GAYmer Guide goes to Daisho Con 2010!

     This past weekend, GAYmer Guide went on the road to Daisho Con 2010 for its first ever appearance at a conference. Held annually in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Daisho Con is an anime and gaming convention that could easily hold its own with some of the larger geek conference and conventions out there.
     In conjunction with the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Gay-Straight Alliance, GAYmer Guide was set up at a booth in a prime location where conference goers could stop by and ask questions, browse merchandise, and view the blog first-hand. Not only was it great to see so many fearless nerds dressed up as their favorite anime or video game characters, but Daisho Con was a great opportunity to get the GAYmer Guide name out there and get some conference experience under our belt.
     Thank you Daisho Con attendees for showing us what it means to Live Proud and Game Hard!

Yuna from Final Fantasy X and a Chocobo!

An impressive hand-made Sailor Moon costume

Yet another Final Fantasy babe: Rikku!

The Yugi-oh gang

Fang from FF 13, with an impressive home-made staff!



Even the Galaxy's most feared bounty hunter was in attendance



Cloud and friend.

While he may not have anything to do with Anime or gaming
you just can't say no to a picture with Green Man

Fable III

Lionhead Studios returns
once again with yet
another Fable adventure.

Synopsis:

     After saving the world from the events of Fable II, the old hero, worried about the independant cities and villiages of Albion being able to resist another threat, united the land under on rule. Forming the Kingdom of Albion, the old hero was a generous and just ruler and ushered Albion into the beginnings of its industrial age. After his passing, the mantle of king was left to the eldest of his two children, his son Logan. Despite coming from an ancient lineage of strong and powerful heroes, Logan quickly turned into a cruel and sadistic tyrant: heavily taxing the people and forcing children to work in the dangerous factories of Bowerstone Industrial. After having to decide between the death of several innocent villagers, or an equally innocent best friend, the stories protagonist and the true hero escapes the castle at night. Realizing that Logan's tyranny must be stopped the Hero searches for those who would join the cause, and embraces his/her destiny as the next hero of Albion.

Logan, older brother to the story's

protagonist is just as dastardly as
he looks.

     Peter Molyneux and his cronies at Lionhead Studios have worked tirelessly to bring another action-packed adventure to the X-box 360. Filled with secret caves, hidden dig spots and plenty of Fable II throwbacks, its obvious that developers spent a great deal of time to make an already expansive game even larger. Just like the first two Fable's were drastically different from one another, so is this latest concoction from the mind of Molyneux different from its predecessors.

The detail in Fable 3 is nothing short
of stunning.

Appearance:

     While the Fable series has always had a very cartoon-esque appearance, developers have brought a great deal of detail to a seemingly animated world. From wood grain on a tavern table to detailed stitching on a military jacket, Lionhead has once again succeeded in bringing gamers a visually stunning masterpiece in their own stylization. Despite spending a great deal of time on the items in their world however, there are times where glitches with mapping and object placement snap player out of the fantasy they were in and remind them that they are still playing a video game. Players opting to help the local bakery by rolling out dough as a job might find themselves a bit unimpressed when the beautifully detailed pie tin is magically hovering a foot off the table to no one else's chagrin.

Whether playing as a male or female
character, Fable 3 boasts a wide
array of wardrobe choices

     A major grievance with Fable II was the serious down grading in the size of different wardrobe choices, players felt that every item available to wear was too similar and none of it suited an adventurer's lifestyle. Lionhead has done a beautiful job of responding to this by adding clothes of different styles and types, truly creating a versatile wardrobe that players are sure to mix and match until they find an outfit that perfectly fits the character they're looking to create.

     Arguably the best part of the Fable series is the character morphing: as player play through the game everything from their actions to their fighting style will effect the appearance of their hero. Lionhead has bumped it up an extra notch this game by allowing weapons to be effected by playing style. Evil players who delight in killing innocents will find their weapon exuding a red aura and dripping in blood, while good heros who specialize in magic rather than armed combat will find their weapons permanently glowing with blue will lines. Seeing as how the weapon is sheathed on the hero's back when not in use and therefore the most visible object equipped by the hero, weapon morphing is a welcome addition.

Despite looking utterly awesome,
character wings only make a brief
appearance towards the end.

     While players will be happy to see their weapons evolving, its apparent developers didn't spend as much time working on character morphing as much as we'd hoped and have actually downsized arguably the best part of the whole series. Molyneux and his nerd army have taken the fan-favorite devil horns for the evil doers and heavenly halo for the good guys and have given them a brief appearance only available at the end of the game. This is likely to leave most players feeling a bit cheated: one of the best parts of murdering an entire village was the chance to sprout some horns and get some wicked looking skin. Now any players looking to be evil will have to be satisfied with their hero growing extremely pale and gaining dark circles around their eyes, as this is the extent of the character morphing for the evil alignment.

Game Play:

Through use of the pause menu,
players can manage their properties
without having to visit them.

     Probably the biggest allure of picking up a controller and spelunking through Albion is the unique gameplay experience awaiting players. the Fable series has always been The Sims meets Diablo but with a Molyneux-inspired twist. Players short on cash can take up jobs as a bounty hunter or a lute player, or might be able to talk a vendor down from their steep prices through flattery or threats, each bearing its own consequence. From buying a house and raising a family, to owning a store and jacking up prices, every lifestyle the hero engages in will effect how other villagers and townsfolk react to him/her.

With the ability to reach out and
touch towns people, Fable 3
becomes a tad more real.

     One of the most pivotal aspects of the game is the hero's interaction with non-playable characters. Not only is a successful interaction with someone important for completing most quests, its necessary for any hero looking to set their sword on mantle for a while and take a crack at a relationship. To better bring these interactions to life Lionhead has included the aspect of touch, unavailable in the earlier games. Players can now hug a friend in need of companionship, grab an enemy by the throat and threaten him, or pick up a little girl and playfully toss her into the air. Probably the most ingenious renovation to the NPC interaction would be the throwing out of the "follow" command and the use of hand holding when needing to lead a person somewhere. Whether courting a young woman in town or dragging a peasant off to get sacrificed, holding someone's hand brings the game to life that much more.

While Albion may be vast, the

choices one has for conversation

are not.

     It should be said that NPC interaction is not all sunshine and roses. One thing Lionhead has succeeded in doing, whether intentional or not, is getting rid of choice. When conversing with a citizen of Albion, players will only have one of three choices: a nice gesture, an evil gesture, or a funny gesture. Gone are the days when a player could cluck at whomever he pleased and break into a chicken dance, they have instead been replaced by whatever means of interaction the computer randomly decides upon.

Fable 3 will still have plenty of action
but say goodbye to experience and
health points

     In an effort to make the game more adventure oriented and less of a monotonous RPG, Lionhead has done away with the health bar and experience points all together. In battle heroes who take too much of a beating will be knocked unconscious for several seconds then be able to get back up and continue the fray. Once ones foes have all been dispatched, players gain small points that add up to a Guild Seal. After obtaining enough Guild Seals, players can spend them on opening treasure chests located in the "Road to Rule." This poor attempt at a leveling system features abilities, additional gestures, and even important gameplay mechanics all available for purchase. Separated by gates, higher level abilities cannot be purchased until advancing so far in the story. Newcomers to the Fable series might not be bothered by this and instead might commend Lionhead for not allowing players to become too strong too fast. However, returning fans who liked to do things such as buy a house as soon as possible will have to advance in the story line for several hours in order to do so, as the "landlord" pack is only available past the second or third gate.



Voiced by John Cleese,
Jasper provides silly
whit to the world
of Albion



     While most of their renovations for the game have been hit or miss, one attempt at bettering the gameplay has hit its target at a bullseye. Players looking to change clothing, equip new weapons, spend Guild Seals, or check for downloadable content may do so by pressing "start" and entering The Sanctuary. Kept tidy by Jasper, the former butler of the old king now catering to the hero, The Sanctuary is essentially an interactive pause menu that has been well-written into the story line of the game as to be believable. Voiced by famous British actor John Cleese, Jasper brings the charm and silly whit to the game that our across-the-pond developers are notorious for.



Between the larger wardrobe and
the ability to interact with NPC's in
a whole new way, Lionhead added
.



Don't Change a Thing:

     Lionhead has done a marvelous job of responding to gamer complaints and suggestions and has revamped most of the aspects of the former game that were a cause for grievance. Also, by adding the aspect of touch to the game, Albion becomes that much more real as players are able to interact with villagers as never before.

Should Have Spent More Time On:

     It seems that every stunning addition made to the game was at the expense of an equally stunning former dynamic or aspect. By getting rid of the ability to choose a gesture in conversation, or by scaling down the hero morphing to make room for weapon morphing, Lionhead will have a great deal of explaining to do. Most players will probably wonder why the British developers couldn't have just kept the good stuff good, and changed what needed changing, rather than revamping all of it.

Just How Homo:

Finally, a game that gives gaymers
a chance to have their very own
'Happily Ever After'.

     Its hard to deny the homosexual street cred of a game that not only allows you to romantically pursue a member of the same sex, but also to buy a house together, get married and eventually adopt children. Throw in a pinch of character morphing and gaymers everywhere will be able to live out their fantasies of being a muscle-armed hero saving the world and finding love or a dark magic user with an appetite for seedy bars and even seedier men. 

  

Although its not perfect, Fable 3 is
still well worth the price and the
occasional head ache

Own It or Rent It:

     Despite grievances with developers choices, Fable III is a must-own game for anyone serious about maintain their reputation in the gaming world. New comers or those ignorant to the earlier Fables will most likely fall head over heals for this latest installment, while those returning to the world of Albion might find themselves a bit annoyed at times, but its nothing that can't be overlooked for the greater good of saving (or ransacking) the world.

Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2

Starkiller returns, or does he?

Synopsis:

     Picking up where the first one left off, The Force Unleashed 2 throws gamers straight into the twisted psyche and action packed reality of fan-favorite and force wielder extraordinaire Starkiller. Locked in a top secret cloning facility on the ocean world of Kamino, Vader's secret apprentice seems to have somehow made his way back from the grave. After a brief conversation Vader reveals that his wide-eyed and confused little puppet is nothing more than a clone of the original Starkiller, made to do Vader's bidding. While sparring with holigram training droids, our hero has a brief crisis of character after being commanded to strike down a droid resembling his former love Juno Eclipse. Upon seeing this, Darth Vader explains that the memories and feelings our protagonist feels towards Juno are nothing more than memory flashes of the original Starkiller implemented in the cloning process designed to train him better. Vader continues by saying that due to the accelerated cloning procedures many of the clones have gone mad, and that he is nothing more than a failed experiment and must be terminated. Confused and weary of the dark lord, the pseudo-Starkiller gives Vader a taste of force lightning before jumping out of the window and out on the run. Fighting through masses of imperials, our leading man escapes Kamino aboard Vader's own tie-fighter. Jetting through the galaxy amidst a civil war and unsure of his true origins, if he is the real Starkiller or not, our hero sets his sights on finding Juno and being with the woman he knows he loves.

Armored vehicles are nothing to an
angry and confused Jedi

     Despite coming dangerously close to interrupting Star Wars continuity, TFU2 tells a story unlike most games around and to some might be viewed as less of a game and more of an interactive theatrical treat. With the ongoing eternal struggle of Starkiller, mixed with the calamities of a feuding empire and rebellion players will find themselves getting lost in the fictional world and unable to put the controller down for anything less than reaching for the remote to turn up the volume.

And we thought Star Wars couldn't
look any better than it already does.

Appearance: 

     One of the most stunning things about TFU2 is the way it looks. From in-game graphics to rendered cut scenes and CGI cinematics, the Star Wars universe has never looked so polished. Just when we thought Starkiller and the gang were perfectly animated, LucasArts has somehow improved upon their realism with even more impressive facial gestures, movements, and interactions.

As players make their way through
groups of stormtroopers, the camera
will angle itself to follow suit.

     A previously-overlooked factor that now might be the new level of standard in games everywhere is the camera angles shown in TFU2. Every camera angle is set perfectly to portray the amount of danger Starkiller is currently experiencing. As players run across a narrow bridge the camera pans out to show just how high they really are, then switches to an arial view as masses of storm troopers close in from all sides. The views are so beautifully executed that players might now find themselves looking for similar features in games from here on out.

Even droids are taken down by a
blue lightsaber wielding Starkiller

     Like in the first FU, Starkiller unlocks new costumes as levels are completed. The costumes can then be warn throughout the levels. While wearing different costumes doesn't effect gameplay, there's something subtly awesome about seeing a dual-lightsaber-weilding Boba Fett force throw a rocket back at the AT-ST it came from.

Game Play:

     From the get go players will realize that although it shares the same title and 95% of the same developers as the first one, saying that TFU2 and its predecessor have the same gameplay is like saying Final Fantasy 1 and Final Fantasy 13 do as well. Sure they have the same general concept, but its obvious the latter has evolved far beyond the former.

Double the lightsabers for double
the devastation

     One impressive and subtle way of improving gameplay was the introduction of a second lightsaber. With two lightsabers Starkillers combat now allows for some moves and combos that ultimately are just sweet to execute. Also new this time around is the ability to actually sever an opponents appendage when coming into contact with it with one of the lightsabers. Even the most dedicated force pushers and lightning users will opt to do some literal hacking and slashing while waiting for their force bars to replenish.

Free fallin is just one of the many
ways developers have switched up
the gameplay

     Each level includes with it multiple challenges and missions designed to keep gameplay fresh, keep gamers enthralled and truly show off just how powerful Starkiller is. From protecting a high-speed hover train from a pursuing gunship, to standing at the helm of a battle cruiser while force throwing space debris out of the way, there's so much more to TFU2 than just taking on endless streams of imperials. Players will truly feel unleashed as they free fall hundreds of feet in the pouring rain while having to duck and weave past obstructions, or force push them out of the way.

The Gorog, just one of the epic boss
battle awaiting players.

     Even the boss battles have been bumped up several notches to fit a new and improved gameplay. While the battles are nothing short of epic, LucasArts has done a spectacular job of still making them beatable without taking away from their intensity. Taking on the Gorog amidst a crowded Cato Neimoidia gladiator arena might be the perfect example of just how intense TFU2 truly is.

With the right lightsaber crystal,
force lightning becomes even more
deadly

     Like its former, players will be able to pick up holicrons hidden throughout the game to increase their life or energy, gain force points, or unlock new lightsaber crystals. Each color crystal not only changes the appearance of the lightsaber, but allows for different effects such as health regeneration, amplified force damage, or better laser reflection. Wielding two lightsabers, players can mix and match colors to fit their playing style. Those looking to unleash devastation with matching lightsabers will have to find two of the same color crystal, as each holicron only carries one.

Don't Change a Thing:

Yoda and Starkillers paths cross
briefly while our hero searches
for the love of his life

     Each new Star Wars game has a two-part objective: sell tons of copies and give true Star Wars fans something to geek out about. TFU2 does that brilliantly. Aside from the gameplay, cameo appearances by Boba Fett and Yoda, and the fact that players are living out their force fantasies as a human bulldozer,   LucasArts expands Star Wars lore that much more by giving gamers a chance to explore Cato Neimoidia, the former ruling world of the droid army.

Starkiller comes face to face with
what very well could be a dark
version of himself.

Should Have Spent More Time On:

     While criticizing a game so seemingly perfect is nothing if not soul shattering, there are a few key factors that might leave gamers wanting. First and foremost, as a game that is solely one player with no compatibility for cooperative play, players might easily grow annoyed with the fact that the game takes a mere 6-7 casual hours to beat and ends with a fairly massive "what happens next?" feeling. Developers tried to make up for this by offering the traditional Light Side and Dark Side endings, requiring the game to be played through a second time  to see what happens either way. However this doesn't make up for the feeling of being cheated out of a full-length game. Aside from extending the gameplay, LucasArts could have offered a 2-player versus section in which players can dual one-another as souped up versions of Star Wars favorites, unleashed style.

     The only other grievance found with TFU2 was the rare overacting of one of the voice actors, namely that of Sam Witwer, Starkiller himself. While generally Witwer does an amazing job, there are times where all the man seems to be doing is yelling, even when the situation seems rather calm. We get that Starkiller's going through an internal struggle and trying to figure out if he's a clone or not, but while riding a sideways elevator to the bridge, he doesn't really need to be shouting his replies to his allies.

Just How Homo:

Gaymers everywhere can agree:
Starkiller has all the qualities of
the perfect man.

     While the game is about a Jedi unlike any other trying to track down his long-lost female love, gaymers can't help but fantasize about just how far to the Dark Side Starkiller is willing to go. Based entirely off of voice actor Sam Witwer, the former secret apprentice and his real-life counterpart are going to have to prepare themselves for a slew of gay fan-fiction. While we're not sure what it is about a tormented bad ass with a buzz cut and pouty lips that makes us sweat in all the right places, we sure aren't arguing.

While shorter than most games, TFU2
delivers on the action.

Own it or Rent it:

     Own it. Although TFU2 may be short, the punch it packs is enough to keep players coming back for more over and over again. Aside from being able to review data entries on the various planets and enemies Starkiller encounters, players are able to complete various challenges, allowing them to unlock more lightsaber crystals, costumes, and even new cinematics. Also, given the caliber of downloadable material released for its predecessor, TFU2 is bound to have some truly unleashed additions coming out in the near future.