Attack of the Clones!!!

I started writing a review for Homefront, but then fell into a rant. Enjoy. 

Homefront has everything that a solid FPS should have. Dynamic characters, solid gameplay, and well done cinematography. Despite having all this I will inevitably don the score of Gamefly--rent, play, move on. Why? Because I'm bored. 

Yes bored. 

I am tired of the tedious clones and other crap that graces the current console generation. 

There are a plethora of great shooter franchises to pick from, and I seldom find the new comers (Bulletstorm, Homefront, Borderlands) worth the full price of admission. The genre is overloaded with gimmicky copy cats. They add one or two neat ideas that often fail to hold interest over the coarse of the game. Bullet-time in FEAR. The leash in Bulletstorm. The nano suite in Crysis. All were fun at first, but didn't add enough to the basic formula. Shoot, run, shoot, find cover, reload/heal, repeat. The best I can hope for is a decent story that encourages me to finish the game. 

I find myself buying sequel after sequel. I have five Halo's, three Call of Duty's, two Left 4 Dead's, and one Bioshock. Each of the sequels offered something new, and often have the multiplayer community to warrant the purchase. Still I doubt Halo 4 and MW3 will offer anything substantially different. Yet I, and millions of others, will probably buy the next sequel because it's better then the clones. 

Hack n' slash games fair no better. God of War and Ninja Gaiden were games that broke barriers. The sequels were fantastic additions to each of the franchises, but it was more of the same. A few new comers pop up hear and there. Bayonetta was decent, and so was Heavenly Sword. I also enjoyed Force Unleashed and Afro Samurai. None had the same impact as the first God of War. None were as challenging as Ninja Gaiden. 

Next up on the chopping block is Bioware. I've thoroughly enjoyed most of their games, but I'm no fool. I can see a pattern that started with Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox. Moral choices, elite secret organizations, wacky friends, love affairs, and deep conversation trees; all while touring world/galaxy. This is in every title since KOTOR, and I doubt Mass Effect 3 will be any different. 

Similar statements can be made about the Fable and Fallout franchises. The first Fable and Fallout 3 were fantastic, but the sequels tended to be more of the same. A young child has something traumatic occur that leads him/her on a life long path to redemption...or revenge! Along the way they have to perform a bunch of tasks to become famous...or infamous! You make allies, gain abilities, and complete quests in the same world over and over again. RPG developers are also notorious for bugs, which is pretty sad considering the lifespan of the current console generation. 

Genres I'm unfamiliar with will only lead to speculation. So here we go!

Open world titles are series of already known mini games spread across a vast area.  New sports games, and fighters, offer roster updates and a few new moves. Racers are the same old tired franchises. JRPG's seem to be stuck in a rut, and RTS games still suck on consoles. Music inspired games is a dead genre beaten by Activision and slightly kicked by EA. Finally, since 2004, the MMORPG genre continues to be equated with World of Warcraft. Everywhere you go it's clones and sequels (or expansion packs and dlc).

I want a new and amazing videogame. I want that same feeling I got playing Splinter Cell, Shadows of the Colossus, or Halo for the first time. I want to play a game over and over again because it's that good. Something that hasn't happened since Batman: Arkham Asylum. 

One day my Gamefly account will be used for something besides sequels and clones. I'll be patient, and save money. I don't have any fantastic ideas after all....just complaints. Perhaps it's just me, or maybe developers need start coming up with better material to earn my money. Either way I'm bored. Time to take up some new hobbies, and catch up on that reading list; in between the drum n' bass events and pool parties.

Afro Samurai

Game: Afro Samurai

System: Xbox 360, PS3

Released: January 2009

Afro Samurai is a hack and slash adventure game based on the popular anime mini-series staring Samuel Jackson. The game features a beautiful cell shaped art style and a simplistic yet satisfying combat system. The focus ability is fun, and the soundtrack is fantastic. Unfortunately the story feels chopped and incomplete, and I am on the fence about the games short length due to its repetitive nature.

Let us begin with the plot. The game takes Afro on a journey of redemption and revenge in his pursuit for the Number One Headband. Apparently there is a number system in this universe that depicts how badass you are. They say that whoever wears the Number One Headband will become a god. The reason for Afro wanting this headband is very personal. At a young age he saw his father die at the hands of Justice (the main antagonist). He was pursuing the Number One who just so happened to be Afro Sr. Of course Justice told the young Afro Jr. that he could challenge him one day when he was ready.

Afro grows up and gets trained in the ways of the badass samurai. He plays killer detective while slaughtering his friends and foes. He acquires the Number Two Headband, and then kills some more friends and foes. Finally he finds a dead Justice on top of a vast mountain. Faced now with only his inner demons Afro must clear his conscious, which will eventually lead to the destruction of the two headbands.

This story isn’t bad, but I can understand why fans of the series were disappointed. The game does not follow key plot points of the anime. I don’t want to go into detail, but a quick look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Samurai_(video_game) will satisfy your curiosity. The modified story, however, does work for the video game.

Enough with this story stuff. Let us move on to gameplay. Afro is granted the basic hack and slash moves. There is a light and heavy attack, kick, block, dodge, and jump. All can be thrown together in a variety of combos. Players can also counter an enemies attack and then perform a gloriously satisfying instant kill. The one unique ability in this game is the focus attack. Engaging focus will turn the screen black and white, and slow down everything around Afro. While in this state Afro can perform a precise vertical or horizontal slash as well as a host of acrobatic maneuvers. Landing a successful sword swing will slice of limbs, heads, feet, and can even deflect bullets.

What makes this combat so satisfying is the visual presentation and audio soundtrack. Each focus attack will send limbs and blood everywhere. When an enemy is cut in half you will see their gory insides and slowing down time is a blast. This all blends beautifully with the music. The cell shaped environments and characters also meld well together. Previous games seem to create bold outlines for character models that detach them from their environment but not Afro Samurai. The sheer excellence of this games presentation warrants at least one play through.

Afro Samurai is a good game. There isn’t anything truly great, but it is fun. Some will be turned off by the repetitive gameplay and butchered story. Others will enjoy a solid hack and slash adventure with stunning style. Snerts Snazzy Score grants this title a 3.5 out of 5.