Rockumentary - Episode One

Please give a very warm welcome to Table 8!
You may remember them from ScrewAttack's myvidsdontsuck.
They now have a new home right here on Control Freeks!
And they bring to you, the series that everybody loves,
ROCKUMENTARY!


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Edwin's Generation: Street Fighter Frenzy

Warning! May Trip Balls by the end of this video.
Watch as Edwin gets wackier, and plays Street Fighter for the SNES.
The Culmination of Bad Acting, and Kool-Aid.


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8-Bit Boy - Golden Ropes Pilot

What happends when all the drama backstage from WWE Events escalate?
You Get Golden Ropes, The Wrestling Sitcom. Hilarious.


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Slingshot24 - Pokemon Snap Review (Article)

Slingshot24 writes about a truly, memorable classic from the Nintendo64.
Gotta Catch 'em all!

Remember that one episode of Pokemon where Ash met Todd Snap, a pokemon photographer? Well Nintendo and Gamefreak remembered. Then they thought, "What if we made a game where you take pictures of pokemon in the wild?" (probably). Soon enough, Pokemon Snap came to exist.



Developed by HAL laboratory(The guys behind smash bros) and released in America June 30, 1999, Pokemon Snap was a big difference from the mainstream games. The whole battle and catch concept was dropped. This game was solely about taking pictures of the pokemon. You assumed the role of photographer Todd Snap from the show and ventured out for Professor Oak to take pictures so as to study the habits of the wild pokemon.



Riding in a vehicle designed by Oak himself, you would follow a preset track and from Start to end, and photograph the Pokemon along the way. This did require a bit of skill as you would later learn, as the quality of a photo decided the fate of your score.
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Gameplay
The game is an on rail adventure based around a camera simulation. To complete the game, a bit of problem solving, puzzle, and creativity, and timing skills are required. It is more fun than you would think to snap photos of Pokemon. Little surprises are around every corner and chances are you will spot your favorite Pokemon along the way, or cause something new to happen each play through.

Here is a look at the first level- the Beach


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Your Score
Once a level is completed, you select from all of your photos taken during the level at least one of each pokemon photographed to be presented to Oak, or saved to your Album.

Following this selection, Oak would proceed to rate your work.
The scores were broken down into a few key details:
-The Pokemon in the Photo
-The size of the Target
-The centering of the target
-The Pokemon facing you during the photo

In addition, bonus points were awarded for special conditions met including
-Multiple pokemon of the same species in the shot
-Unique Traits of the Pokemon
-Actions of the Pokemon

Based upon your score, you would be permitted to advance in level to a new location, and be awarded Items for use.
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Locations
The setting of the game is Pokemon Island, where many Pokemon live. In total, the game had 7 levels. Within each level were unique terrain and some exclusive types of pokemon. In order to move forward from your current level you must score enough points to advance. Some situations however forced you to use some thinking to activate an event that allowed for new locations to be accessed. Oak would often hint at these necessary actions by the end of his Scoring Sessions.



Overhead View of Pokemon Island
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Pokemon
In total there are 63 kinds of Pokemon in Snap. Some are only seen in specific levels. Often an event would need to be triggered by the player to cause all forms of a Pokemon to be seen such as Evolutions. Certain Interactions such as occasionally photographing certain Pokemon was enough to trigger some sort of event, however not all could be caused by this method.
Among the pokemon included were some of the cult favorites like Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Squirtle, Charmander and Bulbasaur, as well as the Legendary Pokemon Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, and Mew.



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Items
Upon receiving score or completing a level, Prof. Oak would sometimes present you with an Item. These Items are:
-Apples: used as a Pokemon Lure
-Pester Balls: when making contact they explode causing stunning or frustration of the wild pokemon
-Poke Flute: When used this flute plays a song of 3 that makes pokemon happy or dance usually, but also has some other effects.
-Motor: Earned late in the game, Speeds up Kart Movement.

Often, the use of these items leads to the triggering of an event necessary for game progression, such as the launching of a Pokemon onto a switch to open a door.

These items also cause unique interaction with the Pokemon as they can be used to knock say a Charmeleon for example into a lave pool to evolve into Charizard, or lead a pikachu to a surf board to start hanging ten on the sand. (as can be seen in the video of gameplay)


Notice the apple to the side of Pikachu? Great Success!
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Pokemon Signs
In addition to the Pokemon you can catch on film, there are also 6 unique areas where if snapped at from the right angle can resemble pokemon such as this rock in the shape of Kingler.


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Controls
The controls fit very smoothly and are all at reach without any extraneous reaching involved as each button is within one finger movement. They all are in the right place.
A- Throw Apple
B- Throw Pester Ball
Z- Hold Camera
Z+A- Take Picture
Down C- Poke`-Flute
R- Speed up (requires motor)
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Graphics
The graphics in this game are PHENOMINAL. Each Pokemon character model looks EXACTLY like it should (woah!). This is likely what makes this game so great. It honestly looks like the Pokemon are there in 3D in crystal clear imagery. Not a polygon on these creatures is out of place. The landscape also offers quite a bit of promise. You are clearly presented with what you are doing with these top-notch graphics of the age.



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Sound
The audio is very befitting and appropriate. The level themes each fit their location quite well and give you an atmosphere that leaves you convinced.

Also, the Pokemon actually speak their names to communicate just like in the show instead of having the little beeps and bops of the mainstream titles.

All sound effects are very befitting to their actions too. It is very believable that what you just heard happened on screen.

(Again: Just check out the beach level in the gameplay section.) :P
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Overall
This game completely fulfills its purpose- to give a photography simulation experience in the world of Pokemon. It gives you the true feeling that what you are acting out is in real time as are the creatures around you. Each element is just right and enjoyable for extended periods of time (Even years as I proved)
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Conclusion

In close, I would like to point out this is the only installment of this spin off of the main series, but holds its own as a unique and exciting experience. Those who have not played it can find it available on wii shop channel, but will not have the same experience as if it were on the N64 console. Those who have played, I hope you share the same great memories of this game as I do.
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PekoponTAS - Top 10 2D Platformers (According to him)

Presenting the TOP 10 2D Platformers According to Pekopon!
This video will surely take you back to the 80's.
Which made Number One?


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