So Far the Only Reason to Buy Motion Plus

Like the typical, hardcore, Wii gamer, I bought the Motion Plus add-on as soon as it came out. It was only $20, and I was sure there would be many more games coming out that will need the 1:1 apparatus of motion control. Or, at the very least I thought, the next Zelda will have Motion Plus. Well, turns out that the very least is exactly what I got. That's not a remark on Red Steel 2, but on the countless companies that failed to utilize the accessory. Ok, countless may be stretching it. It has, after all, only been on the market since June 2009 and any game that was in the works before that couldn't possibly add such a unique feature as an afterthought. Red Steel 2, however, implemented it beforehand with ample time, despite the game's lack of commercial success. In regards to the poor sales figures, the Creative Director, Jason Vandenbergite, of the game told IGN that Red Steel 2 had a very small audience window and explained how gamers didn't want to "exert themselves." Neither of those arguments is unfair, but the latter makes me wonder about the future of the Playstation Move and Microsoft's Kinect.

To begin with Red Steel 2, I must admit I was excited to play this game long before I ever got the chance. Sword fighting, westerns and 1:1 movement will do that to me. But my first copy of the game had to be sent back because it was faulty and it was over a month before I found it again for the same price. So one can understand that the buildup of desire was much like that of a virgin high schooler at his prom. I was also just as hopeful of experiencing something that I thought would change everything. I would never -- could never -- go back to what it was like before direct 1:1 motion. For those of you not familiar with the Motion Plus accessory, it doesn't live up to this hype, which is seen clearly now with the noticeably few games that even offer the option of using it. Only one game, to date, takes advantage of the accessory and offers a complete gaming experience. The review of Red Steel 2, then, must include a review of Motion Plus gaming.

The opening cinematic of Red Steel 2 was very impressive. You begin by being tied by the wrists to the back of a motorcycle going through the desert and nearby city. I instantly thought, "wow, this looks fantastic. Cel-shading and the Wii are a perfect match." Even better was the idea that whoever gets dragged behind a bike like that would surely be dead by the end of the ride. I even winced a couple times when hitting glass bottles. Eventually the sequence ends and I was happily surprised when the in-game graphics stayed in step with the cinematic. We find out our hero is a member of the Kusagari clan, and so we start wandering the city in search of other Kusagari clansmen. At first the only weapon available is a gun, but that changes after a few minutes. The moment of truth for the Motion Plus add on. Can 1:1 movement improve the overall quality of a game? It took some getting used to, that's for sure. At first I was not able to swing the sword without turning the point of view in tandem with my swing. But, yes, there was 1:1 movement and it definitely made a difference in the game. For instance, the game immediately tells you to swing "with your elbow" because frilly wrist waggles won't be enough. The strength of the sword swipe depends on how fast and long your movement is. I can honestly say that my arm felt a little sore after a while, though, and I used to play tennis.

The entire set up works very well together. Motion Plus completely changes the action of the game. Since no one without wrists the size of dictionaries will be able to make little movements effective against the enemies, the gameplay is much more difficult. No sitting and leaning back. You gotta be front and center, ready to have broad slashes against armored foes. It doesn't feel like you're actually swinging a sword, even if the Wii remote is now longer, but it does get your head more into the game. As for the gun, there's nothing special there. It would work exactly the same without Motion Plus. Think Resident Evil 4 but without the stationary shooting. And the zombies.

As I mentioned earlier, the game's story is reminiscent of a spaghetti western. You get to play the wanderer who comes in to clean up the town, which is under siege by a group of bandits. In addition, there is also some classic Japanese story-telling here. The lone samurai, having been disgraced and banished by his clan, returns to help in a clan war and has to deal with other, sword-wielding assassins. The look and sound also blend the East and West. Not only are there paper lanterns, but telephones and vending machines. Not only is there a drunken-ish sheriff, but also a samurai master who reluctantly agrees to train you. If you're a fan of films like "Unforgiven" or "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" you will recognize the classic western sound, but with a Japanese tinge to it.

The combat gameplay largely relies on the sword, but that's the point. There is the option of buying additional guns and upgrades for them, but you can play the whole game without using your gun, while you need the sword for several things from taking off an enemy's armor to using for finishing moves. Also, almost everything you see lying around is breakable and will give you cash to purchase said upgrades; it would just be a waste of bullets to use them on shooting up every barrel and trash bag. The last little detail I would mention is the surprising use of the Wii remote speaker. Personally, mine is always off because the sound is usually awful quality and adds nothing to the experience. But, in Red Steel 2, the speaker is used to hear clicks when trying to unlock safes. You turn the remote as if it was the lock on the safe itself and listen for the clicking to know where to press A. Not a bad idea or implementation -- it was certainly never annoying. High praise for that little speaker.

To sum up this game, I can say it was a unique, enjoyable experience. The Motion Plus attachment was iffy at first, but over time I felt more and more comfortable with it. The point of view rotating with the swing stopped happening and really never happened in combat to begin with. The story was a nice mixture of classic plots, although the voice acting was a little off-putting, but there aren't many games that do that too well. I enjoyed the way to accept missions, along with collecting money, optional side quests, and upgrading your gun and sword. This game has a great deal of positives going for it and the addition of the, sadly under-used, Motion Plus does increase the overall quality. Especially in light of being one of the only games after a year to use it. I rate both Motion Plus and Red Steel 2 as Super Dope.

4.5/5 Near Perfect Score! Super Dope!

Super Dope Battle: Retail vs. Online

I come to this point, fellow videogame lovers, like many people: after the final straw. Recently I bought Red Steel 2 used from Amazon. It was about $20, so I couldn't pass that up. It's on my "really should play" list. I was mostly looking forward to this game because I have yet to try out the motion plus attachment (I know, I know, but Wii Sports Resort just wasn't worth it for me). Much to my disappointment and infuriation, when I put the game in the disc was "unreadable." So after trying everything I could think of for the next 15 minutes, I surrendered to the faulty game. It had won. I was broken. Forced to retreat to Amazon and appeal for a refund, I found myself trying to remember the last time I had such resentment for a mere merchant.

In my younger years, I would frequent the local Gamestops and Best Buys in order to browse through their larger-than-mine collection of games. At the time I thought this was the only way to buy games. Never would I dare order it online; that would run the risk of being damaged in transit. And how could I ever return it if I got the wrong (or a faulty) item? Now I know that it's very easy to return an item online. Just like when dealing with actual stores, you must keep everything. Luckily, the online version doesn't come with a too-easy-to-throw-away receipt; it does, however, come with a box in which it should also be returned and a processing request which must be printed and shoved into that same, original box. But as we all well know, the worst thing about shopping online is not the hassle of a possible return.

The length of time spent waiting for your shipment is sometimes unbearable. For Red Steel 2, I was bursting with anticipation, which meant the 5-7 business days lasted about 5-7 months. To add to this, I'm just naturally a very impatient person. I'm bothered every morning by how long it takes me to get to work - it's a ten minute walk. But in all fairness, no one in our instant-gratification society of today enjoys waiting a week to use the item just purchased. "I paid for it now, so I should use it now." Not an uncommon opinion.

On the lighter side of online shopping, you can almost always guarantee a cheaper price. I've been to a few Gamestops since I returned Red Steel 2 and the used version is always at least five dollars more than from Amazon. Of course, few need to be lectured on the evils of the greedy Gamestop company. I know I've been rather proud of myself before for deciding not to use that store ever again. Within the last weeks, I've spent an increasing amount of time just browsing their used games. "Maybe I can get a good deal on something that got good reviews. Maybe some obscure, sleeper hit." Good luck with that.

It seems as if it's an even trade off. Pay more for instant gratification. But with pre-orders, you can play the new game the day it comes out and without anyone asking if you'd like to join any newsletters or hear about any kind of "reward card." Does this make stores obsolete? Why would anyone choose to get their videogame from some busy, line-filled mall when you can just sit in your room and have it, literally, hand-delivered? I used to think I had no more use for these shops, now stocked with nostalgia more so than anything I'd want to buy. And yet I come back to them now, as if I never felt ripped off by buying an expensive used game. This is because I'm tired of waiting. I feel now that if I could find a copy of Red Steel 2 that was less than $10 more, it would be spinning in my Wii by the end of the hour.

I realize everything I've said really just applies to the used games. When it comes to new games, I've mentioned the "same day it comes out" pre-order plan. Then with the systems themselves, I can't imagine preferring to buy them online. For those I still have my old paranoia of something, somehow, getting damaged. I want to delicately carry my system, like a newborn, coming home for the very first time. Portable consoles are the same way. I would never rely on the U.S. Mail to hold a 3DS with as much care as someone who wanted one. I can bet the thought, "Well, it's heavy so it's also probably tough" crosses their mind.

Here I am at this impasse. Should I return to the retail gaming world and spend some extra cash? Or can I be patient enough (and cheap enough) to get my games online? Red Steel 2 was the first defective game I've gotten through the internet, out of countless other items that worked perfectly. I've also received a defective game from a mall distributor - for which I lost money since I had thrown away the receipt and they could only return 60% of what I paid the day before. So clearly neither are perfect, but I'm wondering about the opinions of others. Do others have videogame online-shopping horror stories? Does anyone always prefer to walk in and hand their cash over to such an avaricious company? Will one eventually take all the business away from the other? I'll leave you with these questions to ponder while I personally try to get Gamestop to lower their prices by reading customer reviews off of Amazon.