inMotion Gaming » Guest http://www.inmotiongaming.com Online Gaming Magazine! Fri, 07 Oct 2016 03:33:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Dead Island: Riptide Previewhttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/dead-island-riptide-preview/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/dead-island-riptide-preview/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:06:50 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=5983 ]]> Release Date: 26 April 2013

Released in late 2011, Dead Island debuted to much hype because of its stunning trailer. Many players waited for the same gameplay and off-scale drama that the groundbreaking trailer exemplified. But the reality was far more prosaic. This was a marketing move, and had nothing in common with the game itself. Dead Island was a brutal, bloody action game, where the only priority was to destroy zombies with any materials at hand. No need to say that the plot and characters played only a minor role in all this carnage. However, this fact did not stop Dead Island from finding its fans and selling 5 million copies. But all those players who wanted to see drama in zombie apocalypse decorations has got it a year later from other developers.

In its essence, Dead Island: Riptide is the attempt of Polish studio Techland to show the world what the original game should have looked like: improved, with no bugs and other irregularities that plagued many gamers to fully enjoy the survival on the cursed island. To say it briefly, the developers promise us almost a “perfect Dead Island” with all the ensuing consequences. Only the absence of major gameplay changes hasn’t allowed them to add a number “2” to the title. At the same time, the amount of in-game content increases so much that you will unlikely call Riptide a simple addition.

Dead Island: Riptide Logo

No Escape

Dead Island: Riptide will continue the story of familiar characters established in the first game. Four survivors safely landed on the deck of a warship, but a nasty surprise waited for them instead of peace and respite. Not only did the military give them a very cold reception, but the nightmare from which they tried to escape from reached them again. The deadly infection that gives birth to zombies entered the ship, and soon the whole crew became infected. Enveloped by chaos and storm, the ship eventually loses control and crashes near a new tropical island.

Fate decided to play a cruel joke with the characters, having returned them to the usual decorations. Palanai, the setting of Riptide, looks uncannily like the island Banoi from the previous game: the same beaches, sea, sun and sand, and the walking dead out there, no less. Techland has stated that the new island will still have some distinctive features, such as the abundance of flooded spaces. The fact is that Palanai was badly damaged by monsoon rains. Even the island’s lone city, Henderson, was unable to avoid this natural disaster.

Dead Island: Riptide Zombie

Incessant rains have turned the tropics into a swamp, so the only convenient way to travel will be via boat. If you felt invincible in a car back in Dead Island and could scoff zombies as you wanted, that won’t work with a flimsy motorboat this time. In Riptide, the infected learn to cling aboard, interfere with your movements, and try to get inside. To avoid becoming an easy target, it is necessary to bat them down with oars or whatever makeshift weapons you could find. A bat studded with nails or a sharpened machete will be very useful in such moments.

Water will interfere with players greatly, while the living dead do not experience any discomfort of being in it. The developers decided to add a dynamic system of weather change to the game. For example, a heavy rain may suddenly appear, and it will be difficult for you to even see. A zombie may suddenly jump out of this rainy wall and attack you with its heartbreaking cries. Walking through knee-deep water slows all your movements down, and a ghoul in the river will definitely choose the worst possible moment to catch hold of your heel.

These are just small tricks of the ordinary infected, and you’ll get used to them eventually. But don’t forget about new zombies species too! As for now, the developers mentioned only a couple of new freaks: Grenadiers and Wrestlers. The former are covered with terrible abscesses, and they use them as grenades. Tearing away a hefty chunk of itself, a zombie will throw it straight in the direction of the players, and the explosion won’t be possible to avoid. But everything is much easier with a Wrestler. This is a massive, hulking thug with a hefty hypertrophied hand. He will shake the ground with his club and knock out anyone who comes too close.

Dead Island: Riptide Teamwork

Back to Hell

Gamers who are familiar with zombie invasions will find themselves in a familiar situation: the army of evil dead around and only one vague goal – to survive at any cost. And as we know, the easiest way to survive is a good company. Just like its predecessor, Riptide will be primarily designed for cooperation. You will have a great opportunity to gather a good team and go into a tropical hell once again. Moreover, the developers allow you to import all the characters you played as from the previous game.

All those players who prefer playing alone, or newbies who are just beginning their acquaintance with the series, won’t be left without attention too. They will be able to test a new character – John Morgan. John was a cook aboard the aforementioned military ship and joined the four survivors after the wreck. In general, he’s a really good guy: professional military, and a martial arts master.

Dead Island: Riptide Finisher

Dead Island: Riptide follows in the footsteps of the original game, and looks as if it just might a better experience. The landing on a tropical island will be held on April 26. Have a good time with friends and zombies!

Written by

Alex Strike

This article was provided by Alex Strike, a copywriter of writing-help.com. He is a passionate gamer who can’t live without his Xbox 360.

 

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Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Previewhttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/batman-arkham-city-armored-edition-preview/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/batman-arkham-city-armored-edition-preview/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:34:26 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=5357 ]]> When Rocksteady released Batman: Arkham Asylum to the world in 2009 the game was met with pretty much universal acclaim. The game really was a fantastic adventure that even if you were not a huge Batman fan, you could still appreciate it. Fast forward a couple of years and we got the block buster sequel. Could they really capture that magic again? Well the answer was yes—Batman: Arkham City certainly lived up to the hype.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Logo

Rocksteady managed to capture the image of Batman from the latest movies perfectly not only just Batman, but his rouges gallery as well. Mark Hamill’s portrayal of The Joker was phenomenal. That is another thing that needs to be touched upon. Not only are these games great from a game play point of view. They were also amazing from a story telling point of view. We all know that the next Batman game from Rocksteady will be set in the DC golden age and will feature many Justice League members. Before that however we have something else. Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition

Armored Edition will be an enhanced version of Arkham City that will be released on the new Nintendo Wii U console. It has not been set in stone as of writing if this game will make it out on the launch, but it will be out before the holidays. With that being said just what new tricks and twists do Rocksteady have for us? Lets start with the Official E3 Trailer:

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition E3 Trailer

The first thing noteworthy is that the story of the game is the same story which we had previously played through in the last game. Armored Edition though will include all the DLC (downloadable content) that has been made available for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions. This includes all of the character skins and most notably the amazing extra chapter Harley Quinn’s Revenge. It really is going to be a treat to have all of this content in the one package.

Of course this is far from a straight port and there are some really amazing new gameplay elements. Batman and Catwoman now have an upgraded and more bad-ass armor suit. What this new suit basically does is when you are taking down a bunch of thugs you will be storing energy and then you can unleash this energy using ‘B.A.T mode’ and your moves will be more powerful, quicker and delivered with more strength.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Batman

Armored Edition is going to take full advantage of the Wii U Gamepad; it will not only make use of the Wii U GamePad’s touch screen, but also the gyroscope as well. All of Batman and Catwoman’s gadgets will now use the Wii U GamePad. So even if you have played through the game numerous times on the other consoles it is still going to be a blast learning how to use all of these gadgets again. Also you can pick your gadgets with a simple tap of the controller.

One gadget that looks like its going to be a ton of fun with this new controller is the cryptographic sequencer. On the other versions you would need to use your analogue sticks in order to unlock doors and so on. On the Wii U however this is like a mini game where you need to use the GamePad in order to hack into things. Another great example of how the Wii U GamePad works with the gadgets is the remote Batarang. You use the GamePad’s gyroscope to control the batarang. Its worth noting that you have the option to turn off these GamePad specific controls and just use the traditional controls if you so wish.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition GamePad

As well as breathing new life into Batman’s gadgets the Wii U GamePad also makes the game a much more immersive experience. Your map will be displayed on there in real time taking away the need to pause the game. Also your sonar will be able to be seen on the tablet controller. This controller is going to make you really feel like you are in the game. As we all know its kind of frustrating when you are engrossed in a video game and you need to pause to check the map or select a weapon.

Overall this looks like it is going to be a ton of fun this holiday season. I think even people who have played this on the other consoles will enjoy this. The core gameplay is intact, but these new Wii U exclusive features look like this could very well be the ultimate version of Batman Arkham City.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Joker

Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition will be available exclusively on the Wii U this holiday season. The release date is scheduled for 18 November 2012.                                                  .

Written by

Nathan Rossiter

Nathan is a huge Batman fan–not just of Batman games, but the movie, the comics and the TV shows! He even runs his own Batman games website: batmangamesonly.com.

 

 

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The History of Racing Gameshttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/history-of-racing-games/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/history-of-racing-games/#comments Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:54:47 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=4851 ]]> There’s nothing like unleashing your inner speed demon while playing your favourite racing game. Choosing your car and beating out the competition leaves you with a thrill that other games just can’t match.

We all enjoy the rush of a racing game, but how many really know the humble beginning of this fantastic genre?

A Brief History of Racing Games Burnout

The Birth of the Racing Game

A Brief History of Racing Games Crashing Race

It all started way back in 1973 when Atari released their first racing game. It was a simple, drag racing-style affair entitled Space Race. This arcade game seems rather primitive now, but back then, it was cutting-edge–a true force to be reckoned with. It was monotone and graphically simple, and would barely count as a video game by today’s standards. However, this archaic black-and-white spaceship game started it all and is still viewed fondly as the father of the racing games we know today.

In 1976, the genre began to evolve with the release of Crashing Race. Suddenly, players were given the opportunity to crash almost-recognizable player-controlled cars. This added to the genre and opened up a new way to play the game, by simply smashing into things. This simple development had fans rushing to the arcades to put
in their coins.

The Eighties

The 1980s began to show the world what racing games were all about. The first racing game with an overhead view and a music track, called Rally X, allowed players to move in all different directions. This allowed for a more realistic experience. This game also featured a very primitive map that showed your location–the grandfather of today’s minimaps.

It wasn’t until 1982 that the racing game really started to shake off its reputation as a clunky, dated-looked genre. Pole Position was the very first game that was based on actual racing, and was the first video game ever to include a voice clip. Players had to qualify with driving lessons, just like in the regular circuit, and could then go on to participate in the Grand Prix races. The gameplay offered different courses and players all over the world became instantly hooked.

A Brief History of Racing Games Pole Position

Racing Games Have Truly Evolved

A Brief History of Racing Games Super Mario KartIn 1992, Nintendo exposed its flagship franchise—Mario–to the racing genre in the form of Super Mario Kart. This game single-handedly created a sub-genre of racing games commonly referred to as ‘mascot-based kart racers.’ There have been several iterations of the hugely popular Mario Kart franchise, the latest being Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS. Games such as Diddy Kong Racing, ModNation Racers, and Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing owe their success to the Mario Kart series.

In 1997 Gran Turismo debuted on the Sony Playstation. It had been in development for over five years and is widely considered to be the most realistic racing game of the era. This game introduced more detailed game play and allowed players to train so that they could become licensed for certain racing circuits. Depending on who you talk to, the Gran Turismo series is the best or second best racing game series ever made. Xbox fans–myself included–tend to prefer the Forza series.

A Brief History of Racing Games Gran Turismo

Forza hasn’t been on the scene for all that long–it debuted on the Xbox in summer 2005–but it’s already earned itself a place among the truly great racing franchises. The cars are beautifully rendered and the speed and maneuverability of each model accurately reflects that of its real-world counterpart. However, realism isn’t Forza’s only appeal. What it’s really all about is customization. The ability to tweak stunning supercars to suit your own driving style allows every racer to develop their own personal driving styles and vehicle set-ups, making multi-players infinitely more interesting.

In 1999 the racing game became less restricted and free world play was introduced with titles like Crazy Taxi and Midtown Madness. These games allowed players to explore their world in basically any way that they liked. They could perform missions and drive around to their heart’s content.

A Brief History of Racing Games Crazy Taxi

As the years have gone by, more and more racing games have come on the scene, making car fanatics even more frenzied. Games like Midnight Club, Ridge Racer, and Need For Speed continue to make racing games even more and more realistic.

Now players can design their own cars and step behind the wheel for true racing action. Modern racing games are providing a thrill like no others before them, but they’ve by no means hit their peak. In fact, the future holds great promise for the genre.

A Brief History of Racing Games Forza Horizon

As technology continues to change, how will the racing games make use of it? What could the future hold for the celebrated Gran Turismo and Forza franchises? Perhaps total immersion simulators? HD racing in glasses-less 3D?

Who knows, but I’m excited to find out!

 

This article was written by Amanda Rodrigues on behalf of PassSmart, a new site for learner drivers to find great driving instructors in the UK.

 

 

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Top 5 Video Game Villainshttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/top-5-video-game-villains/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/top-5-video-game-villains/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 21:36:41 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=3745 ]]>

The following article was submitted by a guest author. The views are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of inMotion Gaming.

Video game developers have a knack for creating funny, entertaining and awesome villains. So, let’s take a look at the top five video game villains of all time!

#5 Dr. Robotnik – Sonic the Hedgehog Series

Robotnick Sonic the Hedgehog VillainDr. Robotnik is one of those extremely persistent villains that just won’t give up. The hero he’s after is Sonic the Hedgehog. But his attempts at putting the speedy, blue hedgehog out of commission have never worked.

Dr. Robotnik’s ultimate goal is to turn the world into Eggmanland. Also, like most villains, he’s extremely immature and often throws a fit when Sonic foils his plans.

His first appearance was in 1991 in “Sonic the Hedgehog” for the Sega Genesis.

#4 The Covenant – Halo Series

The Covenant is an alien race that has launched a religious war on planet earth. What makes them so interesting are their soldier classes, vehicles and starships.

Covenant Halo Series VillainThe funniest aliens in the Covenant army are definitely the grunts. With their squeaky voices and strange conversations they have with each other, they’ve made me laugh many times.

Something important to remember before going into battle is elite units often travel in groups of two to four. Brute units are usually found in squads of three to six strong. And if you see a hunter, you better have your guard up because they always travel in pairs.

When it comes to vehicles, the Covenant has a pretty awesome lineup. Their collection includes fast recon vehicles like the ghost, heavy duty tanks like the Wraith and more. But none of their other vehicles can compete with the Scarab Tank.

The Scarab Tank is a huge, walking tank with 6 legs. And if you thought Wraith tanks were bad, think again. 1 Scarab Tank is about the size of 8 Wraiths stacked on top of each other!

#3 Wario – Super Mario Series

Wario Super Mario Series VillainWario is the antithesis of Mario. He appears to have a lot more muscle than Mario. However, most of Wario’s mass is pure fat. Despite this, Wario still believes that he’s much better looking than Mario.

He appeared for the first time in Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins on the Game Boy. His role in the game is the final boss.

Wario has also appeared in his own series called “Wario Ware”. The first game was released in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. Wario Ware games are also available on the Nintendo Wii.

One of Wario’s trademarks is his yellow motorcycle. It can be seen in Wario Ware, Mario kart Wii and even Super Smash Bros Brawl!

Also, as seen in the intro movie for Super Smash Bros Brawl, Wario is prone to nuclear gas. Peeewww!

#2 The Joker – Batman Arkham Asylum

Joker Batman Arkham Asylum VillainWhether he’s appearing in a comic, movie or video game The Joker never fails to bring a chill to my spine. And Batman Arkham Asylum is certainly his craziest video game role ever.

The developers did a great job of incorporating The Joker’s crazy schemes into the game. For example, many of the game’s missions involve solving riddles that often lead you into dastardly traps.

The Joker is voiced by Mark Hamill in Batman Arkham Asylam. And many critics have called it one of the best portrayals of the Joker ever!

#1 Bowser – Super Mario Series

Bowser is the most annoying video game villain of all time! After all, he loves to crash parties and cause trouble for Mario.

Besides crashing parties, Bowser’s ultimate goal is to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. And he uses every single one of his resources to attempt to achieve it.

Bowser Super Mario Series Villain

Bowser has appeared in other games as a playable character. The Mario Kart series, Mario Party series and Super Smash Bros series being the most notable.

Written by

Forest Byrd

My name is and I hope you enjoyed this look at the Top 5 video game villains! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to climbing up the Halo Reach ranks in order! I’m so close to ranking up!

 

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Star Trek Previewhttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/star-trek-preview/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/star-trek-preview/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:42:50 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=2899 ]]> Movie to video game adaptations tend not to fare very well. Whether it’s because studios just expect anything with a popular movie title in it to sell well regardless of quality, or if its due to other factors such as budget or even consumers having overly high expectations, they simply tend to not be on par with other games. In 2009 the highly popular science fiction franchise, Star Trek, was rebooted in a glorious manner.

Recasting the original characters and introducing an alternative timeline, the movie was a box office success and thrust Star Trek back into relevancy and popularity. Its success not only translated into a sequel which is in its production stages already, but has led to a video game adaptation to be set between the events of the first movie and the upcoming second movie.

Star Trek 2012 - Enterprise Game Screenshot

The game is set to be released on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 with the Wii U again missing out.

Titled Star Trek, without a subtitle, the game allows co-op game play as either Captain James T. Kirk or First Officer Spock. Digital Extremes, also behind Bioshock 2 is developing the game with a supporting staff that consists of Marianne Kramczyk, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and even Bad Robot. By having these connections Digital Extremes have been granted access to documents used in the development of the first film, allowing the U.S.S. Enterprise to be modelled precisely from the film and for development of character models.

From the details already released, the game starts off with Kirk and Spock off on another planet via shuttle craft. Upon their return to the Enterprise they find that the ship is in disorder and in lockout mode, with much of the crew missing. Using the famous tricorders, the two begin to gain access to parts of the ship and start piecing together the events that unfolded. Of course in Star Trek manner, they come across several dead red-shirted crewmen, which seem to have died from a strong toxin. A distress signal then comes from the shuttle bay, leading the two to begin making their way there. It is upon arriving there that Kirk and Spock come under attack.

Star Trek 2012 - Spacesuits Screenshot

This is where the co-op elements of the game begin to get revealed.

Kirk is equipped with a more powerful phaser that can unlock more modes as you gain experience throughout the game, including a vaporizing mode.

Spock has a shield of sorts that is special to his Vulcan abilities which can recharge over time and provide him with more defence. Upon taking a hit, Kirk is inflicted with the deadly toxin, forcing Spock to drag him to safety and to sick bay. Depending on how you utilized the tricorder earlier, the faster you can identify the toxin and assist in healing Kirk, the more redshirts you scanned, the more information you have.

Star Trek 2012 - Spock Carrying Kirk Screenshot

All this happens while enemies continue to assault the two of you, forcing Kirk to fire while injured to provide cover for Spock.

Star Trek (2012) – Official Trailer

 

The original series was based heavily on the exploration of strange new worlds, but this game will be based heavily on action. Yes Pine’s adaptation of Kirk will still allow for a headstrong commander to lead throughout combat, and Quinto’s Spock will still be logical and calculating, but expect a Star Trek game unlike any before. Star Trek is back and based on the demos that have been released and what’s been seen, this game will live up to the expectations and be a quality space adventure.

Written by

Noah Glaser

 

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Mass Effect 3: Sticking to its Action-RPG roots or cashing in on gimmicks?http://www.inmotiongaming.com/mass-effect-3-action-rpg-or-gimmicks/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/mass-effect-3-action-rpg-or-gimmicks/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:31:57 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=2845 ]]> The latest and final instalment of the Mass Effect saga is due out this March and already opinion is divided over whether the proposed gameplay mechanics and features are a step in the right direction for BioWare.

Mass Effect 3 - Image

Initially released in 2007 by BioWare as an Xbox 360 exclusive, with a PC port following soon, Mass Effect was an expansive and engaging RPG that focused on the exploits of Commander Shepard and his/her crew. It was highly praised for its branching dialog options, numerous side quests and freshness, and it was a firm hit for BioWare.

Mass Effect 1 - Screenshot

Mass Effect 1: Combat was involved but still clunky and often felt too easy

Critics drew comparisons with their earlier ‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ games, as well as finding problems with lacklustre combat and the clunky inventory system; however, the game received much acclaim and a dedicated fan-base, so naturally when the sequel was announced, gamers were excited.

Mass Effect 2 was released in 2010 and quickly unnerved a number of gamers. Whilst it was still an RPG at heart, similar to video games like Jade Empire and Dragon Age, it was clear that it had drawn a lot of its new gameplay mechanics from the third-person cover shooters that plague the market, such as the massively-popular series Gears of War.

A nice touch included in the game was the ability to play as your original Shepard character from Mass Effect 1, and events transpiring in the original would have an effect on your story in the sequel and shape how people would react to you.

Improved graphics, a better user interface and a gripping story, whereupon if you did not act fast enough in the final stages, some of your crew members would die permanently, proved popular with the masses. Purists missed the old RPG style but recognised the freshness and innovation and the game was a huge hit, also releasing a number of well-received DLC packages.

Mass Effect 2 - Screenshot

Mass Effect 2: The cover system was well-received but some felt it too similar to a third-person-shooter

This March will see the release of Mass Effect 3 and current gameplay footage (see video below) has raised eyebrows about where they’re taking this series. Footage from E3 2011 has shown that the game is ‘Kinect-ready’, but the actual demonstration of using this appears poor – essentially as opposed to choosing a dialogue option, you simply say it. As well as this, BioWare have announced a feature that puts any gaming purist on edge – multiplayer.

 

There was a time when multiplayer meant a one-on-one versus match with your friend who sat beside you, but now with the massive success (and constant revenue stream) of multiplayer games such as World Of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Uncharted, developer companies appear to be shoe-horning the feature into any and every game.

Mass Effect 3 - Combat

Mass Effect 3: It’s clear that Bioware will stick with an emphasis on combat

Mass Effect has always felt like a solo experience, that you are isolated and reliant on the crew that you gather from distant planets, so including a multiplayer mode just seems unusual. This announcement also appears to signify that Mass Effect 3 will signify a shift even further to the cover shooter mechanics, which could detract from the story.

Currently it’s too early to tell whether Mass Effect 3 will truly wrap up the trilogy in a satisfying and dignified manner or succumb to gimmicks. I can’t wait to once more step into the shoes of my Commander Shepard, a character I have used since the first instalment, and experience the game; however I do have fears about the franchise.

What do you think? Will Mass Effect 3 sacrifice story for gimmicks, or will multiplayer make the game seem increasingly expansive? Leave your comments below…

Written by

Danielle Butlerson

BTW: Read our Mass Effect 3 Review or download any of our Free ME3 Wallpapers if you haven’t already.

 

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Top 5 Reasons Retro Gaming Was Betterhttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/top-5-reasons-retro-gaming-was-better/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/top-5-reasons-retro-gaming-was-better/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:45:07 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=2381 ]]> Anyone who had the pleasure of growing up in the late 80’s and early 90’s will undoubtedly hold a place in their heart for the old video games that ruled this earth. Back then, arcade machines didn’t have a separate slot for notes and games weren’t just about killing people. It was all about having some fun and you didn’t need a £200 console, a £20 HDMI cable and an ongoing subscription to do so! The simple fact is that no matter how much technology seems to advance, retro gaming will always be better. Why?

Game Arcade Images

#1 Games were more innovative

I’m man enough to admit that the 90’s did have its fair share of Streets of Rage rip offs, as well as  countless Sonic The Hedgehog titles that didn’t really seem to break from the mould until 1996! However, the difference between now and then is that back then they weren’t afraid to explore new ideas and release the odd game unlike no other. Just when you grew accustomed to the traditional Squaresoft RPG battles Final Fantasy and Bahamut Lagoon threw at you, delivered to your home was games like Secret of Mana and E.V.O. Search for Eden.  Just when you thought there were too many Alien 3 and Robocop vs Terminator rehashes, along came Rocket Knight Adventures, Gunstar Heroes and Ristar to give you something fresh and exciting.

Unfortunately the video games of today are very difficult to tell apart and whether you’ve got destructible environments or more interactive cutscenes than you can shake a stick at, the end result is that you’re still playing another FPS with Russian enemies. Developers seem to stick with what they know sells instead of trying out something new with all that technology available. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Elder Scrolls V, but isn’t it just Fallout 3 with dragons, swords and pretty scenery?

Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Image

#2 Games were harder, much harder!

Sure, there are a few titles around today that are able to provide you with a slight challenge if you’ve got the patience to memorize the AI, but generally the video games of today aren’t a patch on the terror we faced in the 90’s. Games like A Link to the Past had us drawing out our own maps for dungeons instead of looking at a Youtube gameplay, whereas titles like Shinobi and Megaman required an insane amount of skill to master.

Unfortunately today’s developers are almost too scared to throw a challenge your way. So instead they concentrate on creating immersive visuals and more than enough exploration.

90's Gaming Girl

#3 Consoles didn’t rely on plastic accessories

Yes, the 90’s were plagued with a few God-awful accessories, but video game consoles didn’t exactly rely on them.  Almost every game could be played and completed without heading over to the shops for yet another waste of space, plastic accessory.

If you haven’t worked it out yet, this point is mainly directed at Nintendo. Shame on you guys, I used to have so much respect for you – that was until you released a console that requires you to pay £10 for a wireless plastic wheel and then another £10 for a plastic “nunchuk”. Adding insult to injury is the circle pad attachment for the Nintendo 3DS – essentially equipping the console with yet another piece of plastic that it should have already had to begin with!

#4 ‘Now Loading’ was non-existent

If you’ve had the mind-numbing pleasure of sitting through Fable III’s loading screen on more than one occasion, or you’ve played the awesome Skyward Sword and been irritated by how many times you have had to sit patiently and wait, then you’ll understand this one! Back in the day, you could slam in a cartridge, turn your console on and away you go. No loading screens every time you enter a new area, just pure fun all day long – sigh, if only life was still that simple.

Loading Screen Image

#5 We were presented with more opportunities

Cast your mind back to the mid 90’s. Sony had just released their first PlayStation which was rivalled by the Sega Saturn, Nintendo ruled the handheld gaming market after competing with the Game Gear and older consoles weren’t completely forgotten about. Kids still wanted the old Sega Mega-Drives and Super Nintendo’s, older kids were still dusting off their Master System’s and NES consoles, whilst a select few eagerly anticipated the next Atari Jaguar release or PC game. Unfortunately life just isn’t the same anymore. In a race to outdo each other, the only consoles that provide you with any sort of entertainment are the Xbox 360 and PS3. If you’re partial to some shovelware then you leach onto the Wii too.

Video Game Consoles

Of course, let’s not forget those homes away from homes – the arcades. 50p, 20p, hell – even 10p was enough for a game of the latest Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter in certain places. Ever wondered why amusements are usually barren around the video games section these days? Perhaps it has something to do with the limited stock of games, or maybe the fact that each one is charging £2 a go?

Game Arcade Image

Come to think of it, this probably has something to do with the ability to play games at home with your friend, whilst being over 10 miles away from each other – whatever happened to playing 6-player X-Men in the arcades, shoulder to shoulder.

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Zuma’s Revenge: Tips for Winninghttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/zumas-revenge-tips-for-winning/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/zumas-revenge-tips-for-winning/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:45:52 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=2127 ]]> Zumas Revenge - ImageZuma’s Revenge is another hugely successful game developed and published for PC, Mac OS X and Mobile by gaming company PopCap Games. In this sequel to the 2003 hit, Zuma, your hero in this game is a frog who has to clear ten stages each time and fight a boss at the end of the island. Can you survive all of the islands without getting eaten?

Game Instructions

In Zuma’s Revenge, you are a frog. And in the form of this frog, you have to connect at least three colored balls of the same kind and try to clear the entire board before the balls reach the end and the Tiki idol eats you.

Controls

Movement: Mouse
To move the frog, just move the mouse up, down, left or right and to shoot out the colored ball that is currently inside of your mouse, just left-click on the mouse. Good luck and don’t forget to have fun!

Zumas Revenge - Island Image

Tips for Winning

You can’t just randomly shoot the colored balls wherever you want to. Accuracy actually plays a very important part in this game, so make sure you fire your balls onto the exact places that you want them to land on.

Another great tip would be to focus on power-ups, which usually appear in the form of glowing balls with different icons on them. To activate them, just connect them with two other balls of the same kind. They will usually make each level easier to complete.

Zumas Revenge - Image

So, again: strategically shoot your balls towards the right direction and you should have no trouble finishing the game. Be fast, be accurate and keep in mind that the balls will not wait for you to move. If you take forever to shoot, the balls will eventually reach the end of the maze and you will be eaten. Good luck!

Written by

Ray Sean

Ray Sean is a computer savvy a game addict and loves latest gadgets. He currently works at KPN Company, an international long distance carrier that provides prepaid calling cards and calling cards to India from Germany for international travellers. When he isn’t busy, he is reading and occasionally writes gadget reviews.

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Plants vs. Zombies: Why the Game Was Such a Hithttp://www.inmotiongaming.com/plants-vs-zombies-why-the-game-was-such-a-hit/ http://www.inmotiongaming.com/plants-vs-zombies-why-the-game-was-such-a-hit/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:17:57 +0000 http://www.inmotiongaming.com/?p=2067 ]]> Plants vs. Zombies ImagePlants vs. Zombies is an action packed video game developed and published for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows by PopCap Games. This epic game involves a barrage of zombies trying to invade your house. Your objective is to prevent them from doing so. If they succeed, they eat your brains and you are dead. Game over!

If you think about it, the game is actually pretty simple – a bit stupid even. But why is it such a hit? There are many versions of the game now. It can be played on the iPad, Xbox and Nintendo DS. It even got nominated for the Interactive Achievement Awards. I, myself, got addicted to it at one point. I played and finished the game in two days straight.

Variety

Although the premise of Plants vs. Zombies is simple, it still offers players variety. You get to fight against several types of zombies. Some are stronger than others and have more capabilities. This makes them harder to kill. To protect your home from the zombies, you will have to plant different types of fungi and plants. Each type also has its own defensive or offensive capabilities. You can further strengthen your defense or offense by upgrading your tools.

Plants vs. Zombies Video Game Image

Challenging

I thought at first that Plants vs. Zombies would be an easy game to play. But it can be very challenging. Those zombies don’t die easily. You have to strategize and think things through. When it comes to planting choose only those that will give you the greatest offensive and defensive advantage.

Fun

This game is actually loads of fun. Although it seems simple it’s a great feeling to defeat those brain-eating zombies.

Mindless

Yes, the game may require a bit of strategizing. But for the most part it’s pretty mindless – which works very well for me. I have enough things to think about as it is. During my leisure time I prefer not to have to think.

Plants vs. Zombies - Video Game Image

Music

Plants vs. Zombies has received several praises from critiques for its music. It might be a bit repetitive but I find the music relaxing.

Development

The game is a mix of sickeningly ugly and cute – which is how people like it these days. It is simple enough to appeal to casual gamers and yet challenging enough to captivate serious gamers as well.

Written by

Amy C.

Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer. Aside from being an avid reader, she also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes. In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing accent tables and candle lanterns.

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