The Reset Button - My Favorite Christmas Game of All Time.

My Favorite Christmas Game of All Time

Deck the Halls, folks. After a long hiatus, mostly due to work and Thanksgiving, the Reset Button finally makes it's triumphant return to New Geek Protocol. I'm back, pumped, and ready to get some bloggin' done.

Buckle up. Strap in. Let's talk gaming.

When you think of Christmas, video games probably come to mind occasionally. Especially when you're giving gifts to friends or family. We all have someone who games in our lives, or at least I'd like to think we do. But one thing you don't really think about is Christmas-themed video games. Sure, there are a handful of them out there in the wild. But most of them aren't very good.

Today, I'm going to fill you in on my personal favorite all-time Christmas game. It's not a very GOOD game, so to speak, but I love it. Every year, I fire it up in hopes of conquering it, but never do. It's not an easy game, to tell you the truth. It has eluded me since childhood, with me always coming back in my adult years in hopes of besting Marv and Harry.

I haven't yet. But this might be my year. That's right. The game I love to play around Christmas is none other than HOME ALONE on the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.

While the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo releases had better graphics, sound, gameplay, and controls, the NES version had a stupid charm I couldn't escape. The premise of this game is simple. As an 8-bit Kevin McCallister, you have 20 minutes to stop the Wet Bandits from robbing your house. Using a bunch of traps like Christmas ornaments, paint cans, Micro Machines, and the Tarantula, you booby trap your house in hopes of vanquishing those wacky bandits. If you manage to hold out for the 20 minutes, the police arrive and take Marv and Harry to the slammer. Fail and the Bandits win, looting your house for all it's worth and leaving Kevin's fate to your imagination.

Ohhhh noooooo...

Simple premise and simple gameplay, but dammit is it fun. The music is corny as all get out, but I love it. Your typical Nintendo music. A bunch of random sounds, but it just works for the theme of the game. The treehouse, main house, and basement all had different soundtracks, which was a nice touch.

 Since Home Alone is one of the best Christmas movies ever made, I had such high hopes that the game would be one of the best Christmas games ever made. Long story short, it wasn't. But it holds a special place in my heart during the Yuletide season. I remember playing this as a kid and running out of traps to set, only to find myself hiding Kevin in the Christmas tree for 3 minutes while the moronic Bandits searched for me. Eventually, Kevin was discover and it was game over, but the thrill of hiding that long while they ran around the house was both epic and hilarious.

There are all sorts of tactics you can try to defeat the bandits. I repeatedly tried to set up shop in Kevin's treehouse, but for this to come close to working there needs to be a large stockpile of traps in close proximity to you. Note: it never once worked for me. What's worse is if you are venturing back to the house for more traps from the treehouse via the rope and run into Marv or Harry, it's curtains. Game over. Each attempt to fortify the treehouse, master bedroom, or basement failed miserably, with the Bandits torching my defenses and robbing the McCallisters blind. I sure hope Harry didn't bite off every one of Kevin's little fingers one at a time.

I like to think the Old Man with the Shovel saves him when I lose instead of Kevin being drowned his basement.

The McCallister House - In NES form

As time continues to tick away, Marv and Harry seem to gain an increase in speed, as they come out of nowhere like the Flash to stop you in your tracks. Nothing worse than being on a good run, working your way towards justice, only to walk into the living room right into one of the bandits. Whoops.

One of the cooler things about Home Alone on the NES is when you pause the game or are caught by the Bandits, a display appears showing trap locations, time remaining, and score. I'd find myself pausing the game every 25 seconds to see how much time remained. It never seemed to go fast enough. And there's nothing worse than seeing no traps available on the screen. You know you're living on borrowed time at that point.

If you're looking for a fun little challenge this holiday and have an emulator, download Home Alone and see if you can do the impossible. Those Wet Bandits are some sticky bastards (see what I did there?). I just tried again this morning to best this game and was captured with less than 4 minutes left. Think I'm over-exaggerating? Check out the gameplay video below and judge it for yourself.

You guys give up or are you thirsty for more?

Do you have a favorite game to play during the holidays, with or without a Christmas theme? Let me know what it is and why.

Merry Christmas to all our readers. We appreciate you spending the past year with us and look forward to 2015.

Until next time...

Game On.

-ML

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The Reset Button - First-Person GTA? It's coming. And it's glorious.

First-Person GTA? It's coming. And it's glorious.

First and foremost, I apologize for the consecutive GTA-related posts. But this is my time and I'll write about what I want, dang it. GTA is honestly the cash-cow of the video game industry not named Call of Duty, so it's only fitting I write about it more than 3 times every other month.

Coming out on November 18th for PS4 and Xbox One and January 27th for PC, GTA V is going to rule yet another holiday season. And if you weren't excited about the technical tweaks and upgrades, this week Rockstar revealed a new feature never see in a console release of GTA.

A first-person perspective.

Thanks to the PC modding community, this feature has been featured in past GTA titles. The success of it on PC made Rockstar finally include it on the "remaster" for PS4 and Xbox One. Unfortunately for those last-generation console users, this feature is not going to be released for PS3 and Xbox 360. No patch, no upgrade, no nothing.

It's the price you pay for not getting with the times, I suppose. Or they just don't want to waste their time working on a patch for a game they've already sold. Yeah, that's probably it.

Want to see more about this awesome feature that has me super-hyped for a game I've already beaten? Check out the video below.



Yeah, that video pretty much sums up how awesome a first-person view can be in a game like Grand Theft Auto. Not only has Rockstar added full cockpit views to the vehicles, boats, and aircraft, all the gauges function. It's insanity, folks. Pure, unadulterated insanity.

So there you have it. By just adding another camera view, Rockstar has added even more hype to a GTA game that's already been on the market for over a year on other systems. There is no question this game is going to dominate the holiday for a second consecutive year. I've already preordered my digital copy for PS4 so it's all loaded and ready to go on November 18th without having to stop at a store.

Are you picking up GTA V on Xbox One or PS4? Going to wait for the PC version? If not, what's wrong with you? Go out and get this game November 18th. Experience one of the best games ever made. If you don't, your friends will all laugh at you and your family will "forget" to invite you to Thanksgiving because you're "lame". Their words, not mine.

Los Santos is calling, amigos. And 11/18 can't pick up the phone fast enough.

In some non-gaming news, the next edition of The Reset Button will be in a few weeks, as I once again have to travel for business. Don't miss me too much, Internet friends. While I'm away, do yourself a solid and check out the work of the other awesome contributors on New Geek Protocol while I'm gone. These guys (and gal) are awesome.

Until next time. Lock and load.

And, of course, game on.

-ML

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The Reset Button: GTA: San Andreas - 10 Year Anniversary on Xbox 360.

GTA: San Andreas - 10 Year Anniversary on Xbox 360.

Everyone that knows me as a gamer knows I'm a HUGE fan of the Grand Theft Auto series. Since playing the top-down PlayStation titles, I've been hooked. The open-world, do what you please gameplay pulled me in from the first hour I played. I love freedom in games. Not having to follow a specific path everyone else will follow and being able to create your own way just appealed to me like no other game had. From GTA, GTA 2, GTA III, and GTA: Vice City, I explored the cities to the max, collected all hidden packages, found every stunt jump, and dominated every rampage.

But then, Rockstar Games changed it up. They launched Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. My gaming world was never the same. The exchanged the Mob-theme from GTA III and the Miami cocaine theme from Vice City and took it to the West Coast, playa.

As Carl Johnson, you return to Los Santos when your mother is murdered. The goal: return the Grove Street Families to the top of the gang world, all while finding out the truth about your mother and avoiding Officer Tenpenny and his C.R.A.S.H. LSPD unit.

Sex sells.

From Los Santos (Los Angeles) to San Fierro (San Francisco) to Las Venturas (Las Vegas), you take CJ on an awesome journey of redemption and justice. All in a 1990's West Coast setting. The soundtrack is the best of any GTA game, the world is massive and diverse, and the characters are interesting and well-developed. This is still my favorite GTA game out of all released, with V and Vice City rounding out my top 3. If you haven't played San Andreas, I have to question your gaming tastes and must urge you to pick it up.

But you don't own a Xbox or Playstation 2 anymore? Easy solution to that. First, the game is available on Android and iOS formats. But the controls for those mobile versions aren't the best and can be frustrating. So, I must recommend the newly-released digital Xbox 360 version.

Yes, they've released San Andreas on the 360 already as one of their "digital classics", but this version is different on a few levels. First, it boasts HD 720p graphics, which the "digital classics" version didn't. It was a straight port of the Xbox version. Second, it features achievements, which is a selling point for some gamers in regards to re-playing games. Honestly, the 10 year anniversary edition on Xbox 360 is the perfect reason to head to San Andreas for the first time or for another visit. Not enough to sell you? OK. Here's the kicker...

It's $4. Yes. Four dollars. That's it. One of the best games every made is less than a $5 footlong at your local sub sandwich establishment. So there really is no excuse for missing out on this masterpiece of a game.

Yes, you could have a JETPACK in San Andreas.

San Andreas pushed the envelope for open-world games and helped Rockstar further separate themselves as the developer to beat. You really have to play it to understand and admire what it's done for gaming.

Grab your gat, blast some Dr. Dre, and throw on your L.A. Raiders hat. You're about to hit the Westside, son.

Things just ain't the same for gangstas.

Game on.

-ML

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The Reset Button: What I'm excited for - Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

What I'm excited for: Halo - The Master Chief Collection.

As a gamer, it's easy for me to get excited for a new game hitting the market. But with the current generation doing more and more in terms of remasters and collections, it's hard to get excited for something I've played, beaten, and left behind. True, there may be a handful of games I'd happily go through again if remastered, but I don't hold a candle for it actually happening.

What Microsoft and 343 Industries has done is peaked my excitement for a collection. To put it plainly, it's the grandmaster of all collections. Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

John-117's greatest adventures in one package.

With Halo 5: Guardians on the books for Q4 2015, fans like me were clamoring for an adventure with Master Chief on the Xbox One. To calm the fan base and give us something to keep our controllers busy, 343 Industries is putting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, Halo 2 (with an "anniversary edition" makeover), Halo 3, and Halo 4 on one disc.

Due out November 11th, 2014, The Master Chief Collection puts all the bells and whistles together for one of the best collections ever released. When Halo 2 multiplayer was shut down a few years ago, fans fought for as long as they could to keep it alive. 8 players who stayed logged in after the servers shut down were able to keep playing until their internet disconnected them or they powered their system down. They held out, but eventually all 8 were booted offline somehow and Halo 2 multiplayer was a thing of the past. A memory for all Halo fans of one of the best multiplayer experiences ever.

I loved Halo 2 multiplayer. Back in 2004-2005, I would grab a 2-liter of Mountain Dew (I was 20 at the time of release and didn't always have access to booze), some Taco Bell (another poor choice), and hit Halo 2 multiplayer until the wee morning hours. Those were amazing times with a lot of cool people on Xbox Live. This was before the days of douchebag kids on Call of Duty shouting racial and homophobic slurs. This was just a bunch of people playing Halo 2 online. Plasma Swords, battle rifles, and melee attacks were on the docket. And it was good.

Well, like Surge, it's coming back. 343 Industries is bringing back the full Halo 2 multiplayer experience in the Master Chief Collection. All maps will be included, all remastered in glorious HD graphics. All original modes are back, which has me extremely excited. I've never had as much fun playing an online shooter as I did Halo 2. Halo 3 and Reach were fun because they were Halo, Gears of War had it's moments when playing with friends, and CoD/BF were decent when you weren't getting called the n-word, but Halo 2 was the granddaddy of them all. So I'm beyond excited to get back into it online.

Dual-wielding, son.

All four games will run at 60fps in 1080p resolution. Can you say "gorgeous"? There will also be lighting upgrades to make things really pop.

The Master Chief Collection is going to keep me very busy until Halo 5: Guardians drops. It has been a long while since I've played Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2. I'm very confident the story will pull me back in like it did over 10 years ago. 

If you own a Xbox One, the Master Chief Collection is a definite buy. The amount of content in this collection is top of the line and the multiplayer on all 4 games is some of the best ever, with Halo 2 being my personal best ever. And if you've never played Halo before, you're in for one of the most entertaining gaming experiences ever. Master Chief is the face of the Xbox franchise and this collection will once again show why. 343 Industries has outdone themselves, making a fan like me happy of the treatment Halo is getting after Bungie walked away from the franchise.

November 11th, I return to Halo 2. Get out your plasma pistols and take aim, folks. Because I won't miss.

Game on.

-ML

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Preparing for a return to Los Santos.

Back in the saddle again.

Sorry for the lack of content on my side of the fence, folks. Things tended to get a tad bit out of hand the last few weeks. Lapses in memory, traveling for work, and a Thursday Night Football game featuring my Atlanta Falcons took me out of my element and my posts suffered.

For that, I apologize.

But allow me to right the ship now and get back into the blogging spirit. I haven't touched many retro games lately, so I'm going to post about something I've very excited about. A return to Los Santos.

Los Santos.

If you're a gamer, you know Los Santos is the fictional representation of Los Angeles in the Grand Theft Auto universe. On the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, gamers worldwide ventured the rough streets, vast countryside, rugged mountains, and ocean depths of this enormous city. The game was Grand Theft Auto V and it was good.

Very good.

Good enough to become one of the, if not THE, best selling games of all time in a quick fashion. Gamers everywhere were hoping Rockstar Games would bring the sandbox king to the Playstation 4 and Xbox One consoles. A PC release was even petitioned for with a massive amount of signatures acquired. Ask and you shall receive, folks. This November, Michael, Trevor, and Franklin bring the chaos and mayhem of Los Santos to next-generation consoles. A PC release is set for early 2015.

Now, I put extensive time into GTA V on Xbox 360. But even in the amount of time I put into the game, I barely scratched the surface of everything it has to offer. GTA Online, probably one of the multiplayer modes I've wanted for a long time, was something I dabbled in but never fully embraced. And I left a lot of side-missions and events on the cutting room floor. Regretful, as anyone who knows me is fully aware that GTA and Splinter Cell are my favorite gaming franchises. So leaving a bunch of content behind when I made my transition to next-gen wasn't something I was pleased with.

November 18th changes all of those things. If you preorder the game, you'll be awarded $1,000,000 in currency to use in-game. Buy those cars you want. New weaponry. A few garages to store all your vehicles. New digs for Michael, Trevor, and Franklin. Whatever you want, really. Additionally, the game will feature updated visuals and other technical enhancements. Bundle this in with new weapons, vehicles, and activities and you have a recipe for all last-gen players to dive in again.

PS4 vs. PS3 screenshot. Massive difference.

In something I was surprised to learn, gamers who upgraded from Xbox 360 to Playstation 4 will be able to transfer their game save over from last gen to current gen. Yes, from Xbox 360 to Playstation 4. Obviously a PS3 to PS4 save transfer is also possible. This is a big deal for me, even though I wouldn't mind starting fresh. I'm not entirely sure if my GTA Online character will transfer, as well, but it would come as a pleasant surprise if so.

Another last vs. current gen shot. More massive difference.

I was greatly considering going digital for this, as I did so for The Last of Us and Destiny, but figured I'd do a physical copy instead. Not that I have any intention of ever trading the game in. I always find something to do in GTA, regardless if I've finished everything or not. And GTA Online will definitely keep me engaged for, I'm guessing, a decent amount of time. Especially if some of my online or real-life friends decide to grab it on PS4. Remote Play on my Vita also influenced my decision for PS4 vs. Xbox One. Being able to play from my living room instead of in the basement is a big one. If you own a PS4, a Vita is almost a necessary accessory for the system.

Overall, I'm ready for my return to Los Santos. It's been too long and there is a lot of chaos left to engage. Another work trip is going to prevent me from diving in day one, but it'll be there when I return. Trevor Phillips better get ready to burn things.

GTA. The best franchise in gaming today.

Thanks for coming back for my return to the blog. I'll be back next week.

Game on.

-ML

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Trophies and Achievements: Why I love them and why I hate them.

Thursday. Almost Friday, but not quite. Also, it's the day I post a new edition of "The Reset Button". Lately, I've been putting more time into my PS4 and Xbox One games. Last weekend, I finally completed Watch_Dogs 100% on PlayStation 4. In doing this, I ended up earning the illustrious "Platinum Trophy". After I was finished, something sparked in my mind.

Why do I care about Trophies and Achievements? Should I let these hold me back from moving on to another game when I haven't earn them all? Are they ruining gaming?

The answer isn't as simple as I was hoping it would be.

Trophies and Achievements, for those not on a last-gen or current-gen system, are virtual accomplishments earned for completing specific challenges in a game. These can range anywhere from completing a story-line mission, collections X amount of items, killing X amount of enemies, or doing a specific activity in a game. The really hold no value and just go towards your gamer profile, showing what you've accomplished over the years you've been gaming on a specific system.

But they tend to be addicting.

Which brings me to my article. Why I love and why I hate Trophies and Achievements.

Why I love them as a gamer.

As a gamer, I strive to get the biggest bang for my buck out of a game purchase. Games like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Grand Theft Auto reside high on my list of favorites because they provide almost endless hours of gameplay possibilities. I have grown accustomed to grouping Trophies and Achievements into the "content" category of games I buy. If I can complete a game and go after the remaining Trophies/Achievements in a reasonable amount of time before I list the game on 99gamers, I'll do it. 

Take Watch_Dogs, for example. I had just about all Trophies completed by the time the credits rolled. I took some time off, played something else, then went back and wrapped up the last 2 Trophies I needed for the "Platinum" to pop. Once that happened, I listed it on 99gamers to send out to a new gamer. Once that 100% completion was hit, there was nothing left for me to accomplish. Story is wrapped up 100%, all Trophies are unlocked, and there is no real "multiplayer" mode worth holding onto it for. So away it goes.

Trophies and Achievements can add another dynamic to boring games that don't hold your interest in regards to story or multiplayer. You can spend your time hunting Trophies instead of dreading the game you're playing. You're probably saying, "But I can just go trade it in and get something I like," which is true. You could. But you'd also be wasting at least half of what you spent on the game when you take it to your local gaming store. I'm looking for value, as you've read in my previous articles. Personally, I can stomach the worst of the worst in regards to games, so hunting Trophies and Achievements help me get my money's worth out of a game instead of trading it in and having to spend more money.

The illustrious Platinum Trophy. Gold, Silver, and Bronze also featured.

I'm also a fan of Trophies and Achievements because of the thought that can go into them. The first Achievement that made me laugh was in the shooter "Army of Two". If you performed 50 melee kills, you'd unlock an Achievement named "Flip You. Flip You For Real." If you've seen "The Usual Suspects", you'd understand what this was in reference to. I remember laughing at the creativity and thought that went into this. Afterwards, funny Trophies and Achievements kept popping up. There is even one titled "Money Launderer" that I need to unlock in honor of my gamer tag.

Things like this, along with the bragging rights that come from having a higher Trophy count or gamer score than your friends, keep me coming back to hunting Trophies and Achievements. But it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There are some things I hate about them.

Why I hate them as a gamer.

One thing I hate about hunting Trophies and Achievements is the amount of that can go into completing some of them. Specifically the online/multiplayer types. Many of these require countless hours of death-match or other game modes, which is something I normally won't do. I tend to lean more towards the single player experience, as online games not played with friends tend to feature the underbelly of gaming more often than not. And it's something I look to avoid. So instead of fully completing a game and feeling satisfied, I end up listing the game online after a few hours of multiplayer when I realize I don't have the time to dedicate to it.

Achievements can also keep you coming back to a game that should have been sent out to pasture long ago. This may conflict with my value-drive statement, but hear me out. Some games are meant to be played, beaten, and traded. But sometimes, you find yourself chasing one last Achievement that you just can't unlocked. It slowly drives you insane until you find yourself only playing this one game to unlock the last Achievement. 

Congrats! You've unlocked an Achievement!

In the PS2 and before days, this problem was non-existent. You'd buy a game, beat it, and move on. You grind to 100% a game because it was fun, not because you unlocked a virtual trophy. They can add content, sure, but they can also strip a good game of it's fun factor if you get caught up in hunting just the Achievements without spending time to enjoy the game. But this is only for the hard-core hunters, which I do not consider myself to be. I'm more of a recreational Trophy Whore. 

Some would argue that Achievements and Trophies add nothing of value to a game and strip them of their fun. While I agree to an extent, I get a feeling of satisfaction when I 100% a game and unlock everything. If there are online Trophies/Achievements, I move on. Easy solution. I'd rather skip those instead of destroying the fun a game provides.

My favorite part of Trophies/Achievements: Tracking.

The number one thing I like about unlocking more Trophies and Achievements are the tracking websites. Websites like TrueTrophies and TrueAchievements are dedicated to tracking your Trophy/Achievement progress across your gaming profile. You can see how many days in a row you've unlocked a Trophy/Achievement, how many you have compared to friends, your most valuable Trophy/Achievement, and many more statistics. It's pretty cool to go back and see the very first Trophy/Achievement you unlocked and how many you've unlocked over your entire gaming career on a system.

Go sign up for these free sites and start keeping track of your progress. You may find it's as fun as I think it is. You can even have competitions with your friends.

Think you can unlock more Trophies or Achievements than me? Extend the challenge.

Beating me would be the ultimate Achievement.

Until next week...

Game On.

-ML

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Review: Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4/Xbox One/360/PS3/PC)

Welcome, welcome, readers and subscribers. You know what day it is! Thursday. Allow us to venture forth into a gaming paradise, filled with 8-bit cartridges, black PlayStation discs, and Dreamcast VMUs. But today, we're going to focus on a new game. A game that surprisingly has brought me back to the online multiplayer fold with a bang, not a whimper. To no surprise, it's a shooter. But it isn't your typical Call of Duty or Battlefield.

It's Plant vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare.

Plants vs. Zombies in all out Garden Wafare

Many of you may have played the original Plants vs. Zombies game for various handheld or home gaming consoles. This takes that same premise and expands it across the board. For those of you who have played Gears of War's "Horde" mode, think of that but with Pea-shooters, Cacti, Army Zombies, Potato Mines, and Sunflowers.

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? It is. But it's damn fun.

PvZ:GW features a cooperative mode and various multiplayer modes. Garden Ops, the co-op mode, pits you and 3 other friends against waves of Zombies who are hell bent on destroying your garden. There are ten waves of zombies to battle, with boss battles coming at the fifth and tenth wave. This was the first mode I played and it hooked me. I was skeptical at first, just going off what what the game looked like. But once I got in, I had more fun in 10 minutes than I had playing the last Call of Duty online.

Garden Ops.

After getting my feet wet with Garden Ops, I ventured into online battle with FrostForged and TropicoDoc. The online side has team deathmatch, domination, bomb-the-base, and conquest/rush modes. These are called Team Vanquish, Surburbination, Gardens and Graveyards, and Gnome Bomb. Obviously many of these modes pay homage to modes from Battlefield and Call of Duty. But the way they are executed sets them apart from the rest. There is also a Welcome Mat option if you're a newcomer to the game. This mode features only one map and no customization. I haven't played this one, as I prefer Gardens and Graveyards.

Gardens and Graveyards.

Gardens and Graveyards has you on the plants or zombies side. 12 vs. 12. As plants, you're defending your base from the zombies. As zombies, you're trying to take over the plant bases. There are 6 gardens to hold/assault. If the zombies reach the final base, they have to complete an objective to win. To win as plants, you need to hold a base until time expires. If one base falls, you move onto the next. This is by far the best game mode, in my opinion. It's also the best way to level up your character and buy card packs.

Card Packs: the latest craze in gaming.

Yes, there are card packs. By earning coins in Garden Ops or the multiplayer matches, you can buy card packs. These are purchased in the Sticker Shop. In each of these packs are character customization items like weird hats, glasses, and tattoos, and consumable item like self-revives and plant/zombie spawns. The more expensive packs have the possibility of unlocking weapon attachments and character skins. TropicoDoc unlocked a goalie skin for one of the zombies the other night, which brought hilarity along with it.

Normally, character skins are unlocked by collecting five stickers from the cheaper packs. But if you save 40,000 coins, you can buy the "Spectacular Character Pack", which guarantees a full character skin. The cheapest pack, the Reinforcements Pack, costs 1,000 coins and provides 5 consumables. There are zombie and plant specific packs, as well, which contain items/weapons/skins for their respective faction.

The amount of content in this game is vast, providing fun for single and multiplayer experiences. I've found myself playing for 30 minute one night and 2 hours the next. And each time, I'm not worried about my kill/death ratio or how many kills I get. I just want to collect coins, unlock wacky outfits, and get revenge on that bastard Don Lonley for eating my character 10 times with the Chomper plant. I hope I run into him online again...

My recommendation? Run to the store or sign into the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or EA Origin and buy this game. It's a solid 8/10 in my book. With a price tag of $40 for PS4 and Xbox One, $35 on PC, and $30 for PS3 and Xbox 360, Plants vs. Zombies shouldn't be missed. You get a full online experience in addition to a fun, yet challenging single-player mode with Garden Ops. I traded EA Sports UFC for this game and couldn't be more pleased with that decision. 

Oh yeah, there's a Disco Zombie boss.

I have to say, it's nice to have a fresh take on something done over and over and over again. This game is a unique take on a shooter. For the price, you are buying endless shooter fun in a gaming world over-saturated with military shooters. Plus, if you don't buy it, you'll have to deal with Disco Zombie. And trust me when I say you don't want to boogie-oogie-oogie with him. OW!

Oh...I hear the zombies at my door. It's time to head back to the Garden.

Game On.

-ML

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Top 5 NFL Video Games of All-Time!

The Top 5 NFL Video Games of All-Time!

And we're back! I hope everyone learned a little somethin' somethin' about the PS Vita last week. I'm still hooked on that little handheld console of awesomeness. Playing through some Batman: Arkham Origins: Blackgate currently. In terms of a handheld Batman game, it's a gooden (and no, I will not define 'gooden').

But, it's a new day. It's a new week. It's a new edition of "The Reset Button". This week, I'm taking it in a different direction. With NFL season fast approaching and my Atlanta Falcons embarking on a season of redemption, I felt it would be appropriate to cover my top 5 NFL games of all-time. I've played a good amount of NFL games in my day and am extremely excited to get my hands on Madden NFL 15 this weekend. But, before that, let's cover the best of the best.

Number 5

NFL GameDay '98

This was my first experience with NFL on a 3D console. Playing this on the PSOne introduced me to new gameplay, at the time awesome graphics, and end zone dances. Running back a kickoff with Jamal Anderson (probably impossible in real life) and seeing him break out the Dirty Bird was awesome. The plays were easy to select and the gameplay was just as you'd expect from the first NFL game with polygonal graphics. Jerome 'The Bus' Bettis graced the cover on this one. And considering it was developed by Sony Interactive Studios, it was a fun NFL game before Madden assumed their position on the throne.

Number 4

NFL Blitz

The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen a lot of video game covers. NFL Blitz featured 'Slash' himself, Kordell Stewart. This wasn't your ordinary NFL game. Brutal tackles, insane passes, and over-the-top gameplay put Blitz on the map. Nothing was more realistic than leg-dropping the running back you just stuffed like you were Hulk Hogan, am I right? Over time, Blitz was toned down and eventually put out to pasture. I guess the NFL didn't want their sport to be deemed "too violent". A little late, if you ask me. But that's why we love the NFL.

Number 3

Madden '96

This is by far my favorite Madden title to date. It still has a fun, nostalgic feeling when you play it. I can recall wowing my friends with my memory skills during the "Coach Rogers" skill-game when creating a player. The longer you repeat the button command Coach Rogers advised you, the smarter your player will be. And he adds on a command after each successful attempt. Getting up to 10 in a row wasn't easy. Needless to say, my QB always had an intelligence of 100. The character models weren't very accurate, but at least there were real player names included in this title. 'Ironhead' Craig Heyward was a fire hydrant with legs in this game. Oh, the memories...

Number 2

ESPN NFL 2K5

This one put all Madden titles to shame. And they did it pretty easily and convincingly, as well. Everything about this game was excellent. The presentation, graphics, audio, controls, options, and difficulty were exactly what you'd want from a NFL game. It's no wonder why people are STILL updating the roster on this game to be current with the NFL season. Fans of ESPN NFL 2K5 are still waiting for the NFL to come to their senses and allow 2K to make another NFL game to compete with Madden. The game launched at $19.99, for cryin' out loud. We haven't seen a 2K Games NFL game since 2005. With us heading into a 10 year anniversary of 2K5, I'm willing to bet you'll see people screaming for a return to the field for 2K football next year louder than ever.

Number 1

Tecmo Super Bowl

THIS was my game. Tecmo friggin' Super Bowl. The masterpiece of simulation NFL football. No clue who the hell is on the cover, as there was no #10 for the Cowboys back when Tecmo Super Bowl launched. It's just some random dude looking all "football-ish" for the buyer. Running with Bo Jackson was a must in Tecmo Super Bowl. Just run in a diagonal line up and down the field with him and you're guaranteed a score. Beating an opponent 70-0 wasn't difficult, but it was just fun to do. I remember breaking the NFL single season rushing record in a single season with Bo Jackson. And I could have easily obliterated it. The 16-bit music was entertaining, there were actual injuries in the game, and the season mode allowed you to pick your favorite team and go for the Lombardi Trophy. I still play this game when Atlanta is eliminated from Super Bowl contention. Unfortunately, that's happen a lot in the past 10 years.

The bottom line is this: Tecmo Super Bowl is the greatest NFL game ever created. Not just because Stone Cold said so, but because it's a scientific fact. Sure, it doesn't have John Madden screaming "BOOM!" or drawing a bunch of stuff on the screen, but it didn't need it. All you needed was a Sega Genesis, some time to kill, and Bo friggin' Jackson.

While you were reading this, Bo Jackson scored another touchdown. He cannot be stopped.

Go check out some of these games if you're a NFL fan. No better way to get ready for the season than by tossing the virtual pigskin around.

Next week, I'll touch on more game-related greatness for you.

As always, until next time...

Game On.

-ML

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The PlayStation Vita: Converting a Console Gamer to a Portable Player

The PlayStation Vita: Converting a Console Gamer to a Portable Player.

Today, I'm going to take a break from the classics and touch on a gaming device I'm having a blast with. Normally, I'm not a handheld gamer. I've owned just about every model of Game Boy ever released, from the original Brick to the Game Boy Advance. I've also had a Nintendo DS, 3DS, and the original PlayStation Portable (PSP). I have to be honest when I say I've had more fun with the Sony handhelds than I did with their Nintendo counterparts. Allow me to explain. I'm a large fan of the first party Nintendo titles. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Smash Bros., Pokemon (not so much Pokemon, as they're very repetitive to me), Kirby, Animal Crossing. All of those titles are enjoyable, have quality gameplay, and are iconic in the Nintendo library. But after those, I found myself searching for other titles to enjoy and would wind up trading the system in for something else. Each time, from the Game Boy to the original PSP, it would be on the chopping block a few months after I bought it. Wasted money? Possibly, though I do believe I got a good amount of time and money out of each handheld. Would there ever be a handheld I'd play on a regular basis, has a library of games for me to explore, and not want to get rid of after a few months?

There is. It's a handheld I've previously owned (and traded once) and it has finally dig it's claws into me. That device is the PlayStation Vita. This system launched in North America on February 15th, 2012. I purchased a day-one bundle that came with a 4GB memory stick and bought 2 games: Uncharted: Golden Abyss and WipeOut 2048. Both are excellent games for a handheld. A few weeks later, I picked up Hot Shots Golf and Motorstorm RC. Had a blast with these games and considered them to be a pretty strong launch line-up. As time went by, the initial hype I felt for the Vita wore off and I decided to sell it to buy a VIP ticket to a Megadeth concert. Didn't feel any remorse, either.

I went a while without a handheld, aside from my phone. A few months ago, I discovered the Vita was getting a new design for a good price with Borderlands 2 and a memory card bundled in, so I decided to pick on up with some trade credit at Best Buy. Surprising to me, I haven't put it down since.

This system is outstanding. It features a front touch screen, a rear touch pad, two analog sticks, and a rechargable battery. The redesign is comfortable, has a great battery life, and the new LCD screen looks fantastic. Sure, the OLED screen on the original Vita is unmatched and the LCD is a step down, but if you don't have them side-by-side, you can't tell the difference. And after a while, who cares? I sure don't, as the graphics on many of these games are beautiful on the LCD or OLED screens.

This is Borderlands 2 on Vita. Seriously. I'm not lying.

The Vita itself feels great in your hands. The original felt a little bulky and there were issues with accidentally hitting the back touch pad, but the redesign worked to fix those things. You may still bump the rear touch pad accidentally, but not nearly as often on the slim Vita. It can be frustrating, but it's in no way a deal-breaker. The front speakers can really push out the audio, too. And the audio is honestly console quality. I get the feeling of playing a console game in the palm of my hands with this device, which I've never had before with other systems. The original PSP had too many issues to really immerse yourself in a game. The single analog stick, for starters. Playing a shooter was way too difficult to get used to. But on the Vita, playing a shooter feels like playing a shooter. Killzone: Mercenary is one of the best shooters I've ever played. It plays exactly like you'd expect a shooter to play. There is no mistaking it for a Killzone title. It even has an active multiplayer community. All on a handheld!

Killzone: Mercenary. A true FPS experience on a handheld console.

Convenience was a big selling point for me when thinking about getting back into the handheld world. Especially considering all my previous attempts failed and I grew bored in rapid fashion. So I took a deeper look into the features offered by the Vita. Facebook, Twitter, email, GPS, video, and music are all available on the handheld. But let's be honest, we all have phones, tablets, or laptops for these things. The Vita just isn't going to crack the market on those features. I used the Facebook app once to see what it was like and deleted it. Not because it was a bad Facebook client. It wasn't at all. I just didn't want it taking up storage space. There is also a feature called Near, which is a location-based app. You check-in and it shows you players within a 10 mile radius. You can make new friends, challenge other players to multiplayer matches, check out other user's profiles, rate the games in your library, or drop items for someone in your area to find and download. All things considered, it's a pretty cool feature.

But after those feature, I discovered Remote Play was an option for all PS4 and only a few PS3 titles. Since I own a PS4, I figured this would be an awesome reason to own a Vita and I was totally right. Nothing was cooler than booting up my PS4 for my living room couch and playing Watch_Dogs instead of going downstairs to play in seclusion. I will admit, there were some times where the gameplay was slow and choppy. This only seemed to be an issue during heavy bandwidth times, like on a Saturday night, but other than that it ran beautiful. Remote Play is actually the way I finished over 50% of Watch_Dogs. It's a highly recommended feature for anyone who owns a PS4 and wants to get more out of the system.

Me playing Watch_Dogs on Remote Play. The "Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis" Tower.

While I understand completely that a $200 price tag may be a high for simply Remote Play, I think it's definitely worth it. But if you aren't willing to dig that deep into your pockets for that, take the games into consideration. Many people claim the Vita is a dying system, and all signs point to that not being entirely false. But there are still a good amount of games on the horizon in addition to the many, many games on the market as I'm typing this. Assassin's Creed: Liberation, Borderlands 2, LEGO Marvel Superheros, Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD, the God of War Collection, LittleBigPlanet, the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, and Persona 4 are only a few of the stellar PS Vita titles out there. They all offer hours of awesome console-style gameplay in a portable device. And there are more coming like Minecraft, Hotline Miami 2, LEGO Batman 3, Freedom Wars, Tales of Heart R, and Rainbow Skies. Those are just the titles announced currently. This doesn't take into consideration what games you'll get from PS+ or unannounced titles. The PS Vita definitely has a lot of promise for gamers and isn't done giving yet. It does sucks we won't get getting the BioShock Vita title, though. That one would have been amazing.

There has to be something I dislike about the console, as you can't honestly like everything about what an electronic has to offer. And there is something I don't like about the Vita. The storage method. The memory cards, ranging in size from 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, are too expensive. I currently have a 4GB and 8GB card. If you go the digital route, you're going to fill you card up quicker than going with physical games. Personally, I'm turning into a digital-media kind of guy, so both of those cards are just about full. I'd love to upgrade to the 64GB card, as I've read and heard from other Vita adopters that it eliminates the need for any additional storage, but the price tag that comes with that card is pretty steep at $95. You can sometimes find the 32GB card on sale for about $65, but even that is still high in my book. So I'm just swapping games out for now. Beat one, delete it, install another. This method keeps me honest and not buying games I'm not going to play off the jump. I also find myself finishing more games, so I guess it isn't so bad.

The moral of the story is, I love the PS Vita. It has a lot of games to offer, remote play is a killer feature, and the feeling of having a true console experience on a portable device is super fun. I'm currently hooked on Hot Shots: World Invitational, which was a launch title. Getting in 9 to 18 holes of golf before bed has become a ritual. I'm also working my way through Assassin's Creed: Liberation. It's a true Assassin's Creed game with hours of content. I love getting value out of my games. I'm spending hard-earned money on them when I'm not trading for games on 99gamers.com, so I don't want a 6 hour game I'll beat in a weekend and be done with. I want a game with substance, content, and replay value. The Vita offers those things in games of all styles and sizes, so I'm definitely feeling good about the money I've spend on the system.

The Borderlands 2 PS Vita Bundle

If you're a PlayStation fan, PS4 owner, or portable gaming junkie, the Vita has a ton of stuff to offer. Grab a Borderlands 2 bundle and see what it's all about. I'll return to my classics next week, probably, unless something else tickles my blogging bone. Let me know what you'd like to see me review or write about.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to hit the links in Hot Shots Golf.

Game On.

-ML

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