Podcast - Wii Look at Wii Fit

Is "Wii Fit" worth the money?

What is bound to get lighter, your weight or your wallet?

Checkout my thoughts below:

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First Review: Metal Gear Solid 4

Although the game doesn't hit shelves worldwide until June 12, IGN already has a review of the newest of the Metal Gear Solid series from video game auteur Hideo Kojima.

They gave the game a 9.9 out of 10 only discrediting it for its sluggish start and overly abundant cut scenes.

This is a very well-written review with several key points that acknowledge Kojima has one of pioneer video game auteurs.

In film an auteur is the usually the director, but means much more. Auteur is French for "author" and means that one person is almost solely responsible for a film/video game based on their unique vision in every aspect.

This means that Hideo Kojima is displaying a product that is entirely his vision in direction, artistic design, gameplay, sound, everything.

This is truly unique and difficult for one person to accomplish and I would only offer a few other names as additional examples in the industry - Super Mario and Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto being one of them.

Nevertheless, Metal Gear Solid 4 may finally be what Playstation 3 owners have been waiting for.

Can it sell systems?

Only time will tell.

It probably wouldn't work as a film because it would seem both overblown and trivial. But you could say the same about certain operas, or novels. Fortunately for us, Hideo Kojima happens to be someone who has found the confidence to express an artistic vision that is wholly suited to his chosen medium – and a medium that is uniquely young enough to bend to his will. It's not fair to call him a frustrated film-maker. If he had been a film maker he might have been frustrated. Instead he has found a medium large enough to contain his unique artistic vision.

Which is a long-winded way of saying that this game rocks.

It is the ultimate in fan service, but it is also hard to see how this could be anything other than one man's uncompromised vision of what a videogame should be. The action sequences are faultless. The cut-scenes – well, yes, you could argue that there are too many of them, that they're too long, and that the dialogue is occasionally leaden. Indeed many of the most dramatic cut-scenes might make you crave action, or wonder why they couldn't have been turned into interactive sequences. But that's because they're the work of an auteur, and if you're going to enjoy the high points of Hideo Kojima's vision, there has to be an acceptance of his excesses, too. ~Dave McCarthy, IGN UK

Podcast - A Look at the Ninja Gaiden series

Well here it is, my first podcast that you can subscribe and download on iTunes by typing "Video Game Freedom" in the search tab.

This is a look at the Ninja Gaiden series as well get ready for the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360 in a few days.

Click below to listen:

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"Ubidays" Brings New Game Releases, Trailers

Ubisoft is enticing the gaming media with it's "Ubidays" event in Paris, France.

Sharing info like it's E3, Ubisoft has already given some hope to gamers in the first of their two-day event.

Below are some of the highlights you need to see:


Prince of Persia (Working Title)

I'm not sure who this is and why it looks like some of Dante's "Devil May Cry" foes seem to be spilling over.


Far Cry 2

This time you have an open-ended FPS adventure in the African Savannah. Also, if you look close toward the end of the trailer you see a URL for a short moment. This is a link to the blog of Reuben Oluwagembi who spoke in the trailer. The "blog" entries seem to set-up some of the story behind the new title.


Beyond Good and Evil 2 (Working Title)

Lets hope that sucking flies through your nose isn't a necessary gameplay option in the sequel to one of VGF's "Five Games You've Never Played."

A Look Back: Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (N64)

With the release of the aging Harrison Ford's newest Indy release "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," we will pause to take a look back at one of Indy's console adventures.

Dr. Jones has seen a lot of action in a game format throughout the years ranging from the pinball classic "Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure," to Commodore 64 classic "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantic," to the original "Raiders of the Lost Ark" released in 1982 for the Atari 2600.

Nevertheless, all of these titles have one thing in common - mediocrity.

Nintendo 64's "Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine" is no different.

Interestingly enough Factor 5 - of "Star Wars: Rouge Squadron" fame - had an exclusive contract with Blockbuster to allow the game to initially only be made available to rent at Blockbuster stores.

Blockbuster later sold their copies of the 64-bit adventure to gamers such as myself for them to indefinitely enjoy the experience at home.

"Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine" feels like a synthesis of the user interface of other Factor 5 titles such as "Rouge Squadron" and gameplay elements reminiscent of "The Legend of Zelda" series - only done horribly wrong.

You once again take the role of Indiana Jones in search for precious artifacts when you are approached by the CIA to investigate an ancient machine that is also sought after by our Soviet friends.

This takes Indy to numerous locals across the globe in search of pieces of the "infernal machine."

As mentioned earlier, a lot of the gameplay mechanics feel like something out of a "Zelda" title with item shortcuts on the C-buttons, camera orientation with Z, and action commands with A and B. However, in "Indy" you have the option to use a jump button.

This is where this adventure loses some of its excitment.

Climbing even small platforms can be overly challenging at times since the game doesn't seem to recognize that your arbitrary jumping means that you actually want to climb it.

Also, the movement controls are so rigid, it is a minor miracle that you are able to cross the various canyons and jumps that game lays out for you.

The other huge problem with this game is a complete lack of direction.

With the graphic capabilities of the N64, there is not that much detail or hidden rooms, stairs, or other objects that you can overlook. However, the game has a wonderful time of leaving you to look around endlessly trying to figure out what you are supposed to do.

For example, in the first stage of the game, you come to a small pitted area complete with a snake. Being the brave adventurer you are, you jump in, kill the snake, and receive your reward in the form of hidden jewels in a cave nearby.

The only problem - you can't get out!

After playing for nearly 20 mins stuck in that small area there was no way to use your whips to climb out, crawl into a small hole, shot something, or even climb on the platform you used to jump in there in the first place that is only do about the height of your shoulders.

Therefore, I had to restart the level and find an alternate route.

The gun play against the Soviet soldiers is something to be desired.

They will make a cute Russian noise at you when they see you and you basically hold down Z to lock onto them and keep shooting with whatever gun you have at the time until they stop flashing blue and fall down. Loads of fun!

Lastly, this Indy adventure isn't all bad.

There is some decent voice acting in a time where the inclusion of any voice-over work was foreign to Nintendo.

Heck, we haven't even heard Link make a complete sentence yet.

I just wish they would have gotten Harrison Ford to do is own voice.

The cinematics are also pretty well done and the graphics were right where they should have been for the time it was released.

The music is an exceptional rendition of the classic Indy score with new themes to reinforce the temple surroundings.

So if you can do some of your own archaeological work and find this idol of a game, it sure might get you in the mood for the new big screen adventure.

"BioShock"ing PS3 Owners

Gamespot has reported that Take-Two Interactive's highly acclaimed Sci-Fi first-person shooter will find its way into eager PS3 owners - sometime.

The report does little by way of any new information aside from a UK-based Playstation magazine called PSM3 that will feature a preview story on the title's port to the PS3.

Lets hope it is sometime soon so that PS3 owners can finally get a taste of a decent shooter after was seems to be disappointing experience with the newly released "Haze."

Nevertheless, I'm projecting that we will see "BioShock" on the PS3 no sooner than Fall of this year.

Guitar Hero "On World Tour"

An article from Reuters has confirmed that Activision will release a new Guitar Hero installment, this time with drums, microphone, and bass guitar.

The new title will be labeled "Guitar Hero World Tour" and will be available for every console under the sun including the good olde PS2.

There is currently no definite release date set.

Rockers will also be able to play online in a battle royal with other 4-player groups.

This will likely come in the Fall, months after "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" - due next month - and a Nintendo DS installment titled "On Tour."

Lets hope this gives the Guitar Hero franchise a boost in the "Rock Star" direction.

I personally love one quote from an analyst in the article:

"I certainly think it takes the edge off 'Rock Band'," said Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco Partners. "What's 'Rock Band' going to do now, add a flute and banjo?"

My thoughts exactly.

Preview-Review: Grand theft Auto IV

8.5 out of 10

It is difficult to believe that Grand Theft Auto IV has already been in the hands of eager gamers for nearly a month now.

However, since I haven’t had a chance to play all the way through the game and I promised a review, I am writing my first-ever – and VGF exclusive – Preview-Review.

A Preview-Review is an initial review of a title prior to completion. What this means for you is that I haven’t completed the game, so some elements may change throughout the progression of the title.

However, rest assured that this could be taken as seriously as a full-fledged review, but I don’t want to deceive loyal VGF fans by thinking that I am aware of the complete title when that is strictly false.

With no other ado, my Preview-Review of Grand Theft Auto IV for the Playstation 3:

By now, I am sure that everyone has read and watched the plethora of professional reviews hailing GTA4 as a “perfect” game by giving it nearly perfect scores across the board.

I am here to tell you that GTA4 is not a perfect game.

Perfection in electronic media means flawless cinematics, unparallel controls, an engaging story, and a plethora of ingenuity – GTA4 falls short of this honor.

In-game cinematics are abundant and well directed, but still feel a little thrown together and are overshadowed by the enormous scope of the overall package.

It means that this is big!!!

GTA4’s return to Liberty City is a scaling labyrinth of ambiance that provides a realistic sensation of being thrown into a full-functioning city landscape.

However, the in-game cinematics don’t seem to fit that mold.

As parent groups and politicians alike will quickly note, the game is offensive. These cinematics highlight that all too well.

There is a difference between realism and shear immature content and I am afraid that GTA4 leans closer to the latter due to its love affair with sexual “bathroom humor” and the shock and awe of grotesque profanity.

Humor is a key element of the cinematic sequences between missions, but the immature and profane nature of the humor feels quickly recycled and childish after long. It all feels too repetitious.

This leads to GTA4’s great failing, it all feels the same.

After my experience thus far, I feel like I am playing a graphically polished version of the previous GTA installments with a few additional innovations such as online multiplayer, “internet” browsing, a handy cell phone, and new dynamics to mission choices.

These additional mission choices include calling your cousin or others to initiate a quick mission to get you some cash. Nevertheless, these feel overly tedious and monotonous just as the various options to play pool, bowl, play darts, etc. with friends and dates do as well.

There are simply too many options all resulting in a mediocre waste of time.

You feel compelled to “hang out” with friends and dates, but it seems to drive the overlaying story next to nowhere.

What is the plot you ask?

Well much of the same again.

You are Niko Bellic, a Russian immigrant in search of “someone” in Liberty City, but along the way, he finds himself enthralled in the city’s criminal underground filled with theft, murder, sex, and drugs.

Typical GTA, which means that the story is something to be desired.

Finally, the newly imagined control proves to be a little difficult to manage at first. A fairly lengthy learning curve is present to manage driving and shooting controls – which are the two most important and difficult to manage.

Thankfully, the game is kind enough to ease you into the controls with relatively simple missions to begin with.

Nevertheless, I still find myself adjusting the camera manually while driving to get the best view of traffic ahead, behind, and to the side of me – which is difficult to navigate, so be prepared to crash and crash a lot.

But don’t get me wrong folks, GTA4 is an excellent title with wonderfully polished graphics, incredible ambiance - complete with humorous television channels and radio station commercials, and the best sense of emersion within a large city.

However, previous GTA titles have already set this bar and GTA4 falls short of reestablishing the new standard.

It is too much of the same and is certainly one overhyped title.

Newcomers to the series will defiantly have to pick this one up and will have a blast doing so, but series faithful – don’t believe all the hype of the mainstream.

The Summer of VGF

Hello everyone!!!!

Sorry for not posting recently, but I was on an amazing vacation. I am back now and I am ready to begin "The Summer of VGF."

What this means is that Video Game Freedom is going to get an overhaul this summer with more content, audio, maybe some video, reviews, news, previews, and up-to-the-minute coverage of E3 2008 in July.

So be on the lookout for big changes for VGF and check back everyday!!!


It's gonna be BIG!!!!!!

Let the Games Begin

Two days after launch, Grand Theft Auto IV is taking a lot of heat for several issues.

Most notably: stabbings and muggings at launch, Mothers Against Drunk Driving already upset about drunk driving content in the game - and my personal favorite - game freezing.

My thoughts on each:

• I'm sick of people acting like morons at game and console releases. If you want this industry to be taken seriously, don't act like 6-year-olds with weapons.

• I'm sorry, but it is a video game. There is no additional impact from video games than there are films. I appreciate the dissemination of information about drunk driving, but can and will be done now.

• I've already had the game freeze twice. The article seems to blame some of the problems on the 60 GB PS3 - which I own - but, one has to only take a brief look at the comments to see that several iterations of both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have experienced problems. To that, I say it is absolutely ridiculous! A game that has been delayed as many times as GTAIV should have absolutely no technical issues. Rockstar has had the time and resources to resolve any issues with deferring firmware versions.