Shout out for PS3 CoD: Black Op Players

Hey guys,

The game is around 10 days away and we here at Student Gamers are spreading the word of the game. So Sam is hitting the ground running and wants to play multiplayer on launch day. So add dodoo1989 on your PSN and let the gun fights begin.

Justin

Review: Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

Our first review is Kirby’s Epic Yarn for the Nintendo Wii. This is Kirby’s first game on a next gen console and the game was released on October 17, 2010.

Story: This new entry in the Kirby series is very much like all the other ones. It is like a children’s fantasy story book. It began with Kirby stumbling upon the wrath of an evil sorcerer named Yin Yarn and for that he is sent to Patch Land. It is there that our hero comes across Prince Fluff who is trying to sow the pieces of Patch Land back together. Upon hearing the trouble Kirby  vows to help his new friend and save the world any way possible. Don’t eat yellow snow.

Gameplay: Like most of the Kirby series this game follows the 2d platformer genre. Though there are major changes in the game that may be a little weird at first for most Kirby fans.  First off our hero no longer eats enemies to obtain their powers. He now wields a piece of yarn like a whip. With this whip he is able to unravel his foes or roll them up and use them as projectiles. Yet the Kirby fun doesn’t end there. In certain sections of the game he is able to transform into many different forms. From a giant tank that shoots missiles at foes or even a space shoot to control the star above the world.  The point of the game is to reach the end of every level but there are treasure chest and beads to find and collect. Finding and collecting more of things these lead to new mini games and other exciting things.

Visuals:  The Wii hase never been known as a graphic powerhouse but the developers make up for that with sytle. Here the game looks like it is made out of everything you would find in a sewing kit. Everything is made of out yarn and different fabric patches. It seems weird at first but then it grows on you. Thanks to the new style everything seems more alive. The colours and textures just pop from the screen.

Re-playability: So in every level you can collect treasure which leads to you unlocking new mini games, music tracks, etc. So that adds plenty of length, some of those chests are pretty difficult to get at. Also there are beads to collect around the level. The more beads you collect, the higher you end level score goes. The higher the score the faster you can unlock hidden levels and other various goodies. These goodies and mini games are a lot more fun with a buddy. Well Epic Yarn has instant drop in two player co-op. At any moment a friend can jump in the game and play the story or any of the mini games. Playing with a buddy leads to many great moments and helps making you wanting to come back to the game.

Last Thoughts: So overall this is a great game, a little on the easy side. Yet the visuals, co-op and engaging gameplay makes this a must own for any Kirby or platformer fan.

Rating: Must buy for fans, but a rent for those who this is their first Kirby game.

Justin

Review Structure

With our first official review coming up I thought it would be time to outline our review ranking system. So our system is not done with numbers, because numbers can’t tell someone if they will enjoy a game or not. So we have three ranks and all of them are easy to understand. 

Rank 1: Buy it

Rank 2: Rent it

Rank 3: Use your money for food...(a.k.a don't get this game)

So each of us cover anything in the game we deem important and then we give it a rank. Easy as that.

First review is Kirby's: Epic Yarn expect it later today.

Justin

Kirby: Just a Pink Puff or a Knight in Shining Armour?

What are the first things you think of when you see this image?

Do you think a hero of an entire world? Do you think of someone that looks death in the face and still goes into battle with a smile on his little face...body...thing. On first reaction more than half of you would say no. When you think of classic gaming heroes you think of Mario or like Sonic. Yet there is such a hardcore following for this little pink puff called Kirby. I have two ideas that of why there is a following. The first idea is that the franchise provides variety through level design and game mechanics ever since his first appearance on the NES in 1992. My second idea is that we were raised on fairy tales and the Kirby lets us guide a character through such a tale. So in the end, one will be able to understand why any person of any age and of any gaming stature can love the pink hero Kirby.

Let’s start with the game. The franchise has always been a sidescroller, the object is to get from one end of the level to the other. In between there are many enemies, traps and other nasty things to try and end your game. This is where I find that Kirby breaks the mould of sidescrolling games. To begin the way the levels are set up, rarely does one feel like “they have been here before”. Kirby visits worlds and each of the world’s levels fit into a common thing. A classic level theme from the 8-bit era is the ice world for example. There is always something different in the levels either it be a giant cannon that shoots you to the clouds or a race to the finish whilst dodging numerous traps and other things.   Now most sidescrollers you just have the power to jump and if you lucky, a few weapons. Well with Kirby...You have unlimited weapons. How is this possible? Kirby has the ability to copy enemies powers...Through eating them...You want to wield a sword?  Well find a guy carrying a sword, swallow him and well there ya go. Kirby gets a sword (watch youtube video review below to see the mechanic at work).  So with these simple ideas carrying over from game to game it is easy to see why gamers enjoy the franchise so much.

The second piece to the puzzle is our fascination with fairy tales. From a very early age were raised on stories of princes rescuing the princess from a dragon. Or a little boy that lifts a magical sword from a stone and becomes a king. The character Kirby fits perfectly into the fairy tale hero archetype. He is innocent and pure but then some villain threatens the land and Kirby rises to the challenge and takes on any foe to save the world of Dream Land. He is the perfect example of a knight of the round table from Arthurian myth. Those knights were willing to fight what they believe in and they were always there to help others out no matter how big or small the task was. There is something enduring about a story about a knight rising to the challenge. It strikes an inner cord within all of us. We live in times of great change and to have a solid idea of what makes a hero is something that we need to hold on to, even when the hero is a pink puff.  We can relate to his struggles and his ideals, though we really have to delve into more in character behaviour and mythology to come to that conclusion. 

Some of you reading this may be saying, o Justin your looking into this way too much. Well then I retort by saying just pick up a Kirby game and try it out yourself. I bet after just a few levels you will be hooked and you will get to understand why the series is so popular.  Maybe you won’t ever get how Kirby is like a knight from myth but you will understand why so many people of different ages love this little pink puff. To that I say mission accomplished on my and the developers part.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a youtube video done by a father and son. They both enjoy playing and reviewing video games. In this video they take a look at a Kirby game (be sure to listen in and pick out what they like about the character). After definitely check out their channel, they are very casual with their reviews and primarily focus on the Nintendo Wii. Thanks go to the Wiiviewer for letting us here at Student Gamers spread the good word of video games and more importantly Kirby.

Justin

The UFC Undisputed 2010

Indeed, Another PS3 game for PS3 fans who are into UFC “The UFC Undisputed 2010 one of the games that I enjoyed, and still enjoy playing” However, for those of you haven’t heard about UFC yet!?


Indeed, The Ultimate Fighting Championship is known to be is an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in the United States that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the world!! produces numerous events worldwide. The UFC has five weight divisions.

Since Showing fighters of different styles of fighting including boxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai and other styles the UFC seeks to identify the most effective martial art in a real fight and put it in to the show what you want more!!

So ... you want to be a fighter? UFC Undisputed 2010 delivers the action, intensity and prestige of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Step into the Octagon to experience the most advanced and commanding play with more than 100 of the best UFC fighters in the world. Experience intelligent and, increased fighter customization, robust career progression, challenging new game play modes and explosive online gaming as well. UFC Undisputed 2010 embodies the ultimate essence and supremacy of a UFC fighter. For example, you can create a fighter and put all your best moves to him. All you have to do is keep training your fighter to make him look in his best shape. The Game was released on May 25, 2010, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3. It’s been a while since the game came out so the price for it should be affordable now. Ready to be a fighter!?

Sam