Seems I've been away for too long. Missed out on a fun thread yet again.
Thoughts:
1.
A Great Cast with a Dud Script Many of my favorite games have little to no dialogue, thus I don't set the bar all that high. And when they do write something absurd it's usually good humor (Where's that DAMN fourth Chaos Emerald?).
2.
Unreal Engine 3 OverdoseFunny picture. My lack of PS3/360 doesn't allow for much else.
3.
SequelitisThis whole "sequelitis" thing bothers me. IGN in general has a bad track record for "failure to reinvent the wheel" being a frequent criticism. It's true that there is such a thing as incremental upgrades that dull in value over time, but it's another thing altogether when people insist that a great concept never be revisited and improved. If all devs followed that logic we'd have never seen A Link To The Past. This clown, I think, comes pretty close to such a ridiculous extreme, with his Mario/Sonic stab at the end. By what possible logic does Mario fall under sequelitis? We've had, including handhelds, five platformers since the N64's launch in 1996 (SM64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Yoshi's Island DS, and New SMB). While I don't think highly of Sunshine, it did at least differentiate itself. YIDS is the only one that failed to establish an identity separate from its predecessor. But considering said predecessor was well over a decade old, I think it's forgivable. You could perhaps make a decent argument against Mario on ports and spinoffs, but neither of those qualify as sequels.
4.
Too Human SyndromeWhy does anyone care this much about announcing developer intent? Whatever they WANT to do, their bosses and their sales will dictate what will actually be done.
5.
Production Values vs. Wii Production "Values"Shovelware has existed since the dawn of a successful console. And for that matter the concept of cheap cash-ins is not exclusive to games, either. Deal with it, weeding out the crap is part of life.
6.
Sonic and Mario Visit the Rainbow DentistThe Sonic discussion is older than dirt, yes we all know of Sonic Team's woes now. The continuing and annoying prejudice against earlier 3D Sonics aside, I have to once again ask why Mario is on there. I guess featuring a mascot in sports games is a crime now.
7.
Motion "Control"There is such a thing as personal preference in control methods, and it's something that no "professional" press seems willing to admit. Movements that are second-nature to some are tricky for others, and this is why options are important. As are the ability to RECOGNIZE those options. Oh, THERE'S NO RESISTANCE ON THE WHEEL AND I CAN'T CENTER IT MYSELF, THE GAME IS BROKEN. Plug in a classic controller, dumbass.
8.
Promises, Promises, PromisesLike Sonic, the hype train debate is another older-than-dirt discussion. Cute that he presents it as if it's something new, but at least it's one of the more intelligent ramblings.
9.
Strong Female Lead Character = Edgy, Clever and DesirableYou mean it isn't?
Okay, as the guy who drools obsessively over the first female Reploid introduced, I probably have no right to speak. But you know, SOMETIMES, it's not about eye-candy. Some people just like women who are supportive, some people like women who can kick ass in their own right. It's not as if the gaming industry is overrun with female leads. It doesn't have to be new, it doesn't have to be edgy. It may or may not break the norm. None of that should matter. Male leads aren't new or edgy either. Gender is not a criticism.
10.
Casual GamingSo there's a new cash-cow on the block, quit your bitching. Hey, I'm not that big into casual titles (that do not involve insane bunnies) either, but you know what? The big hits are still out there. Take a freaking moment and enjoy them, realize that maybe you DON'T have to play every game, or even every genre, obsessively. You're allowed to choose what you like.