Episode 1: Banjo-Kazooie and Eternal Sonata


With Games like Lollipop Chainsaw and the re-imagining of tomb raider in the news. I can't help but long for games that are a little less real and how should I say... adult.
 Don't get me wrong, I will probably love both those games and certainly don't mind a game with a little bit of reality but recently I have been wanting to play a game that would make me feel like a little kid again.


You know, one that makes you feel like the world isn't full of sadistic criminals and face-eating zombies.


So take a break from all the killing and dismembering and enjoy these two games that will make you want to cuddle up in your footie pajamas with a sippy-cup of kool-aid and a king size Fun Dip.

1. Cody' Pick: Eternal Sonata





Eternal Sonata is the story of a bunch of Orphans that go on a quest to stop a ruling corporation heck-bent on destroying the world.


So what?
That's like the story of every Japanese RPG.


Well, last time I checked all Japanese RPGs didn't take place in 17th century composer, Fredrick Chopin's Head.
That's right, this deep, engaging RPG takes place in a world dreamt up by the classical musician while upon his death bed.
  
Why I love this game:


1. The Engaging Story:
Let me just start out by saying that the premise for this game is thoroughly Japanese; weird looking monsters, hermaphrodite main characters with odd hair colors, and an ending that doesn't make any sense at all. Despite all these things the game is surprisingly engaging, It tackles important moral issues like conservation, death and isolationism.
I made my pre-teen little brother play this game to teach him the importance of these issues.
The game also includes several engaging, well-developed characters and 2 really annoying little girls (not pictured below because they aren't worth mentioning)


Fredrick Chopin plays like a side character even though the whole story is his imagination. which makes me wonder, what kind of person dreams of himself as a secondary character?

Polka is my one of my favorite female characters in all video games. She is a reflective child facing death and love at the same time.

Allegretto the main character, is relatable for any young boy who's ever been in love and feared losing everything he has ever cared about.

Jazz, Falsetto and Claves are more "adult" characters and are part of one of the most well-developed love triangle I have seen in any story.

Viola is a hot hillbilly with a bow.

and Beat.... well Beat has a flute with a hammer on the end of it that also turns into a gun when held sideways.

In fact the whole game is music-based, even down to the characters weapons. Allegretto uses a violin with a sword on the end with it, and Jazz uses a Broadsword with trumpet parts. The story is educational and I appreciated classical music a lot more after playing. It's rare for me to be educated while playing a video game but this game succeeded in doing that.
  


2. The Unique art style:
Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker is famous for its unique art style known as cell-shading. This takes it one step further by adding beautiful watercolor environments (something Okami tried but in this game it doesn't look like a watery Spree-colored barf).



3. The Unique Battle System:


Eternal Sonata plays like your standard RPG; There's a lot of town exploring, menu navigating, and rapid pressing of the "A" button to get through cut scenes,


but the battle system is absolutely brilliant. It is the first Turn-based-action-RPG that I know of.


Here's how it works:


When you enter a battle, you are transported to a separate field to duke it out in real time with your opponent. On your turn to attack, you move and attack using the control stick and buttons. It plays like a typical fighting game until your turn gage runs out and it becomes your opponents turn to attack.
The battle system is highly addictive and make even the most menial grinding enjoyable.
Add things like different attacks depending on whether your character is in shade or sun and combos that deal huge damage and you get one of the best designed battle system of any game.


Shame there isn't a huge variety of enemies you'll spend most of your time fighting rainbow bugs and rock bats.
 


Eternal Sonata is a deep, engaging game that teaches you something without you even realizing it. This game may change your life. Be forewarned.

Spencer's Pick: Banjo-Kazooie

The first game I chose to review is Banjo-Kazooie. Released June 30^th, 1998 on the Nintendo 64, the game was more evolutionary than revolutionary, being that Super Mario 64 kick started the 3D era of video games. Banjo-Kazooie built off of what Super Mario 64 did and improved it a little in every way. Graphics were more smooth, the characters more developed, and the moves more complex and more varied in what you could do.

Here are three quick reasons why I love this game and why you should too.

1. The Humor

 The game is hysterical. From the story line about how Gruntilda the evil witch kidnaps Banjo’s little sister to steal her good looks, to the talking cauldrons that act as short cuts, and the fact that your sidekick, Kazooie, lives in and never completely leaves Banjo’s backpack, or how our enemies kind of explode but mostly just fall apart after you kill them, this game is really funny. The dialog is spot on. There are jokes all over the place and I appreciate the humor more and more the older I get. The best part? The way you win your sister back, is winning a game show hosted by Gruntilda.
 

 2. The Personality           

Another Reason I love it is the personality of the game. Everything in the game combines to gives it a very distinct feel to it. The background music is basically the same tune no matter where you are, just played by instruments that correspond to each particular world. Each collectable even has their own personality as well, and most of the items talk to you. The baddies are more comical than imposing, and and Gruntilda is just goofy enough to keep the story from ever being too serious. 

 

3. The Way it Makes Me Feel When I Play

Lastly, the reason that Banjo-Kazooie is one of my all time favorite games, is how it makes me feel. Between work and school and family and everything else that goes on in my life, as wonderful as they are, sometimes I like to slip away back to a time when things were more simple. And that, for me, is the magic in this game. It makes me feel like I’m ten years old again every single time I play. I just sit and giggle. Games that can do that for me I think are the best kind, and Banjo-Kazooie does so in the best way.

Good news, if you don't have a Nintendo 64, it is available on the Xbox Live Arcade.