tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76860322952943285362012-02-16T05:08:00.770-08:00Grampa has been weaned on early Pong consoles and Micro computers and is now wondering what this next-gen hubbub is all about.Mark Murkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080045795154209060noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686032295294328536.post-34066011228315269042008-11-25T10:45:00.000-08:002008-11-25T10:53:14.763-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fkDWVw-vWF8/SSxJjwGaZDI/AAAAAAAAACQ/2iclbt4BKhg/s1600-h/6a00d834524c0569e200e54f2a59198834-800wi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fkDWVw-vWF8/SSxJjwGaZDI/AAAAAAAAACQ/2iclbt4BKhg/s320/6a00d834524c0569e200e54f2a59198834-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272670142300054578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><div><br /></div>What is it?</span><div>Action-oriented RPG in a post-apocalyptic world. Morrowwind with guns.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Is it any good?</span></div><div>Yes, it really is. Although the much-touted V.A.T.S system (leisurely selecting the bits you want to shoot during a pause) it something I could do without.</div><div>But for the rest, it is really good.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Why?</span></div><div>You and a gorgeously depicted world. There is life in somewhere in here.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">It feels like:</span></div><div>Life itself; sometimes dull, sometimes exciting, but rife with possibilities.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Advice:</span></div><div>Buy, lock yourself in your apartment for a week, emerge after playing and appreciate life as you have it now.</div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7686032295294328536-3406601122831526904?l=grampaplays.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mark Murkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080045795154209060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686032295294328536.post-62720596717617961102008-05-22T01:53:00.001-07:002008-05-28T03:42:41.588-07:00<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Once in a while, a game comes along which is able to bring back that warm, fuzzy feeling of days gone by. Back in the good ol' days, point-and-click adventures were probably the best experiences computer gaming had to offer. <div>Alas, as hardware possibilities increased, the testosterone-fueled urges of adolescent teenage videogame designers took over, as from that point onwards, they only dedicated themselves to juvenile First Person Shooters. Not that I don't relish some mindless murdering, but that is another story. </div><div>Oh LucasArts, how we miss you dearly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack and Wiki tells the story of a young pirate wanna-be, Zack, and his ever-so-cute sidekick Wiki. This creature, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Pikachu, is so extremely adorable that you want to kick its face in.</div><div>Repeatedly.</div><div>But this is a Japanese game, so I assume you have to look past the usual manga-induced art style.</div><div><br /></div><div>For our younger reader, a point-and-click adventure means just that; you point to an object, click, and the on-screen character then usually interacts with the object. Or takes it, whatever is appropriate.</div><div>This mechanism is used to solve puzzles that the game designer throws your way; usually involving a rubber chicken, a rusty key, and a closed gate without a handle.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Wii is ideally suited for this style of play, and I found the game a joy to play. It is friendly paced, and some puzzels are a real challenge. </div><div>This game comes highly recommended: the art style, the puzzles, and the pacing all come together in a package which is best enjoyed together. After all, puzzling is much nicer when you have some friends around.</div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7686032295294328536-6272059671761796110?l=grampaplays.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mark Murkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07080045795154209060noreply@blogger.com0