411 Games Fact or Fiction 01.29.07: Portal Sequels, PS3 Online Gaming, Star Wars Characters in the Next Soul Calibur, Relevance of GoldenEye, & More!

Posted by Tommy Coloma on 01.29.2008

411's Greg Bruno and Ramon Aranda give us their thoughts on the need for more Portal games, playing online games on the PS3 for free, Namco’s inclusion of Star Wars characters in Soul Calibur IV, GoldenEye’s popularity, the news that Call of Duty 4 has surpassed Halo 3 in terms of Live activity, and the growing concern over the always increasing popularity of casual games in this edition of Fact or Fiction Games.

Welcome to another edition of Fact or Fiction. This week we were able to get Greg Bruno and Ramon Aranda to come in and tell us what they think about some of today's most important video game news and issues. Let's take a look at what they do at 411mania -

Greg has been doing mostly backstage stuff for the past few months. You can be sure that he has something up his sleeve. Right Greg?

Ramon has recently been upgraded to Games editor. Fortunately, he is still able to find time to add daily news and do game previews and reviews. He recently did a review for Trauma Center: New Blood for the Wii. He is also the Boxing editor and just like with Games, he's been able to provide daily boxing news and do columns such as The Boxing News Report, Inside the Ropes, and In the Red Corner. He also recently did an interview with boxer Jose Celaya.

Let's go -


1. A sequel to Portal is not necessary.

Greg Bruno: Fact

The game itself was so much fun. It wasn't too long and it wasn't too short. It showed that puzzle games can be interesting again. I think that a direct sequel is unnecessary. However, I'd love to see the concept taken and applied to other forms. It would be nice to maybe have an expansion set of levels. Portal is the kind of game that doesn't need to be story driven. Sure, it was humorous and fun knowing that the promise of cake awaits you, but it isn't really needed. Adding another 10 or 15 levels would do nicely for the time being. Otherwise, let's just leave this little gem as it is without exploiting it too much, shall we?

Ramon Aranda: Fiction

This game is amassing cult status already so why not give in and give us a sequel that is longer than the original? This was a truly original game that showed gamers what a little creativity can bring to the table. Sure, you might say that a sequel will ruin the originality that is Portal, but you know fans will be clamoring for it before long. Wait... they already want it!

Score: 0 for 1


2. The fact that online gaming on the PS3 is free is a big deal.

Greg Bruno: Fiction

Using the PlayStation Network as a selling point to a PS3 is like saying you get free therapy for pissing yourself in front of your third grade class while giving a speech on rainbows. It still sucks no matter how you dress it up. The PSN gets game demos later, uses a crazy gamertag system, and lacks the overall "organization" of the services Xbox Live offers to premium users. I'm not saying Xbox Live is perfect, but it's closer than the PSN. I've recently seen ads where Sony has been using its free services as a jab at those who pay for Xbox Live. It might be enough to sway some gamers to the PSN, but personally, I'd rather pay my $50.00 a year for my Xbox Live.

Ramon Aranda: Fiction

I'm gonna have to agree with Greg here too. The PlayStation Network is still growing but at its current stage, it kinda sucks. The demos are late, the matchmaking is dull, and the overall presentation is definitely lacking polish. Like Greg says, I don't mind paying $50/year right now for a superior service that's light years ahead of the competition, and that includes the Wii.

Score: 1 for 2


3. Having Star Wars characters in the next Soul Calibur game is a great idea.

Greg Bruno: Fact

Hell yeah! Vader and Yoda are excellent additions to the Soul Calibur game universe. I'm sure they'll have a cool background story as to why they are fighting for the Soul Blade too. These games are starting to incorporate characters whose focus is hand to hand combat. Remember Link? Or Spawn? They were really cool to play as in previous installments. Everyone knows Vader can wield a hell of a light saber and Yoda just plain old kicks ass. It should be a lot of fun playing as them.

Ramon Aranda: Fact

C'mon now... Who wouldn't wanna kick some ass with Yoda? Hell, that's the only thing about Star Wars Episode II that was worth watching - Yoda whipping some evil ass. The Soul Calibur franchise is already a solid fighting series but with the addition of Star Wars characters, why hell, you can imagine the SW fanboys jumping on this game without hesitation. Greg is absolutely right. Remember how Link catapulted Soul Calibur II for the GameCube? It was the best selling version (hear that Namco???) so adding these new Star Wars characters will only make it an even more viable asset.

Score: 2 for 3



4. A graphically enhanced and Live-enabled version of GoldenEye would be able to hold its own against modern first-person shooters.

Ramon Aranda: Fact

Let's face it, there are a ton of excellent FPS games out there but many gamers still hold a special place in their hearts for GoldenEye, arguably the one that started it all. We know it exists somewhere out there so let's give the fans what they want.

Greg Bruno: Fact

Hold its own? More like blow them out of the water. If GoldenEye were released onto XBLA I can almost promise it would be at least number two or three on the charts in terms of online activity. I recall spending the majority of my junior high years running around the facility planting mines in the bathroom stalls. I'd buy this game in a heart beat.

Score: 3 for 4


5. You are surprised that Call of Duty 4 has surpassed Halo in terms of Xbox Live activity.

Ramon Aranda: Fact

Only based off the performance of Halo 2 am I that surprised. I mean, Call of Duty 4 is a magnificent game but with the fanbase that Halo commands, I didn't think I'd see any game surpass Halo 3 this soon. Goes to show what a great game can do!

Greg Bruno: Fact

Halo 2 spent the better part of about 3 years on top until Gears of War came out and knocked it off its throne. Am I surprised it barely lasted a little over three months? Yes. Am I upset? Not really. COD4 is an excellent game online. I know that the majority of my friends have migrated over to it. They've done so because I repeatedly kick their asses in Halo 3 and am notoriously bad at COD4. They'll be back though... They always come back. I expect Halo 3 to regain its rightful spot on top in due time.

Score: 4 for 5


6. "Core gamers" should be worried about the growing popularity of casual games.

Ramon Aranda: Fiction

The growing casual game market is being used to bring in non-gamers to the fold. Core gamers will still get their yearly fix of excellent "hardcore" games that will appeal to them all. There is plenty of room for both casual and hardcore games and neither will or should detract from the other.

Greg Bruno: Fiction

Ramon said it spot on. Also, this makes it seem like a sort of gang war going on. Here's how I see this playing out in a Broadway Musical rendition aptly named "Hardcore Them, Casually" -

Casual Gamers Gangmember 1: Hey dudes, I got a tip that the Hardcores are planning on challenging one of us to a game of Gears of War and the winner will get to ask Andrea J to the dance!

Casual Gamer Gangmember 2: Gears of War! That's not nearly casual enough for us to know how to play! I really wanted to ask Andrea J out too! Couldn't they have challenged us to Uno or Zuma?! Shucks! Well guys! Looks like we've got some game training to do!

Cue Musical Number "Hardcore Me" involving numerous sexual innuendos and comical punch lines.

I was going for a West Side Story parody and didn't realize I'd never seen West Side Story until I was halfway done typing this nonsense. But... Yea, I'll still stick with Fiction.

Score: 5 for 6



We have a final score of 5 for 6. That's it for this week. We are looking for the silver-haired man who wields the sword that took eighty days to make. If we can find him, we'll be back next week.