Fight the Fight

I can’t sleep. And hearing gun-play outside never does my sleeping any good. So I take the opportunity to blog about something I have yet to touch. Usually about once or twice a year, I get a new video game for the computer or whatever old console I have around. My PS2 bit the dust a long time ago, so the only console to make an appearance in the past 2 years has been the N64 for Conquer and Tetris (2 of the best games of all time)…

Anyway, I did finally make the foray into a “next generation” console with the Wii. While the console doesn’t have next-gen guts, the user interface is the reason to get it. And wow is it both fun and a good way to test the ligaments in your dominant arm. The next best thing about it is that it’s included games are enjoyed by everyone, not just video game lovers. Everyone loves it, and it’s lots of fun. I haven’t even opened Metroid because we’re having so much fun playing the included Wii Sports.

But a few weeks before that, I was exposed to a game through a co-worker enough so that I had to go out and get it. It’s the increasingly popular Bioshock. Check out it’s site… The Flash site is amazingly well done. I have Flash-envy…

It’s a first person shooter of the mature variety (horror and such). That’s a genre of game that I’ve never really liked. The last similar thing I remember getting was Quake 1 (which I mainly bought for the Trent Reznor soundtrack). But Bioshock not only compelled me to want to play for the story (something akin to Lost meets Atlas Shrugged / Fountainhead), but the design and game play are second to none in many ways. It’s so unique.

Lets put it this way… I finished it on “easy” within a week, and it’s the only long-story game I know if that I know I’ll go back and play again because of multiple endings and the vast number of ways you can customize your experience. It does require a decent computer to see all the awesome programming (water effects are so well done), but it is also available for the XBox 360.

The biggest thing I love about Bioshock is the aesthetic. It’s an Art Deco explosion, and it’s done so wonderfully. This is apparent in the aforementioned website, but the game is just so unbelievably good. I can’t say enough positive things about it.

There’s always been a few game series’ that I’ve looked forward to. Grand Theft Auto,Gran Tursimo, Command & Conquer and Tetris… The Wii experience and Bioshock remind me that games can be a nice distraction and one that takes up a little too much time. It’s a matter of balance I guess. I do want to play Team Fortress 2 in a multi-player environment though. May have to take a step back. Then a step forward. Then a step back… And then we’re cha-cha-ing!