Girl in the Machine - This guy are sick.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Something to cheer about.

I've been a long-time fan of the Castlevania series. From the humble days of Simon's first hunt to the slew of sequels today, Konami's vampire-slaying series has done 2-D sidescrollers right. Recently, a petite collection of screenshots for Castlevania's newest iteration, Order of Ecclesia, was released unto the masses along with a few juicy tidbits regarding the game's plot and gameplay.

What primarily caught my eye is OoE's protagonist. Our vampire hunter this time around doesn't just look like a woman, folks -- Castlevania finally has its very first bona fide lady lead.

Meet Shanoa, the champion of the Order of Ecclesia. She's sent to clean up the bloodsucking mess left by Richter Belmont after he goes missing from the vampire-hunting scene. Little beyond that is known about the story at the moment, but I imagine that there will be a host of supporting characters that will help out our heroine as well.

There have been, oh, about a million Castlevania games since the series's birth in the late eighties, and if there's anything a fan can depend on Konami's franchise it's repetition. Castlevania struck gold with Symphony of the Night for the original Playstation: rich, detailed locations, lavish music, a cast of interesting characters, and innovative RPG elements combined with real-time sidescrolling combat. The series experienced a revival with the Gameboy Advance's Circle of the Moon, and that game plus every one after it has stuck fast to SotN's formula.

Typically, we've had a rather rigid scenario: protagonist seeks revenge on Dracula / person trying to revive Dracula / other Dracula stand-in for the kidnapping of his lady love. The whole damsel-in-distress angle is pretty much a cornerstone of the Castlevania experience, but after twenty-four dame-rescuing titles to date, it's enough to make even the most loyal fan feel like she's been playing the same game over and over.

I'm pretty excited about Order of Ecclesia. Portrait of Ruin changed things up a little with a duo of protagonists, but OoE's Shanoa will be the very first woman ever to take the starring role of a Castlevania game. I'll be sure to snap up this title as soon as it's released, and I'll give my impressions then. In the meanwhile, I'm going to hope for the best that this is a trend that will continue to change one of my favorite game series for the better.

Labels: Action Adventure, BomberGirl, Castlevania, Getting it Right

Posted by BomberGirl
11:15 AM + Link to this post
2 comments

Friday, February 1, 2008

First Friday Drinking Game

The beginning of February signals something in the hearts and minds of corporations everywhere that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. And while our retinas are being mauled by hot pink hearts and blazing red kisses, it's also nice to think of how to spend the most romantic of days with our loved ones. Really, if you ask me, there's nothing more romantic than a fine wine, dimmed lights, and the sounds of laser beams and barrel rolls wafting through the air.

That's right, bitches--it's the First Friday Drinking Game, and we're making sweet, sweet love to the Star Fox series.

1 drink each time the characters interrupt each other in game
1 drink whenever Peppy tries to tell you what to do
2 drinks if he tells you to do a barrel roll
1 drink for every instance of Panther referring to himself in the third person
2 drinks every time Panther opens his mouth
1 drink each time Slippy needs saving
2 drinks when Falco finds a way to insult you after helping him
1 drink whenever Falco sounds overwhelmingly like he's from New Yawk
1 drink whenever someone mentions James McCloud (warning: avoid Peppy and Pigma scenarios)
1 drink for each not-so-ambiguously-gay moment between Fox and Wolf
1 drink every time Fox is able to stand on the wing of a flying space ship with no problem
1 drink for every "this character just died--psych!" moment in SF Assault
2 drinks if that moment actually does end with someone dying

And finally:
Finish your drink solely for the comedy gold that is "Faather?" at the end of SF 64

Warning: Excessive drinking during game play may result in erratic steering of the Landmaster and subsequent destruction of massive buildings and teammates alike. Play with caution!

Think I forgot something? Suggest a rule in the comments section!

What drinking games do YOU want to play every month? If there is any genre or specific game you want featured in FFDG, drop me a line at PlasmaRit at gmail dot com.

Labels: Action Adventure, First Friday Drinking Game, PlasmaRit, Star Fox

Posted by PlasmaRit
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Monday, January 28, 2008

Sister slasher samurai slashing zombies up in here.

ZOMBIE WHALE.

Am I done now? No? Fine.

This is a screenshot from Oneechanbara: Vortex, part of a Japan-only series (yes, it's a series) of hack 'n slash, zombie-dispatching, motorcycle-riding, bikini-wearing, samurai/cowboy proportions. The series was first introduced in 2004 on the Playstation 2 and has seen many iterations and upgrades since then. Recently, Oneechanbara Revolution was announced for release on the Wii, bringing what I'm sure will be very imaginative motion controls to the unique franchise.

Oneechanbara's name is something of a mouthful indeed, combining the words "sister," "samurai," and "slasher," which I suppose says it all. It combines Dynasty Warriors-style combat with the occasional motorcycle romp, and players can typically switch between protagonist Aya and her schoolgirl sister, Saki, for even more zombie-goring shenanigans. There is also, inevitably, a dress-up mode.

That's all there is to it, really. You play as a waifish Japanese girl dressed in a bikini and cowboy duds who drives around on a motorcycle hacking legions of the undead to pieces with a samurai sword invoking magnificent sprays of blood and oh by the way, remember that zombie whale? It's all just as ridiculous as it sounds, and frankly it leaves me confused.

True enough, Oneechanbara combines everything your stereotypical gamer nerd desires: chicks, ultra violence, sweet bikes, and samurai/cowboy action. The thing is, however, it's so goddamn kitschy that not only are you utterly unable to take it seriously, it doesn't even take itself seriously. It's a goofy game that cranks up the camp without crossing the line into ick-territory. Games like Dead or Alive alienate female gamers with gratuitous panty-shots and gravity-defying tit physics in an otherwise great fighting game; Oneechanbara achieves exactly what it sets out to do while keeping things, well, strangely light and fun.

Plus, you have it give it this: the ladies of Oneechanbara are all kickass, take-no-prisoners, zombie-stomping gods of the blade that are never victimized. The games don't exactly set out to make you think, and they're far from intelligent as far as concepts go, but there is something there.

In the end, is Oneechanbara over the top and ridiculous? Definitely. Is it offensive? No. I expect many people will disagree with me, and that's perfectly valid. But, looking at the big picture, this is a game that, while it may toe the line, it does so with humor, and you can't help but look at it as an amusing parody of everything that's wrong with the gaming industry.

Labels: Action Adventure, BomberGirl, Stereotypes

Posted by BomberGirl
7:59 AM + Link to this post
4 comments

Friday, January 18, 2008

There's Something About Krystal

There's something about Krystal that bugs me. I know, I'm in the minority here, but she never sat quite right with me. I guess the sudden disappearance of Katt Monroe after Star Fox 64 didn't help much, but I was unhappy with this less-than-stellar substitute. Thousands of questionable pictures featuring the sexy blue fox were circulating all over the internet, doing little to improve my opinion. Well aware that I was more than a little prejudiced, I decided to give her a chance as the Star Fox series grew over the years.

Where did she come from, you might be asking? Krystal started out as one of two main characters in Dinosaur Planet, a Nintendo 64 game Rare was developing in 2002. However, with the upcoming release of the Gamecube and few opening titles to release at the time, Nintendo made a deal with Rare to transform the 3D action adventure game into Star Fox Adventures. The game received a full makeover to help make it relevant to the rest of the Star Fox series; as a result, Krystal went from a 16-year-old adventuring cat to a 19-year-old blue fox demoted to the role of damsel in distress. Sure, you play as her for about the first five minutes of the game, but after her capture (and even after her release), Fox takes over.

Unfortunately, Krystal's role in SFA was not a very good first impression for me. Rare missed a great opportunity for using her and Fox together in the game, but I guess Tricky was already taking that role. Although I had misgivings about her, that didn't stop Krystal from gaining an undeniably huge fanbase, furry or otherwise.

Star Fox Assault for the Gamecube saw Krystal go from ineffective damsel to a full-fledged member of the Star Fox team. While she remained The Girl of not only the team but also the entire game (aside from the Aparoid Queen I guess, but she doesn't count), I was grateful to see that she wasn't slathered in pink. I do however call shenanigans on the constant hip-popping and coy body language she displayed in every single dialogue scene she was in (and I don't think the destruction of Corneria is a good time for that kind of thing). Nevertheless, it was great seeing her in a more active role than she was in SF Assault.

Although, it would be naive to say that Nintendo wasn't pushing Krystal as a sexy pinup girl during the time of SF Assault's release. There are several official images out there (including the title image above) that are less than innocent. Sexing up Krystal may have sold more games, but it wasn't doing much for the image of female characters in the video game industry.

Star Fox Command is where Krystal really shines. The text-heavy story and multiple endings give her character an opportunity to be explored. The game focuses primarily on her and Fox's rather unstable relationship, which can be either mended or not depending on the path you choose. The story begins when Fox forces Krystal off the team for fear of her safety, effectively ending their relationship. With good reason, Krystal is hurt and angered by Fox's actions, and she ends up joining the Star Wolf team.

What I love about her role in this game is that the story reveals her flaws. Krystal is not just a 2D psychic piece of arm candy for Fox--she's stubborn. She gets mad when she's hurt. She makes bad decisions, but can also fix them. Krystal appears constantly in the game and even becomes the main character for some endings. Although, I probably could've lived without the Kursed ending; not only is the name cheesey (although she doesn't change her name in the Japanese version), her Jaded Space-Roamer outfit is a little too sexified to take seriously.

SFC really did change my mind for the better. Sure, I'm still not a huge fan, but I was happy to see Krystal as a more fleshed-out, three-dimensional character rather than a cardboard poster girl for the Star Fox team.

Labels: Action Adventure, Character Spotlight, PlasmaRit, Star Fox

Posted by PlasmaRit
3:21 PM + Link to this post
4 comments

Friday, January 4, 2008

First Friday Drinking Game

Happy New Year, kiddies! Drag out the half-empty bottles of champagne and get ready for the the first FFDG of 2008!

Several of you probably received a copy of Super Mario Galaxy over the holiday season, and to celebrate this wondrous occasion, January's drinking game is all about Mariooo iiiin spaaaaaace. And really, who can resist pairing bubbly, sparkly champagne with this bubbly, sparkly game? Hand the kids some white grape juice and let's get crackin':

1 drink for every level featuring the Bowser Jr.'s (seriously, what happened to the koopalings?)
1 drink for every curse word uttered during those insane ball-rolling-over-hole-punched terrain stages
2 drinks for stages that involve holding the Wii-mote perfectly vertical (this rule can be combined with the previous one)
1 drink every time Cosmic Mario just barely beats you
1 drink for each boss battle that involves hitting it with its own projectiles
1 drink each time you fall off that stupid water race track
1 drink for every Cosmic Comet that appears
2 drinks for every Speed Comet that appears (to get you fired up and ready)
3 drinks for every Daredevil Comet that appears (so dying won't seem so bad)
1 drink every time you consider feeding a Luma until it explodes to be kind of weird
1 drink whenever the mushroom space crew's cracked-out voices creep you the fuck out
2 drinks whenever Luigi gets himself into a pickle (warning: this rule is for the hardcore)
3 drinks for realizing that Rosalina looks exactly like Peach with an emo swoosh

And finally:
Finish your drink when Peach ends up getting kidnapped AGAIN (really, girl should invest in some effective body guards by now)

Warning: Excessive drinking during game play may result in drunkenly-guiding Mario into a blackhole to his stretchy, implodey death. Play with caution!

Think I forgot something? Suggest a rule in the comments section!

What drinking games do YOU want to play every month? If there is any genre or specific game you want featured in FFDG, drop me a line at PlasmaRit at gmail dot com.

Labels: Action Adventure, First Friday Drinking Game, Mario Bros., PlasmaRit

Posted by PlasmaRit
2:43 PM + Link to this post
1 comments

Friday, September 21, 2007

A Primal Love for Jen Tate

Introducing: one of the greatest female video game characters you've never heard of.

Primal is a game that flew under the radar when it was released for the Playstation 2 in 2002. It tells the story of a couple caught in the middle of an epic struggle for control over the multiple worlds: that of Arella, Lady of Order, and Abaddon, Lord of Chaos. Unsatisfied with the balance of the two powers, Abaddon seeks complete domination; part of this plan involves a kidnapping.

Here is when Jen and her boyfriend Lewis enter the scene. On a typical night, Jen and Lewis leave a club after Lewis's rock band finishes playing; they're accosted by a strange man. The night ends with one of them missing and the other half dead--but whom? This is where my love for the games flourishes.

The intruder transforms into a horrific beast, kidnaps Lewis, and leaves Jen in a pool of blood on the asphalt. With the help of the gargoyle Scree, Jen must overcome the attack, restore the balance of Order and Chaos, and save Lewis from the bloodstained hands of Abaddon. Primal turns the stereotypes of the Brave Hero and the Damsel in Distress on their heads--without it being a gimmick. Nothing in the game suggests a hint of "Look! It's the woman who has to save the man--isn't that hilarious?". Jen's personality is refreshingly realistic: she cares for her boyfriend, freaks out when she meets Scree for the first time, and uses humor to deal with unfamiliar situations.

Jen's main powers are her ability to transform into four of the different species that live in the Nexus: the Ferai, the Undine, the Wraith, and the Djinn. There are plenty of female characters in video games have a similar ability, such as Shania from Shadow Hearts 3. Unfortunately, most of these characters fall victim to hypersexualized transformations that leave many female gamers cold. But Jen's?

Are not pretty. In fact, they're visceral, ferocious, and ugly--a very rare sight for a female character. Her arms are bulging with muscle, and her face matches the feral nature of the species she emulates. She grunts and shreiks with a wild fury when she attacks, rather than gasping and moaning. Girl looks like she can tear you to pieces. And it's awesome.

So folks, go to your nearest video game store, dig through the used games, and try out this fantastic gem. The glitches may be a little frustrating, but Jen's refreshing character is well worth it.

Labels: Action Adventure, Character Spotlight, Getting it Right, PlasmaRit, Primal

Posted by PlasmaRit
12:53 AM + Link to this post
4 comments

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

I Love Girls with Big Swords. . . Waitaminute

Or, Advertisers make me crazy!

Here I was trying to enjoy some music, when all of the sudden—bam! I got hit by a massive advertisement for the recently released PS3 game Heavenly Sword.

I visited the game’s official website to learn more about it, hoping that my initial impressions about the game were incorrect—when I saw the sexy, long-haired woman with virtually no cloths and a gigantic sword spinning in circles ala Magical Girl style, I assumed the worst. I was immediately treated to an animated video that details the origins of the protagonist, Nariko, The video explains:

“So many were sacrificed, and even that fateful moment claimed one more treasured life. Our long awaited savior—the returning heavenly warrior—was born a worthless girl, a violation of the prophecy, the death of our hopes. How would this thing save us?”

As it turns out, her father chooses to keep his daughter alive (the video makes it clear that he considered infanticide), but she lives alone and receives the blame for all of her clan’s misfortunes. As her father hones her into a powerful warrior over the years, her clan seems to accept that she may be their only hope. After her father’s death, she goes on a journey for revenge, hoping not only to avenge him but also to redeem herself in the eyes of her people.

That’s some pretty heavy stuff. I’d consider the story much more substantial than the usual “pretty girl runs around with a big sword and kills stuff” games, and it seems to have plenty of RPG story elements mixed in with exciting action parts. I do have one major gripe, though.

The game’s catch phrase is, “Heavenly Sword. Vengeance has never been so beautiful.”

Once I’m done thrashing in place and screaming inside, I take a second look at the line. It’s a perfect example of the expectations marketers have for their consumers—it dismisses the majority of the female gaming population. A certain game with similar themes of revenge and courage would never have been advertised like that.

The ad simply doesn’t make sense to me. From my understanding of the game, beauty is the last thing on Nariko’s mind. I can understand making her attractive—even as a gay guy, I would vastly prefer playing a striking character like Nariko rather than a scabby, scarred, misshapen character. It’s part of the fantasy of gaming; however, I don’t like that Nariko is being objectified and that sexuality is being used to sell the game when it is completely irrelevant. Prettiness is unrelated to a blood hunt.

I haven’t played Heavenly Sword yet (and won’t for a long time—I don’t even have a TV right now, let alone a PS3! Make your donations to Girl in the Machine today!), so I can’t get into too much detail about the game—but I do think it has potential to bring out another strong female lead.

Any readers have this one yet? Can you tell us more?

(Images from Pandora Radio and the media page at the Heavenly Sword official website.)

Labels: Action Adventure, Calabar, Sexuality

Posted by Anonymous
4:45 PM + Link to this post
5 comments

Friday, June 22, 2007

Katt Monroe's Evolution

Warning: Ending spoilers follow!

When the original Star Fox came out for the Super Nintendo in 1993, I was but a wee six-year-old, as well as a novice at video games. I wasn't too good at this already difficult game, but I loved to watch my older brother navigate through each planet and ultimately defeat the incorrigible Emperor Andross, saving the Lylat system from certain doom. Watching the silver polygons flying around was exciting indeed, but what I really loved about the game was the large cast of characters. Each had their own personality and would react differently to Fox McCloud's actions and commands. Unfortunately, Star Fox, while bountiful with interactive persons, is also, undeniably, one big sausage fest.

So when Star Fox 64 arrived four years later, I was delighted to discover that progress had been made, and a grand total of one female character had been included. Now old (and coordinated) enough to pilot an Arwing myself, Fox and I set off on our grand adventure through Lylat, eventually happening across the polluted planet of Zoness. In the thick of enemy craft and sludge-covered sea monsters, I was saved by a lone ship piloted by one Katt Monroe.

At first, Katt's basic character history sounds very promising for the series's first official female character: a rogue pilot, she flies a Venom Invader ship she stole after the Venomian army destroyed her own ship. She fights on whatever side is against her enemies.

Unfortunately, Katt's less inspiring characteristics far outweigh her good ones. She steals a Venom Invader all right . . . but paints it a mind-numbing shade of pink (to match her equally pink fur, no less). She also has a well-known history with Falco Lombardi, a hard-headed member of the Star Fox team, which she never seems to let him or the player forget. These things may be easy to forgive by themselves, but it's what Katt says in the game that damns her character as embarrisingly misogynist:

“Starting without me? Boys, I’m crushed!”

Oh Katt, you little minx.

“Beautiful! I could kiss you for that!”

Seriously though, quit it.

“Is that any way to greet a girl?"

Oh, for God's sake . . .

“You trying to damage my pretty face?”

Huurk--I think I just threw up in my mouth a little . . .

It doesn't end there, either. Along with calling the Star Fox members "boys," Katt uses several pet names when talking to them, such as "hon," "little man," and of course, "Tiger." Her cringe-worthy voice only rubs salt into the wounds. It also doesn't help that whenever our plucky female pilot swoops in to save the team, a bouncy little ditty that I can best describe as Malibu Barbie-esque plays. Katt oozes girliness to the point of nausea, and it's unsettling. While all the male characters had personalities not directly related to their gender, SF 64 Katt seems to be nothing but "The Girl" of the game.

Even ten years ago, I was never a big fan of the really girly characters in video games. And yet, I really liked Katt. But why? I've recently come to realize that I gravitated toward her because she was female, and I could better relate to her in that respect. I loved all the cool aspects of her and let all the embarrassing declarations slide. Being the only female character in the game, I tolerated her flaws. This is what happens when a female character exists in a game merely as The Girl and not as a persona.

Star Fox Adventures came along, and Katt disappeared from the series. Star Fox Assault followed in 2005 with no sign of the feline pilot; the role of The Girl in the series seemed to be filled by Krystal, a character I had no interest in. In spite of Katt's sugary-sweet girlishness, I missed the skilled rogue pilot who didn't fit the damsel in distress role that Krystal sprung from.

In mid-2006, the first Star Fox game for a handheld system was released in the form of Star Fox Command. The game featured a winding choose-your-own-adventure style story that allowed for the introduction of a plethora of new characters. All of a sudden, there was no longer only one female character in the series; Krystal had to make room for Lucy Hare and Amanda. Along with these new female characters, it was in this game that Katt Monroe made her glorious return, completely revamped.

Instead of the cotton candy fur of SF 64, Katt now sports a coat of dark grey. She is garbed in bold yellow, red and orange with only pink trimmings; her ship has also been repainted with a fine shade of dark red. If that's not great enough, her personality has gotten a complete face lift as well; gone are the pet names and sexist double-standard exclamations. During Falco's storyline, Katt swoops in to save him not only once but twice. She never flirts with Falco in the game, and her relationship with him is mentioned only once. And when, at the end of the game, Falco feels jilted by the Star Fox team for defeating the Anglar forces without him, it is Katt who tells him to act:

Falco is consumed with rage. If all had gone to plan, he, Fox, and all the rest would be heroes writ upon a galactic stage, reveling in endless retellings of their victory, Instead, fate has seen fit to ostracize Falco from the Star Fox squadron. And then, just when things were bleakest, Falco got a message from Katt Monroe. "Forget those losers! Grab a couple of friends and form a new

squad!" Falco was usually too stubborn to heed advice, but this message came at the right time. Falco took Katt up on her offer, and they hunted for a third pilot, eventually finding their man--an elite Cornerian pilot named Dash! Together the three of them formed Star Falco, a unit that rivaled even Star Fox!

It's refreshing to see that Katt's personality finally matches her history of an independent renegade. She retains her femininity without succumbing to the confectionary dregs of The Girl. With the introduction of several new female characters, Katt is allowed to deviate from the suffocating label and have a mind of her own. While not perfect, she has grown quite significantly from her static heydays on the Nintendo 64. I applaud Nintendo for their decision to update Katt into a more unique persona that rises above merely being defined by her gender, and I hope to see more of her in the next major game in the series.

Special thanks to IGN, Gamehiker, Wikipedia, and Nightshade 64 for images

Labels: Action Adventure, Character Spotlight, Getting it Right, PlasmaRit, Star Fox, Stereotypes

Posted by PlasmaRit
2:00 AM + Link to this post
11 comments

Friday, June 8, 2007

Lara Croft's Ten-Year Mam Jam

Like most people over the years, I've played my share of Tomb Raider games. While the controls weren't really the best, I enjoyed solving puzzles and kicking some ass along the way. The crapfest that was TR: Angel of Darkness put me off from the series, and I moved on to more interesting games. I hadn't given Lara Croft much thought until I saw a rather irritating commercial advertising Gametap's Tomb Raider Ten-Year Anniversary bonanza thing. So, I decided to check out the weekly documentary discussing the franchise's history; what I saw didn't make me very happy.

I admit, I was naive. I went into the documentary with the tiny hope that perhaps we've made some progress in the past ten years--that maybe, just maybe, we could see Lara Croft as the smart, strong heroine that she is. Yes, as the doc stated over and over, Lara is a video game icon. Is it for the groundbreaking gameplay in Tomb Raider I? No. I believe a quote from the Gametap commercial pretty much sums it up:

"What would [gamers] rather look at: a hedgehog, a plumber, or Lara Croft's fair bum?"

For chrissake, people. It doesn't help that Lara's original design called for insanely unrealistic proportions that rival a Barbie doll. According to the doc, her measurements started out as 35" hips, 24" waist, and a 36" bust--and, in my opinion, a really freaky bobblehead. It's anyone's guess how she managed to raid any tombs without snapping in half from that tiny waist. From all the ads, the commentary, and the Lara Croft model search, the sad truth is that Lara's claim to fame rests only on her body.

At the very least, Lara has gone through a bit of a makeover; instead of the lollipop-headed hourglass freak show she once was, she's now more or less been appropriately equipped with a human-sized head and a torso that allows for a ribcage and the proper muscles to hold up her enormous endowments. Yes, she still has that bust, but I don't have a problem with that. Thousands of women all over the world have large breasts, and there's no reason to discriminate; I'm sure they'd like an icon to look up to as well.

But. When a woman has large breasts in our society, they become her identity. She automatically becomes free game for exploitation, and she as a person fades into the background. It's frustrating, and we as a society don't seem to be growing up any. It's as if these people have never seen breasts before, for crying out loud.

It was a nice try, but no cigar for me. Lara Croft is still known for her mams and has received the dubious honor of being a video game icon because of them. Perhaps one day the gaming industry will learn to grow up and see that large-busted women were not put on this earth to be boobs with people attached to them.

Special thanks to Gametap and Wikipedia for images

Labels: Action Adventure, PlasmaRit, Sexuality, Tomb Raider