61 Frames Per Second : playstation network

The 61FPS Review: Noby Noby Boy – Part One

Joe Keiser — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

So, Noby Noby Boy.

Noby Noby Noby Noby Boy.

Hoo, boy. Where to begin with this one?

Okay, so you know how the PlayStation Network Store has a sort of “poetry bar” section? You know, those little arthouse games that are all about music or movement, where there’s absolutely no sweaty biceps and no casting of firaga? Most people either love those titles for their innovation and high-mindedness, or hate them for their stark simplicity and liberal college pretentiousness.

Noby Noby Boy could well be the most polarizing of those titles. It’s the least game-like of all the games on the PlayStation Network Store (unless you count Aquatopia as a game, which unless you are a cat you probably should not). It’s not just that there are no goals. There’s no progression, at least not any you can make significant strides towards. Controls are floppy and obtuse. Graphically, it’s on par with a CG animation demo from the early 1980s.

On the other hand, it could become the only game in this loose “genre” that is uniformly beloved. The art style is undeniably charming and completely unintimidating. And because at first glance the game doesn’t seem to have any sort of message, it can’t bludgeon the player over the head with any sort of message.

Do you see why this is so difficult?

I feel like no matter how anyone ends up feeling about it, the first impression of the game will be the same for all: delirious confusion. For me it was a delighted delirious confusion. “What is that parrot doing?” “Whoa, I’m stretching!” “Oh no, I fell off the edge of the world!”

But shortly thereafter, the apparent lack of breadth of the situation began to take its toll. Self-instantiated goals all just seemed to be new and creative ways to battle the bizarre control scheme, and the small size and homogenous feel of the randomly generated maps quickly began to feel stale.

And yet, every time I was about to feel like I was truly done with this crazy dreamscape, Noby Noby Boy would do something unexpected and completely, brilliantly mad. So the earliest experience of the game is minutes of a kind of fruitless, trying experimentation followed by a random, sudden discovery that tickles your brain with new ways to experiment. Eventually it’s fair to believe that these discoveries will snowball into a flash of insight moment where Noby Noby Boy clicks—hence the multiple-part review.

It’s pretty rare that a five-dollar downloadable game requires a two-part review, but Noby Noby Boy is a pretty rare sort of work. The first impression of the game demands to be chronicled, but at the same time it feels like the sort of thing that needs time to really sink in before you understand why it’s worth playing. Next time: the sinking in.

Past Reviews:

Big Bang Mini
Retro Game Challenge
Edge
Game & Watch Collection
Valkyria Chronicles part 1 & part 2
Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore 2
Prince of Persia
LittleBigPlanet part 1, part 2
Dead Space
LOL
Dragon Quest IV
Ninja Gaidan 2 part 1 & part 2
Metal Gear Solid 4 part 1 & part 2
Wii Fit
Grand Theft Auto IV part 1, part 2 & part 3

PSOne on PSN: Somehow, it’s Suikoden

Joe Keiser — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:47:00 GMT

Just in time for me to tell you about it before our holiday break, Sony has updated the PlayStation Network Store with another PSOne game. I’m not telling you this because this marks the second week in a row we’ve gotten a new PSOne on PSN game, although that probably at least ties the service’s previous record streak. No, you have to know this because the game is Suikoden, the excellent 1996 RPG that set the stage for its even more excellent sequel. So that’s the best part. The second best part is it’s selling for the PSN standard $5.99. That sound you hear is hundreds of Ebay sellers having simultaneous aneurysms.

Between this and last week’s Castlevania Chronicles, it almost seems like Sony and Konami have figured out how to use this service properly. Both these titles are uncommon and in demand from franchise fans. Neither game has aged particularly badly, if you keep in mind that Chronicles was a port of a port and already felt pretty old school upon its original launch. And finally, they’re both from extent franchises that each could use a bit of a boost right now.

Dare we dream that this is the beginning of an actual, viable, classic PSOne service? Could our world be one where anyone with a few dollars and a song in their heart could play Silent Bomber? That would truly be a holiday miracle. In any case, you should buy this right now: not only will it accompany you well on your travels via PSP, Konami could get the message and follow up with my favorite PSOne game, Suikoden II. Seeing that $150 masterwork on sale for six Washingtons would bring incalculable joy to all. Well, to all besides those Ebay sellers. They'll probably be pretty pissed off.

Related Links:

Beating the Dead Horse Who Has It Coming: Playstation Releases on PSN
Sony Gives Thanks Via Charming PSN Deals
Sony Might Just Hate You

Screen Test: Takahashi's Nobi Nobi Boy

Cole Stryker — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Wait, a second. Is that Pedobear?

Eccentric Katamari mastermind Keisha Takahashi has announced that his new game, Nobi Nobi Boy will hit the west sometime in early 2009 at around $9(USD).

We're all a little bit confused as to how this game is going to work, and these new screens do little to shed light on the game's core mechanics.

More Takashi Murakami-esque screens and a few very different videos after the jump:

Compare this video, released in '07:

With this more recent one from this year:

Completely different, right? The first video looks more like the new screens, and the latter one looks like an unimaginative cross between Snake and Pacman. Either way, I picture an army of kids singing that transcendent theme tune, annoying the crap out of their parents. I guess Takahashi had to pull out all the stops after the classic Katamari theme.

(via Kotaku)

Sony Fans, Meet Your New Totem: Sackboy

Nadia Oxford — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:45:00 GMT

Your dear mother has undoubtedly told you at some point, "You need to have a wife. It's good to have a wife." Maybe you agree or maybe you disagree, but either way, singles feel pressured to hunt down a mate even while insisting to themselves that the single life is totally rad.

Sony's adopted your mother's stance on companionship, but instead of spouses it's talking about mascots. "Every system needs a mascot. It's good to have a mascot. Here, Sackboy now represents Sony."

"Gee Sony, Sackboy is awfully cute, but is it a good idea to make him the spokes...doll for the company? We don't actually know how LittleBigPlanet will sell. And honestly, I'm okay with Sony's lack of a mascot--"

"It's good to have a mascot. Now start making babies."

If you feel wary, it's okay. Sony's previous attempts to match us up with digital companions resulted in lukewarm relationships before sputtering out: Crash Bandicoot, Lara Croft, Kratos. Even Microsoft fared far better by branding itself with Master Chief.

What do you think about Sackboy as Sony's new representative? LittleBigPlanet will undoubtedly be awesome, but even though we gamers are a grasping, superstitious lot, there's never any guarantee of a title's success. LittleBigPlanet might launch with gusto and burn brightly before crashing to earth like a failed science project. Also consider that the Internet's favourite hobby is to adore a big-name title for a few months, then dump on it (cough cough Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Grand Theft Auto IV cough hork).

I initially thought Sackboy looked like a hanged gingerbread man. He creeps me out a little. My husband was horrified at my comparison. I haven't yet told him that I changed my mind and decided that Sackboy looks like the Gimp from Pulp Fiction...if the Gimp was supremely happy about his position in Zed's shop, I mean.

Related Links:

LittleBigPre-Order Confusion
E3 Opinion: Because It's Cool To Complain

New Mega Man 9 Trailer: I'm Drowning in My Childhood

Nadia Oxford — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:18:00 GMT

Don't throw me a lifejacket, though. I'm quite happy here.

On its way to gearing up for E3, IGN posted a fresh new Mega Man 9 trailer. For starters, the trailer finally confirms that Mega Man 9 is in fact destined for PSN and XBLA as well as WiiWare. Game news outlets and even series creator Keiji Inafune have been back and forth about this. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Inafune said "We haven’t announced a XBLA or PSN title yet. Do the fans want them?"

I guess he was playing around, that sly dog. I revere him.

The trailer includes a good deal of gameplay footage. Lots of pits, spikes, and those disappearing-reappearing blocks that used to haunt your childhood nightmares. I know a certain robot dog who will be fitted with his jet upgrade as soon as possible.

What's really thrilling to see make a return are the big colourful animal robots that would block your progress in Mega Man 2 and beyond. A circus elephant with a big red ball will be joining the mechanimal stable, which includes notables like Hot Dog from Mega Man 2, those damnable orange cats from Mega Man 3 and of course, Dragon. You know what game Dragon is from, right? He made you crap your Alf underwear when he first appeared. Don't deny it.

Little bits of the opening story are available in the trailer as well. Looks like Mega Man's dealing with a good ol' fashioned robot rebellion with just the slightest twist of intrigue: Dr Light has been framed for the latest party. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, there's no mysterious new heroes, no angst, no batty Biblical references. Good.

Other characters might be playable, though. Did you happen to spot Roll clinging onto the RushJet for dear life? It's funny because housekeeper robots are supposed to stay in the kitchen! Ha ha!

Mega Man 9 Goes Back To Your Roots. Way Back.

Nadia Oxford — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:00:00 GMT

If you grew up playing the Nintendo Entertainment System, then you also grew up with a persistent blue scamp named Mega Man. The adventures of the little boy robot and his red dog take us back to long hours spent in chilled suburban basements, stuffing our gobs with pizza while eluding Dr Wily's robots.

The Mega Man series has given birth to no less than six spin-off series over the past twenty years, taking us far away from those days of greasy control pads and cherry Kool-Aid. The last entry in the original series (as in, numerical sequels without any extra letters attatched to "Mega Man") was Mega Man 8, released over a decade ago. It was no surprise when recent whispers about Mega Man 9 were dismissed as rumour.

But lo, the August issue of Nintendo Power talks to series creator Keiji Inafune about the phantom game, which is a phantom no more. The original Mega Man is back. Literally. Mega Man 9 will feature NES-style graphics and will be available for download on Xbox Live, Playstation Network and as a Wii Ware title.

These are not "NES-style graphics" as in neon-shaded highlights slapped over old sprites that throb obsencely to pumping music. Looking at the screenshots in Nintendo Power will hit you so hard with memories of Mega Man 2, your teeth will rattle.

The simplicity is a pretty big jump back from the lush graphics of Mega Man 8. I mean, nostalgia is awesome, but dayumn.

Still, maybe this is what the gaming world needs. A budget-priced download that will doubtlessly provide at least a few hours of uncomplicated hardcore platforming. I know I'm due for my fix.

Oh, and what's a Mega Man title without its harem of Robot Masters? Mega Man 9's stable reportedly includes: Magma Man, Galaxy Man, Jewel Man, Concrete Man, Hornet Man, Plug Man(!!!!), Tornado Man and Splash Woman(???) .

I don't know what to say about Splash Woman. I guess I wanted to see a female robot master when I was eight years old, but I'm kind of over the gender inequality now. It's a good trade-off for blowing up evil robots.

And the less I speculate about Plug Man, the better.