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Loadout Playstation 4 Review, PS4

Loadout Playstation 4 Review, PS4

Another World 20th Anniversary Edition Playstation 3 Review

Release Date: 2014 | Players: Single-player | Genre: Cinematic platformer, action-adventure  | Console: All Major Consoles | Author: The Old School Game Vault

The Intro:

There’s been a spate of remakes of classic games recently. Another World is one of the games that has gotten the remake treatment. However, after playing through Another World, or Out of The World, as it is called in some places, you might wonder – what exactly constitutes a classic? Is a game being old enough to classify it as a ‘classic’? Or does the game in question have to be any good for it to get this kind of a tag? Because if gameplay is a factor, Another World is by no means a classic.

Not Impressed:

Look, it’s not a completely terrible game. It does have a few things going for it – a unique art style that is impressive when you consider what consoles the game originally ran on, and it even has a fairly interesting story that’s told without any dialogue. But unfortunately, since it’s a game, it has to be fun to play before you throw around terms like ‘classic’. To put it simply, Another World just isn’t fun to play.

The Game Play:

You play as Lester Chaykin, a scientist who finds himself on a deserted alien planet when an experiment goes wrong. Not much is made immediately clear about what is happening on this planet, and the ambiguity draws you in. You are nudged in the right direction via a series of sounds and on-screen cues, instead of relying on cutscenes. This is all great, and this kind of promise is exactly what makes what comes after unbearable.

Once you actually start controlling Lester, you’ll realize how broken the control scheme is. At various points, Lester seems to act of his own accord. You may want him to walk or run or jump, and sometimes he just stands there. Suddenly find yourself in a firefight and frantically press the fire button? If you’re lucky, Lester will fire. Or maybe he won’t, leading to yet another demise. When a game is difficult, you expect to die a lot. But in a game like Another World, you’ll die a lot simply because the controls don’t work at random times.

The puzzle design In Another World is decidedly average, but still the puzzles give you a sense of accomplishment when you manage to figure one out, thanks in no small part to the controls. You will have plenty of moments when you contemplate throwing the game away and bashing your controller against your console. This is not to say that games which don’t have a clear walkthrough are bad. Quite the opposite in fact – games which put you into an environment and expect you to figure out things on your own can be quite exciting and challenging, but not when they’re implemented like this.

If you want to put a player in charge of someone who’s suddenly been transported to an alien planet and want them to experience the confusion of the protagonist, it is understandable. But you need to make sure that at the very least, players find some connection to the game or to the character. If your character moves around erratically, may or may not jump or shoot for no particular reason, and isn’t particularly nimble in a game that involves a significant amount of platforming, you’re doing something wrong.

There is definitely something to be said for a game having a great story and pleasing art design. When you add those elements onto a competent gameplay product, you can elevate something average into a product that is remembered for a long, long time. But in a gameplay medium that requires the player interaction to tell the story, you need to have good gameplay. There simply isn’t no substitute. You look at the success of the Mario series of games, for example. That is an entire franchise that has been built purely on good gameplay and has little to no story elements to speak of. That is the reason why the Mario series has made a special place in the hearts and minds of so many gamers.

The Conclusion:

While you might have played Another World back on the old-school Amiga and therefore have a nostalgic fondness for it, there is no way you could defend the same product decades later. Now that we have all of this great technology, why not go in and fix some of the elements that the original game lacked? Instead, we have the exact same game with the exact same control scheme, but this time on the newer generation of consoles. The developers should’ve gone back to the drawing board and presented Another World to a new generation of gamers with suitable adaptations, like the team that worked on the Oddworld remake managed to do. Instead, Another World 20^th Anniversary Edition is the same old world, with the same generic puzzles and terrible controls.

Game Score: 4.0 Out of 10

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Game Trailer:

 

Video Game News: By Gamers Bay & The Old School Game Vault (+playlist)

Top Tips for Selling and Trading Used Video Games

Although you may want to keep a few favorites around for replays, most of your used video games will never be played again. When you want to buy new games, earn extra cash, or just free up some space in your room, it's time to go through your old games and see what you can trade or sell. The strategies below can help you trade in and sell games more effectively.

1.  Timing Is Everything

There are good and bad times to sell used games on the market. The worst time is close to the release of a new console, when everyone is trying to unload their old games; the competition drives values down. The best time to unload a game is just after a sequel appears. People enjoying a sequel may want to pick up the earlier games in the series. Another good time is right before the holidays, when people may be getting games as gifts.

2. Play and Sell Faster

If you buy a game the day it is released, play through it quickly, and sell or trade it within a few days, you will be able to sell or trade it at a premium. If you are not actually enjoying a game after an hour or so of play, unload it quickly to recoup your investment rather than just tossing it on a pile of games you might eventually get back to sometime.

3. Don't Open Games You Don't Want

If you get a game you do not really want as a gift or part of a discount bundle, do not open the package. You will be able to sell or trade an unopened game at a high premium compared to one that has been opened. 

4. Invest in Special Editions

When you have a choice, invest in special or collector's editions of games. These sell at a premium compared with standard editions. If you go to cons, autographs or other game related memorabilia can enhance the value of your games. 

5. Sell Entire Series

Make attractive packages by offering game series for sale or trade both as individual games and as a series package. A complete series of a popular game will be especially attractive. 

6. Appearance Matters

The better the exterior appearance of the game, the more attractive it will be to buyers or traders. When you first open a game, place all the packaging in clear plastic freezer bag, so it won't get scuffed, dirty, or misplaced. 

7. Join Gamer Communities

The more gamer communities you join, the more markets you have for selling or trading games. Becoming an active or respected community member by helping people on game forums, developing new strategies, writing guides, or setting records enhances your visibility, and helps you sell and trade games.

8. Become Trusted Vendor

Many sites where you can sell or trade games rank vendors. Buyers take ranking seriously. Make sure that you respond to requests promptly, ship as and when promised, and generally are truthful, reliable, and willing to resolve disputes amicably.

Video Game News for (3-19-2014) By Gamers Bay & The Old School Game Vault

Video Game News By Gamers Bay & The Old School Game Vault (3-6-14)

It Has Arrived - Video Game News Presented By Gamers Bay!
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