On a very special forty-eight episode of “Barrel Roll! A Video Game Podcast”, Jesse, Dave and Jonah discuss their top ten picks for game of the year.

It was a good discussion of our likes and dislikes and why we picked what we picked. We even give out a few honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the list at the end of the show.

I don’t want to give it away here, so hit up after the break to download the episode and hear for yourself.

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Music during the break – “The Robot Band Tune” by Tomas Dvorak (Machinarium Soundtrack)

Outro Music – “Fortuna (Star Fox)” by The OneUps

"Archive Footage"

2009 was a busy year for me. I had just started a new job, I launched WingDamage with my bro and suckered a few friends into writing for us. A ton of amazing games came out. Here I present to you my personal favorites. This is my top ten, and it doesn’t quite line up with the majority of other people’s that I have found online. That’s just fine with me.

Some releases, while I liked what I played, I just didn’t have enough time to get a good enough impressions to rank them one way or the other. That said, I give you my top ten games of the year.

#10 Borderlands (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

While I do enjoy the occasional FPS, it is not always my genre of choice. A good co-op mode is usually required to really get me interested. Borderlands does a great job of mixing fun FPS gameplay with RPG elements and looting to create a very addictive experience. Better yet, it’s meant to be played with up to three of your friends.

#9 Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (DS)

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is a great way to kill time on your DS. The plot is super goofy and the dialogue is hilarious. Timing is everything for both the attacks and for your defense. This keeps the battles fresh throughout the entire experience. It is any easy recommendation for all ages. Best of all, it’s an RPG that actually works well in short bursts.

#8 inFamous (PS3) [Full Review]

Most open world games have a bad habit of making me lose interest after a few hours. inFamous does several things very well. The free roaming works really well and is always fun. There is just enough of an assist to your climbing that it never feels like they are taking the controls away from you, but you also don’t get frustrated from being a pixel off from any given jump. That combined with the ever increasing lightning powers and a fun, though simple, good/evil mechanic really sucked me in to the game’s world.

#7 DJ Hero (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2) [Full Review]

When I first saw footage of DJ Hero, I had no idea what was going on. The concepts involved in scratching and mixing songs live are way above my level of musical understanding. Much to my surprise, they were able to boil it all down into a game that is fun and engaging with a soundtrack that has made its way into my regular rotation. The price is a sticking point for some people. but since the game hasn’t had the huge commercial success of it’s guitar based counterparts, I recommend picking this one up at a sale near you.

#6 Torchlight (PC)

The combination of a fun art style that mixes fantasy and steampunk with addictive hack-and-slash gameplay was all it took to get me hooked on Torchlight. People who have been waiting for something in the Diablo style that makes some improvements on the genre need look no further. Inventory management has been streamlined. Your pet’s ability to run back to town and sell all your unneeded junk keeps you in the action. The fact that they opened Torchlight up to the modding community almost immediately also speaks to the games longevity. Not only do you get a great self-contained experience, but thanks to other fans, you get one that is ever expanding.

#5 Punch-Out!! (Wii) [Full Review]

If you were to look at a list of my top games of all time, the original Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! would rank very high. I am very happy to say that Punch-Out!! on the Wii lived up to all of my expectations. Long time fans will have no problem blasting through the first part of the game, which plays almost exactly like the original. Fortunately, that is only the beginning. In Title Defense Mode, they have taken our favorite old school characters and completely switched up their move sets, while still staying faithful to the characters and the gameplay, making for a hugely challenging, arcade style experience.

#4 Machinarium (PC) [Full Review]

Some games have so much personality that you know you will remember and return to them years down the road. Machinarium is one of those games for me. The art style has such an interesting, sketchy, storybook feel to it and the characters really come to life. There is no dialogue in the game, yet through animations alone you get a full sense of the story. While some point and click adventure games will reach a point where you click around the screen in frustration, Machinarium did a great job of cluing you in to what you needed to do. If you ever get stuck, the games built-in hint system works amazingly well, telling you what needs to be done without giving everything away. For a small game that you can finish in around five hours, Machinarium‘s charm will stick with your long after you finish it.

#3 New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) [Full Review]

Somehow Nintendo was able to craft a game that is amazingly fun to play both in single player and with up to four players. The most impressive part about that is they are the same levels. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the kind of game that you can bring out with your friends and family of any skill level and have a great time just goofing around in. The mechanics that require you to be cooperative, while at the same time allow you to be competative, go a long way towards the longevity of the title. If you have a Wii, you should have this game.

#2 Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

Another franchise that successfully managed to return to its roots and come back with a fantastic experience; Street Fighter IV delivered for both casual and hardcore fans. The character designs were taken one step further towards looking like a cartoon, which lends itself well to the way over the top fighting action of the franchise. The combination of new and classic moves really helped keep every character feeling fresh and unique. Gone are the days of pallet swapped characters. They even managed to make Dan a viable character. The addition of new move types even helped balance the game for newcomers just learning how to throw down on the mean streets of the World Tournament.

#1 Dragon Age: Origins (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

I originally was not following Dragon Age: Origins because I thought it looked a little too much like the film versions of Lord of the Rings. Boy was I wrong. This game has earned it’s place as my Game of the Year. Bioware brought their classic gameplay ideas from their old PC days and mixed them with the versatility of modern gameplay mechanics, a good story, and fun characters to bring an RPG masterpiece back to the PC. All complaints I have heard about the game seem to involve the console editions, so I highly recommend the PC version if you can run it. The way you move around in battles and control the action flows perfectly. I was also impressed with how the good/bad meter of other Bioware games was replaced with a party member specific meter of how well that character liked you. Your actions and conversation effect both those in your party and the world around you. With six distinct origin stories and the upcoming two years worth of DLC on an already expansive game universe, Dragon Age: Origins is a title I will be playing for a good long while.

"Defenders of Earth"

2009 is over, and boy it sure was a crazy year. I fulfilled a lifelong dream and climbed Mount Killamanjaro. I punched an alligator right in the snout. I somehow lost at arm wrestling to a one eyed Grizzly Bear and in between my crazy adventures I even managed to play a few video games. My full time job collecting cans on the side of the highway prevented me from playing every single release that came out, but I tried my best. Below is my personal picks for the top 10 games of the year.

#10 MadWorld (Wii)

The most over the top violent and hilarious game of the year. When one of your basic attacks involves chainsawing people to death, you know you are in for a treat. In MadWorld, a typical fight will leave your enemies trapped in a tire, with a sign post through their head; their bodies dripping blood as they hang on a spike wall. All of this action is announced by the two greatest announcers in history (voiced by Greg Proops and John DiMaggio). They are absolutely hilarious. The game is worth playing if only to hear them spew off lines like: [Redacted by the WingDamage Committee for Inappropriate Language.]

#9 Madden NFL 10 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii)

When EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL license, I was as angry as anyone. After five years, EA has finally crafted a game that captures the NFL so well that I have forgiven them. Madden NFL 10 is the best entry in the series in years. It’s the way your running backs move and shift to get through the line, the way the defenses react, and the way everything is presented like an actual NFL broadcast that make this game.

#8 Punch-Out! (Wii) [Full Review]

Old school and new school collide in one of the most entertaining games of the year. Just like you remember, but somehow still fresh and unique. Not quite a boxing game and not quite a rhythm game, Punch-Out!! is one of those games that you could throw in fifteen years from now and it would still be a blast.

#7 Demon’s Souls (PS3)

If you don’t throw your controller in frustration when you play Demon’s Souls, you are a robot. If you don’t immediately go pick up the controller after throwing it and play some more, you are crazy. Few games can match the brutal difficulty and addictive nature of Demon’s Souls. Definitely not for the feint of heart or those prone to smashing things, Demon’s Souls is one of those games where the frustrations make the ultimate victory that much more rewarding.

Demon’s Souls also features one of the more unique uses of playing online. You can’t partner up with your friends, but you will see the souls of other adventurers. If you touch the spot where they died, you can see what killed them. You can also leave messages for other players warning them about upcoming danger or letting them know about treasure.

#6 Dragon Age (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

Bioware proved once again that they are masters in the RPG genre. Dragon Age: Origins feels like a return to the classic, Baldur’s Gate. With multiple storylines and styles of play, this disc will be spinning in my 360 for a long time. I loved just about everything about this game; from the battle system to the storyline. The battles are fast paced and action packed, but you can still take the time to plan tactically if you need to. The storyline, like Bioware’s other games, really shines with moral choices that weren’t simply a matter of deciding whether or not to kick children, but actually had me weighing the merits of both sides.

#5 inFamous (PS3) [Full Review]

If it weren’t for a certain caped crusader, inFamous would be the best super hero game of the year. One of the reasons the game works so well is the way you get around. Cole is able to move through the city like Altair on steroids. As you leap and climb your way through the city, the game has a little auto-assist so that you can land right on top of that tiny pole. The effect makes you feel totally awesome as you free run through the city. The other reason the game is #5 is that it succeeds at making you feel like the savior of the city. Your actions actually feel like they make an impact as each side mission you complete clears out the bad guys in that area.

#4 Assassin’s Creed II (PS3, Xbox 360)

Someone at Ubisoft must have access to the internets, because just about everything that people complained about in the original game has been improved in Assassin’s Creed II. A big part of this change comes in the upgrades Ezio can purchase or acquire. You can now use a variety of different weapons in combat, including your hidden blade. In fact, you now have two hidden blades so you can stealth kill two people at once. By the end of the game, you’ll look back at your pathetic starting armor and weapons and wonder how you killed anybody.

The other major improvement that bears mentioning is the story. Assassin’s Creed II doesn’t have the long slow boring parts that seemed to bog down the first game at the end of every level. No more trying to figure out what is going on as you stumble around Abstergo. Now you’ll actually look forward to being outside of the Animus.

#3 Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) [Full Review]

The best Batman game ever. The best super hero game ever. One of the best games of the year. Batman: Arkham Asylum nailed the atmosphere of the comics. You are Batman trapped in a Joker controlled Arkham Asylum. You feel like the Dark Knight as you pick off bad guys one by one.

The game feels like the atmosphere of Bioshock mixed with the stealth of Splinter Cell mushed together and sprinkled over a batter of Metroid. The game is constantly evolving with new gadgets and new moves that will let you reach previously unassailable areas. The game will have you searching every nook and cranny for the countless secrets. If that isn’t enough, there are the challenge maps where you can try to post the fastest time or highest score as you wail on bad guys or try to sneak by them.

#2 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Full Review]

The gaming equivalent of an awesome summer blockbuster; Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is perfectly crafted. Everything from the story to the multiplayer feels polished to the point that it gleams. Naughty Dog somehow squeezes more out of the PS3 than anybody else. This game is so good it makes me feel like other developers are lazy. The game is gorgeous and if you are an HDTV Guy, this is the game that should be in your system to show off your setup. However, Uncharted 2 is more than just a pretty face. It features such a perfect blend of humor and action that you are constantly being entertained; whether you are shooting bad guys or scaling mountains.

#1 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

For sheer intensity and scope, no game came close to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It takes my number one spot. From crazy action set piece to crazy plot revelations, CODMW2‘s single player is something that has to be experienced. The game moves you from insane moment to mind blowing moment.

That’s not even mentioning the once again completely addictive online multiplayer, and the brand new co-op focused Spec Ops mode. Modern Warfare 2 will be spinning in 360′s long, long after most of these other games have been traded in to your local game store. CODMW2 is my game of the year. If you haven’t played it yet, what are you waiting for? ]]> http://www.wingdamage.com/daves-top-10-games-of-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.wingdamage.com/jesses-top-10-games-of-2009/ http://www.wingdamage.com/jesses-top-10-games-of-2009/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:28 +0000 Jesse Gregory http://www.wingdamage.com/?p=5355

"WingDamage writer by day, Little Mac by night."

The first full year of WingDamage is officially over. Though we all played a lot of games, we’re also enthusiasts with full-time jobs outside of the site. While there’s just not enough time in the day to play every game that comes out, we do our best. Below is a list of my personal picks of the games I felt where a cut above the rest. Expect to see the picks of our other writers soon after. And don’t worry, you’ll probably agree with their picks more than mine anyway.

#10 Retro Game Challenge (DS) [Full Review]

As you might have guessed after seeing our “Friday Old Games” article series, we like our retro games here on WingDamage. Retro Game Challenge was made specifically for people like me whose favorite genres still include 2D platformers and SHMUPs. The zany plot about Japanese comedian, Shinya Arino, transporting you back to the eighties and forcing you to play fake Famicom games is not only wonderfully absurd, but a great way to take advantage of my feelings of nostalgia.

While the achievement-style challenges you complete in each of the 8bit games are fun, my favorite part is that each game is unlockable for free play. Essentially, what I really bought is a bunch of never-before-released NES games; a fact I am more than satisfied with. It saddens me that the sequel will probably never make it out of Japan.

#9 DJ Hero (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii) [Full Review]

The first night I brought home DJ Hero, I played for over four hours straight, having not gotten home until the late hours of the evening, on a work-night. I did not do this intentionally, but as they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” The satisfaction I felt while playing DJ Hero is something I haven’t felt since I first played Dance Dance Revolution.

In a stagnant and saturated genre, DJ Hero felt fresh. The input requires much more than a series of colorful button presses (though it uses those, too) and the soundtrack is made entirely from never-before-heard mashups of popular music from various decades mixed by legendary DJs. While it might not sell as well as Rock Band or Guitar Hero, I think it’s exactly the breath of fresh air the rhythm genre needed.

#8 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii) [Full Review]

I’ve never been into sports, but I’ve been a fan of golf videogames since Golf on the NES and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, while using the Wii Motion+ attachment, is the best golf videogame I’ve ever played. This is the game that makes me eagerly anticipate future WM+ enabled titles. The three different control settings make it easy for people of all skill levels to play together and the advanced control scheme is incredibly satisfying once you’re ready to take it on. There’s a ridiculous number of courses to play and tons of customization. I can’t imagine the next iteration doing anything this game didn’t already do well enough.

#7 Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Wii) [Full Review]

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is absolutely stunning to look at. It’s not just a pretty face, either. The game manages to achieve an insane combat style that’s more “ninja-like” than anything I’ve ever seen on a 2D plane. On top of that, it featured a “Metroidvania Light” map structure, giant bosses, multiple playable characters, RPG elements, and a vast quantity of swords (each with their own stats and special attack) to collect. I can’t wait to see what Vanillaware cooks up next.

#6 Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) [Full Review]

Batman: Arkham Asylum, while not perfect, is a great game. Rocksteady did an excellent job of making you feel like you’re every bit as fear inspiring and every bit as vulnerable as Batman should be. You can take on huge unarmed groups, but once they have guns it’s time to be a stealthy predator. The pacing is great, there are tons of secrets to find, and the voice cast reprising their roles from Batman: The Animated Series is fantastic. It manages to not just be “good for a licensed game”, it’s one the best games of the year.

#5 Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360, PS3)

I’m not usually a fan of open-world games, but Assassin’s Creed II is a lot of fun. Each of the game’s cities are huge and climbing around all the buildings is so satisfying that I found I hardly used the “fast travel” system. The game is full of detail from the hustle and bustle of the cities lively inhabitants to the viewpoints, codex  pages, glyphs, feathers, and any number of other important things scattered throughout Italy for you to find.

#4 Punch-Out!! (Wii) [Full Review]

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! is the very first videogame I ever remember playing. When I heard they were making a new one, I flipped out with excitement. This game did not disappoint me one bit. It is 100% pure, unrestrained fun. Nothing in this game gets in the way of that. It is simplicity at its best.

The cartoony art style is fantastic and fits the game like a glove. Every boxer is extremely expressive and full of life. The controls are tighter than ever and the new “Title Defense Mode” doubles the length of the otherwise short experience without feeling like cheap padding. It may be “old school”, but Punch-Out!! doesn’t feel any less relevant to me now than it did back then.

#3 Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360, PS3)

2009 was the “comeback” year for fighting games. A ton of great fighters came out, but Street Fighter IV trumps them all. With a huge cast of fan-favorites as well as new characters, I’ve been able to enjoy some pretty lengthy multiplayer sessions. Capcom struck the perfect balance between old and new with the move-sets. Focus attacks, specials, supers, and ultras allow for a very deep fighting experience while still managing to not feel too intimidating (a problem I had with the critically acclaimed BlazBlue). Street Fighter IV is my new favorite fighting game and I eagerly await the next iteration.

#2 New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) [Full Review]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is so incredibly fun that I went back and forth numerous times on whether or not it was my number one game. Ultimately, it landed in my number two spot, and I hope it also lands in every Wii owner’s home. While the themed worlds may feel cliche, the actual level design is incredibly imaginative. Playing alone is as satisfying as Mario games of old and playing with friends is an entirely new, ridiculously enjoyable experience.

#1 aka GOTY… Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Full Review]

This game has already been called “Game of the Year” by a large number of media outlets. You know why? Because it’s incredible. Uncharted 2 is one of the most entertaining media experiences out there. It’s full of a cast of likable characters that are better acted and more believable than many you’ve seen on the big screen. The pacing is so good you’ll want to play it in one sitting (but you won’t because it actually takes a decent chunk of time to complete).

The single-player would have been more than enough to blow me away, but the multiplayer is the icing on the already delicious cake. Rather than feeling tacked on, it’s very fun in both versus and co-op and gives me more excuses to revisit the game. This is the kind of game you can feel comfortable recommending people buy the system for.

Three years after the launch of the Nintendo Wii, I think most of us are able to admit that motion controls are not a fad that will disappear overnight. Nintendo has had incredible success with their system and now Microsoft and Sony both have motion-based peripherals on the horizon for 2010.

But motion-based gameplay is tricky business. Much like the strange features of the DS (two screens, microphone, touch screen, etc.), it has taken time for developers to learn how to develop different kinds of games that make use of these strange and exciting new input devices.

Many developers map what could easily have been a button press to a quick motion. This is often referred to as “waggle” and is considered the lowest, most basic form of motion control. While often times waggle can feel imprecise and unnecessary, this isn’t always the case.

Take Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition for example. In the original version, slashing your knife was a matter of holding an aiming button that differed from your gun aiming button and pressing another button. It was pretty cumbersome for such a simple action. Making effective use of waggle, the Wii version lets you slash in the direction of the nearest enemy by simply performing a quick slash motion with the wiimote. Rather than having to remember the multiple buttons required, I always knew I could easily slash with my knife/wiimote if I was in a pinch.

The other use waggle can have is to enhance immersion. What’s more convincing: trying to shake a zombie off of you by tapping a button, or by… well, shaking. These kinds of controls don’t necessarily make the game any easier to play, but can make the experience all the more satisfying when done properly. While the Wii iteration of Punch-Out!! is great when played with the wiimote on its side, I found it more rewarding to interrupt Great Tiger’s “Magic Rushing Attack” with a punch that I threw with my own arm.

The IR sensor is something that isn’t really new. Gameplay that used the DS’s touch screen has been seen duplicated on the Wii in the Trauma Center series. Going even further back, the IR sensor isn’t really all that different from using a mouse on a PC. I suppose what makes the IR sensor notable is that it allows you to have control similar to a mouse in addition to the ergonomic button layouts of a console controller rather than being accompanied by a keyboard whose identically shaped buttons you will usually only need a small portion of.

What I’m really interested to see, is how more advanced motion controls will be used in the future. Games like Boom Blox (which came out even before the Wii’s Motion+ attachment) have already shown off some of the more unique and innovative methods of using motion controls in ways that couldn’t easily be replicated by buttons.

Wii Sports Resort in particular contained several mini-games with near 1:1 motion control that I would love to see fleshed out into more in-depth experiences. Take the sword dueling for example. The speed and angle in which you slashed was all taken into account as well as the angle in which you attempted to block. I can only hope that the upcoming Zelda title for Wii expands on these types of concepts to create something that couldn’t have existed without motion-based gameplay.

This is exactly my point. For the most part, many (though not all) of the games we have seen thus far have only modified (for better or worse) existing game archetypes with the addition of motion controls. But with Motion+, Project Natal, and Sony’s motion controller (whatever they’re calling it), the possibilities for new types of gameplay that previously couldn’t exist has been opened up.

I sincerely hope that all three companies take full advantage of their respective technologies and create some truly unique and innovative experiences. At the same time, I expect button-based gameplay to always remain a large part of gaming. I’m glad there are games like Muramasa alongside WarioWare Smooth Moves on the same platform and I don’t see that sort of thing changing in the future.

His head has hit the canvas too many times. His jaw makes a little clicking sound whenever he tries to eat.  His teeth feel like they are floating around in his skull. Everything tastes like blood, as if his taste buds can’t forget the last fight.

1-99 takes a lot out of any man.

Glass Joe has been beaten. Been knocked down. Knocked out.  But the man keeps on fighting. 99 times he has had to watch as another man raised his fist in triumph. 99 times he has entered that ring and lost.

What kind of courage does it take to get beat that many times and still have the guts to enter that ring?

1-99 might seem like a story of futility. The story of a fool who doesn’t know when to quit. 99 losses is a lot for any man to take, but that 1 victory keeps him holding on. That 1 win is enough to keep him coming back, no matter how many times he gets beaten.

That 1 victory is all the glory he will ever have. But how many men go their whole lives and never have that feeling? How many of us go our whole lives and never know triumph. How many of us don’t have the courage to step into that ring. Glass Joe has known glory and even if it was only 1 time. That is more than most of us will ever have.

Glass Joe knows what it means to win, and he can’t get over it. He can’t forget that moment. That sweet, sweet taste of victory. That moment of Glory.

But Glory is like the sweet lingering kiss from the most beautiful woman you’ve ever met. Men like Glass Joe spend their whole lives trying to recapture the moment they were kissed by Lady Glory.

To you, he might be some chump you can knock out with a Star Punch. To me he is a proud man. There is a kind of nobility that only comes when a man keeps on going in the face of failure after failure. When even certain defeat can’t deter him from coming back for more.

This may come off as grumpy old man complaining that “Back in my day, we only had Combat on Atari, and we liked it!”, but it is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m warning you now this is a full on opinion piece.

Do we, as gamers, complain too much? Do we take into consideration everything that goes into making the games we play in the first place? And do we, or should we, care?

As we know, most modern games take huge teams and millions of dollars to produce. Even smaller games have ever increasing budgets these days. It only makes sense that many companies go for the safe bet, churning out franchise titles year after year. So we complain that no one comes out with anything new. Then, when companies like EA finally do decide to take risks on new IP’s (particularly evident in 2008′s releases), they are, more often than not, met with less than stellar sales. Meanwhile, the latest Madden continues to be an unstoppable juggernaut.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from Wii owners is that there is no third party support for the system. “The only good games are Nintendo first party titles”, many still claim. Capcom released “Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure” almost exactly one year from the consoles’ launch to much critical praise. It was fun, original, and best of all the controls worked. There wasn’t even any gimmicky waggle! Sadly, it sold very poorly it’s first several months on the console. Even though it has since gone on to sell a decent number of copies, this killed plans for a sequel. Where were these complainers then?

Nintendo came out with their new version of “Punch-Out!!” recently. I personally loved it, party because it was just like the old one, but with lots of cool new features. Many of the reviews I both read and heard on podcasts went along these lines: “It is great, but it’s too similar to the original.” This would often contradict what they were just saying about why they liked it.

Then there is the recent debacle about “Left 4 Dead 2″. DLC (downloadable content) has always been a point of contention among gamers. We even had an article about it. A lot of people are complaining that all the content in the new game could have been DLC for the first game. Why they assume it would be free, just because Valve has been generous about their DLC in the past, has me baffled. PC gamers seem to still be spoiled on the fact that “back in the day” that kind of stuff was always free. I got news for you, kids. Multi-million dollar games need a way to continue to be profitable to stay in business these days.

So let’s say all the new stuff was released as DLC. Payed DLC, because it is likely most, if not all of it would be. You are already talking new characters, new AI director, new weapons, new levels, new super zombies, etc. That could easily add up to more than the cost of a full priced sequel.

There is currently a boycott going on the official Valve forums due the release of the Left 4 Dead sequel being scheduled for release only a year after the original game. If this were an EA or an Activision, no one would bat an eye. But this is Valve. Episode 3 doesn’t even have a release date yet.

Many of their so-called fans have banded together to send them a message, “We want your hard work to be given to us for free! You have done so on many of your other games, so why not do that again? That was pretty cool.” I can only assume they feel that Valve owes them since they bought the game. Personally, when I buy a game, the only guarantee I’m expecting is that it will run properly on my machine. Anything not on the disc that works along with it is just gravy. Maybe that’s from being a life-long console gamer. I play games on my PC and mods are fun, but I never expect them.

I think we do complain too much as gamers. Sure it’s justified sometimes, when a company really is doing something ridiculous or a game is poorly made. But when a quality product that we enjoy hits the market, do we vote with our dollar?

It’s the only real way to have an effect. I mean, all we are, is dust in the wind. Dust. Wind. Dude.

You might have noticed an extra button in the top navigation last Friday. This new “Videos” link will take you straight to our newly created WingDamage YouTube channel. This will contain both videos we made specifically to embed in posts as well as additional videos like the one you see above. Watch as I show you what a fool you will look like if you play Punch-Out!! with the balance board control scheme!

So feel free to subscribe to our channel. You never know what crazy gaming videos we might post!

“2 Player Reviews” is a series of articles in which two members of the Wing Damage staff separately review a game, so as to give our readers multiple perspectives on the subject matter.

Player 1 – Jesse “Main Finger” Gregory

Punch-Out!! has always been a very simple game. The camera sits right behind your character, Little Mac, as you face off against somebody who probably shouldn’t be in the same weight class. You have four attacks that consist of high and low punches with your left and right arms. You can dodge left, right and down, as well as block. There is also a “Star Punch” that can be performed causing extra damage, provided you have a star handy.

Can a game with so few actions compete with the complex beasts of modern gaming? Can a Punch-Out!! remake capture all the things that made its predecessors great while at the same time improving upon the series? Can a Wii game have both great graphics and fun, responsive motion controls? The answer to all these questions is a resounding yes.

Anybody familiar with the Punch-Out!! series will notice a lot of familiar faces when playing this game. In fact, with the exception of Disco Kid, all of the characters in the normal circuit progression are from previous entries. Luckily, these characters have a few new tricks up their sleeves to keep veterans on their toes.

Hitting your opponent at just the right time will award you a star, much like it did on the NES. However, you can save up to 3 stars to use all at once to make an even more devastating star punch. Another interesting addition is that sometimes you can get lucky when things look grim. Just when it looks like Little Mac is down for the count, it’s possible for him to catch himself and avoid the fall altogether. It’s not something you can rely on, as it’s fairly rare and has never happened (at least to me) more than one time in a match, but it’s a nice glimmer of hope in tough matches.

Career mode is unsurprisingly linear. Each boxer you defeat will unlock the next. However, a few tweaks have made the game more accessible without losing its hardcore appeal. You can now retry the boxer you’re currently on as many times as you like without having to start the circuit over. If that isn’t enough, you can enter a “Practice Mode” where you can fight the boxer without stamina or health constraints, though winning will award you nothing. These additions help newcomers hone their skills while still keeping the challenge level of the actual fights high.

Though initially there are only 3 circuits, the game has more to offer once you’ve become the champion. The new “Title Defense Mode” will pit you against each of your opponents a second time. More than a quick rehash, this mode mixes up the enemies’ patterns and increases difficulty so much that it feels completely fresh. This is also helped by the fact that the boxers have new intro sequences, appearances, and attacks. To give you an example of the rise in difficulty, I actually lost to Glass Joe (who now has a padded training helmet) in Title Defense Mode.

The content doesn’t stop there, though. In Exhibition Mode, you can fight all the boxers while trying to fulfill different achievement-like goals. Challenges like “Knock down Glass Joe three times in a match and have him win by decision” force you to approach fights in a whole new way. Also, there is a 2-player versus mode that can be a lot of fun.

The graphics in this game are gorgeous. The cartoon style fits the game like a glove. Everything is animated beautifully. Each of the characters are voiced in their native language and the combination of the voicework and the art style bring new life into these classic characters.

All the control schemes work great as well. The sideways Wiimote works just like an NES controller. Using the Wiimote and nunchuck combo feels both immersive and responsive as long as you are punching in the same rhythm as your on-screen character. The balance board, however, is much harder to use, not because it’s a bad control scheme, but because I have terrible balance. Ducking is simple enough, but it’s difficult to lean left without accidentally putting too much weight on my right foot and vice-versa. Though it’s much harder, it can be a lot of fun if you carefully concentrate on your balance.

I can’t recommend this game enough to Wii owners. It’s great for people who grew up with the series and hunger for more, yet at the same time it’s easier to pick up for newcomers thanks to more responsive controls and lenient continue options. It’s easily the best Punch-Out!! to date and well worth the $50 price tag.

Player 2 – Jonah “spambot” Gregory

When I originally heard they were doing a remake of Punch-Out!! for the Wii, I had a lot of doubts. How were they going to make a game as pure and simple as the original? Would the over the top characters be around in this day and age of political correctness? Would you be forced to play with terrible waggle controls like the Wii Boxing included with the Wii Sports bundle?

Fortunately, all of my fears were unnecessary, as Next Level Games really delivered the goods on this one. Instead of using the name Punch-Out!! to make Random Shovelware Boxing Game(TM) with a few references thrown in as a wink to the old game, they have brought us an updated version of the original that is just as fun as you remember it.

They brought back Little Mac, one of my personal favorite Nintendo characters who is sadly underused, to take on a series of colorful opponents on his road to the championship. Since the characters are such a huge part of the series, it makes sense that they stuck very close to the first two games. The only new character in the main circuit is Disco Kid, while the rest of the boxers include such fan favorites as Glass Joe, King Hippo, and Mr. Sandman.

They were very smart about the game’s progression. While I was able to take the title in one sitting (one very long sitting, I will admit), the Title Defense Mode really kicked my ass. Here all the characters return with new tricks up their sleeves. Glass Joe has a helmet, King Hippo taped a manhole cover over his stomach, and Von Kaiser is harnessing the power of self-confidence.

Every opponent in Punch-Out!! has a tell that lets you know when they are about to throw a punch. If you have played the old games a lot, then you will most likely get through the main game fairly quickly. You will be happy to know that when you re-fight everyone in Title Defense Mode, they are completely fresh. I am having more fun fighting these versions of the characters than the originals, as they have really done some interesting stuff with them.

They also did a great job of making this game approachable. If you get stuck on a fighter, you can keep re-trying him as many times as you need. You can even go into a practice mode where you don’t have a health bar so you can spend time figuring out their patterns. In the old games, you had three tries, then it was back to the start of the circuit. This got really frustrating as the guys you were having trouble on would continue to be unbeatable, since you had no way of retrying them except re-fighting all the guys before him.

While this game really shines as a single player experience, it is surprising how friends in the room react to the action. While taking turns playing through the main game, Jesse and I would both find ourselves yelling helpful comments to the other while we were watching. Duck! Punch Right! Now go for the stomach!

The crazy thing is, once we had seen each other struggle with a particular opponent and worked together to figure out his moves, the other player would have much less difficulty once they got to him. This game is all about pattern recognition, and is one of the few you can get a lot better at simply from watching someone else play.

The two-player vs mode is a little odd. You both play as Little Mac and the moves have been changed so that there is a delay between your punches. This gives the other player a chance to hit you and also built up your super meter to turn into Gig Mac. Here the game plays much like the normal game for the player who is still Little Mac. We tried the vs mode a few times, and, while interesting, it did not really grip me.

I can easily recommend this game to old school and new school gamers alike. It is one of those simple games that most people should be able to pick up and play fairly easily. They even give several control options for your convenience. Anyone with a Wii should buy this game. Unless you are one of those few people that hated the original Punch-Out!!, in which case, I officially disown you.

"Strong Bad VS Little Mac"

On a very special fifteenth episode of Barrel Roll! – A Video Game Podcast, we are joined by our friend Dan Diemer, graphic artist extraordinaire. That is, until he got sick and had to leave (feel better, Dan).

What have we been playing this week? Thanks for asking, the internet. Jonah finished episodes one and two of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People. Jesse continues to work his way through Sir Togsef, but also played every character class in the new Monster Hunter Freedom Unite demo on the PSP. Brittany continues to play World of Warcraft in the Blueberry Muffin Tops JPAG guild. She also gave Personal Trainer: Cooking to the test, being someone who has taken real life culinary arts classes. Dan and his wife have been taking on the mind bending XBLA hit Braid, as well as a few iPod games.

In the news we cover the new Dragon Quest Wars DSiWare announcement, Bethesda’s new “really big” Wii game and their newly announced Fallout 3 DLC, the Project Trico footage that may or may not be official, and much more. Like what? you might ask. Like the fact the the Play on Wii version of Metroid Prime will be all three games on one disc for $50.

Then our main event: The Punch-Out Punch-Tacular Punch-Stravaganza!” Here we cover every game we could find related to the Punch-Out!! series of computer video games. From the arcade cabinents that started it, to the phenominon that was Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! for the NES and beyond. Jonah and Jesse spent some time with the new Wii version and give their 2 cents on the issue.

We also pick a winner for our latest giveaway!

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Show Links:
Intro song: Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! by The Minibosses
Mid-show song: Litte Mac’s Confession by Game Over
Project Trico footage
Mike Tyson’s Intergalactic Punch
Power Punch Footage