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Video Game Review: Kirby’s Return to Dreamland, Nintendo Wii.
Game Review by Evan B. from Schlafly
Title: Kirby’s Return to Dream Land on Nintendo Wii
Publisher: Nintendo
Review: This is Kirby’s first home console game since Epic Yarn. In Return to Dream Land, you start off on planet Pop Star, where Kirby is running from King Dedede and Waddle Dee, while holding a large piece of cake in his hands. Meanwhile, Meta Knight is reading a book under a tree. Suddenly, a spaceship emerges from the sky, and crashes in a nearby field. Kirby and his friends investigate the crash site for survivors. They find Magolor, the owner of the crashed starship (also known as “Lor Starcutter). Magolor explains that all the pieces of his ship are scatted across Pop Star. Kirby and friends offer to help search for the missing pieces.
Gameplay works similar to the adventure mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (minus Kirby’s fighting styles). Like Kirby’s other games, the combat is based on inhaling enemies and using their abilities to fight other enemies. Also, there are 4 playable characters (like the Mario Bros. games). The first player is always Kirby, while the other three characters are King Dedede, Waddle Dee , and Meta Knight. Meta Knight can fly faster compared to the rest of the other players. King Dedede is the slowest among all the players, but uses a big hammer. Waddle Dee uses a spear and runs as fast as Kirby.
This is Kirby’s last game before he appears on the Wii U, and you should really check this out. Don’t forget, St. Louis Public Library allows you to check out games for Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS4, and Xbox One. Kirby’s Return to Dreamland is one of the hundreds of games the library carries.
Best Stuff of 2013 Continues . . .
And our list of the best stuff of 2013 continues. Today we’ll highlight the best video games of 2013.
The Last of Us – (Naughty Dog, PlayStation3, Rated M for Mature): Hollywood wishes it could make a movie with this much feels. This journey across a post-apocalyptic America is full of nerve-wracking encounters. But, it’s the relationship between the world weary protaganist and the teenage girl in his charge, that keeps us playing.
Fire Emblem Awakening – (Nintendo, 3DS, Rated T for Teen): This tactical RPG is a true powerhouse of a game in the palm of your hand. With epic battles, powerful characters, and solid gameplay, Fire Emblem will suck away your freetime like no other game.
Rayman Legends – (Ubisoft, Wii U, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Ps Vita, rated E for Everyone): Once a Wii U exclusive, this superb platformer is a must play. A game so addictive, that dispite its high difficulty curve, you’ll come back again and again.
There was a plethora of superb games released in 2013. The titles above are but a taste. With the release of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, 2014 looks to be an even better year for gaming.
Video Game Review: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
I took the day off work, my significant other was out-of-town, everything was perfect. All that was left was for Mr. UPS to deliver the goods, and a knock at my door at 10:00 a.m. sharp, told me all was right with the world. My PlayStation 4 was here, and I was ready to get my game on. This isn’t a system review, check out the previous blogpost for that, this is simply a game review.
I picked up two games with my PS4 system, Assassin’s Creed IV, and Killzone: Shadowfall. If I told you I haven’t even put Killzone into the system yet, you get a good idea of how this review is going to go.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – PS4
I’ve been a big fan of the Assassin’s Creed series, since playing the first one. I’ve reached 100% on all the games in singleplayer, and spent plenty of time in multiplayer. So, telling you I was disappointed with Assassin’s Creed III is a big deal. I felt the protaganist, Conner, was bland and uninteresting, the setting was a bit meh, and the game had it’s fair share of bugs and curious design choices. I was beginning to worry that Assassin’s Creed was creeping into Call of Duty territory – an uninspired sequelfest that I’d rather use as a coaster than play.
Well, Assassin’s Creed IV instantly shattered those fears. This was one of those games that in the first 10 minutes, you just knew was going to be good. The pirate setting is fantastic, if not milked a little too hard. The developers seemed intent on cramming every major historical figure of the era into the game. The controls are tight, but still suffer from some of the series longstanding problems, your character running up unwanted surfaces, refusing to scale surfaces when to close to them, but these weren’t too distractful.
The big draw for me was the ship element. I enjoyed these segments in Assassin’s Creed III, but they were superflous. Whereas in IV, they are the core element of the game. Sea battles, whale-hunting, treasure diving, these are vital elements to the game, and all require you to be at sea. The most surprising element, and one which brought me the most joy, was my crew singing sea shanties, whilst sailing the ocean. You can gain more shanties by chasing floating song sheets in various towns, and it’s well worth it. It kinda works like the radio in Grand Theft Auto, but with pirates. In fact, I enjoyed sailing the oceans so much, that I found I didn’t really want to go do your typical assassin activities on land. If I didn’t have the urge to collect more shanties, I wouldn’t go to town at all.
The modern day element of Assassin’s Creed IV is significantly toned down. Time spent in the modern world is reduced to fetch and carry missions, and hacking computers, all done in first-person. Gone are the days of the parkour antics of Desmond. To be honest, I’d be plenty happy if Ubisoft just dropped the modern element of Assassin’s Creed altogether. But, at least IV pulls me out of my pirating ways rarely, and when it does, I’m back on my ship, shouting “Arrrrrrr” in record time.
The game is massive to boot. I put in 60-70 hours to complete all 100% of the game. This doesn’t include time spent in multiplayer reaching prestige level 3. There are a few too many “follow this guy” missions, and this didn’t help to entice me to step off my ship. Overall this is a fantastic game with plenty of replay value. It is a return to form for the Assassin’s Creed series, and in my opinion is the best.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is rated M for Mature, and is available for PS3. PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U (although the Wii U version will not receive the planned DLC).
Spring Is In the Air.
See winter off with St. Louis Public Library. Check out some of our programs for the week of March 11th – March 17th:
Tuesday, March 12th
Central: DIY: Retro Book-ends 3:30-4:30pm. Use old cds and vhs tapes to create book-ends. Grades 6-12. First floor Teen Lounge.
Baden: DIY: Travel Games 4-5pm. Favourite games for on the go. Grades 6-12.
Carpenter: Teen Urban Lit Book Club 5:30-7pm. Discuss “First Part Last” by Angela Johnson. Grades 9-12.
Wednesday, March 13th
Barr: Teen Lounge 4-5pm. A teens-only space to study, relax and have fun. Grades 6-12.
Machacek: DIY: CD Mosiac Frames 4-5pm. Grades 6-12.
Central: Authors @ Your Library presents: Kekla Magoon 6-7:30pm. This season’s Read It Forward author is Kekla Magoon. She will discuss and sign her book, The Rock and the River. Kekla Magoon is the author of four young adult novels for which she received the ALA Coretta Scott King New Talent Award and an NAACP Image Award nomination. She also writes non-fiction on historical topics.
Thursday, March 14th
Central: DIY: LED Throwies 3:30-4:30pm. Design a simple circuit. Grades 6-12. First Floor Teen Lounge.
Cabanne: Got Game! The Black Eyed Peas Experience 4-5pm. Grades 6-12.
Kingshighway: DIY: Melted Crayon Art 4:30-6:30pm. Grades 6-12.
Friday, March 15th
Central: Got Game? 3-5pm. Play Xbox 360 & Wii/Wii U games. Grades 6-12. First Floor Teen Lounge.
Saturday, March 16th
Carpenter: Got Game? 2:30-4:30pm. Play Wii games. Grades 6-12.
What’s Going On Around Your Way?
Here’s a run-down of what’s happening for Teens at your local St. Louis Public Library during the week of Mar 4th – Mar 10th:
Monday, March 4th
Divoll Branch: DIY: Memory Box from 3-4:30pm. Store your keepsakes in an artistically crafted box. Grades 6-12.
Carpenter Branch: Poetry Circle from 6-7pm. Express yourself through poetry. Grades 6-12.
Tuesday, March 5th
Central Branch: Board Game Meet-Up from 3:30-4:30pm. Play a favorite game, or learn a new one. Grades 6-12. First Floor Teen Lounge.
Wednesday, March 6th
Baden Branch: Teen Movie Day from 3:30-5:30pm. Movie: “The Bourne Legacy.” Grades 6-12.
Walnut Park Branch: Earbud Holders from 4-5pm. Use recycled materials to protect your headphones. Grades 6-12.
Barr Branch: Got Game? from 4-6pm. Play Nintendo Wii & Xbox 360. Grades 6-12.
Kingshighway Branch: Movie: Snow Day from 4:30-6:30pm.
Thursday, March 7th
Central Branch: Travelling Teens from 3:30-4:30pm. Third Stop: Ireland. Grades 6-12. First Floor Teen Lounge.
Carondelet Branch: Karaoke from 4-5pm. Sing your heart out on our stage. Grades 6-12.
Schlafly Branch: Free Music from 4-5pm. Learn how to download free music and ebooks from the Library. Bring your portable device and Get It Now! Grades 6-12. Groups of 5 or more register in advance.
Buder Branch: Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, Oh My! from 5-6pm. Show how tech-savvy you are by being the first to find answers to tough trivia questions using only your mobile device. Grades 6-12.
Friday, March 8th
Central Branch: Got Game? from 3-5pm. Play Xbox 360 & Wii games. Grades 6-12. First Floor Teen Lounge.
That wraps it up! Plenty to do, and plenty to see in just another exciting week at your St. Louis Public Library.
Let the Games Begin.
So, just putting this out there, but Central Library’s Creative Experience now has a Mame emulator. What does that mean for those not in the know? Well, a collection of 1000’s of retro video games – all free to play. Contra, TMNT, Shinobi, Pac-Man, and many, many more. Watch the video for a small sample of what’s available, then pop into the Teen Lounge or the Creative Experience to check-it-out for yourself.
Also, stay tuned for more ways to game @ St. Louis Public Library!
