The 4-1-1 02.01.10: January 2010 Reviewed

Posted by Josh Boykin on 02.01.2010

411 columnist Josh Boykin gives you the the wrap-up about January, giving you the best and worst games and gaming news in a new slim, convenient package. Check it out!

Josh Boykin here, giving you a dose of "The 4-1-1." Every month I'll be bringing you a summary of the month in a 4-1-1 format: I'll start with 4 good stories, then give you 1 bad story, then close with 1 great story so we can end with some optimism. Both games and news will be covered here, so read on and toast to the close of each month with 411.

This month was filled with apocalyptic horsemen, beam katanas, jetpacks, and form-fitting hair. It almost goes without saying that January's releases will have a "massive effect" on the coming months (terrible pun #1), setting some fantastic standards for the coming year. Here we go!


The 4-1-1: January 2010


January News 4-1-1:

4 Pieces of Good News:
1. Nintendo Announces Netflix on the Wii!


Nintendo's announces that they're launching Netflix content for the Wii, falling in line with the trend Microsoft and Sony have profited from for quite some time. The drawback: the Wii won't offer Netflix content in HD. Nintendo took some heat for the lack, but Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé didn't seem to be all too concerned. Why? Perhaps it had something to do with sales numbers...


2. NPD announces that Nintendo held a dominant share of December's sales


Even while competing against PS3 and Xbox 360 price drops, Nintendo DS and Wii systems sold over 7 million units combined, more than doubling the sales of their competitors' systems. I'd hoped that killer titles like Modern Warfare 2 would dominate the charts, convincing Nintendo to start catering to the hardcore like me, but alas...Nintendo 1st party titles were the top three to sell in December, with New Super Mario Bros. Wii starting its record-breaking sales launch by selling almost 3 million copies.


3. SEGA eliminates all characters but Sonic from Project Needlemouse


Arguably a piece of great news, the 5th day of SEGA's Project Needlemouse launch campaign announced that Sonic would be the only playable character in the newest Sonic title. For all of you that just LOVED the Big the Cat fishing segments in Sonic Adventure, I guess (correction: I really, truly HOPE) you'll be out of luck. The Mega Man and Mario franchises have both seen huge bursts in their popularity and reception since they went back to their roots; I'm taking this as a sign that Sonic will do the same.


4. 2K Sports Offers a Million Dollars to the First Person Who Pitches a 2K10 Perfect Game


Looks like 2K Sports knows how to attract the attention of recession-hit gamers: Wave cold, hard cash in our faces. 2K Sports launched a contest right at the end of the month offering a million dollars to the first person who pitches a perfect 2K10 game, touting its new pitching system and the way it's supposed to add a realistic feel to baseball gaming. I don't even play baseball games and I'm STILL tempted to go out and buy a copy. I could use a million dollars, and it might be the only way I see my Chicago Cubs take a position of glory again...


1 Piece of Bad News:
Apple Launches the iPad


Maybe you're excited about Apple's new product, but their newest gadget leaves me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. Opening the door for iSanitaryNapkin jokes across the globe, Apple revealed its new tablet device, the iPad. Tech media frenzied for days before the official release event, then had their thirsts quenched by a thin device that looks like a blown-up iPod Touch. With a "cheap" price point (anything under $1,000 is cheap by Apple's standards), the underpowered, functionally-challenged 16 GB model lacks 3G support and multitasking. (Oh, wait, they ALL lack multi-tasking). Apple showed the game's capability to play Need for Speed: Shift, but the idea of holding a 10-inch screen in my hands while playing a game is reminiscent of toting the Game Gear around back in the 90s. Ugh, just release the Verizon/Sprint iPhone and send me on my way.


1 Piece of Great News:
Bungie Provides Aid to Haiti through Halo Tie-In


The Haitian earthquakes in the middle of January rocked the hearts of the entire world. The global response and outpouring of disaster relief has been taking place in many different ways, and gamers worldwide got the chance to do their part by donning special heart-shaped emblems in Halo 3 and Halo: ODST. Bungie offered to donate $100 for every 1000 players who donned the emblem, up to $77,000. They also agreed to sell a special Haiti-relief t-shirt, giving all the proceeds of shirt sales to the American Red Cross. A fantastic idea with fantastic execution. Props to Bungie and all the players out their repping the Haitian relief efforts.



January Game Release 4-1-1

4 Good Games
1. Bayonetta


Bayonetta, paying homage to games like Okami and Devil May Cry, became an overnight classic with its over-the-top gameplay, sharp graphics, and shape-changing hair. Not to mention Bayonetta herself is pretty effin' hot. Reviews across the board have spoken solidly for the game, and the sequel is already in the works. Will Bayonetta get as far down the line as Dante? We'll see.


2. Darksiders: Wrath of War


Another climactic action title, Darksiders: Wrath of War has you control War, the horseman of the Apocalypse. Receiving better story-based reviews than Bayonetta, Darksiders blatantly borrows gameplay mechanics from The Legend of Zelda series right down to health containers gained after boss fights. Still, the "borrowing" that Darksiders does has proven to fans (alongside Bayonetta) that derivative gaming can still be a fantastic experience. Not every game has to be a Portal and change the face of the industry, it just has to have a fresh feel and be well composed while doing whatever it does well.

3. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars


NEW FIGHTER APPEARS! And this one's good, too! In this new Wii fighting game Capcom characters team up and brawl with characters from Tatsunoko, a Japanese anime company. Even with the Wiimote the game handles tightly, and characters like Ryu and Chun-Li star alongside Tatsunoko favorites like Ken the Eagle and Ippatsuman. Personally, I just love that Viewtiful Joe and Mega Man are in the game. I'd pretty much buy any game that has the two of them in it, even if it were Imagine: Pooper Scooper featuring Viewtiful Joe and Mega Man.

4. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle


Travis Touchdown made his return this month in the Wii's other big release. Beam katana and swearing in tow, Suda51 decided to improve on the former title by eliminating the sandbox world and increasing the variety of mini-game missions. Finally the game doesn't look like Grand Theft Auto, and it's a huge benefit. Desperate Struggle really lets Travis come into his own and have a good time.The best part of NMH 2? Controlling a gigantic robot in Japanese-mecha style battle. This makes the grand total of quality Wii games designed for gamers past puberty to a number around 4.


1 Bad Game
Dark Void


Alright, I'm not going to sit here and bash on Dark Void like I did the lackluster iTampon, but in a month of high-profile, high-hype releases, Dark Void tried to fly with the big boys and got left behind. The flight controls were fun, but you just didn't get to use them frequently enough. For a game that had a tagline that involved "Fly everywhere," you spend an awful lot of time on the ground. There's no multiplayer aspect to be spoken of, and adding that to the under 10-hour play time makes the game feel incomplete. Note: when the DSiWare 8-bit release of a game sits better with reviewers than the original did, that's a sign you've got a problem on your hands. I wouldn't mind seeing Capcom try again with a sequel to this title, but I hope they listen to the players like Suda51 did.


1 Great Game
Mass Effect 2


Of course, the cream of the crop this month was Mass Effect 2, combining breathtaking visuals with an action-packed story that shakes things up from the second you start the game. Commander Shepard's newest adventure was easily the most anticipated game of the month, and could easily stand to be one of the best of the quarter/year. Launch-day buyers got the bonus of free DLC, which is always a plus. Best of all, Mass Effect 2 took the series to the next level through a fantastic combination of stellar voice acting, inventive character design, and sharp, refined shooter-style gameplay. The series feels fresh and exciting, and ME 2 will continue to be a huge seller in the months to come, \opens the door for a truly epic trilogy conclusion.



That's January, summed up all nice and pretty. Think I made a bad call, or maybe you're having iCramps and feeling the need for that iPad? Speak out here, or on Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/joshbatman
http://www.twitter.com/411mania
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma
http://www.twitter.com/411boxing

Hope you're feeling a little more informed, because that was January's edition of "The 4-1-1." See you next month!