Bloodrayne and Prince of Persia--Separated at Birth?

[bargora]

Go to your local game store. Do it now. Look at the covers of Bloodrayne 2 and Prince of Persia 2. Dark brooding expressions, check. Loads of eyeliner or something, check. Giant arm-mounted blades, check. Will these features be required of all videogame avatars in the future? I mean, I was down with all restaurants being Taco Bell, but I'm not sure how well the look is going to suit Mario.

[rpepper9]

Dark and bleak is the new "it" for video games. Just take a look at where some of the other game franchises have gone. Jak and Daxter has gotten more and more dark as it has progressed.

The only system making 99% of there games happy-go-lucky-shunshine-bright-world is Nintendo. And quite frankly I am getting sick of Nintendo resting on its old franchises. How many different systems can we release remakes of Mario for? I think they should apply for the Guiness Book of World Records for recycling the same game over and over and over again.

[TheRedEye]

The only system making 99% of there games happy-go-lucky-shunshine-bright-world is Nintendo. And quite frankly I am getting sick of Nintendo resting on its old franchises. How many different systems can we release remakes of Mario for? I think they should apply for the Guiness Book of World Records for recycling the same game over and over and over again.

I swear, I could make a topic about how my cat took a shit on the floor today, and someone would mention how kiddie Nintendo is.

[rpepper9]

Hey, even the kiddies need something to do. Sorry to hear about your cat, you might want to get a mop :D

[grayrobertos]

TheRedEye that is the best thing ive ever heard in my life lol, and its so true.

[zmweasel]

Go to your local game store. Do it now. Look at the covers of Bloodrayne 2 and Prince of Persia 2. Dark brooding expressions, check. Loads of eyeliner or something, check. Giant arm-mounted blades, check. Will these features be required of all videogame avatars in the future? I mean, I was down with all restaurants being Taco Bell, but I'm not sure how well the look is going to suit Mario.

Prince of Persia 2 got its ill-advised Crow makeover because the first game underperformed at retail despite multiple Game of the Year awards. Ubisoft decided the reason was because the game didn't have enough "edge" for mainstream gamers, and so it turned the heroic Prince of the first game into the brooding asshole of the second. We'll see if sales prove Ubi right or wrong.

-- Z.

[Daria]

Go to your local game store. Do it now. Look at the covers of Bloodrayne 2 and Prince of Persia 2. Dark brooding expressions, check. Loads of eyeliner or something, check. Giant arm-mounted blades, check. Will these features be required of all videogame avatars in the future? I mean, I was down with all restaurants being Taco Bell, but I'm not sure how well the look is going to suit Mario.

Prince of Persia 2 got its ill-advised Crow makeover because the first game underperformed at retail despite multiple Game of the Year awards. Ubisoft decided the reason was because the game didn't have enough "edge" for mainstream gamers, and so it turned the heroic Prince of the first game into the brooding asshole of the second. We'll see if sales prove Ubi right or wrong.

-- Z.

If it wanted to be more like Bloodrayne I'd surprised they didn't just give him breasts.

God I hate those ads.

[Nez]

^ Sex sells theres no way around it.

[Berserker]

^ Sex sells theres no way around it.

Well sure, but come on, those Bloodrayne 2 commercials are just stupid. Sex may sell, but hearing the "narrator" voice-over guy having a damn joygasm everytime I see that commercial is annoying, and frankly over-negates any sex-appeal they may have been trying to convey, to me anyways.

I think the worst one is when she's in a full cloak, you can barely see anything other than her face, and the voice-over is saying something to the effect of "Oooh...ooOOhh GODD.."... come on. What exactly are they trying to accomplish with that? "Why, YES Mr. Creepy-Ass Background Voice, I AGREE! *makes a dead-run for nearest game store, using free hand to purchase game... twice!*"

[Nez]

^ Sex sells theres no way around it.

Well sure, but come on, those Bloodrayne 2 commercials are just stupid. Sex may sell, but hearing the "narrator" voice-over guy having a damn joygasm everytime I see that commercial is annoying, and frankly over-negates any sex-appeal they may have been trying to convey, to me anyways.

I think the worst one is when she's in a full cloak, you can barely see anything other than her face, and the voice-over is saying something to the effect of "Oooh...ooOOhh GODD.."... come on. What exactly are they trying to accomplish with that? "Why, YES Mr. Creepy-Ass Background Voice, I AGREE! *makes a dead-run for nearest game store, using free hand to purchase game... twice!*"

Well I've never seen that one, just the mag ads. So I thought she was talking about the tamer mags ads that talk about her assets.

[joshnickerson]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-12-03

[Sylentwulf]

Did that cat shit on your kids nintendo? THAT would be a topic....

[digtempest]

Are the new games any fun? The first Blood game was boring. The Prince game was ok.

[Push Upstairs]

Well sure, but come on, those Bloodrayne 2 commercials are just stupid. Sex may sell, but hearing the "narrator" voice-over guy having a damn joygasm everytime I see that commercial is annoying, and frankly over-negates any sex-appeal they may have been trying to convey, to me anyways.

I think the worst one is when she's in a full cloak, you can barely see anything other than her face, and the voice-over is saying something to the effect of "Oooh...ooOOhh GODD.."... come on. What exactly are they trying to accomplish with that? "Why, YES Mr. Creepy-Ass Background Voice, I AGREE! *makes a dead-run for nearest game store, using free hand to purchase game... twice!*"


I've never seen those commercials. I saw one Bloodrayne 2 commercial last night and i really don't recall some jerkoff going on like a horny 13 yr old.

[bargora]

Go to your local game store. Do it now. Look at the covers of Bloodrayne 2 and Prince of Persia 2. Dark brooding expressions, check. Loads of eyeliner or something, check. Giant arm-mounted blades, check. Will these features be required of all videogame avatars in the future? I mean, I was down with all restaurants being Taco Bell, but I'm not sure how well the look is going to suit Mario.

Prince of Persia 2 got its ill-advised Crow makeover because the first game underperformed at retail despite multiple Game of the Year awards. Ubisoft decided the reason was because the game didn't have enough "edge" for mainstream gamers, and so it turned the heroic Prince of the first game into the brooding asshole of the second. We'll see if sales prove Ubi right or wrong.

-- Z.
I figured you could make sense of it for me. Prince of Persia. Edgy, proactive, loaded with attitude, and "smoldering with generic rage." I would say that this is a silly gambit, but as you point out, the sales will tell.

@ Ubisoft: Perhaps the Prince should be able to set the harem a-rockin', Grand Theft Camel style?

I still want to see Mario with giant blades on his arms.

[Promophile]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-12-03

Is the girl supposed to be the girl form bloodrayne? Why doesn't she have red hair?

[Dahne]

No, i think she's from PoP.

I'm very dissapointed with all I hear about Warrior Within. I really liked the character of the Prince the way he was. Didn't he even get voted "best new character" (counted as new, since the original prince didn't really have a personality) by somewhere? The last time there was a brooding antihero fad, we got Squall *shudder*.

[SoulBlazer]

I'm a lot like Squall, and FF8 is a favorite of mine, so I take personal offence at that. ;)

Anyway, this is another example of 'when good games get ignored'. We've seen it happen all the time, and it happens to a lot of great games a few times each year. Does'nt seem to matter if it's for all the consoles, gets numerous awards, and strong reviews. No one buys it. It's not until years later that the game is realized for being the classic that it is. I can't blame Ubisoft for trying some things differently to help sales.

[Psycho Mantis]

that comic is funny and true at the same time.

[Nez]

I'm a lot like Squall, and FF8 is a favorite of mine, so I take personal offence at that. ;)

Anyway, this is another example of 'when good games get ignored'. We've seen it happen all the time, and it happens to a lot of great games a few times each year. Does'nt seem to matter if it's for all the consoles, gets numerous awards, and strong reviews. No one buys it. It's not until years later that the game is realized for being the classic that it is. I can't blame Ubisoft for trying some things differently to help sales.

So what next for Ubisoft, Beyond Evil, instad beyond good and evil?

IMO Prince of Persia didn't sel well becouse there was too many games realeased at the same time. If say they released POP two months ealier I'm shure sells would have been better.

[lendelin]

Dante from Devil May Cry with his dark 'cool' factor and great sales figures became the role model.

But even in the 90s we can see the evolution from the innocent, cute hero to the cool dude with attitude. Even little Mega Man developed from a cute robot in light blue to a dark robot with attitude in a more agressive dark blue suit(?). Inafune wanted to let Mega Man die and intended to make only games with agressive red Zero.

What do you guys expect in a time with cool dudes with sunglasses, goattees, rappers, and lots of 'yo, yo." ?

[Push Upstairs]

I thought Sonic was the orginal "cool dude with a 'tude"?

[Promophile]

I thought Sonic was the orginal "cool dude with a 'tude"?

hell yas. Just take a look at the cover of Sonic 1 on the Gene. badass from the beginning.

[Berserker]

What do you guys expect in a time with cool dudes with sunglasses, goattees, rappers, and lots of 'yo, yo." ?

If there was a game that contained all such elements, I would most certainly buy it. Also, chains. There has to be gold chains.

[Ed Oscuro]

DaThe only system making 99% of there games happy-go-lucky-shunshine-bright-world is Nintendo. And quite frankly I am getting sick of Nintendo resting on its old franchises.
Hooray for Nintendo. Down with gothy stuff.

Sorry about the floor, Redeye; my dog's been going through the same stuff lately. Bad times.

I've nothing against playing games set in dark worlds, but this Bloodrayne-style stuff seems...emotionally challenged.

I do think Hitman's got style, but all the others...meh. I'm sure Thrill Kill was more of the same, too.

However...

http://www.defunctgames.com/pic/pimpsatsea.gif

[Push Upstairs]

I don't mind "Bloodrayne" at all.....in fact i wouldnt mind playing BR2 on PC (Mouse+Keyboard YEAH!)

I had absolutely no problems with "American McGee's Alice" being so gothy as that was a awesome twist on a familar story....its just too bad he recycled the same "gothness" for his "OZ" game :/