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Archive for the ‘GameSpite’ Category

GameSpite Journal 10: Mega Man X3

27 Apr

Hey kids, we’re in the final stretch of GameSpite Journal 10, which means we’re in the final stretch of the Super NES library. That weird time of transition where developers were making some of the most astonishing, refined 16-bit games imaginable. That weird time of transition in which gamers didn’t care, because they wanted ugly-ass polygonal games that no one in the world wants to play a decade and a half later. Mega Man X3 ain’t the greatest game in the world, but I’d sure rather spend a few hours with it than with, say, Steel Harbinger. Screw you, false perception of progress.

 
3 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 10: Shiren the Wanderer

26 Apr

Hey, jerks, thanks for not buying this game when it came out on DS, or its sequel on Wii, even though they’re both really great. Now we’ll never see another legitimate English release of a Shiren game. I’m sorry. I don’t think we can be friends anymore.

 
14 Comments

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GameSpite Journal 11: Dawn of War II

25 Apr

My goodness. Two articles about different Relic-developed PC strategy games for Windows appearing within the span of a week? First Company of Heroes, now Dawn of War II. Man. I may need to go have a lie-down. GameSpite Journal 11 is out of control.

Actually, GameSpite Journal 11 is pretty incredible, to be honest. My final printed copy arrived today and it’s just gorgeous. It’s still not perfect — I’m not happy with some of the layouts in retrospect, and bolding game titles to mimic the formatting of the website was a terrible idea that I’ll never do again — but that simple, bright cover looks amazing on the shelf. GameSpite has featured some pretty great covers, especially the ones by Philip Armstrong, but the latest volume stands out form the rest due to the contrast between its bold graphical elements and the clean elegance of the typography. Now I have to uphold this standard for the remainder of the book’s run. I’m doomed.

And, as a quick reminder (since the original message has scrolled off the blog’s front page), book orders can be had for 20% with the coupon code NEWRMN20 for the remainder of the month. But of course you can also read this stuff for free. I would never even consider pressuring you, so long as you do read it one way or another.

 
5 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 11: Dark Castle

22 Apr

I am nostalgic for certain random things about old video games, even if I didn’t really have much direct involvement with them. One of those things is the aesthetics of old Mac games — that distinctive, pure, monochromatic look of black on white with no compromise like that weaksauce Spectrum and its pitiful application of limited color with all those awful halos. No thanks! If I can’t convert it to Bitmap mode in Photoshop, I don’t want any truck with it.

Anyway, the moral of this story is that Dark Castle is one of those games I never had any direct involvement with, so it’s up to Ben Elgin to let us know what is up with it.

 

 
9 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 11: Company of Heroes

21 Apr

Faceless soldiers on my GameSpite? It’s more likely than you think! The screenshot for this piece makes Company of Heroes look like the Army Men game 3DO should have made but could never figure out. Aaron Littleton flings his soul against its intricate mechanics and inventive play style and contemplates why such an objectively excellent game has never quite worked for him.

 
4 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 11: Chrono Cross

18 Apr

Chrono cross
This site basically stands on the shoulders of Chrono Cross — it was the game that practically gave GameSpite its first-ever audience to speak of — so perhaps the fact that we revisit it on a somewhat regular basis shouldn’t be surprising. But perhaps you will be impressed that we always manage to find new things to say about it! We’re sexy like that.

 
9 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 11: Breath of Fire III

16 Apr

Hi! It’s another piece from GameSpite Journal 11 for you. To read. On the Internet! This is Nadia Oxford’s take on Breath of Fire III, which is considerably different from Philip Armstrong’s perspective from issue 8. Diversity makes the world go round, and stuff.

 
5 Comments

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GameSpite Journal 11: It is a thing that exists, and stuff

14 Apr

Hello, beloved readers! If you happen to check the GameSpite Blurb store, you may be startled to discover that GameSpite Journal 11 is live and available. Much like Snake Eater, what a thrill. You can hit the book’s index page to read all about it. I will note here, though, that worked extra hard to keep the page count down on this issue, so the prices are much more in line with my original intentions for the GameSpite venture despite Blurb’s aggressive price hikes. The full-color hardcover of this issue costs about the same as the black-and-white hardcover versions of the older books. I feel like we have accomplished something here. And that something is “Putting a lot of writing into a volume that is reasonably priced.” I know gamer types are cheapskates, so I’m just looking out for you guys.

If you’d like examples of this issue and how its theme of “giving games we hate second changes” panned out, please refer to:

Tyler Lindler’s reevaluation of Rare’s NES brawler Battletoads, and

Lee Hathcock’s exploration of Black Sigil, the DS game I found so badly made I couldn’t actually bring myself to finish it for a proper review.

Please read, enjoy, and if you choose to buy a copy of the book remember that you can use the coupon code NEWRMN20 to get 20% off a purchase of up to $150 through the end of the month.

 
12 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 10: Tales of Phantasia

13 Apr

I don’t have much to say about Tales of Phantasia beyond what was written in this article, so… good night and good luck.

 
6 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 

GameSpite Journal 10: Star Fox 2

11 Apr

As our GameSpite Journal 10 posts reach the latter days of the Super NES, you’ll find an increasing number of games that were never released in the U.S…. or, in the case of Star Fox 2, never released anywhere.

In other news, I finally (finally!) got to play Fez, and it was quite good. Definitely check it out once it launches Friday. Friday! That’s tomorrow and change.

 
5 Comments

Posted in Games, GameSpite

 
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