Retro Fix: Pokemon Yellow
1999 was a golden year for handheld gaming. With the truly astronomical success of the original Pokémon titles for the Gameboy the previous year, an enhanced version was released to tie-in elements of the animé series, and Pokémon Yellow was born.
Whilst the popularity of Pokémon has certainly dwindled in recent years, in the Western world at least, The Newb Review thought we’d send out tom01255 to take you, our beloved readers, on a trip down memory lane and try to explain just why Pokémon Yellow was so great.
Paul Taylor: A Path Into The Games Industry
Way back in the post-millennial haze of 2003, I was at college and Ian (co-owner of Mode 7 Games) had just graduated. Ian told me that he was making a game, that it was something to do with sword-fighting and that he needed some music for it. I complied, willingly, as I’d always wanted to do a game soundtrack.
We had a development meeting in Ian’s flat: I remember it especially well as it was a bizarre collection of Ian’s friends who had been formed into a loose-knit indie game dev team. I’m the only survivor of those days!
iRate: MM-NO!
If I were to mention the ominous acronym ‘MMO’*, most will immediately recall the all conquering World of Warcraft (WoW). The most successful MMO of all time, at the last count WoW had over 12 million active players. Computer games are, for many, a form of escapism. They are a place where gamers can go to step away from the rigours and stresses of the everyday and witness some pure enjoyment within the fantastical.
“Well, MMOs like WoW fill this idiom, don’t they?” You may well ask. My dear friends, I would argue that they do not. I agree, they present a level of escapism: who can claim they aren’t escaping when they run around the lush fields of Azeroth as their chosen muscular Night Elf or ludicrously buxom human mage? However, escapism is a misnomer when the developers insist on emphasising human interaction within their game world.
iRate: Annoying Things Non-Gamers Say
BE HONEST, YOU DID NOT SEE THAT COMING
We are generally a casual gamer friendly site over here at The Newb Review. However, one thing that really perturbs us is vexatious 'non-gamers' or 'game-muggles' assaulting us with their narrow minded, uneducated comments!
But fret not fellow gaming enthusiasts, for we have compiled a library of witty and wholly appropriate come-backs or 'truth-bombs' to give you an advantage over your foe. Take them to school Joefeesh...line
iRate: DLC Exclusivity and Me… A Hate/Hate relationship
Ah the joy of gaming… You finally sit down with the latest multiplatform release and let the gaming goodness wash over you, fully enjoying everything there is on offer. But hang on a second…There are bits missing aren’t there? It’s seems you can’t enjoy the same game as your rival console owners, not because of shoddy porting issues (we’ll save that for another iRate article), but because the developer has decided to sell off their reputation to the highest bidder and screw over around half of us gamers in the process. Oh well, at least they make a bit of extra cash…
The epic war of the consoles between Sony and Microsoft (the Wii isn’t made for gamers; see ‘iRate: Wii never play it really’) seems to have descended into a tit-for-tat squabble; each company sinking to new lows by securing the exclusivity of relatively minute amounts of individual titles. Sure, the Joker maps from Batman: Arkham Asylum are only available to PS3 customers, but does Sony really think that this pathetic half-step is going to incense XBox owners into purchasing the rival console?
Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play – 2. Lucidity
Hello! And welcome to the long over due second episode of Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play, a series of articles from The Newb Review where we recommend some bloody good games that have been far over-shadowed, often by games with lower quality, but higher marketing budgets. Episode 1 (an article on the fabulous game Henry Hatsworth in The Puzzling Adventure, found here: http://rt.nu/9jissu) came out some time ago. However, as something of a new year's resolution, our very own Crofterz has made it his mission in life to unearth these valuable gems for you, our beloved newbs.
Massively Overrated Games You Probably Should Avoid 3. Metal Gear Solid 4
Here at The Newb Review we like to think that gaming journalism isn’t all about picking up popular games and telling you how great they are. Tom01255 has adopted this idiom as his own personal mantra as he delves into games that everyone seems to love, but he really doesn’t… Join him as he talks us through the critically acclaimed and widely prized Metal Gear Solid 4.
Massively Overrated Games You Probably Should Avoid 2. Fallout 3
With all the merriness and festivities that came with Christmas and New Year, The Newb Review thought we'd commission Crofterz to stop the world from exploding (you can thank us later) by balancing it all out with some good old fashioned anger and misery. Join him as he takes us through the critically acclaimed wasteland of Fallout 3.
You may accuse me of cheaply bashing “Fallout 3” just to provoke reaction, enraging people into commenting and emailing in order to gain a few extra visitors to the site, and you know what? You're right (well... partly).
I know how beloved Fallout 3 is to a lot of you gaming folk. It's so beloved in fact that it has spawned multiple DLC packs and a Game of the Year edition of the game... But I just don't get it.
Lessons From The Past: Motion Controllers
So as we all know, 2010 is when the future starts. Of course, we also know the future of gaming is motion sensing technology. For too long the controller has been a barrier to entry for new people to interact with their games. Finally we can see a new dawn in gaming where anyone can get involved and the only controller required is you. People, the future is now... the future is 1993 and it's name is the Sega Activator.
And The Winner Is…
So, the final votes have been tallied and after several arduous arguments, a final conclusion has been drawn regarding our Game of the Year. In an unprecedented move, one game has stood head and shoulders above the competition in the eyes of the writers here at The Newb Review. This title has not only impressed us immensely since release, it has received over twice the votes of any other nominee. Remember to have your say in the comment boxes below or in The NewbReview forum (link at the top of the page). So, without any further gilding the lily, and with no more ado, we present The Newb Review Game of the Year Award to…
Our Amazon store
We’re On Twitter
We’re on Youtube
We’re on iTunes
The Shop
Reviews
5.0 : Review: Mass Effect 2 (6 votes)
4.9 : Preview: Battlefield Bad Company 2 (20 votes)
4.9 : THE EVENT - Dragon Age: Origins, The Warden’s Quest (20 votes)
4.9 : iRate: Four reasons why online play sucks the joy out of gaming (18 votes)
4.9 : Review: Dragon Age: Origins (18 votes)- 4.9 : iRate: DLC Exclusivity and Me… A Hate/Hate relationship (8 votes)
4.8 : Review: Red Faction Guerrilla (20 votes)
4.8 : Review: Fifa 10 (18 votes)
4.7 : Confessions of a Trophy Whore (13 votes)
4.7 : Review: Army of Two: The 40th Day (7 votes)
Control Panel
User Commments
- Mightyles on Amazon store bargains!
- kamiza on Amazon store bargains!
- tom01255 on Amazon store bargains!
- Mightyles on Amazon store bargains!
- Mightyles on Amazon store bargains!
- Joefeesh on Review: GT Racing: Motor Academy
- Review: GT Racing: Motor Academy | The Newb Review on Review: N.O.V.A
- Mightyles on Review: Heavy Rain
- Joefeesh on Retro Fix: Pokemon Yellow
- Mightyles on DLC Review: Assassin’s Creed 2 – The Battle of Forli & Bonfire of the Vanities
Recomended websites
- 7 Bit Arcade
- Frugal Gaming A great site for video game deals
- Frugal Gaming Forum The community section of Frugal Gaming.co.uk where you can find the best gaming bargains (main site currently under maintentance)
- Gamerdork.net Gamerdork is a gaming site with excellent articles, a friendly community and a superb podcast
- Yet Another Review site Games reviews written by gamers for gamers
Recomended Podcasts
- Gamerdork UK Hosted by Xibxang and Ratsoalbion, this is a superb podcast with excellent commentary on games and gaming
- Pink and Deadly
Categories
Archives
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
