Apr 11, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
If you’ve got it then flaunt it, right? When you’re gaming, it’s easy to really feel good about yourself when you’re winning. You’re in your element and all of your skills are on point, so you start to get a little cocky about it. Who hasn’t been there before? It’s so much fun to tease your friends when you’re beating them at a game. Maybe you start to lose, so they start taunting you right back. However, when you’re playing with someone you don’t know, is it good to taunt?
It Can Distract Your Opponent
I’ve had my fair share of taunting while playing Smash Bros. I’m usually a “They started it” kind of person. I won’t start tea-bagging unless they do. But what does taunting really achieve? When it’s done to me, I definitely get angry. I can lose focus and feel bad about myself. When I taunt, I can see that it throws some players off of their game. They get more offensive and open, not defensive. Taunting can be a useful mind game that even pro boxers or MMA fighters use before matches. In that way, gaming is even more like a sport. You not only have to overcome your opponent, but also your own mind.
It Might Just Be Unsportsmanlike
In some games, you can get reported for bullying, and taunting falls under that umbrella. In games where you can communicate with players, the taunting can get pretty heated. Cursing, insults, and even threats can come out. If it gets to the point where you’re going overboard, you might have to take a step back. Taunting might be a tool to express your anger or even an unhealthy outlet that can signify some abusive or psychological problems. Try to practice surrounding yourself with positive energy. It’s not a game of words; it’s about skill.
It Should be Fun
In the end, taunting can be fun, but you have to be a good sport. I’ve played against gamers who taunt quite frequently. I’ve even taunted right back after finally defeating them, but then I’m surprised to receive a friend request from them. Even saying “Good game” can keep the mood light. Don’t take yourself too seriously when you game. Just focus on doing your best.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Mar 27, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
By Gabrielle Muniz
We all want to be the very best. Here are five ways for you to improve as a gamer.
1. Meditation
Gaming can be pretty stressful. There can also be a lot going on, which adds to the pressure and can make it hard to focus and stay calm. By meditating, you can learn tools that will relax your mind and body. Even yoga can relax both the mind and body to bring out the best responses. With some relaxation techniques, you can make a more informed and rational decision while gaming.
2. Eat Healthy
You may not think it, but gaming can take a toll on the body. Since you’re seated for an extended period of time and holding a controller, you’re more likely to develop arthritis and other body ailments. By eating certain fruits and vegetables every day, you’ll be able to get the nutrients that your joints need to stay strong. Don’t just go for the chips.
3. Play Puzzles
It’s essential to keep your mind sharp as a gamer, especially as we get older. What else keeps the mind sharp? Puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and even Tetris can improve multiple aspects of your brain, such as your short-term memory. As a result, your reaction time can improve while you’re gaming.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Watch Playthroughs
Once you think you’re the best, you stop learning. Once you stop learning, you stop having fun. By opening yourself up to finding tips, tricks, online playthroughs, and tutorials, you may discover things you’ve never known about your favorite game. Developers take years to come up with your favorite games, so it could take years for a player to master them.
5. Listen to Music
This works especially well for anxious gamers and…well, me. If you find yourself getting a sensory overload or becoming too anxious about your game, then try muting your television and putting on your favorite song. Music can help your brain to focus, can improve your mood, and can help you relax. Try out different types of music to see what you respond to the best.
No matter what we’re playing, gaming is just like any other sport. You have to keep training to keep your skills. With these tips, you can find out just how good you can be. Try to reach your maximum potential!
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Mar 13, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Nintendo is spoiling us with four waves of DLC (downloadable content) for Mario Kart 8: Deluxe. They’ve included new tracks, old tracks, and some classic tracks with new twists! Here are five must-see tracks that will have all Mario Kart fans driving for hours.
1. Maple Treeway (Mario Kart: Wii on Nintendo Wii)
You can get some serious height in this giant forest. Watch out for Wigglers, some sharp turns, and piles of leaves with hidden banana peels! I absolutely love the music to this track. It’s so lively and really embodies the autumn season. There is some great scenery, too, as you drive through falling leaves and elaborate tree houses.
2. Daisy Cruiser (Mario Kart: Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube)
It’s one of the more challenging and exciting levels of this game. This course lets you drive around on Daisy’s large cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. Look out for the pool on the deck, some sliding tables in the dining area, and a surprise trap door that can give you a great shortcut through the engine room.
3. Merry Mountain (Mario Kart Tour on Android and iPhone)
If you love the holiday spirit, then this level is the ultimate playground for you. This is one of the best looking levels in the game, as you race through an ornately decorated Christmas village. There are lights, mountains of presents, and even a toad driving a holiday train in the air! This would go great with a December release for the third wave of DLC: just in time for the holidays!
4. Wario Colosseum (Mario Kart: Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube)
This is another hidden gem of a level. As you race through Wario’s Colosseum, you only get two laps. However, these laps are filled with long, winding turns that can really be hit or miss for even the most experienced gamers. Make every drift count!
As we anxiously await the next wave of DLC, it’s clear that Nintendo has some amazing courses to choose from. They can surprise us with some all-new tracks, but the courses on this list are just too good to forget. Stay ready for anything, as the 3rd wave of DLC will dash up before we know it!
Jan 17, 2023 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
With all of the hype that surrounded Super Mario Odyssey back in 2017, it was sure to be the greatest Nintendo platform game yet. As much as Odyssey impressed many, I was left comparing it to an earlier platform game: Super Mario Galaxy. Released ten years prior to Odyssey, Galaxy had quickly become a classic in the series. Here are some reasons why Galaxy is still the definitive Mario game.
Engaging Story and Characters
In Odyssey Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, plans to marry her, and wreaks havoc in other kingdoms. It’s a harmless and fun story, but the stakes aren’t as high as with Galaxy. Galaxy’s story involves Bowser stealing stars from the Comet Observatory, the home for Rosalina and the Lumas. As you collect the stars for the Observatory, you learn more about Rosalina and the Lumas through storybook renderings. Throughout, you really want to help such loveable and memorable characters. Also, Bowser is fierce, as he creates a Galaxy Reactor to rule the galaxy in the center of the universe. It’s his most dangerous plan yet.
Enchanting Music
Galaxy was the first Mario game to feature an orchestral sound, giving it a grand and cinematic feel. Odyssey follows suit, but I honestly cannot recall many memorable tunes from it. Fossil Falls comes close, and “Jump Up, Super Star!” is certainly a lively number, but Galaxy‘s score is more captivating. The main theme, the theme for the Comet Observatory, and the Space Junk Galaxy are just a few that stand out. Personally, Koji Kondo, a composer of both games, just couldn’t present the same kind of magic in Odyssey that he did so successfully in Galaxy.
“Luigi time!”
Once you have collected all 121 stars in Galaxy, you get the chance to play through the game once again as Luigi. In Super Luigi Galaxy, you can move faster, jump higher, and have an overall change in game play. In Odyssey, Luigi really gets the short end of the stick, as he hosts an online mini game, Balloon World, where you must find hidden balloons in a certain amount of time. The mini game is just fine, but no Luigi Odyssey? Super Mario Galaxy is a masterpiece in gaming. The puzzles, the music, and the story all work seamlessly to create an incredible experience. However, both Odyssey and Galaxy will go down in gaming history as some of Mario’s greatest adventures yet.
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Dec 20, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
Gamers got a treat with a new Ninja Turtles game this year. It’s a fun, beat-’em-up, action-packed nod to retro adventures from the ’80s. As fun as the game is, it’s has some problems, though. Here are some improvements that can make this already great game even more radical.
Patches for Glitches
Though some patches have already been made, there is still some work to be done for glitches. At times, switching between difficulties can cause achievements to disappear. I played Story Mode on the Okay difficulty and then Arcade Mode on Chill; I lost my Arcade Mode achievements. I’ve also experienced launch errors, characters freezing in the air during aerial attacks, and even falling through the ground without a hole being there. These are the kinds of tweaks that would really improve the overall game play.
Shredder as a Playable Character
With over 30 years of TMNT games, we’ve only really been able to play as the four main turtles. Shredder’s Revenge changed that by including Splinter, April, and Casey Jones as playable characters. Still, it would be more exciting to play as the main villain, Shredder. Including Shredder would be a complete curveball, as gamers could play as the character that they’ve had to defeat all these years. Shredder would really come in handy for those pesky “No Damage” challenges, especially with his Super Shredder mode. Please make this happen, Tribute Games!
Practice Mode or Versus Mode
There are some slightly complex moves for this game. There are even some awesome co-op moves that you can pull off, too. You don’t really get a safe space to practice these moves, though. When you start a game, you get a tutorial on how to play. You also have a move list when you pause the game, but giving gamers a Versus Mode or a training room like in Smash Bros. Ultimate would really help. I definitely could have used some training rooms to try out some combos. This would just be the pepperoni on the pizza for this game!
Shredder’s Revenge is already a near-perfect love letter to the TMNT franchise, but why stop there? DLC gives developers a chance to perfect their games, so all developers should seize the opportunity. With these ideas for DLC, we’ll all really be shouting “Cowabunga!”
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
Nov 1, 2022 | Gamer News Updates, The Whole Gamer
From what we’ve seen of footage for Sonic Frontiers, it looks like there’s a very different adventure in store for Sonic. In the game, you get to explore Starfalls Island, as you search for the Chaos Emeralds. Though some things look great, others look questionable. Here are some things that might work and some things that might not.
Gotta go fast…kind of
In Frontiers, you can explore completely new terrain that looks like Mario Odyssey or even Breath of the Wild: waterfalls, beautiful green mountains, and clear waters. There may be more of a free-roaming, 3D element to the game. Certain Sonic games, such as 3D Blast, get it right, as you can still loop de loop and have a fast-paced bonus level. However, a game like Sonic Boom fails miserably because the fast-paced levels are so few and far between. An open world on the Sonic platform needs a good balance of engaging game play and a fun atmosphere to fulfill the need for speed. Let’s hope that’s what we get.
The Uneven Tone
A main complaint in the Sonic fandom is that the games struggle with creating a consistent tone within the storylines. Some Sonic games become far too serious with very dark elements. For example, Sonic Forces implies that Sonic has been tortured for six months as Eggman has taken over the world. The stakes are high, but the game play is nowhere near memorable enough to match it. Frontiers already seems dramatic, as if Sonic has just entered the world of Hyrule. Serene, peaceful game play that has never been a part of Sonic’s M.O., honestly. Let’s hope the story doesn’t go too over the top.
The Puzzles
You’re running around, soaring through the air, performing some homing attacks on enemies, and then there’s a gate blocking your path. The player must rearrange some statues in specific positions to open the gate. It doesn’t look exciting and it interrupts Sonic’s otherwise smooth movements. The developers may have been trying to add some dimension to the game play that may work in the final product.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll definitely be giving this game a chance. As a devoted fan of the Sonic franchise, there is hardly any game I won’t try! Sonic Frontiers is available on all gaming platforms on November 8th, 2022
Guest Author: Gabrielle Muniz
