The Wondercon 2012 Video Game Wrap-Up!
As Wondercon draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the best of what Wondercon had to offer in the realm of videogames!
Capcom
Operation Raccoon City – Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Release Date: Tuesday, March 20th
Operation Raccoon City is another installment in the Resident Evil franchise. While Resident Evil fans are used to the 3rd-person survival horror formula, both old fans and new fans will be able to further explore Resident Evil lore with this new squad-based shooter.
Raccoon City offers up fluid gameplay, the necessity of squad-based tactics, and most of all: fun. During my ten minutes of gameplay, I had no outstanding gripes about the gameplay. The game plays how it looks. It’s definitely a new take on squad-based zombie survival. Raccoon City’s biggest rival is of course the Left 4 Dead series, but I don’t see any reason why someone should start Raccoon City vs Left 4 Dead threads on the internets.
Raccoon City employs a certain strategy you’ll have to abide by if you want to succeed. The game allows you to pick classes, weapons, and power-ups before the rounds begin. From what I could gather from watching others play, and playing myself, gamers will like to know that you CANNOT get left behind. If you don’t work together or leave others to die, you’re squad will easily be overwhelmed. In fact, in the event that you start to bleed, zombies will take notice and swarm you to the best of their abilities. I found these features made Operation: Raccoon City a pretty horrifying and exhilarating experience!
Capcom Digital Collection – Xbox 360 – March 27th
Eight games, one disc. Capcom’s attempt to re-release old classics comes to light next Tuesday, and includes:
1942: Joint Strike
Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2
Final Fight: Double Impact (includes Final Fight and Magic Sword)
Flock!
Rocketmen: Axis of Evil including Rocketmen: It Came From Uranus Expansion
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando
Capcom’s digital collection was easy to navigate as soon as the collection was booted up. There aren’t extended load times when selecting a game and gamers are able to switch through games by exiting your current session.
I was able to play 1942 Joint Strike and was thoroughly pleased with it. I’m sure anyone who spent an untold amount of quarters in their time will be happy with it.
Capcom Digital Collection will retail for $39.99 and should be a definite buy for anyone looking for some good ol’ nostalgia.
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir
This Fatal Frame spin-off is set to release April 13th on the Nintendo 3DS. Spirit Camera fantastically utilizes the use of the Nintendo 3DS’ AR cameras, and of course, 3D.
Certain parts of the game require that you physically turn your 3DS in order to look at your surroundings in-game. The game’s alternate reality feature allows you to see both your in-game friends and real friends standing next to each other.
Other portions require that you look at the memoir that comes packaged with the game. The memoir serves as a plot device in which you point your 3DS camera at the empty pages and watch as words or pictures appear (or disappear in some creepy cases).
Combat in-game requires that you line up the camera over a moving spirit for a set amount of time in order to “trap them” and build up your own attack. After chasing the ghost around enough, they will turn and attack you. Once your reticule glows red, you must then press either L or R to take a picture, thus hurting your enemy. The longer you’ve managed to keep them in frame, the more damage you deliver. Counters also exist during combat situations, which shakes up the standard point and… click.
Many gamers, who are living on the edge, may prefer to play the inventive Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir in the dark to preserve its intensely creepy atmosphere. Our editor Jonathan played through the demo and found himself yelling at the screen throughout as he chased spirits around corners and was wowed by mysteries revealing themselves in the memoir through the AR scanner. Fellow gamers didn’t know what was creepier: him or the game!
All in all, Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir is one to watch. 3DS owners should pick this one up, even if you’re not acquainted with the Fatal Frame series. We found it to be an inventive and refreshing use of the 3DS’ AR functions. Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir is set to release April 13th.
