Fresh Loaf

Screen shot from Sega's MadWorld

The term “comic convention” has been a misnomer for a while now. Time and attention has been mostly redirected to movies, TV shows, and the ogling of half-naked women. Comics are just a foundation upon which to build a momentary edifice to all remotely nerdish cultural matters. Comics’ vestigial impact was more pronounced at last week’s New York Comic Con than at the big shebang out in San Diego, Calif., but still far from overwhelming. Video games dominated a surprising portion of the floor, with several companies wheeling out demo versions of forthcoming games, from pre-alpha builds all the way up to final release copies. Here’s the first of a few posts covering my thoughts on the games of NYCC ’09.

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Valkyria Chronicles
Rated T for Teen
Released on Nov. 4, 2008
PlayStation 3
Deveoped and published by Sega

You know what would’ve made World War II better? Miniskirts! Or so says Valkyria Chronicles, Sega’s excellent new tactical role-playing game. It’s not officially about World War II, but the parallels are blatant, with a fascist power marching across a continent called Europa while imprisoning a dark-haired ethnic minority. The big picture is similar, but the details are all wrong, like a history class essay by a 15-year-old who spent the entire semester doodling record covers.

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Photo courtesy Amazon.com

Samba de Amigo
Rated E for Everyone
Released on Sept. 23, 2008
Nintendo Wii
Developed by Gearbox Software
Published by Sega

Samba de Amigo, Sega’s beloved maraca-based rhythm game for Dreamcast, seems like a natural for Wii; gamers are already accustomed to rapid arm movements thanks to Wii’s motion controls. The resolutely bright and colorful game also possesses Sega’s most adorable mascot, a sombrero-sporting monkey that’ll kill the kids with cuteness and the adults with kitsch. Yep, this remake should’ve been a quick and easy process, just a matter of improving the 9-year-old original’s graphics, maybe tacking on some sort of online mode, and bundling in a pair of wireless maracas. Nothing could be simpler, absolutely nothing. (more…)

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