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Dear Isaac: about the Dead Space 2 “mom” ad

Have you visited the Dead Space website lately? Turned on the television? Then chances are you’ve seen the ad that promises, “Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2.”

Okay, I get the joke. Moms—good Moms, anyway, with a functional moral standard—tend to disapprove of the stuff anyone under thirty considers awesome. But there’s something disturbing about Electronic Arts and Visceral Games, the makers of the Dead Space sequel, going out of their way to prove how cool their new game is, and I’m fairly certain it has nothing to do with terrors in space.

I don’t put much stock into the guarantee that five out of five Moms hate Dead Space 2. Even if EA actually videotaped unassuming mothers and forced them to watch violent in-game footage, I doubt that every single one of them expressed identical conservatism about the content. There are Moms who are okay with video games; some even play them in their free time. Just because they censor what their kids play doesn’t mean they will always set forth those same restrictions once their children reach a more appropriate age.

Let’s face it. Concerned mothers would probably think a T-rated game was just as monstrous as Dead Space 2. Gamers have been there and heard that, but the ad doesn’t seem to appeal to a sensible crowd. It appeals to any teenager hoping to scare the beejesus out of their mothers. Because that’s what teenagers do.

Nowadays, I at least have the courtesy to shoo my Mom out of the room whenever I play a game that might be deemed questionable by her radar, knowing how she would react to seeing me decapitate zombies with feverish delight.

Sometimes the reaction is funny, I admit. But I find something wrong with the fact that EA has purposefully exploited Moms in order to sell game copies. Because even if those Moms were only paid actors and their trauma was faked for a quick laugh, there are still Moms out there who fit that description.

But more importantly, even if you could care less about what overbearing mothers think, EA’s cute little video probably isn’t doing our cause any good when it comes to outsmarting and negating video game protesters.

So go ahead. Buy Dead Space 2 because it’ll make your Mom cry. Just be prepared to put up with the backlash when your Mom and all her protester friends start stepping on your rights to play it.

Tags: Dead Space 2, Electronic Arts, Visceral Games
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Demos: Bayonetta & Dante’s Inferno

There’s a slew of exciting games waiting for us in 2010, and Bayonetta and Dante’s Inferno are two of them. Demos are up for grabs, but which action hack n’ slash will combo its way to victory? Either way, the competition is just beautiful.

Bayonetta

It’s nearly time to Open the Eyes of the World. Sega and Platinum Games are dusting off the organ music, castles, and demons who phase through the ground only to shatter into a million pieces. This time around, they’re glamoring up the bloodshed. The early January slated Bayonetta mirrors Castlevania—or more precisely, Devil May Cry, if the inclusion of DMC and Viewtifiul Joe creator Hideki Kamiya is any indication—in almost every fundamental way. And before you start whipping out your quadruple set of guns, keep in mind that a revamp of a decomposing mold can be a good thing. From the music to the gameplay style of “hey, here’s a special relic, let me tell you its history” and swapping fancy weapons to your heart’s content, Bayonetta is reminiscent of the ye ol’ Castlevania (or the newer DMC) series.

Of course, there’s more than meets the eye, though the developers make sure the visuals hold a heavy presence. The demo gives us an introduction to the game’s story, which is as cheesy as those naughty secretary glasses and that pinned-up schoolmaster hair. If that isn’t enough innuendo, Bayonetta lathers on the sex appeal with a demo innocently titled, “First Climax.” Our little Miss Bayonetta apparently carries the shame of impure blood, but that doesn’t stop her (or her mysterious overseer) from acting on destiny.

Bayonetta can’t keep its guns in its holsters, if you catch my drift. The demo offers gamers a rich slice of the pie, from a tutorial mode to various speed-driven monster fights and even a witch throw-down that invites the player to walk, jump, and kick ass on the walls and ceiling. To start, there are two attack modes and a few powerful (and therefore short-lived) weapons to steal from defeated foes. The gold rings they surrender with their demise refuels Bayonetta’s health in the heat of battle. Stringing combos together by using the two main attack buttons (triangle and circle on the PS3) or opening fire on a circle of enemies will do the trick, allowing you to execute a heavier offensive like “Torture” or the scandalous “Climax”—in which a monster appears through a portal and devours the big baddie at hand. Cue the blood by the sparkling gallons. The demo offers three fight sequences to test the waters: a swarm of archangels, their colossus friend with a jeweled weak spot, and a wall-climbing, bridge-breaking menace.

The game’s unique and kinky cinematic sequences along with its slow-motion “Witch Time” mechanics, dance club soundtrack, and special moves achievable at the height of the player’s combo powers all prove wonderfully addicting and rewarding. Fighting off waves of enemies doesn’t feel dry or repetitive by any means—probably contributed to the game’s smooth pace and the ease of linking together attacks. Chances are that come January 9, the developing team will have a red-hot winner on their hands.

Dante’s Inferno

There’s only one way a developer could tell the gaming masses to go to hell and scrape by without repercussions. Electronic Arts and Visceral Games aren’t far behind with their epic reproduction of the 14th-century Dante’s Inferno, which is set for an early February release. While the stylish Bayonetta embraces a Castlevania-type lineage, Dante’s Inferno clearly hails from a God of War inspired origin. The demo isn’t afraid to show gamers the riveting proportions of its cut-scenes, which creatively blend next-gen graphics with 2D animation akin to Zack Snyder’s Tales of the Black Freighter. Not a bad move, especially with the limited comic series being published by Wildstorm now.

Oddly enough, the demo takes awhile to heat up and unleash its potential in terms of gameplay. The initial sequence pushes you into the midst of a horde, forcing you to repeat combinations you can only guess at until a burning ship wrecks into the cliff platform and allows you to progress. Even the fight with Death could have been more satisfying if you weren’t plunged so blindly into his skeletal arms. The battles are grueling at first, but when the second half of the demo begins, the hellfire carves out the game’s infamous name. Prepare to head onwards and down into hell.

A generous introduction to Dante’s ensuing plight to redeem himself and save his beloved Beatrice courses through the remainder of the demo. For the most part, the game produces standard God of War fare … only set in, you know, hell. Combo chains are essential to success in the depths of damnation, as are counters that allow for hefty damage to your surrounding opponents. Attack combinations, magic (mana) or special relics, and even purchasable upgrades are soon at your disposal, and the gears grind harder to create a more fluid experience. The demo also introduces the opportunity to punish or save condemned souls. You’ll even steer a fire-breathing beast in the final moments.

The gameplay might not be terribly different from what comes to mind regarding the mythical God of War—not to mention the lewd appeal of topless women—but Dante’s Inferno promises a dark and detail-rich adventure. I did encounter one glitch, which nicks the zero-problem score accompanying Bayonetta: When fighting the aforementioned monster at the end, I found myself stuck in a groove near the wall. The bug will most likely be worked out by the game’s release on February 9, however.

Did you enjoy the angels and demons-flavored demos? Which struck your fancy more?

Tags: Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Demos, Electronic Arts, Platinum Games, Sega, Visceral Games
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