Nintendo fans have been frothing at the mouth ever since Nintendo announced at this year’s E3 that a new Metroid would hit store shelves in the fall. Well fanboys and fangirls, the time has come. After months of anticipation, Samus Aron has returned to the console–this time bringing with her a very different game. Yes it’s Metroid; yes it has many familiar characters; and yes it features our favourite heroine. But, mark my words, this is not the Metroid of yesteryear.

The Story

Metroid Other M is actually a sequel to Super Metroid of the SNES era. You have just killed Mother Brain and escaped the Space Pirates and Planet Zebes. After awakening on a Galactic Federation vessel, you set off into space once again. That’s when you hear it: a distress call coming from somewhere deep in space. Following the call brings you to what appears to be a deserted spaceship. It’s not until you board that you realize you’re not alone. Members of the Galactic Federation are already on board, some of whom are very familiar to Samus. In fact, one of them was her Commanding officer when she was in the Federation Army. Samus is asked to help search the vessel for survivors and the cause of the distress signal. Not only does this scenario set the table for another adventure, but, for the first time, Nintendo reveals the origins and back story of our favourite Metroid hunting heroine Samus Aron.

The story of Metroid Other M is much more mature than previous Metroid titles. The plot really centers around Samus and her past relationships and involvement in the Federation Army. It’s clear Nintendo has realized many fans of the series have grown up since they first played the NES classic, and, just like the fans, the story has matured as well. In fact, the game does little to continue the Metroid storyline. Rather, it acts as a way to flesh out the character of Samus Aron.

The Gameplay

While Metroid started out in the early days as a side-scrolling adventure game, it quickly transformed into something else. As consoles became more powerful, Nintendo eventually brought Samus into the world of 3D and gave us a first person shooter. While the transition into 3D worked, some people complained the series lost the feeling of the original title which made the franchise so popular. Now Nintendo brings the two worlds together, sidescrolling action with first person perspective.

Most of the game is played as a sidescroller on a 3D plane, with the player holding the Wiimote horizontal. This gives players a classic side-scroller view, with some depth. Most of the fighting and exploring is done in this mode. Enemies are gunned down through the use of an auto-aim feature–a Godsend when so many are coming at you at once. You can also dodge enemy attacks with a quick last-second flick of the D pad.

Everything changes when you point the Wiimote towards the screen. Now, the game enters a first person perspective allowing you to fire missiles, shoot grappling hooks, and scan the environment for clues. You can toggle back and forth between the two modes on the fly by simply adjusting how you hold the Wiimote.

I will admit the controls feel awkward at first, especially when trying to maneuver on a 3D plane with a D pad. It took about an hour to get used to the new look and feel, but once you play for an extended period of time, it becomes second nature.

Traditionally, Samus gets all her weapons by finding upgrades hidden throughout levels. Not this time around. Samus has all her weapons right at the start, the problem is she isn’t authorized to use them. You can only use them after her Commanding Officer gives the orders can Samus fire her ice beam, grappling hook, or wave beam. That’s annoying when you’ll see places you can’t access early on in the game, knowing full well you’ll have to come back because some clown hasn’t told you it’s alright to use a key tool in your arsenal. It’s not very believable, but a different twist on earning upgraded weapons.

The Graphics

As far as Wii titles go, Metroid Other M looks pretty good. The cutscenes are nicely detailed and some of the best graphics we’ve seen to date on the system. However, the actual gameplay doesn’t look quite as nice. Low resolution textures are evident throughout much of the game–a sign the Wii just doesn’t have the horsepower of its console rivals.

The musical score does get high marks creating an eerie, yet familiar, atmosphere. Tones and samples from previous Metroid titles are present and die-hard fans of the series will take pride in picking out the familiar tracks.

The Down Sides

My biggest issue with Metroid Other M has to be a new feature included by developer Team Ninja. Every once in a while you have to scan areas for clues using Samus’ visor. In theory, it’s kind of neat. You have to find a clue to figure out where the story is going. The problem is the clues can be next to impossible to find.  I found myself scanning areas over and over again unable to find the item I was supposed to scan. On more than one occasion it turned out the item was a very obscure area of the screen which doesn’t get picked up by the Wiimote unless you move the cursor across it at a snail’s pace. Pass over it at any higher speed and it won’t register, preventing you from progressing in the game.

First person perspective also makes combat tricky. There are certain enemies you must weaken with your plasma beam in side-scroller, then switch to first person to finish them off with a missile. The problem is that when you go into first person, you never have the enemy in your sight. You are often turned around and have to find the enemy. Once you track it down, aim and prepare to fire a missile, the enemy has already recovered forcing you to start all over again. The transition in battle isn’t as seamless as it should be.

The Bottom Line

I played through the first few hours of Metroid Other M seriously questioning the direction of Nintendo’s latest title. The game felt quite different from previous Metroid titles with somewhat awkward controls. Yet, as I continued to play I realized it actually did feel quite familiar. With huge levels to explore and some nice character development (heck, we even get to hear Samus talk for the first time ever) the game is yet another solid Nintendo title. The game does have design flaws which are quite noticeable and even frustrating at times, but, if you can bare with it, there is an enjoyable game to be had here. There’s a reason why Metroid has such a loyal fan base. Although not perfect, Nintendo has yet another winner on its hands.

The Good

Unique Gameplay
Easy Controls
Plenty of hidden items
Finally! Voice Acting!

The Bad

Unskippable cutscenes
Flawed scanning mode

8/10

Calorie Counter by Fat Secret
iPad – Free

Find out how much fat and how many calories are in your favorite foods! This database contains thousands of foods found in local supermarkets, and restaurant chains. Find what you’re about to eat, then check out what’s in it. It lists Calories fat content, carbs and protein. it will also let you know how much of your daily caloric intake it accounts for.

The app also has a food diary so you can keep track of those snacks as well as an exercise diary to track when you burn off calories. The app is quite US focused so you won’t find Tim Hortons on the on the restaurant chain list, at least not yet.

FoodScanner
iPhone – 99 cents

An easy way to track your calories! Use the camera on your iPhone to scan barcodes of the food you eat. It downloads the nutrition label so you can see what you’re about to ingest. Type in how many servings you had and the app will calculate the calories.

Foodscanner contains an amazing number of foods in its database including a number of obscure ones I picked up at the store!

Kidsdoc
iPhone, iPad – $1.99

Child complaining of an earache? Sore stomach? Use this app to help diagnose an illness in your child. You can search for symptoms, diagnose a possible condition, even discover easy at home treatments. If the app thinks you should contact the doctor, it will connect you with your family practitioner. You can also look up child dosages for many popular medications.

Harvest
iPhone, iPad $2.99

We all know we should eat fruits and vegetables, but some people are scared away when they don’t know if they’re rip or ready to eat. fear no more. Harvest tells you how to find the best produce and even warns you how well you should wash them by listing the amount of pesticide residue which is typically found on the produce.

The app has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

It’s almost time for the kids to return to the classroom! While there are plenty of ‘Back to School’ guides out there for the kids, this one focuses on the parents. If you’re nervous about your child walking to school for the first time, or concerned about who they may be hanging out with at school you’ll want to check out some of my high tech suggestions.

Some of the devices I talk about are controversial. If you do plan on using them make sure you talk to your children about them and explain why. That way they won’t accuse you of spying on them.

You can find more information about the iSafe Bag here. Yes, they do ship to Canada!

Purchasing information on the Spark Nano can be found here.

Amber Alert GPS information can be found here

iPhone Spy Stick can be purchased here

iSafe Bag

Are your little ones walking to school? Concerned about the strangers they may encounter along the way? This looks like a normal backpack, but it has a secret. In the shoulder strap is a pull cord which activates a personal alarm. If your child feels threatened they can pull the alarm and scare off whoever is bothering them. It can also be used in cases of bullying, drawing attention to your child if they are being picked on. The bag also has flashing lights which will draw attention if it is dark outside.

iRecovery Stick

Concerned about who your child is texting? Are they texting during class? Are they browsing websites when they should be studying? Now you can find out. The iRecovery Stick allows you to download your child’s contact, text messages, web browsing history, and see all their emails. Yes, this is controversial. You should chat with your teens before using something like this.

Want to win one of these? Leave a comment below and let me know which one! A winner will be picked at 12:00 MT on August 25th. The winners will be posted here on my blog. You must check back here to see if you won. Good luck everyone!

WINNERS!

Congratulations Layna Barker, you have won the iSafe bag!

Debra Fleck takes home the iRecovery Stick.

Thanks for entering everyone! More giveaways VERY soon!

What was once taboo has now become the norm for many. Online dating is becoming quite popular. In fact various dating sites have popped up over the years, some catering to bizarre fetishes. Hare are a few of the more “interesting” dating sites I’ve stumbled upon.

Prison Inmates

Find your love interest behind bars. Prison inmates helps you meet up with men and women who are incarcerated. You can search by last name or crime committed and see when they are scheduled for release. Inmates often share photos, poetry and blog entries.

While it’s easy to make fun of some of the men and women on this site, many admit they are lonely and mail is the only form of communication they have.

Prison Inmates

Trek Passions

Are you a Trekkie? Want to share your love of Star trek with someone else? Trek passions allows fans of the series to share their passion with each other and debate which Star trek series or movie was the best.

Now you would think this would have mostly a male database, but you’ll find plenty of women here.

Trek Passions

The Ugly Bug Ball

The Ugly Bug Ball claims to be a site for the aesthetically challenged. The site asks people who have “trouble looking in the mirror” to post their profile to find love. There are a few interesting looking folks on the site but surprisingly enough many are quite attractive.

The website seems to cater to individuals in the UK. Who knows, maybe an expansion is coming.

The Ugly Bug Ball

Scientific Match

Not many dating sites out there like this one! Scientific Match asks members to submit DNA samples. It will then analyze your sample and scientifically match you with someone who is compatible.

The site makes some bold claims. It says chances are increased that you’ll love the natural body fragrance of your matches, you have a greater chance of a more satisfying sex life and women tend to enjoy a higher rate of orgasms with their partners. Whoa!

Scientific Match

The Tomb Raider series has had its share of ups and downs. What started out as a strong franchise eventually became watered down with ho-hum release after release. While the series slowly returns to what it was, Crystal Dynamics is releasing something quite unexpected. It’s an arcade-inspired platform action adventure with isometric fixed camera.

So different is this game that Crystal Dynamics has omitted Tomb Raider from the title because it doesn’t want fans to confuse this game with the next release that’s still in development. Does that mean Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light doesn’t live up to fan expectations? Read on to find out.

The Story

Lara Croft is always on the hunt for artifacts so it shouldn’t surprise you to hear she’s at it once again in this downloadable title. Croft is after The Mirror of Smoke, an ancient artifact located in a ruin known as the Temple of Light. Once she stumbles upon it she is ambushed by a mercenary army who steals the artifact. Little do they know the artifact is cursed and once it’s picked up it unleashes an evil entity. Now Lara along with Totec, the Guardian of Light, must track down the evil spirit Xolotl and destroy him.

The Gameplay

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is very different than previous Tomb Raider titles we’ve seen. The story certainly feels familiar. After all, exploring trap laden temples is nothing new for this leading lady, but what is different is how the game is presented.

Instead of a third person perspective typically seen in the franchise you are greeted with a isometric fixed camera giving you a semi-top-down perspective. When I first got my hands on the game at E3, I questioned whether this was the right move as it feels very different. But after playing through a couple of levels I can honestly tell you it feels quite good and definitely sets this title apart from previous Tomb Raider games.

Combat uses the twin-stick shooter mechanics which gives the game a somewhat classic arcade feel. Lara’s signature dual pistols are back, but she’ll also stumble upon a variety of other guns as she makes her way through each challenge.  Lara can equip two weapons at a time along with a grappling hook which is used to cross large gaps and escape traps. It also comes in handy solving puzzles which are littered throughout the levels. If you play the single-player game you will also have the use of Totec’s spear, which can be used as a platform when thrown into a wall.

Major emphasis is placed on point scoring. As you collect gems and kill enemies you are rewarded with points which unlock artifacts. Equipping certain artifacts will improve your characters’ abilities such as speed, defence, or health. In order to unlock the higher-end artifacts, challenges must be completed within the levels such as completing a certain task in a set amount of time. Some are easy to pull off, others will require you to play the game through a few times.

Single Player or Co-op

While the game is solid when played alone, a second person can join in as Totec. Teamwork is key to completing the levels. Totec often will have to throw spears into walls to help Laura get across. Laura can also use the grappling hook to pull Totec up to places he can’t access since he can’t stand on his own spear. Playing two player co-op also makes puzzles more interesting as there is often more than one way to solve them when two players are involved. Co-op is an awful lot of fun and is one of the highlights of this game.

The Graphics

For a semi-top-down style game, Lara Craft and the Guardian of Light looks pretty damn good. The in game graphics are quite detailed for an XBLA title. Cutscenes are a mix of comic-inspired panels and traditional cimematics, both of which look nice in HD.

The Downsides

Two things are noticeably missing from this title. The first has to be the lack of a manual save option. Some of the levels are fairly long so it would be nice to have the option to save when you want. Life happens and sometimes you need to bail out of a game when you least expect it. Unfortunately, bailing will mean starting a level from the beginning at a later date.

While I loved co-op gameplay, it is disappointing you can’t play with friends online. It’s almost shocking this feature isn’t including in this title. You’ll have to invite your friends over to get the most out of this game.

The Bottom Line

The game is solid. Whether you’re a fan of the Tomb Raider series or not, gamers will have a blast solving the puzzles and avoiding traps in a myriad of different environments. True, the game lacks online co-op which is quite a blow, but that shouldn’t make you shy away from trying this unique Lara Croft title.

The Good

Simple controls
Great graphics
Fun co-op mode
High replay value

The Bad

What?! No online co-op?
No manual saves

]]> http://blogs.btcalgary.ca/yawney/review-lara-croft-and-the-guardian-of-light-xbla-psn/feed 0 http://blogs.btcalgary.ca/yawney/the-pranks-we-play-at-citytv http://blogs.btcalgary.ca/yawney/the-pranks-we-play-at-citytv#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:55:03 +0000 Mike Yawney http://blogs.btcalgary.ca/?p=4183

I like to think I look pretty innocent. And that my friends is why I get away with so much tomfoolery at the office. No one suspects it is me who pulls the pranks on my fellow colleagues. Switching keys on keyboards, leaving mysterious voice mails. I love playing practical jokes, especially on coworkers. So when the lovely Tara Slone joined us…whoa…I couldn’t resist.

I recently stumbled upon a device known as the Devil Key. A small USB key you plug into a computer whcih will drive your coworkers crazy. The key randomly inserts text while they are using their computer, turns Caps Lock on and off and mysteriously moves your mouse cursor. It’s awesome! Check out Tara’s reaction when I installed the the Devil Key at her new workstation

What child didn’t grow up wanting to be a spy at least at one point in their childhood. James Bond, Maxwell Smart. Okay maybe not Maxwell Smart but think of all the gadgets you’d have at your disposal! Spy cameras, shoe phones! Take a look at some of the spy gadgets I was able to dig up that would make even James Bond envious.

Spy Cameras – $300 and up

Cameras are so small these days you can hide them in almost anything. One of my favourites, the pen camera. The lens is hidden by the pocket clip. You activate the camera by pressing a tiny button on the top. It records both audio and video and works well even in low light. Trust me when I say you can have some fun with this one. If you want higher end recording you can always get cameras built-in to alarm clocks, wall clocks or even teddy bears.

Spy Paper – $9.99

A cool tool for any spy. Need to get rid of a note quickly? This paper disolves in water within a few seconds. It’s also edible. Be warned, it may be edible but it tastes horrible and basically dissolves into a past in your mouth. You’ll never get caught passing notes in school again

Cell Phone Voice Changer – $69.95

Hook this small device up to your cell phone and have some serious fun calling your family and friends. The one we tried out gave us four different voices including a bumblebee, robot and “Jigsaw” from the Saw movie franchise. Cell phone voice changers work okay but you have to speak slowly as it can be hard to understand. For a few hundred dollars you can purchase higher end voice changers which will modify pitch and tone.

For even more gadgets check out the video below!

Special thanks to Spy City for helping us track down all the cool spy gadgets!

What! You haven’t heard of Indian Pole Gymnastics? Then clearly you haven’t surfed the web this week. A video showing off the “elite” Indian sport has lit up the web. People are emailing the video to each other, it’s popping up on Facebook and of course Twitter. Check it out this viral video!

If there’s one thing we’re learning it’s never turn your back on Justin Bieber. The young Canadian pop star got revenge on a Twitter user who obtained his personal phone number earlier this year after hacking one of the star’s friend’s accounts.

Bieber Tweeted a message over the weekend, encouraging his 4.5 million Twitter followers to call him. The message simply read ‘everyone call me 248-XXX-XXXX or text’. Little did his fans know that wasn’t Bieber’s number, rather that of a Detroit teen who goes by the name of Kevin Kristopik. Even though the message was taken down a short while later, Kristopik was bombarded with thousands of calls and texts.

Kristopik’s personal Twitter account has now been deleted. Unfortunately Bieber’s is still going strong.

[via Daily Mail]