Here is another blog with links to games I’ve been reviewing lately. Please read as many as you can and maybe even post a comment or two. I’d appreciate it. But first, I’d like to talk about a few things that have made me a little sad lately.
First of all, it was around this time last year that 1up.com was shut down. I had been participating on that site for nearly eight years, so I was pretty bummed when it was gone. I made a lot of great friends and memories through that site. I tried a few other sites after that before settling on PixlBit. Most others that I tried, like IGN, were too cold and unfeeling and I couldn’t really tell if anyone was actually reading my stuff, and it was hard to find other interesting blogs to read as well. Luckily, PixlBit really ‘gets it’ as to what made 1up.com so special. I’m glad they were around for me to go to.
Strangely enough, 1up.com is still around. I guess the folks who ran it haven’t shut down the servers yet. I still post my blogs there because, I’ve already written them, so what the heck. In a way, I wish they’d go ahead and shut it down to give it some closure. It just seems kind of a waste to keep it up there. They could have volunteers help keep the site going all this time if they knew it would still be up a year later. I’m sure there would be folks out there willing to do that. But hey, what do I know about how to run a web site? I just provide content for one (two actually if you count my day job), so what do I know?
The other reason why I’ve been a little sad lately is because for the second year in a row, I’ve been denied a press pass to E3. Not enough hits on the GamerDad site again, they say. But you have to have an ungodly amount of hits in order to be approved, like over 10,000 a month. Just to put that into perspective, during the day I work at the largest wholesale gift shop supplier in the country. We sell to mostly hospital gift shops, so next time you’re in one of those, check it out and most everything you see in there, we probably sold to them. Anyway, during the busiest month of the year, our company’s web site BARELY made it over 10,000 hits. So how do they expect video game sites to do the same?
I know that anybody can poop out a gaming web site nowadays, and that’s why the E3 folks need to be selective. But I think they should rely on more than just web site hits for press approval. Like experience for instance. I’ve been reviewing games for nearly 20 years and have gone to almost every E3 since 1996. And the folks at E3 KNOW that. They don’t need to be THAT selective. E3 is NOT overcrowded (trust me, PAX is worse). I think they’re doing the industry a disservice since people like me cover more than just the popular titles, like most video game sites do. I have a plan B for getting into E3 this year, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to come to fruition either (although I just got some good news about that, so maybe not). I may try for a press pass next year, just for the whole ‘three strikes and you’re out’ kind of thing. But after that, I say F*** E3. Pardon the language and bad attitude, but that’s just how I feel about it right now.
I used to be all positive when talking with people who want to get into the video game writing biz. But now all I have to say is ‘don’t do it.’ The only reason why I’m still doing it is because I’m a stubborn butt who doesn’t like to quit on things. Plus I’ve worked so hard to get where I am know that if I gave up now, it would be like giving up on life. I am thankful for all the great memories and opportunities I have had while reviewing games for newspapers and web sites, though, so it’s not all bad. Well, enough of my pity party, on to the game reviews!
Of all the reviews on this list, I hope you all get to read this one most of all. I put a little more effort into it, and I liked how it turned out. I like Twisted Pixel’s games, and I think it’s cool they’re based in Austin, TX. LocoCycle was originally an Xbox One launch title, and now it’s on 360, too. So now there are NO games on the Xbox One I’d want to play right now! The game is like a cross between Spy Hunter and OutRun. You play as a self-aware robot motorcycle named I.R.I.S., who is what you’d get if Kitt from Knight Rider and GlaDOS from Portal had a baby. And a Spanish-speaking mechanic named Pablo got his pants leg stuck in her back tire so he’s dragged, literally, along for the ride. I.R.I.S. can’t understand his cries for help, though, because her language program is malfunctioning. You’d think Pablo would be a piece of mangled meat by the first mile, but this is just a silly video game so whatever. I don’t know if the makers of this game got any flak about not being politically correct with Pablo and all, but I didn’t find any of the jokes mean-spirited or racist myself. In fact, Pablo ended up being my favorite character in the game because he’s so cool.
The game has some pretty high production values, too, with lots of live action footage between levels. In fact, the voice of the rival motorcycle, S.P.I.K.E., was done by the guy who played the liquid metal robot in Terminator 2! And the president of Troma Films (Toxic Avenger) also makes an appearance. And the music was performed by an orchestra in Prague. The videos are really goofy, though. In one, S.P.I.K.E. the motorcycle licks an ice cream cone (yes, really). He gets the ice cream from Amy’s Ice Creams, a real life place in Austin, TX. I didn’t go there when I was in college in Austin because it was too expensive! There’s another video near the end when Pablo breaks free from I.R.I.S. and a really pretty lady comes over and helps clean his face. All I have to say is, “Lucky Pablo!” There are some problems with LocoCycle, but I’ll let you read the review to find out what they are if you’re interested.
The video game based on the LEGO movie is pretty standard stuff as far as LEGO games though. Fun, but not great, and a little buggy. But I will say the movie it’s based on is fantastic. Much better than what I thought it would be, and almost Pixar quality in some areas. Make sure to watch the movie before playing the game, though, because there is a lot of movie footage in the game that would spoil things for you.
There is an episode of Adventure Time where the characters play a collectible card game, and the episode just makes fun of other games like this such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic the Gathering. And now you can play that same game on your iOS device! It’s actually pretty good. The rules are simple enough that even I can understand them, but complex enough to challenge you later on. There are also tons of characters and missions to play against, so lots of replay value. Only problem I had with the game is that you have to buy it, but it presents itself like a free-to-play game in all the wrong ways. Read my review to find out why.
I got the collector’s edition of Bravely Default so I did a silly little unboxing of it. I didn’t even realize the pack had an artbook in it. It’s like in a secret compartment or something! The game is pretty good, too. They should’ve just called it a Final Fantasy game, though, as that’s basically what it is. Probably could’ve sold more on name recognition alone. But what do I know?
For my sixth birthday, my dad took me to a monster truck show. I remember it was so loud that we had to wear earplugs, and the finale was a demolition derby between three mac trucks with trailers. And on the way home I fell asleep in the car, and when I woke up the next morning in my bed, something seemed different. When I looked down, I saw the other part of my birthday present: new Pac-Man bedsheets! I’ve reviewed a lot of monster truck games over the years, and sadly, none of them were very good. This iPad one is no exception. But if you have kids, you should take them to a monster truck show sometime. Just don’t forget your earplugs!
It’s like Taito’s arcade classic Qix, but with medieval themes. It’s pretty good, but gets hard way too fast. But then, I was never really very good at Qix. I never did get into Qix that much, but when I showed it to my brother Jeff when he was little, he LOVED it!
It’s just yet another spelling word game on tablets. I’m surprised the makers of Scrabble didn’t sue since the word tiles look so similar. It’s OK, but not as good as other word games like BookWorm.
My friend guest reviewed this dungeon crawler game. Supposedly it’s part of the same RPG series that later brought us Puyo Puyo (the characters in that are actually originally from a Saturn RPG). And the story is wacky, too, in that you are exploring dungeons to find ingredients for a curry recipe. So go read it if you’re interested.
Conclusions
And that’s all for now! Thanks for reading my reviews and posting comments, I appreciate it! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers that I might be able to go to E3 this year after all. I don’t know what you can post in the comments section here, maybe a picture or something you think would cheer me up. Next time on my blog, I’ll be your tour guide as we take a virtual tour of the Pac-Man Museum! Catch it next week! Later! --Cary
That's such a bummer that you were denied a press pass again this year. I think you do a better job covering the show that many professionals. It's good to have someone looking at the niche titles and covering stuff other than the AAA titles. They're a bunch of poopheads. Don't stop reviewing games because of them, you do a good job and you and the Gamer Dad website are where I send my non-gaming friends with kids for info on games.
Thanks, Tami! I'm too stubborn and bull-headed to give up yet.
Why do you need to go to E3 at all to cover games nowadays? I guess you get early previews of game play, but does that even matter at all either?
One other site that I read up on had very positive feedback about Lightning Returns after playing the demo at last E3 and said it would be a great game based off the demo. Now, Square Enix released that demo before the game launch and honestly, it wasn't long enough to claim the whole game would be good like this site did. So I was like, did you give good feedback based off this demo? And they were like yeah! Note: I stopped visiting that site.
If games and writing are your passion, keep doing it.
It's amazing how far we've come with technology since the first E3's I've been to. Back in the first years of E3, the press room was filled with paper folders packed with press releases you could collect and take home. Now the press room is empty space where you can connect your computer to Wi-Fi, download press releases off the Internet, and write your articles right there! And even non-attenders can check out all the videos and previews right from their homes.
But E3 is more than just covering games. It's about meeting new contacts and strengthening relationships with PR professionals and game developers, making it easier later on to review upcoming games. Plus, nothing can replace actually playing the games in person while talking face to face with the people who make and promote them. In this age when we depend on the Internet, we take for granted the importance of personal interactions. Plus, E3 is a heck of a lot of fun!
I'm sorry about you getting denied a press pass for E3. Those people are lame. We need more sites like gamerdad where the perspective is healthy and not snarky like all the other sites. Like Tami said, you provide a perspective not many others do.
I'll read you reviews in a little bit. I'm glad you did come over here to Pixlbit, Cary. It wouldn't be the same without you.
Thanks for reading my reviews!
That's a bummer about E3. You must be really mad. I don't think I've ever seen you use a curse word. Not like saying "F***" is technically a curse word. For all we know it could be something completely innocent lol. 
Yeah 'Fart E3.'
Is that their tagline now? "Hey, plenty of open space now that we've pared down the exhibition. Come Fart at E3! No one will know!"
Yes, no matter how old you are, fart jokes are still funny and relevant. That's how I now God has a sense of humor. He made us to release gasses with funny sounds.
I'm sorry to hear you didn't get into E3 again, I don't understand why you couldn't on account of views. Views shouldn't be a judge of who gets to go to E3 but as you said experience should. I don't uderstand then why you couldn't go, you've been doing it for years.
Yeah I don't get it either, it's happened twice now.
That's too bad. I checked out your Loco cycle review and Lego movie game review and they were pretty good. I think I will try loco cycle after all...although the Lego movie I may pass on since the hobit is releasing soon. Hang in there and keep up the good work!
LocoCycle is good. Make sure to see the LEGO movie as well.
We went to see the Lego movie Valentine's weekend. It was AWESOME!
Did you get the song stuck in your head? :)
lol yes. Thankfully Happy from Dispicable Me is on the radio, so I didn't sing it to myself for long.
I don't remember any of the songs from that movie, but those minions sure are popular.
Sad to hear you were denied again of E3. However, don't get discouraged to review games. They are your passion and if you feel like you can continue, do it!
I don't think I can give up reviewing games. i've done it for so long it's like an involuntary muscle movement, like breathing.
Hope you're able to get into E3 some other way, the reasoning for not doing so just makes no sense.
Yeah I don't quite understand it either. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
And what's sad is a site's traffic view ratio does not even mean it is "good". Many of those places get by mostly on sensationalist "click bait". Still, I wouldn't put too much into fretting about it,Cary. It seems as if a lot of the smaller gaming conventions are more enjoyable and more friendly anyway!
Well, while it is easier for me to get into places like PAX as a member of the press, I still enjoy E3 a lot, too. ALL the game companies show up at E3, so it's easier to make contacts.
I suppose that's where we differ. I never understood the "big wow" behind E3. I guess it's nice to see games before they release to the general public. On the other hand, it's nice to be "surprised" too. Most of the time I rather not know what's coming just so I'll be pleasantly delighted when a game I like pops up out of the blue. Then again, I don't like big floors packed with big crowds either. Nor do I like E3's dumb-ass "VIP" snobbishness.
E3 is more than just playing the newest games, though. It's a great opportunity for me to gather contacts, which in turn, make it easier for me to review games.
Interesting thing I read recently: Jeremy Parish and some other folks were apparently trying to buy out 1UP.com so they could run it themselves as a separate company. They had even arranged financing through a venture capitalist. They actually started this deal while 1UP/IGN were still under the News Corp. umbrella. Unfortunately, Ziff-Davis swooped in and bought IGN and 1UP, and Ziff-Davis had no interest in spinning off 1UP, yet they don't seem interested in doing anything with the site themselves other than collecting whatever money they can from the clicks of the few hangers-on left. Here is Jeremy Parish's personal blog detailing that attempt.
I bought the CE of Bravely Default myself. I love that game. Best 3DS game I've played so far, and I agree: They should have just called it a Final Fantasy game, since it is literally a Final Fantasy game in everything but the name. But perhaps Square Enix wants to develop it as a new series so they aren't so dependent on the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest names.
Wow cool. Parish trying to revive 1UP. Something to watch.
I wouldn't get your hopes up on that.
Cary is exactly right on this one. That deal has long since collapsed, and all the parties involved, including Parish, have wisely moved onto other things rather than tilting at windmills, not to mention spending beaucoup amounts of money, trying to wrest 1UP away from Z-D, for what is essentially the sake of nostalgia.
And even from the standpoint of the community, what would be the point now? For all intents and purposes, Pixlbit IS the 1UP community now, and they've done a fine job at building their community, and without the drama that often characterized 1UP that we often forget about in hindsight. 1UP may have been broken, but its community lives on here, at Pixlbit.
Yeah, preach on, brother!
Although I think I would do a good job of handling 1up...maybe.
Now who on earth is that in your gamerpic?
Anyone for knockoff site OneUp?
Ha that would be funny! :)
Some random Jessica Rabbit cosplayer. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is my favorite Disney movie.
I would think they would just call it Final Fantasy just to make more money with it.