411 Games Fact or Fiction 02.09.10: Fallout: New Vegas, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Heavy Rain

Posted by Mark Salmela on 02.09.2010

Should Sega make another 3D Sonic game? Are you actually excited for Aliens vs. Predator? Is Forza 4 going to be the next big racing game? Do you dig the idea of real consequences in Heavy Rain? 411’s Mitch Michaels and Trace Aber debate these topics and more in the latest edition of 411 Fact or Fiction: Games!



Welcome back to another edition of 411 Fact or Fiction Games. I'm the host with the most, Mark Salmela. What exactly is this "most" you ask? Well you're going to have to tune into the upcoming "411Games After Dark", coming soon to HBO. Us games journalists can get wet and wild when the sun goes down. Jersey Shore ain't got nothing on the staff of 411.

Anyways this week pits the head honcho of 411Music himself, Mitch Michaels up against the man who's Livin' Live *yes, I did it, awesome pun Mark*, Trace Aber. No seriously, how the hell did your parents come up with Trace? Either your parents were street thugs from the hood or your parents purposely came up with a name that they knew would confuse Yankees such as myself. With that said, let's get it on!



1.) Sega will finally deliver this time with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1.



Mitch Michaels - Fact: Growing up, I was never a huge Sonic fan. I always bought the Nintendo consoles, so that made me a Mario guy. I didn't really get into Sonic until I started playing emulators on my PC, and then I started seeing why Sonic and Mario were dead even in popularity during those years. Excellent game play and just all around fun with a great character, everything you want in a platformer. So how in the heck did they fail so hard when they "reintroduced" the game to PS3 and 360 a few years ago? Well, no matter the reason, now is the time for Sonic, as we finally see this REAL sequel to the classic era. The new videos leaked this week are just hitting people right in the gut with nostalgia and it looks like, unlike another famous Episode 1, this will be worth the long wait.

Trace Aber - Fact: I pretty much grew up with the Genesis and Super Nintendo. Sure, I had an NES but I was under four years old - it's not like I have a whole lot of fond memories playing on system during that time. I had both systems as a child (one of the benefits of having separated parents) and while I always have been and will be a Mario fan, when it comes down to it I absolutely love Sonic the Hedgehog. While there's no doubt that Mario has destroyed Sonic in the last couple of generations, back then it was pretty even. To me, it came down to speed versus puzzle solving...and that's why Sonic wins. You can pick up the game and get a lot done in a short time, while still having a blast. The original trilogy (if you combine Sonic 3 and S&K) is still my favorite series of video games - they were damn near perfect in every aspect. After years of putting out bad games, Sega has finally decided to listen to their fans and put out a side-scrolling Sonic. And hell, I don't even mind that it's episodic because the last time they did something like this we got Sonic and Knuckles. Well, that and it practically guarantees another game.

Score: 1 for 1 - These wounds, they're deep. But yet, like a good wife, I keep coming back for more. I'm optimistic.



2.) If a character dies in Heavy Rain the story will continue with that character gone for the rest of the game. You like this idea of real consequence in your game.



Mitch Michaels - Fiction: People are calling Heavy Rain downright revolutionary, and I agree, it's taking the whole video game concept to a new level. But the aspects it's taking - most specifically the "video games as movies" thing - are the ones I'm just not that into. I like to play a game, not play to get to some cut scenes and learn more of the story. The whole concept of having a character die, never to return, is interesting, but is that what we want in a game? What's next? When you die, the game stops and you're not allowed to play anymore?

Trace Aber - Fact: I think one of the more defining things about this current generation of games is the perceived consequences you'll encounter for your decisions. While some games do this better than others, I never felt like anything I did TRULY impacted anything outside of a few exceptions. This "feature" of Heavy Rain is just another reason why I'm looking forward to it so much. True, it may not be the typical video game experience that we're used to, but I'm hoping that this game does well enough to attract the attention of other developers who start to utilize some of the ideas and mechanics found in Heavy Rain. And I think Mitch is exaggerating a bit to think this will lead to games ending after your first death - all it's doing is making the world feel more "alive" (ironically, through death) and realistic. And, after all, isn't that pretty much the goal of every game developer nowadays?

Score: 1 for 2 - As long as you can create multiple save files so you can replay the game if you make mistakes I'm fine with this idea.



3.) Forza developer Turn 10 has put out 3 Forza titles since 2005. They now claim to be working on "the next big thing". This "next big thing" is Forza 4.



Mitch Michaels - Fiction: To call the fourth part in a racing series "the next big thing" just seems ludicrous to me. I don't think there's any doubt that Turn 10 is putting together a racing game - hell, it's all they do! But Forza Motorsport 3 is only a few months old at this point. I think Turn 10 is working on something that will really put the racing game industry on its ear - 3D anybody?

Trace Aber - Fiction: I'm with Mitch on this one – I think they're doing some sort of racing game but it won't be Forza 4. Forza 3 is doing quite well and there's no need to rush to production of the next game. While I don't have any clue as to what they might be working on, I'm assuming it will feature the latest craze in technology, be it NATAL or 3D or something to further "immerse" the player with. Maybe they're working on a peripheral that is shaped just like a real car, to really nail the experience!

Score: 2 for 3 - If it's not Forza 4 I'd be surprised.






4.) With the announcement of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sega should never make another 3D Sonic game.



Trace Aber - Fiction: This is under the assumption that if they make another 3D Sonic game it would be Sonic Adventure 3 and not suck. I know some people didn't like them (especially the second one) but I found them both to be quite fun and a nice deviation from the original side-scrollers. Of course, if they decide to make any other type of 3D Sonic game, then it would clearly be absolutely terrible.

Mitch Michaels - Fact: I understand that you have to try new things with your big characters to keep things fresh, but the Sonic Adventure series sucked harder than the 2006 Sonic. It's not that you can't translate a side-scroller into a 3D game without success - they did that really well with Mario - but Sonic's tricks just don't hold-up with an extra dimension. Of course, when Sonic 4 blows the roof off sales wise (and it will), we'll probably be deluded with Sonic side project titles again as they get Chapter 2 ready. If it took us 16 years to get Sonic 4, it could be another long wait.

Score: 2 for 4 - Sonic Team sucks at making 3D games. That's all, that's the end of it. I'm giving them another chance with 2D Sonic, but they flat out suck at 3D Sonic.



5.) You're excited for Aliens vs Predator.



Trace Aber - Fiction: I have never been a fan of aliens in general. The idea, the books, the movies and, yes, even the games. I don't know why, they just never caught my attention. As for predators, well, I don't know a whole lot about them either. All I really know about this game is that it's supposed to be violent and it caused a little bit of controversy a while back.

Mitch Michaels - Fact: Hell yeah. I loved the PC game from ten years ago, and this franchise just lends itself to some great video games. I liked the AvP movie (sequel - not so much), but you didn't get a WHOLE lot of Aliens and Predators throwing down in them. These games let you just go through and f up Aliens with abandon, and adding the Marines in there only makes it that much cooler. In fact, it's the Marine campaign I'm looking most forward to.

Score: 2 for 5 - I'm excited for AVP but I unfortunately don't have the money for it. I'm already getting BioShock 2 and Heavy Rain this month, not sure if I have the extra income for a third.



6.) You are excited for Fallout: New Vegas despite it being developed by Obsidian.



Trace Aber - Fact: Absolutely fact here. Fallout 3 was one of my favorite games to play last year. To me, it seems pretty hard to screw up a world that is already completely fleshed such as Fallout. Of course, anything is possible and I've never been intrigued by one of Obsidian's games, so there is a little bit of cautious optimism here. I know it's supposed to be similar to Fallout 3 gameplay wise, but I'm afraid any slight change to the mechanics would raise the ire of many hardcore Fallout fans. But, for me, personally, any new Fallout is good Fallout.

Mitch Michaels - Fiction: I have just never dug the Fallout games. What's so special, other than Ron Perlman? Then you have Obsidian - kings of lackluster sequels. These guys must just come cheap. The only good thing about this news is it may have kept them from stinking up the Alien franchise.

Score: 2 for 6 - Once again I'm optimistic but I'm holding my actual judgment until I can see gameplay footage.



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We finish this week with a score of 2 for 6. Looks like the music zone editor and Mr. Livin' Live don't agree for the most part. How about you guys? Agree? Disagree? Be sure to let your opinions be known below, I always like to hear what you guys have to say. We'll be back next week with two more participants. Cya in 7!