Internet gaming shows, any good?

There are a variety of game review shows cluttering up the internet, some good, some bad, some produced by major gaming sites but the majority by general gamers like you an me, here are my picks from the general public:
Consolevania: http://www.consolevania.com/

Still my favourite gaming show and one of the first I saw. Produced by a group from Scotland, the show combines humorous sketches with intelligent reviews, comedy can be of a sexual or offensive type (see XXX episode and sketches involving Hitler) however they are doing what they want to; provide a show for mature gamers with the freedom that only the internet can provide. Also worthy of note when talking about Consolevania is VideoGaiden, a show produced by the same team for BBC Scotland, very good granted that there isn’t as much freedom as Consolevania provides. A new series of this is starting on BBC Scotland in November, with half hour shows rather than ten minutes. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/videogaiden/)

GameLife: www.gamelifeshow.com

Yes, the show started insanely ropey (however, this helped it gather a fan base) and is still of questionable quality. However, praise is given where it is deserved and the guys at GameLife have obviously tried their hardest and are getting better. The main problem that persists with the show are problems with the presenters themselves, Alex stutters in his reviews a lot, Dave’s voice isn’t the greatest and Andrew has an obsession with sitting down to review wearing shorts, Melissa is a more accomplished reviewer. However, they are all obviously gamers and know what they are talking about at least 75% of the time. The show favours more recent releases.
Mighty Justice Gaming Show: http://www.mightyjustice.net/

I like this show, mainly for its off the wall style. The show has lively presenters (for the most part) who frequently show off their passion for games, although some of their scores are a tad misguided (10/10 for enchanted arms?). However, the show works and is the only Aussie show I know of. The show frequently takes open digs at GameLife, which I think GameLife should openly comment on as the shows appeared at a similar time, which could create a fun tension between them. The show favours more retro reviews.

WhizzedOut: http://www.whizzedout.co.uk/word/

The most recent show I’ve found is based heavily on the Consolevania format, but works. The show features a lot of Consolevania’s ideas, 80’s music, sketches, comedic reviews with no score etc. However, the show is started to mould into its own style. The presenters lack the over the top enthusiasm of Consolevania, but are knowledgeable and have some funny ideas. I recommend this to fans of Consolevania or people looking for something a little different. Be warned however, they are long episodes with occasionally over long sketches (less so in episode 3).

Gitaroo Man Lives!(PSP)

Rhythm action games rarely see variety in their new titles, with most enthusiasts forced to be content with the latest dance mat game while waiting for one of the many different titles that try to carve a niche in the genre. Most of these games require a new peripheral, and can often be unfulfilling answers to the best Konami has to offer. Fortunately, Gitaroo Man is a rhythm action title that does not demand anything but the PSP’s basic controls, and is genuinely good fun.

Gitaroo man lives! Is a port of a rare PS2 game that was released to resounding praise, but with a lack of copies to go around, so it is with welcome arms that lives! Has been released on the PSP. All the content from the original game is present, with vs. and duet modes to attract fans of the original release.

The basic idea of Gitaroo man is based around creating a combat situation using rhythm action gameplay, this is achieved through attack and defence phases; the first requiring you to follow a line with the analogue nub while pressing a button to strum the guitar while defence requires you to press one of the four action buttons in time as they move towards the centre of the screen. As can be assumed of the genre, these sections boarder on insane when the difficulty is racked up, but through perseverance you will conquer them, and with this comes a large sense of achievement. Unfortunately for this version however, the developers have removed the requirement for pinpoint accuracy on the nub (when following guitar riffs), which makes the guitar sections easier than their PS2 counterparts, however the songs still get hard, and lives! Has more content to make up for this.

So, this game is far from a traditional rhythm action title, and as such the track selection is far from predictable. While only ten songs long, they link into an amusing story and so give the game a definitive sense of progression, these tracks also encompass a large variety of styles, from drum and bass to rock to soothing acoustic guitar, all of which sound brilliant coming from the PSP.

Lives! Also contains a duet and vs. mode (as mentioned prior), both of which were missing from the original PS2 version. Duet is, as can be guessed, a two player song in which you and a friend try and defeat the computer opponent, the two songs available come complete with multiple difficulties and a player specific rank, enabling bragging rights for the winner. The vs. mode takes the concept of the single player fights and turns them into a human affair, which can become extremely heated and are genuinely fun between players of equal skill. All the single player songs are available for this mode.

While it lacks the intense difficulty of the PS2 original, lives! Should not be regarded as an inferior port. Sporting new vs. and duet modes this is a more complete package than the original, and portable to boot. However, buy it quickly this time, you wouldn’t want to miss out again if it goes the way of its predecessor.

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