.  However, the more aliens you shoot, the faster they move.  It is recommended that you take your time at first, and then go faster as you progress.  Additionally, there are three shields you can hide behind.  They block attacks for you, but also block your attacks.  You lose a life when an alien shoots you, and it's game over when you lose all of your lives, or if the aliens get to you.

Personally, I like Demon Attack more than this, but I still can't deny that Space Invaders is a worthwhile purchase for anyone who's a fan of the Atari 2600, or someone looking for shooters.  The game goes for about $3-$4, so it's pretty cheap.
I should point out before you purchase the game, however, that there are 3 different labels on Space Invaders, from what I know.  There's really no difference between them, except that the Sears and Tele-Games models only have a black background and more game modes, while the original release has artwork of a spaceship on the front.  They all go for the same price, but you may want to choose which version you want.

11.Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle(Due to the long name, I will refer to this game as, "Death Star Battle")

To be legitimately fair, this game isn't one of the best games I've ever played, but I found Death Star Battle to still be an enjoyable experience for Star Wars fans, and 2600 owners alike.

For controls, you move the joystick in any direction to move the Millennium Falcon, and you use your only button to shoot.  You are able to move in every direction, so don't be afraid to move around.  However, the game seems to want to be Asteroids, so it can be difficult to maneuver your ship sometimes.

The goal is to get to the Death Star through a wormhole, and blow it up.  Quite simple, really.  You will lose a life if you get hit by a ship, get shot by a ship/the Death Star, or if you blow up the Death Star, and get hit by one of the explosions.  The only problem I have with this game is that the hit detection regarding ships hitting you is quite shoddy.  Even if a ship hits you, you might not even lose a life.

It's not a fantastic game, but Death Star Battle turned out to be a fun game anyways, and I suggest you all pick up a copy.  Unfortunately, this game is pretty pricey, and currently bounces around in price on eBay.  The cheapest I've seen it go for is $10, while the most expensive copy is literally $18(!!).  It's gonna cost a lot, but if you can find it cheaper, give it a shot.

12.Yar's Revenge

And to finish off this big list of great games, I give you Yar's Revenge.  An interesting shooting game, that feels like a SHMUP, but isn't necessarily one.

You use the joystick to move Yar in any direction you choose, and your only button to shoot.  If you have a giant shot ready, the button will shoot the giant shot, instead of your gun.

The goal of the game is to beat an alien with a giant cannon, while you're being chased by his only attack (which looks like a sound wave).  Before you do that, though, you have to get rid of the alien's shield by shooting at it.  After you have the alien's head open for attack, move all the way to the left of the screen, until you see a rainbow-like beam pop up on the left side of the screen.  If you shoot the cannon at the alien's head, you go on to the next wave.  You lose one life if the alien's attack hits you, or if your cannon shot touches you (yes; your own attack hurts you.  Get out of the way, before it hits).  Additionally, going in the rainbow-like field in the middle of the screen makes all attacks invulnerable to you, but you will not be able to shoot from that area.

A great game, and a good shooter at that, Yar's Revenge is one that Atari 2600 owners MUST own.  The game can easily be snagged on eBay for $3-$4, as of this writing.

Honorable Mentions

While this is the end of the best games on the system (in my opinion), here are a few that I semi-enjoyed, but are still worth a purchase:

Adventure (A Top Down Action game similar to the NES game, "The Legend of Zelda".  Generally considered the granddaddy of Action RPGs.  $4-$7 on eBay.)
Haunted House (Same as Adventure, but in a Haunted House; generally harder too. $2-$4 on eBay.)
Dragster (Literally only lasts 10 or so seconds, but still worth trying, if you're bored.  $3-$4 on eBay.)


Is there a game I didn't mention that you find great?  Mention it below in the comments!

Video Game Vault - The House of the Dead 2 (Dreamcast)

The ORIGINAL Walking Dead!

While I am a gamer, and really don't care what game I'm playing, there's something about M Rated video games that just never catch my interest.  The violence doesn't bother me, nor does any of the Mature content; it's the fact that I can't seem to get into most of the, "Big name" M-Rated games like Bioshock Infinite, or Mortal Kombat II.  So far, the only M-Rated video games I've enjoyed are Half-Life 2, DOOM (even if the only version I have is the Saturn version, which everyone seems to hate), Quake 64, and the Tomb Raider reboot that came out last year.  I do enjoy the Mortal Kombat games a bit, but they're kinda hard for my taste, so I auto-suck at them.

However, last week, I discovered quite possibly the best M-Rated video game I've ever played, and so far, the one I have popped into a video game console the most.  I was going around to some Garage Sales, looking for games.  I go up to this one guy and asked him if he had any video games. He said he had Gamecube or Game Boy Advance games.  While I already had a pretty big amount of games for both of these consoles, I assumed that he COULD have something I didn't have.

Little did I know that he ACTUALLY had a stack of 7-10 SEGA Dreamcast games, and a console COMPLETE IN THE BOX.

Upon digging through the games (could've cared less about the console, since I have a Dreamcast already and he was asking for $50 for it; the box would've been cool, though), I noticed Phantasy Star Online Version 2 was one of the games he had.  I had already purchased PSO Version 1 about 2 weeks ago, as the eBay seller included Sonic Shuffle thinking it came with the game, so I opened the case to see how the disc looked.

Then, I saw it;
PSO Version 2 wasn't in the case.  No; it was something WAY better.  It was a little game called, "The House of the Dead 2".  I got excited, simply because that was arguably the best game in the stack (Ready 2 Rumble Boxing was catching my interest too, but not as much).  While it was a tad pricey for 1 game ($10), I bought the game anyways, since this would be one of those few instances where I'd find Dreamcast games in the wild.

After a little more game hunting (which mainly just consisted of me getting 2 untested Model 1 SEGA Genesis', 2 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games for N64, and an Intellevision collection for PS2), I got home and started the game up to make sure it worked, and to play it a bit.

Well, crap; we're screwed....

And you get the drill; I fell in love with the game after one measly playthrough.  I have literally played it 5 or so times this week alone (which is more than what I've played my other M-Rated games for, might I add).  It was really good!  But let's see what this game has to offer!

Note:This review will focus on how the game is played with the typical Dreamcast controller.  The game can still be played with a light gun, but as I do not own one, I cannot comment on how well it works on the game.


First impressions:
One of the first thing I noticed is, of course, the graphics (shown above, for an example).  In my opinion, I think this game is one of the most beautiful games on the SEGA Dreamcast.  The models look nice and smooth.  They do have a somewhat blocky look, but you can barely notice it, if you only look at a simple screenshot.  In game, it's only mildly noticeable, since the game is always moving at a nice, steady framerate.  I'm glad to report that this game has no noticeable slowdown at all.  The game always moves at the highest speed possible (Which feels like 60 Frames Per Second, from my viewing).  It's one of the best looking games I've seen on the Dreamcast so far, and is more powerful than most games on the system.

Another thing to note is the voice acting.....My God.  This acting is terrible.  Now, I get that the game is meant to parody B movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  But, this is so bad, that I'm convinced this is the worst voice acting ever.  Yes, possibly even worse than Gotcha Force on the Gamecube!  The actors have no reflection in their voice, and it makes them sound like robots, 99% of the time.  Heck, that flying zombie gargoyle thing at the start of the game is so hard to hear, that you NEED the subtitles to truly understand what he's saying.  That's poor performance, from what I'm seeing, and SEGA should have improved on it at least a little more, in my opinion.

The Game Itself:
The story is simple; it's 2000, zombies are attacking people, you save the world while discovering the cause of these zombies.  That's basically it.  I haven't gotten TOO far into the game, and seeing as how this game is an arcade game, the plot shouldn't be that big of a deal anyways.

However, I feel as though House of the Dead 2 TRULY relies on it's gameplay!  This is, of course, the second installment of the series (there was a first installment on the SEGA Saturn and arcades), so the gameplay should be similar.  For those of you who are familiar with the SEGA Saturn game, Virtua Cop, this basically plays like that, but with zombies instead.  "But that's not innovative!" you say?  Well, from playing this game a few times, I discovered that you're actions in the game decide where you go in the level.  Say, for example, there's a person near a well about to be attacked by zombies.  Well, if you let him die, you go on your merry way, and tell a woman there was nothing "we could do".  HOWEVER, if you save him, he'll show you a less dangerous path to go through.  This increases the replay value of the game a lot, as you can go various routes.  However, it's to your benefit to save people, as you get rewarded extra health from either the people, or at the end of the stage (save 5 or more people, and you get one piece of health at the end of the stage).  When you lose all your lives, the game will show you you're path.  I find this to be a great game for this reason, as it increases the enjoyably factor, and the replay value all at once.

As far as controls go; the game is pretty solid on your typical Dreamcast controller.  The control stick moves the cross hair, the A button fires, and the B button reloads.  The R-trigger also realigns the cross hair, on the off-chance that you lose it.  The only issue I have is that it's really easy to lose you're cross hair between scenes you can't control.  Luckily, the R-trigger fixes this up, but it's still an inconvenience.  Overall, the controls are solid.
Again, as I do not own a light gun, I cannot comment on how well it works for this game.

The Verdict:

House of the Dead 2 is arguably one of my favorite games for the SEGA Dreamcast thus far, and I feel like anyone who owns a Dreamcast should try to get their hands on a copy.  The game is only $10 for a disc, and $14 for the entire game (box and everything), making it a cheap Dreamcast exclusive.  While playing with the DC controller does cause the cross hair to disappear a lot, it's still a great journey anyways.

For those of you who already own this game, and want to try other alternatives, here's a few that play similar (or have a part in the game that's similar) that you may also like:
Duck Hunt (NES)
Virtua Cop (SEGA Saturn)
Alien Storm (SEGA Genesis)

Rare/Valuable Video Game Archive - PaRappa The Rapper 2 (Playstation 2)

Sometimes, when you go out and look for classic video games, you'll end up trying to get all the rare titles.  Unfortunately, this is very costly most of the time.  We have titles that are rare, but had so many copies sold that it's questionable as to why we'd pay that much for it.  And then there's rare in the sense of, "This really is rare".

This series, "Rare/Valuable Video Game Archive" will cover any video game that's rare based on the total units the game has sold, or it's typical asking price.  Please note that this is from my own personal perspective; I have used other sources (some common, like RacketBoy, and other obscure ways, like Forum posts and Video Game Charts), but some of these are in my own perspective.

TODAY'S SUBJECT:

PaRappa The Rapper 2 (Playstation 2)

To anyone who's ever played the PaRappa The Rapper series, you're probably shocked to see this up on the list (or just surprised that there was a sequel).  I'll explain a little later, but let's get on with what this game is about.

PaRappa The Rapper 2 is a 2002 video game created by Sony Computer Entertainment and NanaOn-Sha for the Playstation 2.  If the title doesn't give it away, this game is a sequel to PaRappa The Rapper for the Playstation.  The game has a, "Simon Says" type of gameplay, similar to it's predecessor.  The only REAL difference, however, is that the game's physics have changed; the game is now easier compared to the game before it.  The first game took hours, maybe even weeks to truly perfect (to those of you who have played it, at least), but the second one only takes 45 minutes to beat.
Yeah, you read that right.
45.  Minutes.
On top of that, Cool mode has been changed up, and while the game is patheta-easy, the way to get Cool mode is really hard.  As of this writing, I have only beaten 3 of the 8 levels on Cool mode (and they were all on accident too, may I add).  In order to get Cool mode on any level in this game, you have to freestyle (like the older game), BUT, you need to also make 3 gauges on the bottom of the screen go in the right direction.  The one on the left should go down, while the others should go up.  It's more complicated then it sounds; trust me.

Believe all you want, PaRappa; I'm probably never going to 100% your game.

 As far as everything else goes, the graphics have been vastly improved, compared to the last two games (you didn't know?  There was a PaRappa spin-off called Um Jammer Lammy (also for Playstation).  Look it up, if you don't believe me).  So far, this game looks a whole lot better than any other PaRappa models to date (even the ones in the PS3 game, Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale (trust me; they were pretty meh)).The graphics are still heavily dependent on being paper thin, but I feel like that's what distinguishes this series from everything else on the market at that point.

Move over, Mario!  PaRappa The Rapper went paper first!

There's also the songs which, for the most part, have received mixed reception.  Some claim that the songs are barely memorable, while others enjoy the songs a lot.  While I do enjoy the songs (that is, some of the songs), it's really up to you on this.  Here's a YouTube playlist with all of the songs, if you want to check 'em out.

So, overall, PaRappa 2 is a great game; not Game of the Year quality, and not better than the original PaRappa game, but it's definitely worth your time if you're into quirky video games, music games, or just happen to be a hardcore PaRappa The Rapper fan.

.....Also, PaRappa's voice actor (Dred Foxx) scammed some college kids out of $100.

.....So, why is this game rare?

Now, from looking online, I discovered that this game only sold 14,00 copies worldwide.  7,000 in the United States, 6,000 in Japan, and 1,000 everywhere else (so, start digging for it, PAL Regioners!).  Since this game is well around 12 years old, that means a lot of discs have broke.

Like this one; what heartless soul would do such a thing?

With only a small amount of copies available, that means this game is pretty hard to find, making it quite rare for video game collectors (or PS2 buffs).  I currently own a copy right now (no manual, though; dang it!), and I only really spend about $1 for the disc, and $8.52 to get a case and some artwork to go with it ($9; still worth it, in my opinion).

Now, if you look on eBay, or even Amazon, the game can easily be snagged anywhere from $8-$15.  So, if it's rare, why is it so cheap?  Simple; not enough demand.  The only people who will truly buy this game (from what I'm seeing, at least) will be hardcore PaRappa fans, or just someone looking for something new.  It's rare, but the demand just isn't high enough for it.  It's kinda sad, really.

Is it worth adding to my collection?

It truly depends on your tastes; do you like quirky video games?  Do you like the rhythm genre (games like Guitar Hero, Space Channel 5, Elite Beat Agents, etc.)?  Do you love PaRappa, or just discovering him and want to try some new games?  If so, it's worth it.  If you answered no to any of these, the choice is mainly up to you.

Here's hoping for PaRappa The Rapper 3!  Maybe we can kickstart it for $100! (okthatwasbadimsorry)

Game Remakes & Why They Matter

You all DO realize it's this game's fault I even considered doing this, right?

With DuckTales:Remastered just around the corner (for those of you who haven't been following that, it's coming out August 13th (UNLESS you have a 360, in which case, September 11th)), it's pretty apparent that remaking a video game just gets people more interested.  ESPECIALLY long-time fans of a specific video game (hence the reason for DuckTales:Remastered's existence in this world).  Now, while some modern gamers think it's pointless to remake a video game from so many years ago, there's a few that are open to the ideas of old video games getting redone for a new generation of gamers.

Today, I, Shadow, decided to give a little light to reasons why remaking a video game is good, & not just some pointless gimmick for nostalgia fans.

JUST A QUICK NOTICE:
I will NOT count ports (like Sonic Adventure 2 HD, Banjo-Kazooie for 360, etc.) as remakes!  Those games are simply ports of the originals, with extra stuff/HD quality graphics thrown in.  Also, I'm gonna do something at the end of this list, where I list specific video games that are remade, and I MAY do a game or two that aren't specifically remakes, but play too much like the original game(s) in the series to consider it a remake.  Just a fair warning.

REASON #1:A New Generation Of Gamers Can Enjoy The Game

Now, technically, video game ports are a cheap way to do this, but with a remade game, a new gamer can easily pick it up and experience the same game as we did.  Usually, the newer version will contain new material that the older one didn't, and updated graphics.  Now, I know that older gamers who enjoyed a game from their past probably like the older versions graphics more, & assume that updating the graphics and getting new features just makes it harder for the newer generation to experience the game exactly how it was supposed to be played.  However, I disagree.  In my personal opinion, updating the graphics & adding additional features just makes it so that a console's hardware can be used in it's full potential.  Hardware has increased, & unfortunately, today's new generation of gamers want newer graphics, over 8 to 16-bit graphics from the 80's/90's.
Now, I should mention that a game with updated graphics isn't the only thing anyone will get.  There are a few games that have completely proved that it's not the graphics that make the games, but the gameplay.  A GREAT example of this is Mega Man 9 & 10 for Wii, PS3, & 360.  These games use the original, NES sprites for the games, with the original Mega Man formula.  Overall, the games have been extremely popular, & have sold quite a bit, regardless of the graphical power.  I do realize that these games technically aren't remakes, but as stated above, I was gonna list a few that could be considered that, so there.

A quick snapshot from Mega Man 9, in case you care to see it.

REASON #2:Retro Gamers Will Want Newer Consoles

Yeah, it's kinda true, if you think about it.  There are a few gamers out there who could care less about some consoles, & could hate newer games in general.  With remade video games, the Retro Gaming community could possibly be interested in the newer consoles, to play that 1 game they haven't played in years (especially if the game is hard to come by/expensive, in which case, porting/remaking is a whole lot better).  Add to the fact that some games were only released on 1 console (Goldeneye 007, anyone?), & it gets people interested in a console even more than before.  A good example of this is Goldeneye 007's remake for the Wii.  NOW, I do realize that they re-redid the game again for the 360/PS3, but those versions were....well, pretty bad.  The Wii version, on the other hand, is a really good game, & because it's a Wii exclusive (the 360/PS3 ports were titled, "Goldeneye 007:Reloaded", so I consider them a slightly different game), people who grew up shooting people down hallways as everyone's favorite secret agent will want to give it a try.  And, of course, the Multiplayer is still as hectic as ever before!
Also, if you hate motion controls, you can ALSO play the game with a Nintendo Gamecube controller.

It's the same game you played before, but more thrills, & of course, the hectic multiplayer you all know & love!

REASON #3:Companies get money!

OK, to be fair, this reason is kind of a crap reason for a game to be remade, & kinda contradicts what this list is about:showing WHY remakes are important.

No comment

HOWEVER, if you think about it, using childhood nostalgia to make some money isn't necessarily bad!  Think about it like this.  If the remake gets popular enough, the company will more than likely remake other games, or make sequels based on those those games, which has possibly increased the need for more games to be remade.  Not to mention that people who never experienced the original game or didn't care for it to begin with could grow curious and try the remake, increasing more sales on that.  An example?  New Super Mario Bros. for the various Nintendo Consoles (DS, Wii, 3DS, & Wii U).

Now, the NSMB series is probably not the best example, seeing as how they rinse & repeat each game, but the fact of the matter is, this series is based on the original, NES Super Mario Bros. video games, & their SNES Super Mario World sequel.  The first game, more than likely, sold A LOT of money, so the other games did too, due to the extreme popularity of it.  And of course, the original games were rinse & repeat too, so why not right?

What can I say?  We all love that Italian plumber.

And that's about it for this!  Yeah, only 3 reasons?  It sucks, but that's all I had.  For the record, this is all in my opinion, & I'd love to hear yours in the comments section, if you have any.
ALSO, if you're new to this concept, & want to try a few game remakes/games that are similar to the originals, I heavily recommend these games for you to play (not counting the above ones listed):

Pokemon Firered/Leafgreen (Remakes of Pokemon Red/Blue for Game Boy)

Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver (Remakes of Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal for Game Boy/Game Boy Color)

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 series (Similar to SEGA Genesis Sonic The Hedgehog games)

Kirby Nightmare In Dreamland (Remake of Kirby's Adventure for NES)

Kirby Super Star Ultra (Remake of Kirby Super Star for SNES)

Super Mario All Stars (Remake of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros 2, Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan), & Super Mario Bros. 3 for NES/Famicom)

Sonic Generations (Classic Sonic levels are typically remakes of the original, Genesis Sonic levels)

And there are WAY more out there I haven't played, but you should easily be able to find them.

So, that's about it.  I hope you enjoyed this, & I hope to do more on this blog soon! ^^

Stay tuned to Shadow's Wonderful World of Gaming!

HUUUUGE Amount Of Updates! (New Games, E3 2013, HD Cutscenes, & More!)

Hey, guys!  I know it's been a good, 6-7 months since I've posted here.  I'm so sorry.  I've been UBER busy with things.

HOWEVER, I decided to do a HUGE update on everything I've done, gaming-wise, in the past couple of months, so you all know what I've gotten. :3

Now, first up, I just want to point out that I FINALLY got that laptop I mentioned in my Mortal Kombat 3 post!  I've had it for a good 2 months now, & It's pretty dang strong, so far.  Hope I can keep it up & running for a long time.

Second off, I've bought some games.  A LOT OF GAMES.  Now, I'll take a picture of each & every one later, & put them in a huge picture collection, but for now, I'll just list them all (or at least the ones I can remember, cuz I get Brain farts, sometimes xD).

So far, I've bought:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Tournament Fighters (Genesis)
Pac-Man 2:The New Adventures (SNES) (Surprisingly, it was listed as a Genesis game, so I saved a few bucks on it x3).
Eternal Champions (Genesis)
Q*Bert (NES)
Mickey Mouscapade (NES)
Super C (NES)
Gex 64:Enter The Gecko (N64)
Super Street Fighter II (Genesis) (WITH BOX & MANUAL!  WHOO-OO!)
Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis)
Toy Story 2:Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue (N64)
Turok:Rage Wars (N64)
Goof Troop (SNES)
Double Dragon II:The Revenge (NES)
007:The World Is Not Enough (N64)
Billy Hatcher & The Giant Egg (Gamecube)
Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis)
Cool Spot (Genesis) (WITH BOX & MANUAL!  WHOO-OO!)
Crash Bandicoot:Warped (PS1) (No Cover art..... :'/)
Sonic Adventure 2 (360)
Game Boy Color (Off-Topic, but in reality, I DID get one)
Tetris (Game Boy)
Toy Story (Game Boy)
Mortal Kombat II (Game Boy)
Game & Watch Gallery (Game Boy)
Looney Tunes (Game Boy) &
Aladdin (SNES)

NOW, the last 3 games on this list, I bought today, cuz I had some in-store credit, so w/e.  While I'm on topic, though, I also bought Karate Champ (NES), & Ecco:The Tides Of Time (Genesis), but they didn't work, so I traded Karate Champ for Q*Bert, & Ecco for Game & Watch Gallery, so yeah.  I ALSO attempted to get Super Mario Land, but before I left the store, I had the cashier test the game on my newly-bought Game Boy Color, &....Well, it didn't work.  So, I just picked Toy Story for the crap of it. xD

Thirdly, I'm sure you all already know, but E3 2013 just happened about 1 month ago, & I'm so excited for most of the games announced/shown at the convention!  Those games are:

DuckTales:Remastered

Pokemon X & Y (Like it matters which box art I pick...)

Sonic Lost World (3DS/Wii U (only picked 3DS, cuz I felt like it))

Assassin's Creed IV:Black Flag

Kingdom Hearts III (Even though I may not get PS4, but still)

&

Super Smash Bros. For Wii U/3DS (Random pic is random)

So, I'm virtually ready for Nintendo, SEGA, Square-Enix, Ubisoft, & Capcom to suck my wallet dry. xD

Fourthly, I want to announce that now, my current channel will have HD quality cutscenes on it!  I'm currently working a few kinks out, but, as of July 2013, I have ALL of the Sonic Heroes:Final Story Cutscenes, & the Sonic CD USA Opening in 1080p HD (& the Sonic Heroes cutscenes don't even have subtitles! :D).  If you'd like to check them out, please check out my Gaming Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SonicGamer74
And please subscribe too, if you have a YouTube!  This brings me to my next announcement:
I'm going to start using my Gaming Channel a little more now, & do reviews, Top 10s, & other awesome stuff, so subscribe for that too. :3

And finally, I'm going to College next month, so I may be a tad inactive on here (not like I already was...lol), so for those of you who are following this blog (even though I know no one is....), that's just a pointless thing I'd like to add.

Anyways, I hipe you all enjoyed the updates, & I hope to be more active here! ^^

See ya soon!

Ha ha.....I'm totally not hiding a subliminal message here or anything.....

Gaming Fact of the Week - So THAT'S Why Elise Exists...

Oh...Sonic The Hedgehog....The game that messed up the Sonic video games for a long time.....Wait.  You thought I was talking about the Genesis one?  Oh no!  That game was good!  I'm talking about the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 Reboot for the series!

OK, I'll admit...It's decent, but there are still WAY better Sonic games than this...Like Sonic Generations 360/PS3.

However, one complaint I tend to see about Sonic The Hedgehog's 2006 reboot, besides glitches, is the inclusion of the character, Elise.  Humans have never really gotten positive reception from the Sonic fandom, especially in the 2003 Anime, Sonic X (Face it!  You hate Chris too.).

But what a small amount of Sonic fans don't know is that there WAS a human character that was scrapped for the old, 1991 Sonic game for Genesis!  Who is it?  Well....If you hated Elise, you're probably not gonna like this, but the gaming fact of the day is....

Did you know that, before Elise of course, that Sonic was supposed to have a human love interest?

Yeah, I am dead serious.  SEGA was even trying to give Sonic a human love interest from the start!  Not just in the 2006 reboot of the series.  Ain't that just great?

From a little bit of digging around, it turns out that this human love interest was named Madonna.  I don't know if she was named after the singer, or what, but that's her name.  Her main role was never announced, but thanks to a YouTube video about gaming facts (that I'll put in the sources part of this post later), it seems that she was meant to chase Sonic around, similar to how current character, Amy Rose does in today's Sonic video games.

Now, here's the fun part.  "Why was this character removed?"  Well, there have been 2 sources from SEGA that have mentioned her presence, & why she was removed.
Madeline Schroeder claimed that it was her call to remove the character, because she claimed that the character, & her relationship with Sonic, would be deemed, "Too Japanese" for the United States audience.  However, (& not trying to get off topic here), but most Sonic fans kinda think this isn't a true statement, since the famous Disney movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, had Roger in a romantic relationship with human character, Jessica Rabbit.  Didn't think about that myself, until recently.
Now, the next one comes from Sonic's creator, Yuji Naka, & sounds a bit more legit.  He claimed that the reason she was scrapped was because she would be deemed as the stereotypical Damsel-In-Distress, similar to Princess Peach's role in the Super Mario Bros. franchise, & he solely wanted to focus on Sonic & Dr. Robotnik's fights for the game.

Now, whichever one is true, is pretty much up to you, seeing as how 2 different SEGA reps gave their take, but I'm still betting all of my money that Yuji Naka's is the more legit one.

So, think about this now.  When SEGA said they were bring Sonic, "back to his roots" at that e3 convention from a few years ago (or was it "give everyone a game that feels like Sonic Adventure"?  I kinda forgot...Correct me if I'm wrong.), I believe this is (kinda) what they were talking about.  Elise is pretty much just a modernized version of Madonna, if you think about it.

Hey!  On the plus side, we'll never have to see a human love interest for Sonic ever again, right?  RIGHT?!

Now that we have that out of the way, one more thing I should mention.  There's actually something GOOD about SEGA putting Elise in a game.  It proved that the Sonic series would've went terribly downhill if Madonna was included years ago.  As stated earlier in this blog post, Elise was panned by about 98% or so of the Sonic fanbase.  So, if Madonna existed, she would've suffered the same fate, & the Sonic series would've stopped at the first game.

Thought I'd share one more picture, since you didn't get to see her all the way.

Well, that's all for now!  Hopefully, I can get something ready for next week!  Hope you guys keep following (if any of you even are), and stay tuned!

Sources:

Did You Know Gaming?'s YouTube Video! (More Sonic Facts Included!) 

Sonic Retro