Did you know....

The Neogaf forums are teeming with interesting information. You find many rants and what I like to call gamer snobs in the forums but I came across an interesting one I found was worth sharing. I stumbled upon a thread that started off pretty boring but snowballed into a legendary thread. Showcasing many mind blowing facts that range from NES games to our current favorites, many minds were blown. Post #70 came and changed our lives forever....


We begin with Super Mario Bros on NES, which contained an interesting fact that many of us might haved missed the first time around. . . .the clouds were the same model as the bushes, just recolored.

Moving on. . . . judging from an in-game screen shot and a picture of the instruction manual, it seems Metroids first made their appearance in Kid Icarus back on the NES.

Mega Man 2 also held a small surprise. In an otherwise tiled background, the big dipper can be seen right before the door to Crash Man.

If you look around Donkey Kong's treehouse in DK64, you see a red girder from the original Donkey Kong, Cranky's phonograph from Donkey Kong Country, and a painting of a dolphin which was the code name given to the Gamecube.

Grand Theft Auto IV seems to have taken its font from an unlikely source.

Here is another way to look at the Half Life logo

Left 4 Dead's logo can literally be seen here in an x-ray during Chapter 2.

Taking a closer look at Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo's cover-art reveals Dhalsim hidden in E. Honda's hundred hand slap.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game reveals that Michaelangelo was a comic book enthusiast, as the Watchman logo can be seen on the bottom of his board. The Watchmen graphic novel was actually released around the same time so this could explain the bridge.

Nintendo likes to throw winks from its first party titles throughout their games. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time, after meeting Princess Zelda for the first time as Child Link, a peek into a nearby window at different angles reveals three very interesting portraits decorating the wall of Hyrule Castle - say hello to Super Mario, Bowser and Luigi.

On a same note, in Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, taking a closer look at the masks might have helped us to see this connection. . . .

To the Left, we have the level "Silent Cartagropher"from Halo 1, and to the right, the last level in Halo 3 titled "Halo".

Pokemon and its many sequels all take place in actual Japanese provinces.

On the same note, World of Warcraft might have taken a page from pokemon's book. . .

And last but not least. Glados from Portal was seen as the enemy, the antagonist, who broke free from human clutches and went berserk in the facility. A closer look could reveal otherwise....

And there you have it, some great video game facts from the Neogaf boards. Definately worth a look as I left out many, many other tidbits. You can find the link to the forum here http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232550

-Frank

Quickies Announcement

Here at Level Up we find ourselves out battling sea creatures and reigning down fire on the unworthy as we travel the lands on our mighty steeds. For this reason we have decided to bring you Level Up blog's first feature, Quickies. We shall send our news, tied to a falcon who will cross earth and bloody sky to bring you word of our travels and discoveries. Let us laugh in the face of time Muahahaha...Muahahahahahaaaaa....Muahahahaaahaaahaaaaaah

WCG Ultimate Gamer

WCG Ultimate Gamer's season finale just ended recently and I've been reserving my judgement till the end since I was on the fence about it. WCG Ultimate Gamer aired on the Sci Fi channel and ran 8 episodes complete with scenester drama, ridiculous challenges, and dare I say, some pretty hot gamer chicks?

Not all was lost. I actually enjoyed the show aside from the douchebaggery (more about that later). WCG had gamers running through real-life and game challenges at the same time to compete for the ultimate prize, $100,000, the ultimate Samsung package and a chance to be sent to China for the WCG International finals to compete on Team USA? I forget the details but it was probably because I had major product placement shoved down my throat ( again, more on that laters). WCG actually did a lot of things right for a gaming competiton. For one, they did a really good job of actually showing the gameplay between the matches and how they progressed as opposed to just showing "exciting game sequences" and intercutting them with the "gamer reactions". Biggest offender? MLG. The commentary to it wasn't so bad either, I didn't hate the hosts like I thought I would. I guess after seeing so much gaming on TV fail so bad, I expected to really hate the show and to be honest I didn't.

The show had its ups and downs for the group morality. I'm not completely sure if I needed the "drama" to keep me watching. What forced a lot of the gamers to hate or like eachother was the fact that the one who performed best had a choice to send whoever they wanted against the last place loser. So this made a lot of the them nervous, angry, and scared for the most part but overall I still didn't see a real reason to have a system like that in there, unless the producers wanted to push the drama in there to keep the ratings going?

Comin back to that douchebaggery. Trash/shit/smack talkers are annoying as hell and Zofag123, or Jamal, looks like he could use an asswhooping. The dude was making claims that were complete B.S. I actually question as to why a 30 year-old dumbf**k would constantly poke a fight with a 20 year-old about "whos got the skills" or however he tried to spin it. I found myself rooting for Swoozie and Prod1gy since there were tight. The only other downer was the constant ads. They plaayed in the Samsung arena, played bluetooth challenges on Samsung phones, won a Samsung phone to call home with, and played on Samsung TVs. I own one myself but the product placement was annoying after the 3rd episode. They stuck in commercials for the headsets they were using but I care less to even look up what brand it was.

Was it worth putting in the time to watch it? Sure. Would I reccomend it? Sure. The guys and girls on there are professional gamers in their respective fields and it was good to watch. It still doesnt have that "it" factor to really make us feel proud about playing games but its a start. Hopefully they can make some significant changes to the second season and make it passable, instead of just watchable.

Missed out on the season? You can catch all the episodes and extras at Hulu.com.

Review: Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 is a small step in a different direction. Where fans are familiar with certain themes and gameplay mechanics, RE5 may be called quite the opposite. Take it from someone who has completed the story mode and is on his second run to rack up those darn achievements. Resident Evil 5 while different, still brings the fun and excitement in zombie carnage.

RE5 has received its fair share of criticism over the years, mainly because of its “tank controls”. The game takes place in a different setting and still sports the same type of gameplay. For one the “tank controls” are now “turret controls” because you are unable to move and shoot at the same time. This has been increasingly frustrating for a game that is now grouped in the action-horror category. More about that genre jumble later. For a game that is supposed to be faster paced and more action-heavy, RE5 still persists on dragging the gameplay a bit by making you have to stand still when you aim and shoot at enemies. This was actually a breath of fresh air a couple of years ago but with today’s advancements in technology and what is expected from games now, leaves Capcom with no excuse. Dead Space which was a smash hit, actually gave the survival-horror genre a jump start and a fresh new look on how scary shooters are supposed to be done. Being able to move and shoot should have seriously been considered by the minds at Capcom.


This also leads to the slight disappointment with the genre not staying true to its roots. The Resident Evil series has been branded the leading survival-horror game since its inception. RE5 actually has nothing to really be afraid of. The game is set in Africa, in broad daylight. You see your enemies coming and the scariness of being trapped in a mansion, or a train, or a city full of zombies even, is gone. The campaign is now completed with an A.I. partner or a co-op buddy. The survival-horror title is no more in RE5. Action-horror, or just Action seems more fitting. While the story is nothing spectacular it does provide a lot of answers to the lore and stories from the other games. You might also say that with today’s endings, this is definitely an ending fit for a Resident Evil game.

The A.I. can be a bit inconsistent at times. Your A.I. partner reacts to your attacks and snipes heads really well but there are times when Sheva won’t pick up ammo laying on the floor or assist in opening the crates nearby to help free-up time in critical situations. I have experienced worse but I wish they would have given this area some more polish. I found myself being robbed of my achievements simply because she was either taking my kills or made me miss my opportunity in one way or another. The enemy A.I. was a bit on the “why would you do that” side. Yes they are mindless zombies, but if they are smart enough to use guns and take cover, why would they not try to run for cover when they see me blowing their friend to smithereens right beside them? Left 4 Dead taught us that when zombies are running at you, they’re going to claw at you with all their might. RE5’s zombies actually stopped running to start walking toward you 5 feet away. This just felt hypocritical in a way since they were just running for you.


These little flaws pail in comparison to how great and fun the game really is. Resident Evil 5 looks fantastic. The environments are hyper realistic and help set the mood. Whether you are traversing through a barren village, fighting a giant sea monster in the middle or a rainy ocean or fighting a swamp village of zombies, you can’t help but marvel at its beauty. While some character models are repeated you really can’t be angry at Capcom for coming up with some realistic looking and moving character models. I couldn’t get over how great a job they did with the coloring of the African Americans. In video games we have come across black characters and have identified them by the dark color in their skin but there is something about RE5's zombies that look absolutely incredible in their true-to-life depictions. I was literally in awe at how wonderful these characters looked.


The arcadey-feel that is presented in RE5 is the single most significant reason you will have to play this game. It provides you with strong replayability and a stellar campaign. Checkpoints are spread out very well so a section doesn’t feel too long especially if you feel yourself dying too much. The chapters and sections provide you with those bite-sized 10-20 minute sessions if you are usually short on time. The inventory system has improved in a way since you are able to have your A.I. partner Sheva, pick them up if you aren’t able to carry them. I also enjoyed being able to buy new weapons and items from the store. Upgrading your arsenal between chapters and death screens made the overall experience very enjoyable.


RE5 also provides you with a lot of extras and after-action trophies. Seeking out treasures and emblems for in-game achievements is a great reason for a second playthrough but RE5 offers many other incentives. Alternate costumes, infinite ammo locks and unlockable new weapons all beg you for a second playthrough. And if that wasn’t enough, Mercenaries Mode returns! I actually had a lot of fun with this back when it was introduced in RE4 but they have certainly beefed it up for its second iteration. I only wish there were more playable characters but playing mercenaries co-op with a friend is definitely satisfying. If only the campaign was split-screen as well.

The game is definitely more fun than it is frustrating. When you are provided with so much variety and built-in value, you lose sight of the little nit-picky arguments one may try to build against it. While the story may be a bit predictable, it still provides some great insight to the story of the series. RE5 is gorgeous, fun and definitely worth playing.

Grade: Favorable

Onlive - The Future of Gaming?

Just when we thought gaming had hit a critical milestone with web-broswer games on Kongregate.com or Instantaction.com, a new service plans to surpass cloud gaming and take on the 3 console gaming giants themselves. At GDC 09', Steve Perlman presented a 55 minute introduction to this service that's been in "stealth development" for the past 7 years.

Onlive is a new service that is set to come out in Winter of this year. It is a games on demand service, that will be releasing titles the same day as they hit store shelves. Rent them, buy them, demo them or even spectate someone playing them before you buy; Onlive is determined to take advantage of their streaming features. Complete with your own profile that includes avatars and your recorded "brag clips" they've made it a social experience as well. All it requires is a high-speed internet connection. 5mb will get you streams in HD resolutions while 1.5mb will translate to a standard def look. Perlman also explains that Onlive will be supported on both PC and Macs and will have an optional Micro-Console for your TV. Essentially you won't have to worry about your computer's hardware because the Onlive servers will take care of all that information crunching for you. Your machine becomes a "thin client" capable of running games on their high settings. The beta will be running this summer so the signups are available at their site, Onlive.com.

This brings up a couple of things to think about. Will the latency break the service? Gamers are picky, picky little girls and I could see this being a problem if the lag is significant enough to ruin the game. This is definately what could be the make or break feature for them. Onlive also will patch and update automatically so no need for waiting, downloads, and most importantly, no need to purchase new hardware which could be a direct blow to the Big 3. Is a possibly more affordable micro-console that plays any game from any system enough to win over your wallet? Could this be the beginning of the unified console myth that we've read about? Will Batman escape from the shark infested tank? Tune in next time to find out!

Level Up Awards 2008

Welcome to the first annual Level Up awards! After about 5 months of trying out everything on these lists, I wanted to compile something fun and entertaining. Initially, I had a more ambitious project planned for this but it requires too much time and resources. Something I will probably leave for next year. But on to the awards! I have to say 2008 was an extraordinarily good year for games. We saw epic final battles unfold after 10 years of storytelling (MGS4), we witnessed the birth of a brand new genre (Mirror's Edge), monster sequels (Gears 2, GTA4) and the invigoration of old ones (Fallout 3). This year also solidified the existence of downloadable games and that even handheld games can make big waves in the industry. The Wii is an unstoppable powerhouse, the 360 thrives in Japan and Ps3 barely starts to catch up. Meanwhile the PC quietly makes millions through digital distribution!

The nominees all deserve high praise for their hard work. Always raising the bar and yet bringing back familiar themes we love. I had a great time playing all of them and I feel it shouldn't have to come down to just one winner. I kept the list short and stuck with genre because they give a general feel as opposed to "best PS3 game" etc. Those aren't as interesting to me. All categories include all systems if applicable. And now, without further adeui, the 2008 Level Up Awards!

The Nominees are...

1. Bionic Commando Rearmed

2. Castle Crashers

3. Mega Man 9

4. Braid

5. Geometry Wars 2

6. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix

And the Winner is....

Castle Crashers stole my heart the second I saw the intro. What I loved about it was the arcadey feel it gave off and sparked fond memories to the days of Gauntlet. Finally, an XBLA game that I can play with 4 of my friends while sitting in the same room. Castle Crashers was fun everytime I picked it up and it provides superior replayability. Character unlocks, pets, and new weapons are all just some of the incentives to keep playing. With the ability to level up your character and customize his strengths, you can't argue with how great a game this is.

The Nominees are...


1. Chrono Trigger DS

2. God of War: Chains of Olympus

3. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

4. Final Fantasy: Crisis Core

5. Patapon

6. Professor Layton and the Curious Village

And the Winner is...


Call me a sucker for Final Fantasy games but no one can argue about the epic story jammed into this little UMD. Where the other Compilations of Final Fantasy games failed, Crisis Core redeemed the name. Crisis Core has the best visuals I've seen on a PSP and with it comes great gameplay that mixed RPG with turn-based elements. The introduction of Zack Fair as a main character was a fresh new perspective to the usually-gloomy story plots. There is hope for the FF7 universe afterall.

The Nominees are...

1. Valkyria Chronicles

2. Advance Wars: Days of Ruin

3. Red Alert 3

4. Tom Clancy's Endwar

5. Sins of a Solar Empire

And the Winner is...


Valkyria was a fresh new experience. Who knew I could get my action-rpg, strategy, epic anime fix all in one place? I'm okay with turn based combat, but throwing in active movement and strategy elements completely sold it for me. I wish they could have let you done more with the customization of your armies but this game could open up a whole new grey area of multiplayer. Sadly it got crushed in the onslaught of game releases in the November-December window. I hope it has legs for the unfortunate souls who have yet to experience its majesty.

The Nominees are...

1. Persona 4

2. Fallout 3

3. Tales of Vesperia

4. Fable 2

5. The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

And the Winner is...

The hours I have sunk into this game are scary. At this point in time I haven't even completed it but I've been staying away from the main quest line since I've read it stops the game. Yes there's a patch out but I wanna finish it correctly! Fallout does feel like Oblivion with guns but it does alot of new things right. They definately captured the Fallout universe really well and give you that sense of walking alone in the wasteland which is something we all need to experience atleast once in our lifetime.

The Nominees are...

1. Gears of War 2

2. Call of Duty: World at War

3. Resistance 2

4. Left 4 Dead

5. Grand Theft Auto 4

And the winner is...

Left 4 Dead is special. Valve totally nailed the fun in the multiplayer department. You can't have replayability without a fun multiplayer and it seems Valve had this in mind. Co-op campaigns are always fun, so when they incorporated the multiplayer experience into that I was skeptical at first but it totally works with both the pacing and the gameplay. Left 4 Dead was definately a new enjoyable experience. With new free maps and modes coming, you can't go wrong.

The Nominees are...

1. Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures

2. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

3. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

And the Winner is...


Warhammer online caught me by surprise. I didn't expect an MMO game to feel so easy and stress-free. People could argue about balancing issues and end-game content all they want but those issues plague almost every MMO out there. Warhammer is the first title to even come close to WOW and I commend them for it. They introduced public quests, capitalized on RVR combat and gave you great incentives like achievements and live events. Warhammer had a great launch and remains to be a tough competitor.

The Nominees are...

1. Dead Space

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

3. Mirror's Edge

4. Grand Theft Auto 4

5. Prince of Persia

And the Winner is...

You have to hand it to Rockstar for being the studio that tends to keep pushing the boundaries and playing with your perceptions and moral values. GTA4 took that sandbox game we all know and love and gave life to it. I've never seen a city feel so alive and real as Liberty City, it's the ultimate playground. You learn to even care for Niko Bellic, the tragic yet funny protaganist. The animation and dialogue are superb, you truly feel like you are making conscious decisions with the people you call your friends. Rockstar never seems to dissapoint and has been the most consistent innovater.

The Nominees are...

1. Left 4 Dead

2. Far Cry 2

3. Gears of War 2

4. Resistance 2

5. Call of Duty: World at War

And the Winner is...

Gears of War 2 blew my expectations out of the water. Based on the campaign from part 1 you would think they would stick some kind of generic storyline to a bland plot but Gears 2 definately broke through that stigma. They added new enemies and new weapons sure, but they changed the perception to the Gears universe and really brought you into this visceral world. The pacing was unstoppable. I felt like I didn't want to put the controller down because I'm in the middle of a movie and I wanted to see what happened. Add an already stellar multiplayer mechanic with it's own set of upgrades and you got yourself a winner.

The Nominees are...

1. Fable 2

2. Grand Theft Auto 4

3. Fallout 3

4. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

5. Left 4 Dead

6. Gears of War 2

7. Dead Space

8. Call of Duty: World at War

And the Winner is...

Metal Gear Solid 4, what an emotional journey. Tying up all the loose ends for the past 10 years and marrying it with a great new control scheme and innovative gameplay. Hideo Kojima has really captured the art of storytelling and no video game comes close when it comes to the genre. You feel the cycle of life pass through this game and the controversial topics it covers. I was thinking to myself how incredible it is that you only really play as snake 2 times out of the 4 games. The cutscenes are beautiful and so realistic in their execution. I couldn't believe the amount of work that was put into such a huge project. The Metal Gear series ended Solid Snake's story with a powerful and enthralling ending. Well done Mr. Kojima, well done.



So there you have it. After 2 weeks of fighting with my busy schedule I bring you the first Annual Level Up Awards. 2009 seems to be just as promising and I look foward to bringing you my ambitious project in the future.

-Frank