I don't have a clever title for today's entry. I'm not even sure what I'm typing will turn out to be actual words.
March 6th (yesterday, if you read this entry today) marked the beginning of this year's International Read an eBook Week. I'm pretty sure the "international" thing is new, but I can't prove that. Either way, I am once again giving away Project Zero: BulletProof for free.
If you go HERE and use the Coupon REFREE you will get my book and tons of others absolutely free!
Not only that, but if you get it while it's free (by going HERE), you will get access to all future editions of Project Zero: BulletProof for free. You get the updated editions if you bought a copy previously, too, so those who paid for it, don't feel left out.
I wanted to get the new edition out in time for IRaEW, but once I realized I would've need a lead time in the terms of months, it wasn't going to happen. So a new edition should be out next week or the week after that. Fingers crossed that I have the time to work on it.
Over the weekend, I picked up my copy of Pokemon White I had preordered from GameStop (I swore I wouldn't go back there, but I had gift cards to use up). When I placed the preorder (I did it instore because I had been in the area. For realz), they mentioned they were having a Marvel vs Capcom 3 Launch Event Tournament Thing. Being terrible at fighting games, I passed.
Now, as an aside, I may have mentioned in the past that Marvel vs Capcom 2 is not just one of my favorite fighting games, but one of my favorite games ever. After being burned by Street Fight IV (I foolishly expected it to play similarly to the later SF games and not one that came out 20 years ago), I swore I wasn't going to buy MVC3 until I played it.
Well, 'lo and behold, the PS3 at GS was still setup for MVC3 (I know, I used a lot of initials and such in that sentence). It's like they knew I was coming. The second I picked up the controller, however, I hear, "MR. LYYYYNCH!!!!" I can't go anywhere without running into a student (it should be noted that this GameStop is not in my town and there are no less than 4 GameStops in a one block radius there). The student was also there getting Pokemon.
After trying out MVC3, I went to the counter for my copy of White (Kelly made me get White, since that has the masculine looking Legend on the cover and Black has the feminine) and casually asked if they had any copies of the Special Edition. They said 'no,' they only ordered enough to cover the preorders. Then they discovered someone had cancelled an order, so I went ahead and bought it.
2-3 hours later and I put down the controller. All of the characters were unlocked (but not all the extras like sounds...or sounds...) and I mulled over the game.
First off, it looks great. I'm still partial to MVC2's sprites, but the 3D-esque Cel-shaded character models are pretty to look at...for the most part. My only real complaint is that some characters have giant, open mouths with their teeth bared (Hulk and Wolverine come to mind). You don't notice it while playing, but while doing idle things like character selection, waiting for the fight to start, or taunting, it's, well, distracting.
I still swear that the 3D models restrict the speed and movement of the fighters. And that leads me to my next point: this isn't MVC2. Nor is it SFIV. It almost feels like a mix of the two. Faster than SFIV, but not nearly the frenetic pace of MVC2. The controls seem to be a mix of the two as well.
One of the things that bugged me about SFIV was how much of a step backwards it felt like for the series. The hyper-charged turbo pacing of the the Alpha and Versus series isn't for everyone, but to not even allow Ryu to do a Hadoken while in the air? What are we? Savages? Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 feels like a step in the right direction, but it isn't quite there. Also an annoyance, and this is small...ish, is that there is no longer STRONG and WEAK punches and kicks, but strong, medium, and weak hits. It might be just me, but it also felt like I would try to repeat a maneuver only to have the buttons do something different.
Now for Pokemon. I haven't spent a lot of time with it, but I have to say: WOW! I've seen a lot of reviews that claim it's more of the same. In a way that's true. You still get a choice of the three elemental starters (Fire, Water, Grass) and you set out on your Pokemon journey.
However, (SPOILER ALERT) the first thing I noticed about this game was how well it set up the mood. Moreso than any other entry in the series. I like the seasonal thing, the music and colors were perfect (I don't know about anyone else, but my game started in Autumn). The whole atmosphere is...whimsical. At first. Once you get to the first town, the story's protagonist show up.
Team Plasma, Pokemon's version of PETA, show up early. They argue that Pokemon are better off free and that people should stop subjecting the creatures to their will. That is surprisingly deep for a Pokemon game. And it isn't just Plasma that gives you that feeling that Pokemon should be free. No, everywhere you go, there are hints that the pokemon may not be happy being the trainer's playthings.
For example, one of the TV segments is a review of PokeItems hosted by a woman, cohosted by what I can only assume is a Pokemon. The Pokemon replies with its usual only can say its name thing, but it's translated for the viewer. We learn the Pokemon is pretty upset by the host's actions and words. I'm not very far into the game, but methinks something is rotten in the state of Unova.
VERDICT -
Marvel VS Capcom 3 - If you loved MVC2, you'll like this one. If you liked playing through the story in 2 to get all the characters, you'll be disappointed, there's only 4 hidden, and it only takes one playthrough to unlock them. Reports are coming in that Online isn't optimized yet. Still, a great game to play with a couple of friends (or relatives) to waste a few hours.
Pokemon White - If you liked the others, get it. It's great for veterans and newcomers alike. What seemed like what was going to be the same thing (not that that is a bad thing) turned out to be something more. The subtlies set this apart from earlier entries with things like different camera angles, wind blowing through the grass, birds that fly away, etc.
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