Last weekend I made my yearly pilgrimage to San Diego to attend the International Comic-con. As everyone well knows, over the last few years comic books have hemorrhaged into movies, video games, and television. In turn, the comic-con is now home to previews for games (and many other things) unrelated to comics.
This year that meant hands on time with Street Fighter 4, Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince, and Afro Samurai.
Street Fighter 4 (ps3/360/pc) – release date: unknown
Judging by the line for this game, it seemed the most anticipated. The line wrapped all the way around the raised stage boxing ring platform where the game was set up. When the first images of the game came out I heard the concerns, and yes, the graphics do look a bit cartooney, but the game still looks like it belongs on the PS3/360. The ink splats all over the trailer confirm that it must’ve been the design team’s intention to create a “drawn on” look. Another concern was whether it would be 3D, and the answer is a big no.
This time around, we have four new characters; a female American spy (Crimson Viper), a French martial artist (Abel), a fat man with kung fu moves (Rufus), and the character I played who is a Mexican Wrestler (El Fuerte). We already had the wrestler Zangief, and this El Fuerte shares a few of his moves, but he is quicker and less cumbersome. The few rounds I did play were tons of fun. The big changes so far are no more parrying and a new revenge bar (it’s a circle in the corner but it’s still considered a bar, right?) that I didn’t get a chance to master. So now there are two (the super meter is still there) bars that can have dramatic effects on game play if used together properly.
The gaming community is very concerned about the integrity of this game, and so far has not embraced all the changes. In the end the only real question should be, “Is this a fun game and do I want to play it again?” for me, the answer is yes.
Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince (Wii) release date: 11/14/08
I’m not of fan of video games based on movies, but the Wii platform has made me really want to play a dueling-type game based on the Harry Potter movies—one where I could use my Wiimote for battle. I thought I had stumbled across this very game, and so with this hope I ended up playing the new Harry Potter game. The story mode wasn’t an option, but that’s not why I wanted to play anyway. I wanted to duel someone next to me, and at Comic-con there is always a willing opponent. But ultimately the game was a disappointment. My first problem came the moment we started playing—there was no split screen. Our characters were on top of a table with schoolmates cheering us on. But my character’s back was facing the screen and player 2 was far away facing the screen. We only had a few spells to use and although I really wanted to like the dueling, it was a bit of a let down. Not a lot of spells to use, no character choices (I was stuck with Harry or Draco) and no online play! It then occurred to me that this was just a mini-game. So my one reason for maybe buying the game turned out to be just a mini-game that they didn’t really spend all that much time developing.
Dear Harry Potter game makers: Please let me fight my friends online, and give me choices for spells and characters. And for the love of god make it split screen!
It’s not a lot to ask, is it?
Afro Samurai (PS3, 360) Release date: First Quarter 2009
I didn’t get a chance to play as much as I liked, but just looking at this game was fun. While I waited to play, I was witness to carnage, blood and everything you would expect from the cartoon. After picking up the 360 controller I had a different impression. It seemed very hack and slashy. I hope a nice story comes along and you learn some new moves as the game continues. I realize it is not finished, but so far it’s a little iffey. Let’s hope they get over the ‘cool’ look and the blood, because at some point the people playing will, and after the novelty of carnage wears off it will need some substance to determine whether it’s a good game or not.
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