The golden era of gaming

'The golden era of gaming' is a quote that is thrown around pretty frequently, but seldom when used do those who use it (on separate occasions) agree on it's meaning, or even know what it's meaning is. It is for this reason that i believe, the golden era of gaming is subjective and individual, it refers to a period in the individuals life when gaming was at it's peak, be it for whatever reason.


The Wikipedia (what a reliable source..) definition is, 'The golden age of video arcade games was a peak era of video arcade game popularity, innovation, and earnings' The date placement of this is placed around the late 70s into the early 80s. I'll save the history lesson for a later blog when i'm stuck for ideas or have no games to review - but as I wasn't even alive in this golden age, i don't class it as the golden era of videogames.


No, for me the golden era was the 90s. The age of the Playstation and the Nintendo 64. I have been gaming as long as i can remember, from the early days of Altered Beast and Golden Axe when i could barely hold a controller, to that one faithful Christmas morning when me, my brother and sister unwrapped the last present under the tree - the present which changed my life forever, The dream machine itself, Playstation. The machine with it's dirty gray casing with it's huge power and open disk buttons, so ugly yet beautiful. For me, this was the machine that made and did it all. My all time classics (each will be getting their own blog) were on this console; Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Front Mission 3, Castlevania Symphony Of The Night, Silent Hill, some of the highlights of my gaming career. I was young, multiplayer consisted of having 2 pads and actually sitting next to each other. Trophies were non-existant and the internet was a distant dream, i was too young for all that.

The leap into 3D gaming had just begun, i was amazed by the (at that time) mind blowing cutscene graphics of Final Fantasy 8, and battle graphics of Front Mission 3. The first game i got was Crash Bandicoot, as I believe, did many people. But in all actuallity, i don't really remember much, if any of it. One of the earliest game memories I have is in fact me and my dad coming home from Blockbuster (those were the days) and playing Resident Evil despite being horribly underage. It was then that i fell in love with one of my favourite gaming characters of all time - Albert Wesker. The slicked back blonde hair, the sunglasses and the voice, he was awesome. Speaking of voice, the voice acting in Resident Evil, looking back, is simply terrible - but i digress.


That's not to say it's not hard to choose one's particular golden age - it was a close cut between Playstation and SNES and even N64. Anyone who played it can and will agree that 4 way split screen Goldeneye were some of the best gaming, and even family memories they've ever had - it was pure simple fun. All of these eras however had one thing in common - it was all about the game. It was about giving a fresh, genuinely appealing storyline, graphics were on the backburner and companies weren't afraid to try new things. It saddens me that  gaming youth of today, in a market rife of bland, similar FPS' believe that they live in gamings golden age simply because the graphics have improved so much. 

The point i'm trying to make, is that I personally don't think there IS a golden age of gaming, if it was golden to you then it was your golden age, no matter what anyone says you will always think of it as THE golden age because it was so personal.On a sub note, I also think it would be beneficial for the everyone, both the industry and us the consumers, if developers and companies returned to the 90s even 80s way of doing things, that is stop concentrating on going that one step further graphically, when it means sacrificing what could be a great game with a lack of story or even character development.


I'd love to know what people think on this, when your golden age was - so feel free to let me know.

Woooah Sweet Child O.. OH MY GOD I DIED

When it comes down to it, gamers can be split into many distinct groups, what genre of game they play, whether they use the analog controller or an arcade stick for fighting games, the conservationist who hordes all ammo and special items - just in case there's something a bit bigger hiding round the corner, or the fire everything you have until it dies kind of player. But the distinction I'm drawing up today is not to do with game play per say, but music.

 I for one, can NOT listen to music while i game. I'll hold my hands up and admit that i take gaming pretty seriously, it's my biggest hobby and it's what i do to relax, i enjoy it. I'll also hold my hands up and say I'm fiercely competitive - i hate to lose, but realistically who doesn't? Thus, when I'm playing a competitive game online, be it fighting, FPS, Warcraft PvP, I like to be able to hear what's going on. Any CoD player will tell you there are unmistakable sounds, the dreaded click of a claymore, the sound of bullets giving away enemy positions, and yeah even footsteps of that one player who just keeps on backstabbing you.. Listening to music just drowns these out. I find it more of a distraction than anything, my favourite songs actually bug me because they're taking my attention away from what my brain is telling me is more important. Maybe I'm just horribly over-competitive?

But that's not the only reason I dislike listening to music in gaming sessions. In non-competitive, (single player for example) games, I like to listen to the soundtrack.If the developers have gone through the trouble to make the game look as visually impressive or play as well as it does, it's only fair i give the time to listen to the music too. I feel it helps with the atmosphere, which is something I'm big on in games, and more often than not the music fits perfectly with whatever it is I'm playing. I don't know about you but some thing just doesn't seem right about listening to Journey's, 'Don't Stop Believing' while having a troubled vampire hunter scale a colossal stone castle, unaware of what demons lay ahead of him - unless he needs a little motivation.

Despite having realised what i have written in the past 2 paragraphs, i realise that there is 1 exception to my dislike, Nazi Zombies. Those familiar with Treyarch's spin off game 'series' will know that in each map there is a hidden musical Easter egg. Whenever i find myself cutting the undead masses to ribbons with heavy machine gun fire, i love nothing more than to hear the heavy metal music of Elena Siegman playing in the background - it's just so fitting. I have a weird kind of trait when i play games like that and music that really fits starts playing, I imagine it to be kind of a story that's playing out - almost like a movie - and every movie needs a backing track, right? The Nazi Zombie songs have all in fact raised themselves to the heights of being in my top favourite songs on my iPod. Maybe it's all about finding the balance from a perspective of volume, or genre matching, I dunno.

But that's not to say that there aren't those who listen to music while gaming, much to the contrary in fact. I know many people who have music on in the background, or have it so loud the TV is inaudible. It was the realisation of this trait that led one of the PS3's big name games to implement the ability for players to create custom soundtracks for the multi player aspect of the game. Killzone 2 allows players to compile a list of songs stored on their Playstation, to be played whilst in the multi player of the game - a feature much praised by fans and critics alike, so it is undoubtedly a very normal thing to do.

However... This is more of a request than observation. There are those of you out there, you know who you are, who for some reason feel the need to play your music while gaming - which is fine - but with a headset on so that all of the lobby can see what awful taste you have. Not only that, but singing along, badly, please stop. Unless you're that 13 year old French kid i keep coming across who insists in singing Pink, with your high pitched voice, you can carry on - the laughs are just too good to miss out on.

Oblivium sempiternum daemonis

 The only worthwhile quote i could find in a truly fantastic game. Today's game - Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow

I picked Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow up a few days ago after having wanted it since hearing about it's release months ago, made only greater with the news that my favourite news in gaming was involved in it's development - Hideo Kojima. As a student i have to pick and choose my purchases as money isn't exactly.. existent, but this is a game I've wanted from the off. I have to say, it did not disappoint.

My first involvement with the Castlevania series was way back in my golden age of gaming, the PS1 era. The now cult classic Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night had everything i could possibly want from a game so baring that in mind i propelled the Castlevania series to the near top of my favourite gaming franchises. That 10 year old love affair seems so distant, and rightly so, as things have definitely changed, most notably of all the transition to 3D.

The Castlevania series had always been famous and appreciated with fans for it's 2D side scrolling graphics but the graphics so some fans were hesitant if not disappointed when it was announced Lords Of Shadow would be in full 3D. However, this is without a doubt one of the most visually stunning games i have ever come across. Environmentally, it is nothing short of beautiful. The background and foreground blend seamlessly, the towering Dark Lord' castle all to overpowering in the background, you get a real sense of vastness and it's just too easy to lose yourself in the colossal proportions of everything. One scene in particular has Gabriel, the protagonist, running along a huge iron chain leading into a Vampire's castle. The snow is thick and heavy, the silhouette of the castle becoming more and more viewable, every magnificent detail, towering over you, it was almost a piece of art. The game's design, both interior and exterior, work and succeed in giving off a nostalgic,  medieval feel which only compliments the game's atmosphere.

It's not simply the environment graphics which both impress and amaze, but also that of the characters themselves. Every facial expression is easily readable, the pain etched into the face of Gabrial all too recognisable. His movements are fluid and graceful, flowing easily with each attack. It is the monsters and demons which really show this graphical marvel however. Castlevania is famous for it's menagerie of vampires, ghosts and ghouls and they have all had a dramatic re imagining with this installment. Most monsters known to the franchises fans make an appearance, from the standard lycanthrope werewolf, to the larger worg and of course - vampires. It's hard not to feel that this time round they wanted the monsters to come across as genuinely scary, which i feel comes across well. Much more grotesque and animalistic than in previous games, the monsters genuinely do give a scary presence, if not from their quite realistic look than by the behaviour by which they are portrayed.

One of the reasons i loved Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night was the musical score. Admittedly, compared to past installments, the score in this game was somewhat lack luster, with no memorable pieces. However, that's not to say it isn't good. Realistically, if everything else has changed, graphics, atmosphere etc, then it only suits that the music would have to change to suit this, and it does. Low key orchestral music is constantly there, not enough to be actively taking attention, but just enough to be always noticeable. When entering combat there is a sudden shift, a faster tempo which perfectly fits with the fast paced action the game provides. Overall, the choir-esque music only compliments the game's religious and medieval aspects, all round adding to the intended. atmosphere. Not only the music, but Konami have definitely forked out something heavy for the voice actors. Non other than Sir Patrick Stewart, narrates the epic tale, also playing a supporting character with Robert Carlyle taking lead role. Both VAs must be applauded for what they bring to the table, a voice which fits the character so effortlessly. 

It's all very well if a game looks nice, but it has to have substance, and by that i mean story. Luckily, Castlevania doesn't disappoint on this front either. The main antagonist, Gabriel Belmont (Belmont, a name famous with series fans) is well rounded and likable enough to keep the player actively involved and wanting to know what happens next. Moral decisions and a sense of darkness within gabriel's own actions and thoughts provokes curiosity. This man, a servant of God whom has lost all faith in the heavens and is driven solely by love, it is a story people can relate to and due to that, the player actually wants to see what will happen. Will Gabriel succeed in his quest, are the subtle hunts given by the Dark Lords that his quest is for nought actually true? And what of Zobek, the seemingly faithful friend who holds an air of mystery, his methods questionable.. Well you'll have to play to find out. The story admittedly isn't blockbusting special, but it's refreshing and simple, which i for one applaud. 

Now onto the actual gameplay. Though the game is classed as an action/adventure, which it certainly lives up to; there are also many platform elements. When the player isn't slaying beats and demons of the underworld, they are controlling Gabriel to leap faithfully from ledge to ledge, climbing up massive stone towers or swinging from the tiniest hook imaginable to swing round through a window. The combat is rather basic, borrowing heavily from the God Of War style; square for light attacks and triangle for heavy - combining variations of the buttons for different combos and while normally this would take attention away from the game itself in LoS' case it does not. The action can jump to a rather rushed pace but not oo quick to follow, and the boss fights are nothing short of magnificent. Without giving too much away; simply chopping away at a 400ft titan isn't going to get you far..

New game mechanics, new graphics, new story and characters.. This is a big step for a franchise which has in all fairness, keep things fairly routine as far as things go. But the Konami team haven't forgotten about fans, oh no not at all. Even the name Belmont is a tip to fans as it is a famed name in the franchise, but fab favourite places such as Wygol Village and The Clock Tower make a triumphant return, radically redesigned but there non-the-less. And what a Castlevania be without the Vampire Killer? The whip which strikes fear into the heart of undead creatures everywhere is of course present, this time in the form of a battle cross, and as you can see - it gets the job done just fine..

So that's my take on Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow, if you want my opinion, this is a must play for PS3 owners, I hope you enjoyed reading!

Let's start with the basics

If this is primarily going to be a game based blog, we should start with some game based info. Pretty much the only console i play on is PS3. The fat, black 80gb monster of a mchine has been my unchallenged love interest for quite some time now, pretty much since I got it.
Prior to having my PS3 owned a Nintendo Wii, which was fun for a while, until the novelty of Wii Sports faded. Playing as my favourite game character Solid Snake did keep me going for well over a year on SSBB, though I digress.
My PS3 is my main hobby besides the guilty pleasure that is - World Of Warcraft. I have quit and relapsed many times now and thankfully am nowhere near playing it the extent i used to but i still sink quite a few hours into it..
So here they are; my top 10 games on the PS3 so far. I'll get round to doing individual posts explaining why at some point. Bare in mind, these are not necessarily in order of preference:

1) Metal Gear Solid 4
2) Call Of Duty: World At War
3) Resident Evil 5
4) Dante's Inferno
5) Fallout 3
6) Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2
7) Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
8) Batman Arkham Asylum
9) Vanquish
10) Dead Rising 2

Agree, disagree?

Standard Introductory

Welcome to N-Tail's Outer Heaven, where i'll be spouting all my gaming related nonsense