~The Games~
Metroid fusion is the only game on this list that is not for the PS2. It is, in fact, on the Game Boy Advance. The game itself is relatively short, lasting only about three to four hours. But, those hours have been some of the most fun I've ever had on a video game.
The game follows the general idea of the previous games. You play as Samus Aran, a bad-ass female bounty hunter sent to fulfill your role as such. This particular game is slightly different in that you start off with the bare bones of equipment; your basic energy beam. As the game progresses, you learn and acquire new moves and weapons through defeating bosses and downloading them via a data room. Samus' arsenal ranges widely from simple energy beams, to missiles, to her infamous morph ball complete with bombs. By the end of the game you feel ready to take on any challenge.
Where Metroid Fusion truly shines is its story. For a hand held game it's relatively deep. You begin by becoming infected with a parasite that threatens your life. Samus becomes vaccinated from said virus and is now immune. From this point on, Samus is sent to a spaceship simulating multiple environments where the virus originally broke free. It is here that you meet a wide range of enemies and bosses, especially the powered up version of yourself. The previously infected parts of Samus' suit were sent to the ship for containment. Unfortunately the virus was smart enough to duplicate Samus DNA structure and forms a clone. This poses as the main threat throughout the game.
Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is primarily a platforming game with a heavy emphasis with third person shooting, a very heavy emphasis. You play as Ratchet, a creature known as a Lombax, who’s job is to save the universeÉagain. The story plays out that the main villain, Dr. Nefarious, plans to turn all organic life into robots. You gain the aid of the Galactic Rangers, who pretty much to nothing but “guard the meatloaf.” Like previous installments you will run into Captain Quark, a good for nothing hero who takes credit for Ratchet’s accomplishments. Throughout the entire game you will be laughing at the simple hilarity and jokes that the characters make.
The gameplay in Ratchet and Clank is what makes the game so appealing. Throughout the game you will be able to purchase a variety of unusual and, sometimes, hilarious weapons. Some include a cannon that sucks enemies up then uses them as ammunition, a gun that will infect enemies and turn them against each other, and another that turns them into ducks, yes, ducks. Unlike the previous game, Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, each weapon will be able to be upgraded multiple times, instead of just once. Each upgrade slightly changes the gun in terms of attack and appearance with one final change that changes it altogether. This game also offers more replay value then the previous two titles. It still offers skill points, which are achieved by completing hidden or difficult tasks that unlock fun mods for the game. These can be “big head mode,” reversing the camera, or alternate costumes. There are also “trophies” and special “bolts” (the currency in the game) that can be found hidden throughout the game. They are placed in difficulty places that are hard to reach are see. These can merely provide bragging rights to players. And, as with other games, collecting everything will unlock the Insomniac Museum. This is a hidden area that the developers included to show character models that weren’t used, testing, and parts of the game that had to be left out.
In addition to the single player game, there is also a multiplayer mode, a first for the Ratchet and Clank series. Although it’s not very deep, it still provides an added experience. It includes the basics of deathmatch, capture the flag, and a destruction of the opponents base
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the long awaited sequel to Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. You take the role of Naked Snake, an undercover agent for America that has to infiltrate Russia undetected. Your goal is to gain information on a possible nuclear device that had been stolen. You come to learn that your previous mentor, The Boss, is responsible for the theft. As with KojimaÕs other games, the story can be very confusing at times. It isn’t until the very end that the player learns the truth. The game is a story of espionage, twists, and surprises.
This third installment is slightly different then the other Metal Gear games. There is a new aspect known as stamina. This depletes as time goes on. The rate at which it decreases is determined by the amount of items you have equipped. Eating can restore this. Food can be found throughout the game or by eating wildlife. A camo system has been put into place as well. You can now become camouflaged with your environment by equipping different types of camouflage and face-paint. The game will give you a percentage that tells you how well you are hidden. There is a new healing part of the game. Whenever you are injured or hurt, you will have to heal yourself manually. This included healing burns, cuts, or poison.
The bosses in Metal Gear are usually a main highlight in the games. This one is no different. Snake will have to go up against the Cobra unit, a select group that all have special abilities. Each one of the cobras has a specific attribute that requires strategy to defeat. For example, The Fury is an ex-astronaut that uses a flamethrower, The Pain uses bees as a weapon, and The Fear uses speed and invisibility. There is also the extremely well known boss The End. Personally, he is my favorite boss battle of all time. He is an old man that hunts you in the woods with a sniper. The whole round is a game of hide and seek. Each one of you is camouflaged. The first to find the other is generally the victor. Depending on how you play, it could last anywhere from ten minutes to multiple hours.
Resident Evil 4 has been rated one of the best games of all time, and for reason. You take the role of Leon Kennedy. He is in search of the president’s daughter that has been kidnapped by a terrorist group. Leon travels to Spain in search of her. From the moment he arrives the villagers attack Leon. You are now forced to defend yourself while trying to uncover the mystery of what has happened in the village. Unlike other Resident Evil games, the zombies are truly “zombies.” They are infected with an insect that gives them zombie like traits.
The games atmosphere is creepily quiet at others and then wildly erratic. There will be times when you jump out of your seat. There is one part where your walking through a kitchen and a random zombie jumps out of an oven. The zombies come at you in hordes, and are not the slow walking ones of previous games. The very first level pits you against an entire village with just a handgun and a knife. The very sound of a chainsaw in the game instantly makes your heart race. You will always be kept on your toes since the game can randomly demand you to press action commands to escape certain situations.
A new mechanic in the game is where you shoot the zombies, or ganados as the game calls them. If you shoot them in the leg they will fall to the ground, opening them to hand to hand moves. You can shoot weapons out of their hands or air. Shooting them in the head is still the most effect method of bringing them down. There are still the silly and unusual puzzles that are always present in the Resident Evil series. There will be times when you have to escort Ashley, the president’s daughter, around the game. This adds a new play mechanic since you have to find ways to protect and hid her from your enemies. The bosses in the game are varied and extreme. Some are a local who can extent his spine with multiple limbs, a giant alligator, and a giant (known as Los Giagantes). The PS2 version also comes with an additional gameplay mode where you can play through an alternate characters story. The game deserves all the awards and praise it has received.
Devil May Cry 3 is actually a prequel to the first two games. Once again you are placed in the role of Dante, the half-demon half-human son of a legendary demon. The previous title had been a great let down for fans of the original game. Fortunately, Capcom has redeemed themselves through the newest addition to the series.
The story within the game is relatively light. Your goal is to stop your twin brother, Virgil, from erecting the demonic tower known as Temin-ni-gru. The tower will be able to act as portal between the human and the demonic world. From there Dante meets few characters, including a human named Lady, a demon called Jester, and Virgil's accomplice Arkham.
The actual gameplay is where Devil May Cry really shows why it's on this list. You get to choose from a number of "styles" with more unlockable throughout the game. Each styles gives Dante certain advantages. For example, the style trickster lets him dash about and dodge attacks, swordmaster excels in sword attacks, and gunslinger emphasizes the use of Dante's standard dual pistols. From this point, combos can be strung together like crazy, giving the player a style rating at the end of each mission. Each weapon and style can be upgraded through the use of "red orbs," a type of currency in the game. There's also a wide range of weapons that the player gets. With the defeat of each boss a new weapon is obtained. These include dual swords that use wind and fire, powerful gauntlets, and an electric guitar that can shoot out bats, yes, bats. The game offers multiple replays and has also been called one of the hardest games to appear, ever. Originally, the Japanese hard mode became the American normal, giving gamers a chance to brag about their skills. A special edition was later released, giving the correct difficulty settings.
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