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Through the haze of time-disrupting events that is Thanksgiving weekend comes the Bitmob Spotlight. Is it Saturday? I don't know anymore. Black Friday sales are worth it, though.
We start our recovery with a round of anagrams from the fiendish Jay Henningsen. Rachel Jagielski's next and feels the sting of nostalgia as she looks back at Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven and finds it wanting. Omri Petitte also re-examines a previously beloved game but finds that Arcanum still holds all the charm and depth it had when it was new.
Could there be a possible connection between Avatar: The Game and Azurik? Ben Maltz-Jones delves into a conspiracy involving the blue protagonists. Ryan Conway shifts away from strange theories and into a detailed examination of Frank West's character as he moves on from chopping up zombies in Dead Rising and into the fighting-game scene with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
Christopher Quach rounds things up with his worries about the numerous new multiplayer games on the market and the strain that has on playing with his friends.
Fun with Anagrams
By Jay Henningsen
After setting up a choose-your-own-adventure game and rebus puzzles, Jay has moved on to anagrams. As of this writing, I have not deciphered any of the 15 creatively jumbled problems.... Anagrams are an evil progression, by the way. Our managing editor Jason Wilson is likely right to suggest that Jay is becoming the Riddler.
Misguided Nostalgia Meets Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
By Rachel Jagielski
As previous Spotlights have shown, nostalgia can lead to disappointment. Rachel spent a lot of time playing and enjoying Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven when she was in high school. Revisiting it revealed all the problems she happily ignored in those hazy days.
You've Aged Well: Arcanum
By Omri Petitte
Troika Games is likely best remembered for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, but that shouldn't be all the company is known for. Troika played a significant role in the development of the first Fallout and followed up the feel of that game with the Steampunk RPG Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura.
The Blue Man Conspiracy - Why Avatar's Box Art Shall Be Its Downfall
By Ben Maltz-Jones
The game for James Cameron's upcoming film Avatar isn't the first to feature a staff-wielding blue protagonist. That title belongs to Azurik, the largely disappointing launch title for the original Xbox. Ben might have stumbled onto a greater conspiracy here.
Frank West: Journalist as Hero
By Ryan Conway
Frank West is a fairly believable character, as far as his appearance, motivations, and actions go. He is a brave, but not overly flashy protagonist that overcomes hordes of zombies using his wits and the occasional lawn mower. Ryan believes that Frank fits the bill for the journalist-as-hero title, more so than ever now that he's moved on from zombies to tackle superheroes and martial arts masters in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
Am I a Fool?
By Christopher Quach
Christopher finds the quantity of online multiplayer games is dividing his friends. He's playing Borderlands while many of his gaming buddies are deep in the Modern Warfare 2 trance. There seems no end in sight as MAG and BioShock 2 drop early next year. Does this spell doom for his small online community?
