So what did I do with all that free time? Did I reflect on life? Perhaps finish one of the hundreds of projects I’ve started? How about learning a new language??

Nope. I just actually played my Wii.

That thing has pretty much been a $250 paperweight for a few years due to Nintendo’s lack of HD support or a decent online infrastructure.  Don’t get me wrong: I love Nintendo’s games, but it is frustrating to go from an HD system like the 360 to the Wii.  It feels like a step down.  Or, more accurately, it feels like I’ve been downgraded to the kid’s table at Thanksgiving.

However, I finally got the courage to play through Super Mario Galaxy, which I have to say was awesome.  The game never felt too repetitive (though all Mario games somewhat are) and there was a always a mix of challenging and less-than-challenging levels.  It also uses the motion controller in a way that isn’t frustrating.

There’s just something about the way that Nintendo does game design that outshines games with HD graphics and online support.  Would I pick Mario Galaxy over Halo or Call of Duty?  Probably not, but I would call it a much more fun game.

After reading various glowing reviews, I recently downloaded and played through Shadow Complex on Xbox 360. The game plays like a classic 2D platformer with 3D visuals.  That is to say it is limited but incredibly fun.  Exploring corridors and tunnels reminded me of a classic game like Metroid, while the crisp, high-definition graphics reminded me of a current game such as Gears of War.  It blended the old and new in a seemless fashion which shows that a game doesn’t necessarily need a “modern” 3D experience to be well-made.  A successful game just needs exciting gameplay that controls well, which many 3D games do not accomplish.

The only drawback for me was the story, or at least the execution of the story.  The story follows a reluctant male hero (shocker) who follows a captured female (shocker) and stumbles upon a massive governmental-type organization trying to take over the world… wait, I mean San Francisco (possibly an actual shocker).  The game is set in the beautiful state of Washington and the graphics draw you into a very natural world.  (Tangent alert: It is weird that video game water looks more realistic then most of the water in my home state of New Jersey?)  Our hero saves the girl and then sets out to stop this organization by any-means-necessary.  But… why?  We get some half-assed flashback about his father trying to push him into military service, blah blah blah.

It is possible that I am expecting too much out of a story within a video game, but as gaming is evolving, the medium can tell much deeper stories.  Why then does a fantastic game such as Shadow Complex (and even the massively budgeted Halo 3: ODST) use so many cliches in their storytelling?  Shadow Complex involves the player stumbling upon an incredibly interesting and massive conspiracy, and we do so following a guy rescuing a girl and then feeling the moral imperative to stop the “bad guys”.  That basic story has been told a million times and just comes off as unoriginal and, frankly, boring.  This doesn’t even mention the dialogue which can only be compared to soap opera writing.  It can also be called bad.

Sigh.  Regardless, it’s still an incredibly fun game and is well worth the time and money.  Just be aware: the game might look incredibly realistic, but the story is as fake as they come.