Genesis of a Gaming Sequel.

Sequels are a finicky thing. When something original is released, although decent, the merit of its originality is usually enough to overcome a minority of flaws. Now, what if it were greater than decent? You’d have lightning and thunder. Somebody’s brainchild is being realized (read: "purchased") by a storm of audiences, and in the end, they realize that every medium is finite no matter how vast. And when there’s money involved, somebody will always want more.

Enter the sequel.

The definition of a sequel, according to a nearby dictionary, is “a literary work, movie, etc., that is complete in itself but continues the narrative of a preceding work.” (Author's Note: Notice the glaring omission of our precious interactive media.)

In film, a medium we should all be very familiar with, a sequel is usually identified as the continuation of the first story, incorporating the effect of past events. If not, the tale revisits familiar characters and puts them through new, more or less dire situations. Film at its most basic is a visual tale. Therefore, we are able to correlate the connection between two films through visual cues, such as a familiar setting or the return of your favorite heroes. It’s all an authoritarian and guided experience that will never deviate, no matter how many times it is viewed.

The problem with film sequels (and prequels, sidequels, or midquels for that matter) is that the further the universe is expanded, the more worn and contrived the overarching storyline begins to seem. What was once an original and exciting new world is now the exact opposite, as a result of oversaturation.

Sometimes, some sequels should just never be made.

Gaming, however, is a much different beast.

Unlike film, gaming is not driven by narrative. Occasionally, a young auteur will attempt otherwise, but what individualizes a gaming title is the level and types of interaction it offers you. If something new is created, or if something resonates or is done well within its genre, gold will be struck. And demand of the same will be made.

As games are not generally driven by narrative, story remains to be executed and told at an infantile level. Most the time, there indeed is a narrative behind our games, but audiences are either too immature or too engrossed by their interactions to care. So in video gaming, how do we identify sequels other than an often misplaced “2” in the title (or subtitle) without story? By the continuation of a concept. It can be narrowed down into two generalizations: Refinements and reinventions.

Refinements are the most common type of gaming sequels found in the medium. In a refinement, defining gameplay concepts and ideas are carried over and polished. The ideas are always somehow furthered. Whether it’s much more streamlined or a tad bit more complicated, what made the game work in the first installment will almost always make a return. Being a better playing game isn’t always enough, though. Usually, the creators will add an extra level of playability, whether it’s as subtle as Mass Effect 2’s interrupt feature, or as extensive as Assassin Creed II’s monetary system. These extra elements add individuality to the title, “selling” its existence, while keeping the skeletal structure of the first.

A refinements thrive on an idea, no matter how flawed they were originally executed.

Reinventions are a much more less commonly made, but its definition may be a lot more broadly interpreted. Usually reinventions are thematically similar to previous titles, and they redefine what characterizes that series while staying within the genre. As vague of a definition as it may be, the fact of the matter is that not all sequels are refinements. Some titles simply look to innovate themselves, such as Super Mario Galaxy. Other titles seek to mesh or question genres such as Mass Effect 2’s streamlined RPG elements and hardcore shooting mechanics. In reinvention, genre and signature gameplay still count, but the category’s own unique magic remains in execution. It can be thought of as a reinterpretation or reimagining of a series’ charm, such as Metroid: Prime or Shadow of the Colossus.

Do you remember how shocking it was that Mario still felt like Mario?

Both categories can be easily faulted, however. An annual franchise such as Call of Duty or Guitar Hero can be easily criticized for being overdeveloped, shortening the gap of refinement in between titles. Once a brand is oversold, the existence of each entry becomes tougher to justify. Also, sometimes it’s foolish to mess with a good thing. Reinventions can quickly segue to alienation, such as the minimalistic nature of 2008’s Prince of Persia and the gritty, realistic reinterpretation of sandbox gaming in Grand Theft Auto IV. Without citing an opinion as to the actual quality of these titles, reinvention may sometimes be quick to shut off a portion of an audience’s interest once a key tried-and-true ingredient is tampered with.

Now. What is the point of outlining the genesis of a gaming sequel? A simple need for articulation. In an industry dominated by franchises, and money-seeking corporations that will try their darndest to earn a profit off a name, gamers as a whole need to realize what renders their medium unique. An interactive art is driven by the dream of interacting, not imitating a film. While we stand in line at midnight for a much-anticipated sequel, we must be able to clearly sum to ourselves what it is we’re actually expecting and realistically align our perspectives. There is not – and there will never be – anything wrong with wanting more of the same. For the sake of the evolution of our games, let’s hope we’re never too demanding to wish for a change of pace. Sequels are a finicky thing. Or they seem to be for everybody but gamers.

Read On, Friends!

Review: Bioshock 2.

What's the purpose of a video game? The obvious and most widely accepted answer here is to entertain. This is usually the primary objective for the majority of developers in the business, and what the people that buy them seek; to have fun, whether it's found in an age-old genre or an innovative new play style. Occasionally though, there's a release that plants an inkling of wonder in a player’s mind: Is that all they're for? Are they destined to reach artistic heights, and we are entitled to demand it? In reality not every person that picks up a controller ponders that while watering the grass, but it's a question that was further leveled in the public eye with the 2007 release of Bioshock.

A runaway cult hit, the game told a tale that was truly unlike any other seen in the medium. You assumed the role of Jack, a survivor of a plane crash that happened to stumble upon a fallen underwater utopia. With its foundation based on the philosophies of Objectivism, capitalism, and the banning of all censorship and religious morality, the city eventually went into siege and befell civil war. Bioshock allowed players to explore the lost city long after its great incident, and it showcased an environment that was captivating and strangely serene in its rusted beauty. The story presented itself to be just as engaging, telling a plot with a tightly wound back story, laced with mental conditioning, hypnosis, espionage and deception. It had twists and turns that arguably rival some of the best Hollywood thrillers, marking itself as a masterpiece in gaming. And guess what? It made money too.

Sequel, bitches!

The announcement of Bioshock 2 was not unlike your reaction when first hearing about S. Darko. The first game's story was complete in itself; the actions of the main character seemed to have sealed Rapture's fate one way or another. It seemed impossible for a follow-up to have the same impact as before, and it was difficult to imagine a new protagonist being as tied in to the mythology as Jack's saga was.

It's 2010 and a sequel has been released. Here's how it fared:

Bioshock 2 for the most part, is a success. The developers seemed to really care for the subject matter and have crafted an experience that definitely feels like you've returned to Rapture. As a sequel, the gameplay is extremely consistent with the first one, with polish that was absent from previous title. This time around, you are assuming the role of a Big Daddy, the iconic diving suit-wearing giant we've all grown accustomed to seeing. While this may sound gimmicky to some, 2K Marin fleshed out what may sound like a seemingly bland character into something unique. You play as 'Subject Delta', a Big Daddy with free will, hailing from the first generation of the subterranean protectors. The developers went great lengths to implement little nuances and details that sell the idea brilliantly; your shadows casts a much heftier form, landing falls and jumps make satisfying thuds, the corners of the screen are shadowed by the shape of the diver's helmet, etc. But apart from aesthetic consistency, there is a story behind the silent protagonist that explains the reason of his adventuring in Rapture.

Bioshock 2's setting remains in Rapture obviously, but its events occur roughly ten years after the original. In the midst of Rapture's social and cultural disarray, political activist (and former rival of Andrew Ryan) Sofia Lamb has risen to power. Forming a cult known as the Rapture Family, Sofia has enlisted the aid of Splicers and various other political figures to do her bidding, uniting them in a communist-like state that rebels against Rapture's founding philosophies. The plot thickens when Subject Delta wakes up from a ten year nap, and comes to the realization that his Little Sister (who is grown up now) is missing. It doesn't help that she's Sofia's daughter. It also doesn't help that former Little Sisters are back under the sea, wreaking havoc as the dangerously fast Big Sisters. Here we go again.

Avoiding story specifics for the sake of the review being spoiler-free, it's already fairly well known that 2K Marin had the mammoth task of somehow crafting a story as engaging as the first Bioshock. Expectedly, it's one of the few aspects the deteriorated in their transition to the sequel. For the former half of the campaign, your actions and the reasoning for certain objectives remain unclear as to why they're being performed. Once again, shifty sounding characters ask for favors over your walkie-talkie, and the only reason you're helping them is because the game requires you to do so. If you're a fan of the first game, it begins to feel too familiar for a bit too long, before the formula is delightfully shattered halfway through. The existence of the game feels unnecessary for a large portion of your adventure until revelations begin to unveil five or six hours in. Despite this, the game is without a doubt worth experiencing if you're a fan of the lore.

What's most alienating about the plot is how forced the character of Sofia Lamb feels. Audio logs depict her as being a prominent character to Rapture's public, having her rival Ryan's power in what seemed to be a very demanding spat on both their parts. For being such an important figure in the fall of Rapture, her name and likeness is never presented in the previous Bioshock title, leaving behind an ugly taste of retroactive continuity. The story seems to be tailored to excuse the revisiting of Rapture. While it doesn't become at all engaging until the final act, the game does appear to be much better focused in telling its tale. Forgoing any explanation of the origins of Rapture, plasmids, Jack or Andrew, the story is much easier to comprehend although those new to the universe will indeed be lost.

But how does it play? The campaign is admittedly much more action oriented, with the majority of plasmids and weapons arriving early in your adventure. The guns seem weighty and organic with Subject Delta wielding them, whether they’re fused to his suit or not. Plasmids are back of course, and the ability to utilize them while unloading your firearm is now available. The game encourages experimentation, with nearly all the plasmids being available in the opening hours. Hacking also makes a return, and this time, it doesn’t require an entire menu to complete it. Whether it’s a turret, security bot or vending machine, hacking is an integral portion of the game that can reward you with health, store discounts or even a new way to fight enemies. The overall combat does feel familiar, but it’s touches such as dual-wielding and real-time hacking that propels it to new heights.

Morality choices is another familiar thing as well; and luckily it isn’t as contrived and simplistic as sparing or harvesting a Little Sister. While that same choice is once again found here, the story introduces moments that venture further than the pressing of one button or another. Optional objectives present themselves to you, allowing you to choose the focus of Subject Delta’s legacy. The repercussions of your choices are acknowledged through character dialogue and obviously up to the final cut scene. It’s a huge improvement over the ‘cut and paste’ ending found in the first game depending on your interaction with the Little Sisters.

Interaction with the Little Sisters has been deepened to a gratuitous extent. Since you assume the role of a Big Daddy, you may slaughter a fellow Daddy and gain the affection of his accomplice. Here, you have the choice to harvest her for any Adam (the currency required to purchase plasmids and their upgrades) she may be carrying, or you may adopt her and carry her on your shoulder until you find a Splicer corpse filled with enough Adam for her extract. These extraction sequences involve her plunging a syringe into the corpse for several minutes, with you there to protect the vulnerable child. These sequences are basically stationary escort missions, and there are as many as twenty five of these in the game. They indeed do become tiring to perform but the copious amount of Adam received for completing them is well worth it (even though it’s an artificial way of extending your playtime).

Rapture is Rapture. The environments you storm through in this game resemble the same environments you did from the first. Although they’re different areas and districts of Rapture, the awe and realization of exploring a dilapidated underwater utopia is largely gone. The setting is identical to the first, with the exception of brief, linear underwater treks you embark on every other hour. This is both a disappointment and positive aspect. It’s positive because what makes Bioshock such a compelling series is its environment alone. And disappointing because the general vibe this game evokes is that there were no risks taken in the conceptualization of the sequel. Bioshock 2 is largely the same experience, with more guns, better controls, a much more cohesively told story.

Liberties taken with the universe such as brief and intense confrontations with Big Sisters, the tragic origins of the Big Daddies, and the Aldous Huxley inspired ramblings of Dr. Lamb are much easier to appreciate considering that they’re one of the few unique characteristics that personalize Bioshock 2 into its own experience. The fact that the game is mostly the same is understandable when the prequel is largely considered a masterpiece among circles. Despite this, it still would have been interesting and bold to see a much more personal story told, without the writers attempting to interpret the first game’s events and causes to their own benefit. Despite these frustrations, I recommend this game to fans of the first. Rapture has been recreated and it’s as beautiful and tragic as ever. Big Daddies haunt the hallways of Rapture, moaning in a serene and hypnotic nature that will forever remain unique. In between the modern warfares, plastic instrument rhythm games, and co-op shooters, there truly is no other experience identical to the Bioshock name. And if that is something that intrigues you, I wholeheartedly encourage you to play this.

- Jules.

(Two fucking sittings. No, it's not short. It's really fun and I like making bloody messes with my drill.)

Read On, Friends!

Sony Press Conference Gets Live Blogged.

Read On, Friends!

The SONY E3 Prediction List (UPDATE)

Well, E3 is happening now, and Jules and I are throwing our two cents into the giant wishing well that is E3 Predictions. He tried his hand at Microsoft and I'm going to bite the bullet and cover the Sony shebang. It won't be long (tomorrow, actually) before we find out if we were right. Feel free to write in the comments section if you want to toss in your two cents as well. (ED's NOTE: Internet Conversion Ratios dictate that our two cents are worth more than yours. Please, keep that in mind.)

First a little background on the way SONY works. Imagine for me everything you want them to do or just plain announce. Now, imagine getting halfway there and being let down. That's how Sony handles it, and that's how I'm going to handle these predictions. And away we go.

UPDATE: You'll see lines like this after every prediction, where I tell you if I think I was right or not. (pro-tip: I'm always right.)

1. Playstation 3 becomes PS3 this year, just like the PSONE and the Slim PS2 before it (just not at this E3):



Have you seen those pics? It's happening. There's just no denying it. The question is, will it happen this week? I would say definitely not. I've been around for a number of system upgrades and new SKUs, and if there is one thing I've learned, it's this: those new SKUs that they simply cannot roll out softly don't get announced until the wells are dry at the retail level. If SONY were to announce a shiny new system, no one would buy the ones still in the stores, losing the company money, and completely defeating the purpose of rebranding the system. And let me assure you, the PS3 needs a rebranding. I guarantee we will get an official announcement this year... but not this week.

UPDATE: Indeterminate/Confirmed This one's hard to confirm since it predicts an announcement outside of the expo proper. However, in that I predicted SONY would be mum on the subject even though all signs point to a legitimate rumor, I'll call this one confirmed... for now.

2. No price cut on the original PlayStation 3



Now this is really where the SONY-never-does-precisely-what-you-want theory comes into mad effect. Every analyst in the history of ever thinks SONY should cut the price of their PS3. So that's exactly what they're not going to do. Oh, they'll announce something similar, sure enough, just like they always have. SONY doesn't do price cuts. They bundle more stuff in, give it a bigger hard drive, and keep the damn price exactly the same. Plus, with a newer system with cheaper parts, I'm sure they'd like to turn a profit for once, or something close to it. I'd love them to prove me wrong. Please.

UPDATE: Confirmed. Oh, look at that. No price cut, even though every financial expert said there would be one. Big fucking surprise.

3. Sony's new PSP is revealed.



This is all but confirmed by SONY as already happening. Also, much like with the PS3, a price point at the same $169.99 as the previous model would fit with SONY's MO. I believe they would actually announce it officially this week because QORE pretty much already did. A video prepped for release E3 week got bumped out a little too early and preempted any exciting announcement at the conference. Also, there really aren't many actual units left in stores at the moment, and at the very least, the ones that are left will move faster than any PS3 would, so there's no danger of announcing themselves out of sales.

UPDATE: Confirmed. Kinda shooting fish in a barrel here, but the question wasn't if it was coming but rather if it would be announced. Since QORE kinda already spilled the beans on this one, I won't brag too much.

4. Actual reason to visit HOME



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Wouldn't that be something?!

UPDATE: Indeterminate. Pretty much the only way this sarcastic bullet-point wasn't going to be labeled indeterminate is if they had a huge game-changing announcement or didn't talk about it at all, and there was no way either one of those were going to happen. So, really, I consider this confirmed.

5. Firmware update for both PS3 and PSP



Usually, when SONY updates it's firmwares, it's piddly little shit that no one really has any aspirations to use. "Oh, I can text chat with eight (8) people at the same time?! No way! I'm never going to use that!" It's about time for a larger, more important update (maybe fucking group-voice-chat?!) and what better time to impress the masses than when you have their attention, whether they want to be paying it or not.

UPDATE: Busted. Maybe, if you consider the PSP update they were talking about. Otherwise, totally wrong on this one. Wait.... if I'm always right... and I got this one wrong... Ow, my head...

6. Death of PS2 (no actual announcement)



Here's a quick release list of upcoming PS2 games: Secret Agent Clank, Ghostbusters, Harry Potter, Ice Age, Transformers, Tiger Woods, Bigs 2, NCAA, Madden, Beatles: Rock Band, Jak & Daxter... aaaaaaaaand, that's about it. Just ported PSP games, dumbed-down current gen ports, and sports titles. You won't hear anything about the death of the PS2 coming from SONY, but then again, you won't be hearing much about the PS2 coming from SONY anyway. Consider this the last you hear about the system in the future tense.

UPDATE: Indeterminate. I would give myself a confirmed on this this one except for two reasons. 1) It's kinda impossible to really say that we know today that a system will be dead by next year, mainly because 2) I wasn't clear on what I meant by dead. Just because you sold a crap-ton of systems, doesn't mean it's lively. It's the cheapest system (console or handheld) still sold new at retail, so of course you're still going to see sales, however, no one is making new dedicated games for it. What would you consider to more accurately signal death: it's unit sales or it's relevance? I could argue both ways, though I was referring in this instance to the latter. Since, however, I was unclear, I'll leave this one in the middle.

7. I swear! Gran Turismo is coming out! For both PSP and PS3! Trust us!



No, really. For certain, they're going to mention it. For certain, if it (by chance) does happen to come out this year, no one will care. Games like Forza have long ago made the wonder of GT obsolete. Oooooh, GT5 looks way better than any game made when it was first announced in 2006! Last year, they couldn't even pinpoint if it was going to make the end of this year. Usually, over a year out, that means it won't. As for the PSP version: it may have been silent for a long time, but it's more likely that a smaller, less expensive version will be able to rush to market by the holidays. And it is way more likely to help the PSP in SONY's big handheld push this year, than Gran Turismo is to help the PS3 in any way, especially with God of War III coming before the next E3.

UPDATE: Confirmed. Both were mentioned, both were... well, whatever. It should also be noted that Microsoft did announce a new Forza as well.

8. Oh, yeah, don't forget about God of War III, etc...



Gameplay, this time.
Oh, and possibly ICO 3 and definitely Twisted Metal are going to hit the PS3 booth if not the press conference. Count this all as one prediction.

UPDATE: Confirmed, confirmed, busted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you gotten an indication of how I think SONY works? Well, we'll find out if I'm wrong tomorrow. And if 1-5, 7 & 8 don't even happen in some capacity... I'm extra right. Can't you see?! I can't lose!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Anyway, thanks. And check back tomorrow to see if I was right at all.

UPDATE: So, I was right for the most part, even taking into account the nebulous predictions (still, I'm right on those, too). However, I did learn today that I can be wrong sometimes. However, if you read back a little bit, you can see that in those cases where my predictions are incorrect, this also makes my whole-hog assessment of SONY still accurate. I may have been wrong once or twice, but I still didn't lose! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Still. It was an amazing show for SONY, and it's been a while since I've been able to say that without sarcasm. GG.

Read On, Friends!

The Pre-E3 Microsoft Prediction/Wishlist Word. (Updated.)

A mere four days lie in between gamers and what may be the biggest mind-fuck of an annual media frenzy. Not really. But it is to us.

It's no secret that I'm partial to Microsoft's console, though by no means do I step over the line of fanboy. That being said, it is understanding that I report to you my predictions of what may come of Microsoft's press conference on June 1st, not unlike some crazed sports lunatic holding a fantasy draft in the dreary confines of his garage.

Update: I suppose it's time to see if I was right, no?

I pledge to remain realistic and fair, friends:

1. (First, but by no means the most important.)
Halo: ODST.

Not since the February Game Informer have we heard anything new on this expansion pack, and I'll be damned if Microsoft doesn't choose to milk the hell out of this franchise even further on June 1st by releasing some sort of information.

A playable demo seems too pie-in-the-sky for the time being, but I have a feeling we'll definitely see something a tad longer than a snippet of gameplay during the conference.

A demonstration of the much spoken of, but never explained stealth system perhaps?

You better, Microsoft.

It's too early for Gears 3, and more Fable DLC won't fill the void of exclusive exclusivity, so if anything is golden, it's this.

Update: Yes, yes and yes. I was right. A demo was played during Microsoft's keynote showcasing flashback sequences, and the open world aspect of the campaign. This is starting to look like it's own game Probably explains why we'll be shelling out sixty smackers this fall.

2. (I'm ready to have my heart broken, okay?)

No Metal Gear Solid 4.

If this isn't it, which it probably isn't due to leaks, whispers and a gut feeling, than I have a feeling that it won't ever come.

It's the ripest of times for an announcement, and while something else Metal Gear Solid will be announced, it definitely won't be the further proving of the fact that nothing nowadays is truly exclusive.

So congrats Kojima. You're a moron.

Update: Yeah. I was right. BUT. We did get a Metal Gear Solid of sorts.

3. (Demographics widen, another attempt into the hearts of the casual.)
Microsoft's Motion... Thing.

Whether it's a souped up eye-toy or a wand of sorts, it most definitely will be revealed next week. This probably is Microsoft's worst kept secret concerning E3 announcements, and it's about time we wade through the bullshit and discover the truth ourselves.

I personally think that a motion wand may be too much of a rip-off of Nintendo's Wiimote, so I'm presuming it's just a sequel to the Xbox Live Vision Camera..

And when it is, I cannot wait to savor the face_palms.

Update: I was right-o. Project Natal is here, and it's blowing minds. Check it. And I'm double right-o for guessing exactly what kind of peripheral it would be. Oh lord, I'm awesome.

4. (This plays fairly well. I'll take two.)
Demos. Demos. Demos.. Some Gameplay.

Whether we actually do play them or not is up in the air.

Mass Effect 2 will probably unveil an unholy amount of itself to us (it's pretty much confirmed.)

Red Dead Redemption will make itself much more public. (We'll see what the previewers speak of with our own eyes.)

And DJ Hero will try it's damnest to make a splash.

(Oh. And Modern Warfare 2 will most likely make otakus and fratboys alike shit their pants.)

Update: For the most part, I was correct. This prediction was more of a generalization than anything, so it was a pretty safe bet. As for the specifics, Mass Effect 2 was present, along with DJ Hero. Rockstar, unfortunately was absent from E3, making Red Dead Redemption a no-show as well.

Oh, and Modern Warfare 2 was there, and we all definitely shat our pants in excitement. Arguably the most anticipated game at E3.

5. (The fusing of hipsters.)

Zune HD gets priced, dated.

Game related? No.

But the Zune itself might just be. There's a gut feeling that the Zune HD may sport some sort of Xbox LIVE applications, if not now, in the future.

But whether there is or not, why not show off a brand spanking new piece of hardware while you have the publics eye?

Update: I was wrong. The only Zune related news at E3 was the introduction of Zune Video coming to live, enabling the option to view high definition movies and television shows from the marketplace. But as for the Zune HD itself, it'll go public another day.

Makes sense to me.

6. (The first tentpole.)

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Me being a Grand Theft Auto enthusiast, am thrilled by the announcement that was made earlier this week.

It's exclusive for the 360, is a mini-sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed/best selling games of all time, and after the bang for our buck that we got with Lost & Damned, this sure as hell will be one of Microsoft's tentpoles for the day.

I'm expecting a trailer, at the very most.

What can I say? I'm a realist.

Update: Wrong again. As previously mentioned, Rockstar was absent from E3. Disappointment, indeed.

7. (The second tentpole.)

Gears of War 2: All Fronts

It's no secret. In fact it's been announced, described and dated.

But as for "Road to Ruin", the new single player chapter?

Mum's the word, if that's the correct saying..

This being Microsoft's baby, I'm sure that a milking will take place, in the forms of a trailer or any sort of gameplay footage.

I dunno about you, but seven new maps and an expansion of a single player experience for an exclusive title is a pretty darn big deal.

Update: Surprising, wrong again. Microsoft had enough on their plate to not have to focus on this exclusive franchise, which is actually a positive thing. Who know when further news will come forth.

Read On, Friends!