Review: ModNation Racers

Welcome to another review on 'Stories of Entertainment'.

This review actually came up through nostalgia, mainly when the Xbox360 and PS3 first came out. Some of the first games on those platforms blew us away in the beginning, but now we don't really view them most of the time as a hurdle for improving gaming graphics, design and whatnot. That kinda leads me into this game: ModNation Racers!

(The 'LittleBig Planet' of Racing...not counting 'LittleBig Planet Karting')

Tons of customization options ranging from characters, cars and tracks, 'ModNation Racers' is one of the deepest games when it comes to customization. Aside form that, it does play similar to most racing games, with a few exceptions. Players can purposely hit their opponents with sideswipes, items you pick up on the track to use can be upgraded if picked up repeatedly (to a certain point), and performing tricks like air spins and drifting can rack up points to use to defend oneself or speed down a track.

Naturally, you're expecting me to talk about the story which this game does have. As little as it may be, it does have a good story for the game. Lets drive into it, shall we?

The game opens with the MRC, or Modnation Racing Championship, title screen, with characters Biff Tradwell and Gary Reasons as co-hosts for the event taking place. They serve as the storytellers or sorts, going over the details of reach race and the racers themselves. For pair dynamics, we have Biff constantly mocking and insulting Gary throughout the story (though its more funny than how I'm writing it. Besides, Gary gets his revenge in the end).

The story begins with the character Tag (or whichever character you made that takes his place during cutscenes) joining the MRC with the support of his Mom, who runs a car paintshop, and Crew Chief, a former racer who suffered an accident that has kept him from racing for years. It works out well, though a guy named Uncle Richard from Conservative Motors (who have very bland, boring cars) tries to sign Tag onto his group, but to no avail. We also get introduced to the champion of the MRC, an offensive Italian driver named Expresso. After several races, Tag's car gets pretty banged up form the hits its taken, but Mom manages to get her car shop up and running with new business to pay for a new car.

During the Mayhem Tour, where Tag races against some of the best MRC drivers, Uncle Richard tries to make Tag sign up with CM once more, but to no avail. Everything is going well until the Range Tour, where Crew Chief finds out that Tag's BoomBox (which supports the kart itself as well as serve as a weapons system) is near the verge of destruction. Its too expensive just to afford another one, even though they were supposed to be made indestructible. Mom suggests using the BoomBox from Crew Chief's car, but he states that it got wrecked in the...wreck. Once Tag finishes the Range Tour, someone sabotages his kart and puts Crew Chief in a coma. With no kart and down one crew chief, Tag is forced to sign with Conservative Motors despite his Mom's idea to just sell the shop for another BoomBox.

Tag is basically used for his image more than is racing, losing lots of fans after just a few races. Thankfully, Crew Chief wakes up from his coma (apparently, its not his first one) and offers Tag his BoomBox instead. Mom states how he said his was wrecked, but Crew Chief lied about it, saying he was too scared to race after what happened to him and is giving Tag another chance to be himself once more. With his old look back, Tag completes the Grim Tour racetracks to qualify for the Grand Tour, where the last race would be against the reigning champion Expresso.

During the Grand Tour, Crew Chief reveals how Expresso was the one who wrecked his car so many years go. With Tag racing so well, Crew Chief finally believes that Expresso will get beaten once and for all. In the final race, Tag manages to win and become the new MRC champion, getting Crew Chief over his personal demons and making his mom proud. However, Uncle Richard (I don't think he's really his uncle) tries to get the glory himself, saying how Tag is still signed with CM and how its a victory for the both of them. However, he gets arrested when the police discover that his prints on the bomb that took out Tag's second kart.

In the final scene, Gary manages to knock out Biff twice with a nerve pinch and Expresso gets his just reward as Crew Chief punches him for trying to steal the championship. Gary closes out the game by wishing us better good luck in next year's race (which really didn't happen, but it does have a nice note to it).

I personally liked the story mode. Its pretty simple and you could probably guess what a few ideas might come up before it happens and yet still manages to throw a curveball or two your way. Characters are basic, yet have enough personality in both mannerisms and looks that make them stand out and enjoyable (well, except for maybe Uncle Richard, but I think that's just me personally.)

Overall, the game is an enjoyable past time when you're looking for something simpler, I suppose. Until next time...

Review: Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Welcome to another review on 'Stories of Entertainment'.

I'm still getting a bit of a 'Lord of the Rings' buzz after watching 'The Hobbit' movie (at least the first of the planned trilogy) and I feel like doing something related to the series. Since plenty of the games were connected to the movie's story, I figured one of them would be a good choice. With that said, its time to look into 'Lord of the Rings: The Third Age'!

(What, did you really think you would play heroes from the original trilogy?)

Developed by EA Games, 'Lord of the Rings: The Third Age' is a role-playing, turn-based strategy game similar to those of 'Final Fantasy'. You play as a group of characters (who bear slight resemblances to characters in the original story) as they trail behind the Fellowship of the Ring and try to save the world from Sauron. Its very much like a 'Final Fantasty' game with 'Lord of the Rings' as a new skin, so take that as you will when it comes to gameplay. The story, on the other hand, is an interesting bit that needs to be looked into.

Anyway, you begin with the Gondor soldier, Berethor (Boromir expy) who is out Boromir (weird, eh) when he gets attacked by Ringwraiths (weirder, eh). He gets saved by Idrial (Arwen expy) who joins him in getting Boromir back. Guided by visions from Gandalf (I think, its a bit fuzzy at the moment), the pair head to the Mines of Moria. They pick up two other people, a ranger named Elgost (Aragon expy) and a dwarf named Hadhod (Gimli expy). Apparently, the heroes have been trailing behind the Fellowship just barely, since they encounter the Watcher in the Water (twice!) and come across Balin's Tomb. They just barely miss them, until they come across Gandalf fighting the Balrog. Going against movie continuity, they fight alongside Gandalf against the Balrog, which they win, but Gandalf still needs to go through his revival and such, so he gets dragged by the Balrog in the end.

After leaving the Mines of Moria, the heroes discover that Boromir has died and that their goal has changed into helping the Fellowship of the Ring. They reach Rohan, where they battle Grima Wormtongue with the help of Morwen (Eowyn expy) and later recruit a Rohirrim named Eaoden (Eomer expy) as they venture to Helm's Deep. Fighting alongside Gimli, Legolas, and Aragon, the heroes manage to hold Helm's Deep to route the armies of Saruman and save the day. Eventually, they make their way to Ogsiliath, apparently in search of Frodo now.

When Idrial gets captured and the heroes mount a rescue to get her while in Ogsiliath, its revealed that Berethor was being manipulated by Sauron for sometime now. So, with Faramir's help, the heroes rescue Idrial, defeating several Ringwraiths and the orc commander Gothmag. They make their way to the big Gondor city, Minas Tirith. They participate in the battle alongside Gandalf the White and eventually take the fight from the city and into the open land outside of it. They join the Rohirrim, especially the Shield Maiden Eowyn, in fighting off the orc horde and defeating the Witch King. With all the Nazgul slain, the heroes go fight the Eye of Sauron (no really, this actually happens) and win the day.

...and that's it. You beat the game. Disappointing, ain't it?

Its basically an abridged story of the trilogy with just different characters. While it does have some exciting moments, it drags during the fight scenes and even uses clips from the movies themselves in place of 3d modeling and designing they could've done. Still, the combat is pretty familiar to those who've played Final Fantasy and could be enjoyable. The characters stand out a bit, though a still a bit bland compared to their counterparts. Thing is, if you wanted Final Fantasy to be more, well, fantasy, then you can shell out a bit of money to pick up a used copy. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with it.

Until next time...

Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is owned by EA Games.