only when it was funny

Welcome to my GamePad. Here I'll comment on the crazy happenings of our beloved industry of games.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Kraut on Your Six!

Well I played the Blazing Angels demo and found it very enjoyable. The mechanics of shooting down enemy planes is nothing new or terribly exciting, but the game's atmosphere and use of the squad are major selling points.

What makes games great for me are more than solid gameplay (though that certainly helps). Grim Fandango was amazing in no small part due to it's epic story. Oblivion is incredible for its expansive and immersive world. Blazing Angels seems to have hooked me with its use of these guys in your squad. Rather than the typical, useless squadmates of most games who prove more of a hindrance than helpful, they are extremely vital in combat. More than once did they save my neck. What is also nice is that they are fleshed out as actual characters. Brilliant voice acting brings their constant chatter to life as planes and bullets wiz by. If you let yourself get lost in it, it's quite a lot of fun.

With the glut of games from GRAW to Oblivion, I doubt I'll be picking this one up soon, but it is certainly on my list for when we reach a lull in the release schedule.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Copy That, Squad Leader!

Evil Avatar - The Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII demo has been released (360)
I've been looking forward to this one for a while. I'm glad developers are into the whole demo before game release deal. I'm downloading it now. I'll let you know what I think of it tomorrow.

Sony Gets Something Right

PlayStation 3 Will Be Region Free for Gaming - Xbox
Well it's about time. That's all I can say. Sony has decided that the PS3 will be region free. Thank you! I never udnerstood the idea behind region locking. If I want to buy a game that you never intend to release in America, why would you want to deny me the sale? I hope this extends to the PS2 and PS1 games on the system. I want the PS2 version of Guitar Freaks that also is Drum Mania. My dreams of the Minotti Family Virtual Band will finally come to fruition.

Is it bad that I want the PS3 just to play old Japanese PS2 games?

I'm Still Here (Sorta)

Hello, everyone. I know I've been quiet, and it is for good reason. Firstly, we're getting into full swing of my school's production of Cinderella. So if you're in the Pittsburgh area and have nothin planned the weekends of the 30th or April 6th, come to Duquesne and see a nice show. Also, Oblivion has been bestowed upon us, and there is much rejoicing. Thus far I am about ten hours into the game and it is amazing! Yes there is some flaura pop-in. Yes the frame rate may slow down when a lot is going on. But you know what? Who cares? This game is so engrosing and so well designed that what is intended as a quick hour of play becomes a 6 hour marathon. Just as you finish a quest, a new and alluring oppurtunity presents itself that just keeps you playing. If you have a 360 or a PC with the muscle to play it, run, don't walk, to your nearest video retailer and purchase this game. Bonus ponts if you get the collector's edition, which is a pretty nice little package. You can even get it from Direct2Drive and start playing as soon asall 4.5 gigs finish downloading if you want. You will not regret it.