10/06 Update: Since we no longer write for the Edmond Sun, this section is temporarily housing our podcast links for our iTunes feed. All of the columns are in the archives menu if you feel like exploring.

These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

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Three too many
Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Sony definitely needs something BIG when the Xbox2 launches this fall (which is basically a certainty at this point), but this isn't the way to go. New installments in their three big mascot/platformer series, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and Sly Cooper will be released yet again later this year, and I'm here to tell you why it's completely unnecessary. These are three very high-quality franchises, probably the best of their kind this generation; they have memorable characters, even if they're not particularly interesting, very unique and established art design, and best of all, very tight gameplay. The platformer ball has been in Sony's court for years now, and they've ran with it. So why take a good thing too far? These are certainly development teams who can turn out a tight, compelling game on a yearly basis, but the last installments of each series seemed very final for this generation. Stories were more or less wrapped up, gameplay concepts were perfected, and the innovation started to take a backseat to the polish.

You'd think that Sony would have Naughty Dog, Insomniac and Suckerpunch (the games' respective developers) begin work on PS3 games well ahead of time, nevermind not at all. Would anybody rather have third and fourth installments of these series now than a brand-new, finely tuned game at the PS3 launch? Anyone? Apparently Sony thinks they would. The most unnecessary one, and the one that upsets me the most, is Ratchet: Deadlocked. This was easily my favorite series of the three, with the most perfectly tuned and entertaining gameplay since the Super Nintendo. The series was always very light-hearted, with a universal sense of humor; kids could appreciate the bright colors and goofy characters, but there were plenty of clever jokes and references for adults to enjoy too. With Deadlocked, the series has gone out of it's way to be dark, stern and militaristic. It's a squad-based shooter set in a reality game show, with Ratchet wearing a Master Chief-like suit of full armor, covering even his friendly face. The overall tone just seems so different, and it's really upsetting. They could have so easily resurrected this somewhere down the line with a fresh coat of paint - why combine an overdone gameplay concept with one that is finally perfect? Co-operative gameplay, online and off, seems like the highlight, but I'd trade a million bells and whistles for a new IP from Insomniac.

They haven't revealed much about the third Sly Cooper game, beyond a couple of screenshots and the hint of online co-operative play through the single-player story. And while that's certainly a welcome addition to the wonderfully stealthy raccoon thief series, again I must ask - why? Get working on future projects, and stop trying to compete (and failing to, at that) with your fellow Sony platformers and other big fall games.

Finally, and actually somewhat interestingly, there's Jak X, a kart racing, combat-centric game set in the now venerable universe of Jak and Daxter. I hate most Kart racers as much as you do, but there's a very good chance this one could actually be good. Why? Because Naughty Dog made Crash Team Racing on the PS1, and it was every bit as good as Mario Kart. So in theory, this game could be a lot of fun - explore Haven City (presumably), find missions along the way, and compete in races and the like. This series was actually getting a bit stale by the third one, and needed something - I'm just not sure this is it. Regardless, while this change could actually be positive, they still should have saved the game for the next system. Why not just make a whole new game for it too, instead of using characters that everybody's getting a bit sick of? With the recent and brilliant God of War, and the amazing achievement and so far success of the PSP, it seems like Sony can do little wrong at the moment. And while I definitely trust them to keep putting out quality games, their motives behind pumping out sequels to all three of their mascot series this fall confounds me a bit. I don't like my favorite franchises run into the ground, and they could be doing just that with Ratchet and Clank. Hopefully great gameplay will prevail yet again, but the further they push it the more doubts I have.

- Nick


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