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What to Watch this Weekend – May 18th Edition

By
Chris Scott
– May 18, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Columns, Editorials

This week it is really beginning to feel like the summer movie season. Three wide releases hit screens and those looking for something that is not The Avengers should not have a problem as all three will appeal to different audiences.

Say what you will about the quality of Michael Bay’s Transformers films but there is little denying that they were massive financial successes. As such, it is not surprising that toy manufacturer, Hasboro, would want to attempt to duplicate that success with another of their properties. What is surprising is that Hasboro thought their naval combat board game Battleship was the property that would be best able to mimic Transformers financial accolades. Starring Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, and pop-star Rihanna, Battleship looks to be a cross between Bay’s Transformers films and the video game Crysis 2. The film looks like a big dumb traditional action blockbuster. So if you are still looking for more high impact special effects sequences after The Avengers, Battleship might be your fix, just don’t hold your breath expecting anything quite as good.

Counter programming to Battleship (and The Avengers) comes in the form of two comedies Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest absurdity, The Dictator, and the atrociously titled, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Both films appeal to different demographics, The Dictator hitting 18-35 year old males and Expecting hitting 18-35 year old females (my wife thinks it looks terrible and I couldn’t agree more). The Dictator however looks like it might have more wide range appeal. While early trailers built up the outright debauchery and crassness of The Dictator, the newest trailers tease at something more, which is why it is my pick of the week.

Do you have any plans for the weekend? Let us know in the comments.

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Just In Bailey: Burning the Midnight Oil

By
Joey Alesia
– May 14, 2012Posted in: Columns, Editorials, Joey's Blog, Just In Bailey, Staff Blogs

Once upon a time, I took part in a sacred video game tradition: the midnight release.  I was young and able to stay awake.  Nowadays, I’m lucky if I’m up past 10 o’clock at night.  It’s actually kind of sad.  What makes the midnight release so cool?  Why would anyone want to stay up so late just for a video game?

Midnight releases evoke a certain excitement that doesn’t exist when you waltz into a GameStop at 10 in the morning, and are judged for not having a real job by the soccer mom going into the Old Navy next door.  There is a nervous anticipation in the air as people shuffle about in line, watching the clock tick down to that mystical minute after midnight.  And trust me when I say that minute is taken very seriously.  There will be no sale until those 60 seconds are up.  The buzz in the air is palpable.  Some places even have activities or giveaways for the faithful gamers.

The crowd that midnight releases draw is of a totally different caliber as well.  There isn’t the occasional group of kids or that one fool who acts like he knows what he’s talking about but just sounds foolish when he’s vomiting false information.  You know the one I’m talking about.  He struts in with his nose in the air, goes up to the counter, starts talking to the GameStop employee and asks for “that new Madden game.”  Then he turns to you and tells you all about how he’s excited for the new Call of Duty game that actually came out last year.  We’ve all seen this guy and it takes everything in our power not to laugh in his face.  But, I digress.  The crowd at the midnight release is made of fans, real fans.  You’ll even get the cosplayers.  These are the people who know what they buying and why they’re buying it.

I’ve tried to go to a few midnight releases recently and realized it just isn’t worth it anymore.  First, I’m already exhausted after a long day at work.  Then, I’ll get the game or system and get home.  By this time it’s half past midnight.  I have to go to work the next day. So, essentially, I’m losing sleep to get a game I won’t even be able to play.  But, that’s the price of growing up.

Getting a game at midnight is a sweet perk if you aren’t in the same situation I’m in, or if it comes out on the weekend.  There’s a certain coolness to having a game before the “normal” people who have patience.  The atmosphere, the environment, and the people make it a cool experience.  And really, who needs sleep?  We’ll sleep plenty when we’re dead, right?

 

 

 

Just In Bailey –an homage to the secret code from Metroid, which allowed you to play as Samus Aran without her suit– is an editorial column at Vagary.TV brought to you by Joey Alesia. What started as an alternate perspective on different parts of video games has since become a more wide-ranged look at the gaming industry from a gamer’s perspective with over 25 years of gaming knowledge and a twisted sense of humor.  Follow Joey on Twitter (@wrkngclsswrtr) or email him at Joey.Alesia@Vagary.tv.

 

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What to Watch this Weekend – May 11th Edition

By
Chris Scott
– May 11, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Columns, Editorials, Staff Blogs

It is another lite week in the world of new film releases.

Hitting theaters in wide release is the latest Tim Burton/Johnny Depp colaboration, Dark Shadows. Based on the 70s gothic soap opera of the same name, Burton once again brings his quirkiness to audiences. Unlike his last few releases with Depp (Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Dark Shadows does not seem to have the same wide appeal and I personally smell bomb.

Also releasing in theaters, albeit in limited release, is God Bless America. The dark comedy directed by Bobcat Goldthwait is well worth watching if you can find a theater showing it. If not, there is always The Avengers which is sure to hold strong in its second weekend of release, provided you are one of the few that has yet to see the blockbuster.

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Review: Xenoblade Chronicles

By
Joey Alesia
– May 8, 2012Posted in: Joey's Blog, Nintendo Wii, Reviews

There is an ongoing debate in the gaming community.  Many seem to think the Japanese-style role-playing  genre is dead.  They say the Western-style has taken over for better or worse.  To those non-believers I say this: JRPGs live on.  Nintendo and Monolithsoft have created a masterpiece in Xenoblade Chronicles for the fading Wii console.  Everything in this game shines.  The story, the cast of characters, the gameplay, everything comes together in a package that is well worth the price of admission.  Final Fantasy can learn a thing or two from this game.  Just make sure you have a lot of time to spare.  Once Xenoblade Chronicles hooks you, it takes you on a long ride that doesn’t slow down until the credits roll.

Being on the Wii may give some people pause.  The graphics aren’t high definition, but this is a perfect example of why graphics don’t make the game. The views are still stunning and the character models detailed enough.  The gameplay is fluid, only slowing down if there is a great deal of action during a battle.  Xenoblade allows you to use either the wiimote and nuchuku or the classic controller.  I tried both and preferred the classic controller myself.  I also found it amazing they were able to cram such a huge game onto one disc.

Not many games I’ve played recently have provided a reason for me to care a lot about the cast of characters.  Xenoblade’s cast definitely scratches that itch.  Yeah, there are some bad jokes, and the characters can be overly dramatic, but I was legitimately emotionally involved.  The voice acting was on point. There was genuine personality given to each of the characters.   One character sounded a lot like Ricky Gervais , which made his bad jokes even funnier.

Xenoblade Chronicles also has one of the better stories I’ve experienced in a while.  It begins with a battle between the Mechonis and the Bionis, two giant beings looking to destroy one another.  They injure each other to the point that they stop moving.  It is revealed that these giants are actually home to different beings.  The Mechonis is home to the Mechons, which are machine-like in nature.  The Bionis houses the Homs, or humans, the Noppon, and others.  There is a great war between the Mechons and Homs.  A year later, we meet the main character, Shulk.  After a great loss, Shulk and his best friend, Reyn start off on a quest for revenge that turns out to be something much bigger than they ever imagined.

Aside from the main story, there are literally hundreds of side-quests you can undertake.  These can range from simple fetch quests and monster hunting quests, to rebuilding an entire colony.  Xenoblade has the traditional gain experience and level up system with a twist.  Practically everything you do earns you experience, from completing quests to just finding landmarks, you’ll gain experience, ability points (AP), and skill points (SP).  These AP and SP can be used to enhance each character and allow for some customization depending on your play style.  There is also an Affinity system that tracks how much the relationships between characters grow, which in turn provides you with added skills and perks.  Characters can even collect and craft gems to enhance their gear.

There are no random encounters, which is a god-send.  Enemies roam the field of play.  Some may attack you if they see or hear you, others will only attack if provoked.  The battle system is fast-paced.  You have three characters fighting at a time.  You directly control one character, most times it’s Shulk.  The character uses regular attacks automatically.  You can choose to use different acquired skills, which will have to recharge after use.  These have different affects , such as causing status ailments, knocking an enemy over, etc.  The system is easy enough to grasp, but difficult to master.  One thing I did learn the hard way is that level-grinding can be necessary at times, especially toward the end of the game.

The only complaints I have about Xenoblade Chronicles are skin deep.  Sometimes the action can get really frantic where one wrong button press could cause a 20 minute boss battle to end in disaster.  There is a pop-up menu which allows access to the options, quests,etc.  If you don’t exit out of this menu , it stays up and can lead to you unintentionally going to a menu when you mean to talk to someone or battle an enemy.  Oh, and the name of the sword Shulk uses (which also plays a big part in the story), the Monado, is a stupid name for a weapon.  With awesome sword names like Masamune and Excalibur, Monado just seems weak.

I loved Xenoblade Chronicles.  It was a refreshing take on the JRPG.  I hope gaming companies see how well this game works and take notes.  I also hope that gamers don’t discount this game because it is on the Wii.  We need games like this to balance out the endless stream of shooters and sports titles.  With  great characters, well-designed gameplay, a thoughtfully touching story, Xenoblade Chronicles provides over 100 hours of awesomess that should not be missed.

Pros:

-Well thought-out story

-Touching cast of characters

-Fast-paced, tight, and balanced gameplay

-Tons to do.  The game can last over 100 hours and there is a New Game + available upon completion

 

Cons:

-Why didn’t this game come out sooner?  The Wii could have used more games like this

 

Score:  5/5

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Just In Bailey: You’ve Got No Friend In Me

By
Joey Alesia
– May 7, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Columns, Editorials, Joey's Blog, Just In Bailey, Staff Blogs

I like RPGs.  Simple enough statement, I think.  I’ve played a lot of RPGs during my gaming years.  Recently, I picked up Xenoblade Chronicles for the Wii (be sure to check out my review to see my thoughts).  While I was playing, I noticed something: only a few characters participate in battles.  This is an issue that many gaming worlds seem to have.  The question is why?  Why, and what are the others doing while you’re getting your behind handed to you in a boss fight?

Where is the teamwork in this?  You would think that with so many teammates, you’d have a ton of help.  A behemoth comes out to fight you and only 3 out of 7 companions take up arms against the beast?  What are they doing?  I tend to think they’re just sitting on the sideline, taking in the battle with a soda and a box of popcorn.  Saving the world isn’t really high on their list of priorities.  They just want to see a good fight.  Obviously, they’re traveling with you.  You can change their gear and spend tons of money on them.  Do they join in the fight though?  Nope.  They show no such gratitude.  You even see them in the cutscenes, sometimes contributing to riling the bad guy up so he gets ticked off, goes Super Saiyan, and wipes the floor with the 3 or 4 fools who decide to fight.  It’s like hiding behind the big guy in the gang and egging on the opposing gang.

And then, more often than not, the peanut gallery reaps the rewards that the fighting members worked so hard and risked life and limb to obtain.  It’s a real crappy situation.  They not only get the tangible gear and accessories, they also get the experience and get to share in the monetary spoils.  It’s amazing that they are able to leech off of the hard work of others.  No shame I tell you.

Now, I understand there are times where the party has to split up and tackle different objectives to achieve the same ends.  Take Final Fantasy VI for example.  There is a part in the game where the party is split into 3 different groups and each group has to work on their own to find their way to the secret meeting place of the underground group, The Returners.  And later in the game, there is another split to get through to the final boss, Kefka.  When the party faces Kefka, they don’t all fight at once, but, everyone does have a chance of participating.  Other RPG parties could learn a thing or two from the party of Final Fantasy VI.

 

Teamwork is key in any situation.  RPGs need to remember the old adage that there is no “I” in team.  If there is an enemy kicking the crap out of your friends, get in there and help them out.  The world is not going to get saved if you decide to just sit on the bench and suck up all the glory you didn’t earn.

Just In Bailey –an homage to the secret code from Metroid, which allowed you to play as Samus Aran without her suit– is an editorial column at Vagary.TV brought to you by Joey Alesia. What started as an alternate perspective on different parts of video games has since become a more wide-ranged look at the gaming industry from a gamer’s perspective with over 25 years of gaming knowledge and a twisted sense of humor.  Follow Joey on Twitter (@wrkngclsswrtr) or email him at Joey.Alesia@Vagary.tv.

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What’s Up With Vagary #11

By
VTV Staff
– May 6, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Columns, Editorials, Staff Blogs, What's Up

While the Vagary staff is comprised of a large group of like-minded individuals, that group has an eclectic range of tastes. What’s Up With Vagary is a chance for a selection of our staff to fill you in on what is sucking up the majority of their time during the past week.

Chris Coke – Podcast Manager

I’ve been knee deep in A Valley Without Wind this week and I’m likely to continue through the weekend. This is what platformers are about, ladies and gentleman, at least in the post-Minecraft/Terraria world. AVWW is one of those games that is likely to suck you in and keep you playing for weeks at a time — no minor accomplishment for a game that boasts, “[This] is what happens when you try to make a Super Nintendo title today.” It combines procedurally generated environments with expert platforming evocative of Super Metroid and detailed crafting and progression that mixes a little bit of Minecraft with a little bit of Elder Scrolls. Crazy, right? You bet, and bloody fantastic.

Magnus Risebro – Editor

Recently, I decided to break from Fez’s bonkers cryptography and manic note-taking to chill out with some good old Battlefield 3. Upon booting up the game, I noticed the new patch had hit, implementing gameplay tweaks, and far more importantly, the ability to rent EA’s multiplayer servers and set rules yourself. The result? PC-style disorganized fun, available for the first time on a console.

Now, one can barely find official EA servers in the haystack of servers entitled “SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY” and “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”, featuring poorly-spelled descriptions with YouTube links and banners covered in barely-covered tits and low-res pictures of the admin’s favorite guns. Frankly, it’s beautiful. The server-renting has also impacted the gameplay, as no-one features unpopular maps and everyone cranks up the amount of jets and helicopters while cranking down their spawn-times. In a time when console games seem to go increasingly in the direction of sterility and controlled multiplayer experience, it’s wonderful to see such a loosening of the leash, in an EA title nonetheless.

Whether The Man soon closes down the party or not, Battlefield 3 has never been better.

Chris Scott – Reviews Editor

Instead of taking this downtime in new game releases to work on clearing up some of my backlog, I instead used the time to watch large amounts of NHL playoff hockey and some international action as well, including the United States overtime win over rival Canada. However, in between games I spent time catching up on both Game of Thrones and The Killing.

After a slow start to the season, The Killing has fully grabbed my attention again. With Detective Linden deciding to stay in Seattle, the investigation into Rosie Larson’s murder can develop at its own pace and so far it has taken some surprising turns. Game of Thrones on the other hand continues to be one of the best shows on television. This season has seen the series take a slightly more liberal adaptation to the novels but so far it has all worked. The more I watch of Game of Thrones, the more I want HBO to adapt Stephen King’s The Dark Tower to the small screen.

  So that is what we have been up to, what about you? Fill us in by dropping us a comment.

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What to Watch this Weekend – May 4th Edition

By
VTV Staff
– May 4, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Columns, Editorials, Staff Blogs

 

It turns out I picked a crappy week to start highlighting the weekly theatrical film releases for Vagary. It is not the quality of the film releasing this week that is in question, just the fact that well… there is only one film releasing this week.

That’s right, after years of setup, Marvel’s The Avengers finally hits the big screen. Opening in 4349 theaters, the film is about as a wide release as wide releases get. My personal anticipation is high for this one and early buzz has been highly positive (as of this publication it holds a 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes). If you are a fan of comic book/superhero films The Avengers is one that probably shouldn’t be missed.

Recommendation: See It

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Just In Bailey: Say “Fuzzy Pickles”

By
Joey Alesia
– April 30, 2012Posted in: ACEN 2012, Blogs, Columns, Editorials, Joey's Blog, Just In Bailey, Staff Blogs, Vagary.TV

Once a year, the Chicagoland area is overrun with a totally different breed of people.  Grown men dressed as Sailor Moon are hanging around with girls dressed as Cloud from Final Fantasy VII.  It is truly a sight to behold.  What makes the sight even better are the looks on the faces of people who just don’t get it.  So, what is this magical event?  Why, it’s Anime Central, or ACEN for short.  ACEN is a three day event that pops up between April and June every year at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, a town just outside of Chicago.  What makes ACEN so special?  Follow me on a short journey if you will.

ACEN is a convention that showcases not only anime and manga, but video games as well.  The convention has several components.  There’s the exhibition hall, which is the area where merchants hawk their wares.  You’ll find tons of cool stuff to spend your hard-earned cash on.  There is a wide variety of graphic t-shirts to buy.  Forget Hot Topic.  If you want something cool or witty or just plain geeky to wear, this is the place to get it.  You will also find all sorts of replica weaponry to buy.  The only issue with that is you need a place to store it once you buy it.  ACEN is extremely strict on their weapon policy.  The hall also has toys, books, movies, and even import video games.  It’s a very dangerous place for your wallet to be as you could easily spend a grand and not realize it.

Another cool area to visit is the artist alley.  Independent and starving artists inhabit this area of the convention.  The talent here is pretty amazing.  What’s even cooler is that for a small fee, you can commission an artist to draw something of your choosing.  Ever want to see Link and Cloud locked in combat?  All you need to do is just ask.  Not only will you find some pretty sweet drawings, there are also handmade plush dolls, articles of clothing and more pins than you can count.

A lot of the pictures you can buy are prints.  Most of the original art can be found in the auction area where you can place bids or purchase pieces outright.  Just like the exhibition hall, the artist alley is another place where you can drop a great deal of money in a short period of time.

When you aren’t spending time and money, you can visit one of dozens of panels during the ACEN weekend. These panels are open to anyone and each has a specific topic.  Sometimes they are run by professionals in the anime or gaming worlds.  Other times, the panels can be run by just passionate fans.  We went to a panel this time that was Professor Layton themed.  The folks running it put together a puzzle competition.  There were 4 rounds of 10 minutes each.  The participants split into groups and each group received a packet of puzzles.  Every puzzle was worth a certain number of picarts (the points in the Professor Layton games).  The group with the most picarts competed in a final round.  The winning group received a small Layton doll and the grand prize was a larger doll.  These panels allow for great times with people and some even allow for quality discussion.

 

What makes ACEN such a great convention isn’t the art or the merch or the discussions.  What makes ACEN an experience is the cosplay.  It isn’t just Wookies and Storm Troopers here.  That isn’t to say you won’t find one.  The ACEN cosplay covers all areas of pop culture.  We saw people dressed as the White Power Ranger, Cloud, Mario, and even Doctor Who.  The article would go on and on with the different cosplayers we saw.  They even have photo shoots for like-dressed individuals.  The first year I went to ACEN, I dressed as Solid Snake and was part of a shoot with all kinds of Metal Gear-themed cosplayers.

People who don’t understand the anime or video game cultures may think ACEN is just a bunch of dorks dressing up like fools.  I think they can learn a thing or two from the convention.  What I love more than anything, what makes ACEN such a cool event, is the excitement and acceptance.  You can be anyone — or anything — you want and people will treat you no different.  Actually, the more unique you are, the more people will stop and ask to take your picture.  ACEN is a shining example of how tolerant people can be if they choose to.

So, if you live in or around the Chicago, or even if you’re from Alaska, I urge you to check out ACEN if you can.  It’s not just a typical convention.  Bring your craziest costume and get into character.  Bring your cash and your credit card.  Bring your camera.  And if someone stops you to take a picture don’t forget to say “Fuzzy Pickles.”

Just In Bailey –an homage to the secret code from Metroid, which allowed you to play as Samus Aran without her suit– is an editorial column at Vagary.TV brought to you by Joey Alesia. What started as an alternate perspective on different parts of video games has since become a more wide-ranged look at the gaming industry from a gamer’s perspective with over 25 years of gaming knowledge and a twisted sense of humor.  Follow Joey on Twitter (@wrkngclsswrtr) or email him at Joey.Alesia@Vagary.tv.

 

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What’s Up With Vagary #10

By
VTV Staff
– April 29, 2012Posted in: Columns, Editorials, Staff Blogs, What's Up

While the Vagary staff is comprised of a large group of like-minded individuals, that group has an eclectic range of tastes. What’s Up With Vagary is a chance for a selection of our staff to fill you in on what is sucking up the majority of their time during the past week.

Kyle Baron – Editor in Chief

 Pinball Arcade is the reason my World Gone Sour review was in late and it’s also why I finally GET pinball after a childhood spent playing Space Cadet Pinball for windows.

The tables in Pinball Arcade are all authentic real-world pinball tables, and the incredibly smart designs attest to this; even the most crowded tables, like the trapdoor and magnet laden Theatre of Magic table, have enough visibility and well placed nooks and pathways so that no lost ball feels cheap.

Simple tables, like the 1980s Black Hole, have so much empty space that you’ll quickly teach yourself why it’s important to use tilt to make sure your ball doesn’t fly straight for the gutter.

Oh, and did I mention that Black Hole is a pinball table with a mini pinball table in it? The four tables included in the console versions (six tables, if you’re using an iPhone or Android), all have really cool features like this that give them character, complete with a written history and a snapshot of the flyers used to advertise them back in the day.

Additional tables are to be released as DLC, though the smart phone versions are already ahead on DLC. The PSN version also includes a free Playstation Vita. Not too shabby.
Pinball Arcade serves as both a history lesson on pinball and an excellent assortment of masterfully designed classics that feel just right.

 Don Parsons – Publisher Relations Liaison and Review Staff

 I’m not a fan of the Planet of the Apes movies; none have interested me, until I saw the preview to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This prequel sets the stage for the rest of the movies and does it well. Franco, the male lead, did a fantastic job of selling the emotional bond between himself and the catalyst-primate. I won’t spoil the plot too much, though anyone who is even familiar with the series can probably guess the details. I highly recommend it even if you never wanted to see any of them before; I personally loved the movie.

I have had my reviews caught up for the past week, so I decided to take the plunge into Mass Effect 2. Yes, Mass Effect 2- not Mass Effect 3. I was interested when it came out, but never got around to playing it. Now that I am 20 hours deep, I am hitting myself for not partaking in this space odyssey sooner! I am constantly amazed at the characters and story-telling Bioware presents. The high points of brilliance are so frequent that it is really hard to moderate my playtime to a just few hours a night. On the flip side, everything is so perfectly paced that I can sit down and play through a mission and stop to do something else that night. I could go on and on and on and on… but I’m sure you’ve all felt the same connection, so I won’t.

Chris Scott – Reviews Editor

This week saw me visit with two of the masters of horror in two different mediums. I first spent some time with Stephen King and his return to the world of The Dark Tower and his latest release, The Wind Through the Keyhole. Considered to be The Dark Tower 4.5 by King, Keyhole reintroduces readers to the Gunslinger Roland and his ka-tet as they journey along the Path of the Beam. After so long away, I worried that maybe I had moved on from the Tower but shortly into the book I was once again fully invested. King’s writing is the best it has been in the last eight years and it has left me hoping he has more tales to tell in Mid-World.

The second master of horror I spent time with was Edgar Allan Poe but it was not with his heralded works of gothic literature that I spent time with but rather John Cusack’s personification of the poet in The Raven. Cusack is solid as Poe but the rest of the movie leaves plenty to be desired. While my review is coming this week, my short take on it is that you should probably read some of Poe’s works, many of which can be obtained for free, instead of spending money on this film.

 So that is what we have been up to, what about you? Fill us in by dropping us a comment.

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Bring It Back: Need for Speed Underground Edition

By
Don Parsons
– April 27, 2012Posted in: Blogs, Don's Blog, Editorials, Staff Blogs

What it was:

Need for Speed Underground was the series’ departure into the tuner world. Released during the Fast and the Furious craze, Underground aimed to give would-be tuners a way to deck out Civics, Supras and Integras without going out and blowing all their hard-earned money. Street racing was now more mainstream than ever, and Underground gave people a way to enjoy most of the perks in the comfort of their home. Decals, rims, performance parts, paint jobs and bodykits; these are the great things about Need for Speed Underground. The tight, arcade physics helped settle the game as firm fixture of my racing game collection.

When Need for Speed Underground 2 came out with even more customization options and allowing players to freely roam the city, the series grew in great ways. While sound systems and Escalades were far from what the street racing genre needed, just having the options was great. Sadly, the series kept cranking the dial towards “story-driven” instead of “customization”. Need for Speed Most Wanted dropped customization greatly, allowing five whole bodykits to be picked from. This was the great decline, and it never really picked back up.

What it could be:

Need for Speed Underground 3 would focus on customization, much like it’s two predecessors. The over-arching story would take a back seat, but be relevant in the scope of unlocking new areas. Multiple bodykit pieces would return and in grand fashion. Dozens upon dozens of pieces to pick from. Car selection would be vast and as per typical Need for Speed, you would start with bottom-tier cars; only instead of focusing on top-end cars, Underground 3 would focus on middle-class cars. Some high-class cars will be available, I assure you.

Physics will also return to form. Not to say new Need for Speed games are lacking in that department, but a slight arcade-bias would allow easier drifting for racers of all types. Drifting would also be a-focal point, with just as much drifting as racing. If you don’t like the open-city model, you could quickly start events from the menu. Why force players to play a particular way when they don’t like to, right? But those people would miss out on the highway races against random opponents.

One of the series’ greatest innovations is the Autolog. If you’re a competitive gamer and haven’t experience this feature yet, you’ll be glad to know Autolog brags for you and rubs it in when other people beat your times. It doesn’t get old and honestly keeps me playing old tracks just to stay on top. The XP boost for beating someone is a great resource, too, so a level up mechanic to unlock parts  and cars would be in place.

Online racing would be an obvious feature, allowing people to race their tuned cars. The new hook to Underground 3′s online play would be “Car shows”.  Daily and weekly shows with different guidelines will allow people to submit their tricked out rides  and vote on other peoples’ cars. This would play into the focus on customization and cement the game as a true step forward for the series.

Why it should happen:

There has been a lack of customization in street racing games lately, and none of them compare to the Underground games from a car tuner’s perspective. If it offered a more robust selection of parts than even Underground 2, the third Underground game would certainly mean business. While the last Need for Speed game (The Run) really proved a story-driven racing game could work, returning to the street-racing days of Underground is what I hope Need for Speed does next.

“Bring It Back” is a semi-regular column where writer Don Parsons takes a look back at some of his favorite games throughout his extensive years as a gamer, and dreams of having a follow-up. New games, old games.. none are off-limits.

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