5 Bands Who Deserve Their Own Version of Guitar Hero

No disrespect to Van Halen, who is going to be the next band to get their own Guitar Hero, but this is more about the Smash Hits version of the game. If Red Octane didn't want to dedicate a game to these bands I'm going to select one song that could go in for them. In some cases that was harder than others.

I am sure there will be an outrage for some of these but if you have a problem with the selections...make your own blog! Kidding folks, you know the deal, got something on your mind? Drop it in the comments. Now, in some particular order...

5 Bands Who Deserve Their Own Version of Guitar Hero

Led Zeppelin "Heartbreaker"

As I have begun to research this I am reading that Jimmy Page, the epic guitarist for the above mentioned band, will not sell out (in classic rocker form) to GH. He is strong arming both GH and Rock Band not allowing either to have the rights to their music. It hasn't stopped people from using the music studio to make up their own(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv43Usi3b_k ) however its not the same. In fact people will make just about anything. Some don't even sound like the real thing. The one above is the actual track but another one I heard just made me yearn for the band to allow the songs to be in GH. In case some of you are completely clueless as to their work, here is a short list for you....

"Immigrant Song", "Dazed and Confused", "Kashmir"(P. Diddy knows how awesome this song is, he ruined it...I mean remixed it...seriously Page you let P. Diddy have it), "Rock and Roll", "Whole Lotta Love" (awesome guitar solo 3 minutes in), "Stairway to Heaven"(no Stairway...denied!), "Black Dog", "Moby Dick"(awesome drum solo), "Ramble On", "Livin Lovin Maid", "Achilles Last Stand", "Trampled Under Foot", "All My Love", "Communication Breakdown", "The Battle of Evermore" (Lord of the Rings geeks UNITE!) and oh god so many more. If you are still completely clueless then Youtube it up and search the band/song titles. Please Mr. Page, let them turn all your music into a game!

Green Day "Longview"

If I told you these guys have been around for nearly 20 years would you believe me? Well people you should because this band has been rocking out ever since their debut album Dookie. Just look at the tracklist on this album alone, nearly the whole thing could be on GH. There is "Longview", "Basket Case", "Burnout", "Welcome To Paradise", "When I Come Around", and "Chump" to name a few. Focusing on the main song out of the bunch, "Longview" has a bass line starting off the song that any fan of the genre knows. There is a problem with some of their songs being edited but we can look past that. An F bomb here and there can easily be dropped out(like it is on the radio). This isn't the only group of hits the band has. Looking at their other albums you can find a lot of other GH worthy songs like...

"American Idiot", "St. Jimmy", "Holiday", "Prosthetic", "Suffocate", "Nice Guys Finish Last", "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams, "Know Your Enemy" and many more. Unfortunately I have not heard their new album but I am sure there is more then one worthy song from it(after a recent purchase there is). In addition to their music (like they have with all other band games) Red Octane could have some music from bands who inspired them or who they are fans of. It would be the most punked out GH ever. EVER! Also, for those Simpsons fans out there, get Green Day's version of the show's theme song (from The Simpsons Movie). Hard to mess up those lyrics right Billie Joe (lead singer for the clueless ones out there, its okay I forgive you)

DA DA DA DADA DA DA DADADADADA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA

Nirvana "School"

As much as my girlfriend who loves hair metal and all that 80's crap hates that this band ended all the fun in her favorite type of music("They killed it," she scoffed as she read this blog), she still appreciates their awesomeness. This is a much harder song than the previous one that was in the game. Now GH 5 is coming out with two songs from Nirvana however that is still not enough. Although they are one of only two bands who got two songs(Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are the other) so that is pretty sweet. Their choices are some what obvious with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Lithium" however, after an apparent 3 year dispute, the game has Kurt Cobain as a playable character. Anyway back to the point at hand. The band deserves their own game, I mean hello they helped start a new genre and make it popular.

Other than the above mentioned songs, if you peruse through their albums you will most definitely find at least 60 tracks that are dubbed worthy for GH. I will not bore the faithful (or unfaithful readers) with a huge list just a short selection. "Lake of Fire", "Dumb", "Pennyroyal Tea", "Rape Me" (even though the opening riff is similar to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" I digress), "Floyd the Barber" (sit down on my chair, don't be afraid), "Come As You Are", "Polly", "In Bloom", "You Know Your Right", "The Man Who Sold The World"(sorry its better than the Bowie version but hey GH Metallica didn't have the band's version of "Stone Cold Crazy" as opposed to Queen's version, still awesome by the way...moving on), "Imodium", "Scentless Apprentice", "Love Buzz", "Breed"(the opening is awesome), "Downer" (fast and short), "Territorial Pissings" (have you noticed I am into some hard, fast Nirvana), and holy crap so many many more. I do not pride myself on music knowledge so I am sure there are some songs that aren't on here that deserve to be. In no way should they be ignored so put some suggestions in the comments. Of course the drummer from this band formed another very worthy band of their own GH. Care to guess?

Foo Fighters "This is a Call"

Dave Grohl is just awesome, drums/guitar/bass/bongos/harmonica/spoons whatever the instrument he plays it and is great. This is one of the shocks to me that this song hasn't already appeared in a GH tracklist. Its one of their more played songs on the radio and, for lack of a better term, its awesome. All instruments are used well as for most/all of Foo. Mr. T was quoted as saying, "I Pity the foo!" I believe that this has something to do with the snubbing of their own GH. As much of their music that has been in GH we all know that it has to be in the works. They already have one of the more awesome songs with "Everlong" but there are just so many more. GH Metallica also had one that I wasn't familiar with "Stacked Actors"(I don't know everything...unless its fantasy football then I think all is known by me). So there are many that have been used (and if Red Octane can't find all they need then pilfer some Nirvana/grunge bands for some tunes) but here are a few others then the above mentioned that should be used.

This list like the above could go on forever "I'll Stick Around", "All My Life", "Times Like These", "Alone+Easy Target", "Good Grief"(awesome opening, very fast paced), " My Hero", "Weenie Beenie"(how can it lose, its got Beenie in it), "For All the Cows" (starts slow but speeds up in sections), "X-Static", "Generator"(yeah so what for like 3 seconds in the beginning it sounds like its a Bon Jovi song, just deal), "Overdrive", "Learn to Fly" (whatever it was in Rock Band so what), "Wattershed", "Low", "Disenchanted Lullaby" (slow songs are a part of GH, as long as they are still awesome...unless of course its GH Metallica, they didn't make a slow song), "Tired of You", "Breakout", "No Way Back" (from Madden fame, 2006 version), "In Your Honor", "Gimme Stitches", "Aurura", "Best of You", "Last Song", "DOA", "Hell" and many more (not just from the In Your Honor album I swear)

In addition to Nirvana how about some Queens of the Stone Age, their first album...with Grohl on drums and their original bassist (because his, the bassist, solo from "No One Knows" is freaking insane) and Queen could make another appearance since Grohl did help induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the one and only thing awesome in Cleveland). Hit me with some more suggestions if you think I completely bombed on something. I'm just saying the game makes itself people.

Black Sabbath "Children of the Grave"

This song is from their Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album(the whole album could be on GH) and it just oozes GH worthiness. The song has a great drum/bongo rhythm throughout that can easily get stuck in one's (my) head. As many can guess I am going to suggest that the game use Ozzy tunes as well. The band wasn't the same without Ozzy (Ronnie James Dio replaced him...yeah seriously look it up. Holy dive on that! Went/Go by Heaven & Hell whenever they tour with him at lead vocals, quote Michelle, "Dio sucks!") so why not include some of his more memorable tunes along with some classic Sabbath. The only song to don a GH game is "War Pigs" and rightfully so. The song is well known and, in the words of Peter Griffin, "freakin' sweet." For those who need some OZ-ucation (no not the old prison show from HBO, its a great show but not what we are talking about) here are some suggestions for GH immortality.

"Iron Man" (unleash your inner Beavis and/or Butthead), "Paranoid" (sampled in the great SNES game Rock and Roll Racing), "The Wizard" (anyone for Harmonica Hero), "If I Close My Eyes Forever" (Ozzy doing a duet with Lita Ford, stellar combo), "Hellraiser" (GTA fans UNITE! Oh so many hookers and innocent bystanders perished to that song on the streets of San Andreas), "No More Tears", "Black Sabbath", "Over the Mountain", "Miracle Man", "Flying High Again", "I Don't Know", "Mr. Tinkertrain", "Mama, I'm Coming Home", "Perry Mason", "Bloodpath in Paradise", "Shot in the Dark", "Tattoed Dancer" (then you can be his little tattoed rock and roll dancer to), "Sweet Leaf" and so many more that my little mind can't handle.

So there you have it. 5 bands that deserve their own GH. Some that didn't quite make the cut were Motley Crue (I'm not in love with a stripper so I just couldn't pick them), The Who (they already have their own Rock Band pack) and AC/DC (same reason as The Who). If you want to yell at me for not picking your favorite band (no Antoine Good Charlotte does NOT deserve their own GH) then let me read about it in the comments. Until we read again....

10 Out of the Ordinary Songs for Guitar Hero

With the recent release of Guitar Hero: Smash Hits I(and the American public) feel like we have been let down. While I am happy that they have released these recycled songs into full band mode, they could have easily done that in the music store. Its like they mailed this one in. So starting today and for the weeks to follow I will be suggesting 10 songs in no particular order that could have been, or could hopefully be a part of a future version of Guitar Hero. Feel free to suggest your own songs in the comment section or completely mock me for my selections. Either or would be appreciated.

So as I was saying, for the next few weeks I will be releasing my lists. Each with its own special title. My thoughts for this one is if "Beat It" can be a GH song then why not these 10. Which is why this one is called...

10 Out of the Ordinary Songs for Guitar Hero

Remember these are in no particular order...

Victor Wooten "Me and My Bass Guitar"

So as to why I have chosen this song, its awesome. Give it a listen sometime(check out Youtube). Sure I know the song is all bass and vocals, I don't care. GH: World Tour had a Joe Satriani song with no lyrics so why not have this as the song that you play after you have gone through the bass career. It would be the bassist's version of "Through the Fire and Flames" as far as difficulty. It would make all those who enjoy "Slappin da bass" on GH(a la Paul Rudd from I Love You Man) elated. My phrase for this song, "So what if it's all bass, it's all awesome."

The Roots "Guns Are Drawn"

Who doesn't love the Roots? This is one of their better songs from The Tipping Point album. This one stands out above some of their others to me because of its good use of all instruments. Not just all bass and drums. Which speaking of those, as if it would be that hard to get ?uestlove to do motion capture for the drums. I mean if the band itself can be on Jimmy Fallon, what won't they do? In addition to the instrument use the lyrics wouldn't be heavily edited as some of their other songs. As those who have played the game know, there are a few words they do not like. Some Roots songs contain a lot of those.

Electric "Life is a Struggle (Remix)"

This is a little known hip hop group that I started listening to back in Salisbury. The best way to describe them or a group you could compare them to is the Roots. The regular version is pretty tight as well however its a drum machine and a lot of other things going on, nothing to do with a band. The remix edition does use a full band however is full on the bass and drums. So what it lacks in guitar it makes up there. Another positive is the lack of a whole lot of profanity, as in there is none. Thank god since my daughter Caylie loves to join in on the rocking. I have GH to thank for a lot of her vocabulary. So while the song starts out with a good balance of all instruments it definitely would be best on bass/drums.

Genesis "Sussidio"

Okay before you mock me and use a Family Guy or South Park reference hear me out. Obviously the vocals are good due to Phil Collins (insert South Park joke here) but that isn't all. The drums are awesome throughout the entire song with bass being a close second. Guitar is also well used in this but not as thoroughly as bass/drums. The guitar is used a whole lot more in this song then the previous, no real heavy solos though.

Prince and the Revolution "Computer Blue"

Now if you want guitar solos, Prince is your man. "Computer Blue" is not just a basketball play that owns Charlie Murphy and his group of flunkies. The guitar solo in the middle will completely own your soul if you attempt it on expert. I can't believe that a Prince song has not been on any GH games, completely ridiculous. As far as other memorable songs like "Darling Nikki" or "Little Red Corvette" I gave them a listen as well. "Darling Nikki" wouldn't make it past Red Octane censors since the song is about...a chick masturbating. Way to go Prince, when interviewed regarding this he was quoted as saying, "Owwww!" There is also more of a full use of a band in this song but what honestly sold it for me is the guitar solo from about the middle of the song that just goes on forever. It will also have you saying, "Owwww" when you try to play it. I can only imagine. Drums would also be pretty sweet on this however what I can't make out is much of a bass line but I'm sure its there. Either instrument you play will have you heading for the waters of Lake Minnetonka for purification.

Blackalicious "Green Light : Now Begin"

Now what this lacks in solos it makes up for in other instruments. This is one of the group's better songs off their Blazing Arrow album. There is a decent guitar section in the opening and in the end (around the 3 minute mark) but it doesn't really appear too much in between. Small sections here and there have guitar. The song itself is heavy on the drums and the bass. The interesting part would be getting all of the lyrics even close to right(that doesn't matter though, only pitch matters). Chief Xcel and the Gift of Gab are true artists in the form of hip hop so good luck to those of you vocalists out there. I think this is one song I could actually get the pitch on. All in all its a great song to chill to and something different for GH to try out.

Non Phixion w/ Steph (Deftones) & Christian and Ray (Fear Factory)

"The CIA is Still Trying to Kill Me"

If you are racking your brain as to whether or not the name Non Phixion sounds familiar, it doesn't. Although one of their songs was sampled in the Transporter during a fight scene. Not this song so I will move on. Now this is a remix version of "The CIA is Trying to Kill Me" but this one is far more superior when it comes to rocking. Heavy guitar riffs throughout, they are their hardest in the chorus, make this song a rap/hip hop song that truly rocks. The biggest issue with the song is how much it would have to be edited or cut up since it has more F-bombs then a B-52 bomber. The song is still awesome and deserves to be in GH and has the best chance of any other song from this genre.

Mos Def "Rock & Roll"

Let's stay in the same genre with another pretty good combo of hip hop and rock. With the tightly wound lyrics of Mos Def and the excellent use of a full band to back them up this one is can't miss. The song itself does start out slow, most songs are from his Black on Both Sides album, but the last minute of the song is insane. There is a minute long riff at the end that would make any pure rocker proud. It's not like this is the only section where the guitar is used however the beginning is very repetitive. Any one who plays the song if it were on GH would get sucked into the easy start and get owned in the end. Until of course they played it 30 million times.

James Brown "The Payback"

Get ready you mothers, for the big payback! Anyone who knows me is probably surprised that this isn't "Super Bad, pts. 1-2" due to my love of the movie White Men Can't Jump. I mean people called me Billy Ho when we used to play basketball in gym class back in the day. This isn't about me, its about the man who loves to jump back and kiss himself, hey! Part of me would love to be a fly on the wall, when anyone who thinks they know all of Brown's lyrics for the song, to see them fall on their face or completely screw up the pitch of one of his classic screams. As Eddie Murphy has pointed out before, that is a James Brown lyric. The reason for this song is due to its length and great opening that has probably been sampled, used in many hip hop/rap songs today. Also if anyone makes fun of you for screwing up the song you can drop this gem on them. "I don't know karate, but I know kaRAzy(spelled as pronounced)." So with the heavy amount of bass and guitar in this song, classic James Brown lyrics and it being sampled everywhere, how could this song not be in GH. It couldn't be any of the better knowns, some don't use all the instruments as much as this one. Now come on fellas, hit it and quit it!

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic "We Want the Funk"

Well funk you very much, now with this song you have to know about its heavy bass line. You also have to know why, Bootsy Collins make it do what it do baby. Make him or George an unlockable and Bootsy's bass, the infamous star design, as well. The best two instruments would have to be bass, duh, and the drums. There could be another song that I just might not know out there that would be better however the ones I have heard this one would be best. Better known then others like "Stomp" that use full band. Plus we need the funk and we gotta have that funk, la da da da da, do do do do do do do owwwwwwwww.

So there you have it. 10 songs that are stuff you have never heard or would ever associate with GH. Other songs that were considered were Busta Rhymes & Lenny Kravitz "Make Noise" (denied because of the amount of profanity, there would be no lyrics if edited) along with "Anxiety" by the Black Eyed Peas. The song itself was just full of guitar riffs around the chorus and in the opening but otherwise it was little used. I could only choose 10 after all, do you know of any you would like to have? Let me hear your thoughts people!

BIGS 2 is the Baseball Equivalent to NBA Jam

It's the top of the first inning as Nick Markakis steps up to bat at Fenway Park. Roberts is dancing off 2nd as Jon Lester rocks and fires. Markakis rips a double to bring Roberts in. The inning eventually ends with Orioles ahead by four. 45 minutes, 35 hits, and 10 homers later the game ends 30-4....in the Orioles favor.

This is what I mean by the title. A better analogy might be BIGS 2 is as to Adam Jones going 6 for 7 with 4 homers and 14 RBI (yes in one game and that is some kind of record) with Mortal Kombat is as to Kano ripping out your heart. If that doesn't shock you maybe Jeremy Guthrie throwing 115 mph cheese (with a power up) will. The point I am trying to make is that it is completely unbelievable. Jones robbing someone in dead center by jumping 6 feet above the wall and catching the ball between his legs...LEGENDARY(and totally believable).

For those who might say, "oh what is it on easy?" No, its not. It is only on medium, a level in which the Red Sox pounded me when I first tried the game out. I know I didn't get that good that fast. So all in all the outcomes are totally ridiculous but I honestly don't care. I dig the longball.

Speaking of the longball, they can also be pretty over the top. For example, during games you earn points based on your performance of the game (getting hits, making plays, striking people out). Once you have reached 100,000 points you can unleash "Big Blast" mode (just call it BEAST MODE) meaning if you connect (even if you are Cesar Izturis) you are going to hit a homer. However if you wait another 25,000 points you can use "Big Slam" mode(fatality, flawless victory) to attempt getting the bases cleared with a grand slam. No matter which mode you use the end result is simple, make contact and you will be destroying a part of the stadium. For example, my first experience with a "Big Blast" was with Luke Scott. There were two runners on and I was down so I figured it was time to activate beast mode. Well here comes a hanging curveball over the plate and goodbye. The ball leaves in a trail of flames heading for Eutaw...or wait no way, then it happened...BOOM WAREHOUSE and all the windows explode out of the building.

Pitching also has its equivalence to the above mentioned. Instead being called "Big Heat" mode where you can throw pitches 25 mph more or with more movement then usual. They can also be activated at the same time (Big Heat and Big Blast/Slam) which is known as "Duel" mode. Pretty self explanatory, pitcher throws harder/better and batter hits harder/better. Come out of this mode victorious and you are set up for yet another power up. One of the things that can also help to get these power ups is making amazing plays in the field.

If you have a player with legendary glove ability (Torii Hunter, Ichiro, Albert Pujols, the entire Red Sox squad[not kidding] to name a few) you can make what are called Legendary Catches(with mini games attached). In a high pitch voice my buddy Brandon was quoted as saying, "Legendaryyyyyy!" At least a few times. Imagine Dave Chappelle's version of Prince saying it to get just how high the pitch was. These catches result in 20,000 points towards a power up with regular great catches getting 10,000(just diving or jumping without a Legendary Catch mini game). The biggest negative about the catches is the announcers. Unfortunately its not anyone I am familiar with but whoever it is loves to wax poetic about Ozzie Smith. For example, I made a "Legendaryyyyy!," catch with Cesar Izturis. I'm expecting a Cal Ripken Jr. or Brooks Robinson reference and instead I get, "Do you see a man of tin? Cause I think I just saw a wizard." Until yesterday on every catch when he referenced a hall of famer he only referenced Ozzie. Then he made a reference about Dave Winfield. Its the only time he has referenced someone other then Ozzie. Well at least it was an outfield catch.

Speaking of catches/mini games the title also has 4 other mini game modes. Power hitting, contact hitting, glove work and running. To unlock each one you have to beat the main superstar in each category. Power has cover boy Prince Fielder, contact has Chipper Jones (was Ichiro too busy?), glove work has Jimmy Rollins (of all the shortstops in the league....really?) and running has Jose Reyes (maybe you will luck out and he will pull a hamstring). I have luckily unlocked all four and the running one is the weirdest and most interesting. You basically run through/around Wrigley through a course that has balance beams, hurdles, trash cans, building to building leaps and other obstacles that would make American Gladiators proud(minus actual gladiators..."ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!"). To avoid these obstacles I had to button mash, wave the Wii-mote or push the directional button to pick up speed and beat Reyes (or anyone else that you want to race). These games are in addition to season mode and Legend mode.

Once you have honed your skills in the above mentioned games, hop on over to season/legend mode. Season mode is pretty easy to explain. Take your favorite team and play through their entire schedule hoping to lead them to a title (go O's with only 1 loss...to the Yankees). It is Legend mode that you should probably start first. Create your player(whether you want to be selfish and make it a version of yourself, hey its cool that is what I did, or make some other version of someone) and you are now a major leaguer coming back from injury. Your player starts off in Mexico to get your swing back before being thrust back into the regular season. Once the 3 major tasks are completed (2 five inning games and beating the best Mexican teammate in the contact game) he can move up to the bigs. You pick your team(which is final...until they trade you but don't worry they resign you in the offseason) and finish out the season with whomever you choose. At your home park you play mini games to increase your skills/acquire skill points. The coolest part, other then this is what you need to play to unlock everything(stadiums, new uniforms, new homerun places, cool stuff for your player), is what happens in the individual team challenges. The games are only 5 innings and each team has 3 tasks to complete. Beat them in the first challenge, unlock teams other uniforms. Complete the second task and the reward varies. You will either get a skill point or unlock new things for your player. Beat them in the third challenge and you get to steal a player from that team. Also there is a trophy case that needs filling. While in on your path of destruction to becoming a legend you can earn trophies by performing tasks in the offseason or during your season they can be earned. Your player will need all the help he can get if he wants to defeat the hall of famers to gain votes for himself. Yes this is the goal in Legend mode, to get into the hall. On the bottom of the screen there is a vote counter that starts off 0/300. The only way to gain votes is to complete tasks at Cooperstown (defeat a team of Hall of Famers in a 5 inning game with other challenges attached to some[win by 2, get 3 hits, etc.]).

There are many positives and negatives to this game that I would like to point out, some of which have been mentioned. So here we go.

Positives

+ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGBALLS, lots of them

+ Balls so long that they can damage a part of the stadium...and your soul(the announcer helps in the soul part believe me)

+ The announcer does have some zingers ("that was a tailor made pitch but he didn't have the swing to fit" for example) Kinda like "He's heating up! He's on fire! Razzle Dazzle! Fancy Moves!" if you compare it to NBA Jam.

+ Power ups for individual superstars (For example no doubter homeruns, ability points for other players, bigger wheelhouse)

+ Legend mode, becoming a hall of famer is pretty sweet. Beating A-Rod (Roid) in a home run pinball match in Time Square (it must have been October since he choked and scored nothing) is also pretty sweet.

+ Mini games are pretty sweet with homerun pinball by far being the sweetest. How can destroying things in a public place with baseballs not be awesome? How I ask you, how?!?

+ Big blasts/slams/heat, all rule and you should bow before them all. Before they destroy you!

+ Use of the Wii's capabilities(actually have to swing remotes to pitch/hit/dive/be awesome)

+ Trades can be completely one sided through a mini game (like Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol)

PosiNEGs

+ the Orioles roster is awesome....minus the fact that Felix Pie is on it and Nolan Reimold isn't

+ legendary catches are great....and completely unbelievable(only when performed on me!)

+ Tim Lincecum while being a great pitcher doesn't deserve more legendary quality pitches then the hall of famers do.

+ Big blasts/slam mode (as long as you connect) maximizes run scoring...but it can make some games completely ridiculous since the computer doesn't always use it/use it right.

+ While I enjoy that my players are passionate about the game I do not require them to react to 90% of the outs like Joba Chamberlain (ie a fist pump or another form of taunting) What are you Tiger Woods at Augusta?!? NO! You just got an out in the 7th inning while you were up by 15. Relax Aubrey! Sorry, I digress.

Negatives

- Rosters are small, a lineup will consist of your 9 starters and 3 reserves, you only have a 3 man pitching rotation with 3 guys in the bullpen. Far short of a normal 25 man roster.

- For some reason every player is wearing glasses/goggles. Seriously half of of every team is wearing them, not very accurate.

- Only keeps track of a few major stats for hitting/pitching along with stats for big plays. Offensive stats that are followed are homers, average, RBIs, hits and stolen bases. Pitching stats that are kept are wins, losses, strikeouts and walks. These are not accurate as the game does allow for screw ups here and there (Rich Hill should totally have an L and for some reason he got a win...I mean I lost the game). It doesn't really keep fielding stats instead the game follows how many big plays you have performed with point totals, amount of legendary catches and the percentage of them that were successfully performed.

- Announcer does have some funny/quirky things that he says however when it comes to "Legendaryyyyyyy" catches he seems to reference Ozzie Smith 95% of the time.

- Perhaps the biggest problem I have is that I can't play online. Believe me I would totally be marketing this game to everyone I know if I could play them in any of the awesome mini games or an actual game.

So all in all the game is a success in my house. It is the reason I have been putting off posting this blog. I need a challenge, someone come over and take me on since there is no online challenge. Now if you will excuse me I have a ballpark I need to go demolish.

This One Takes Me Back

It was 1987, Mike Tyson was destroying people in the ring and ironically enough so were we. Many of us in our youth were after Tyson(or for some of us Mr. Dream) in the well known Dream Bout. Unfortunately some were stumped by Bald Bull and were stuck on him for 4 years(like Peter Griffin).

With the recent release of Punchout for the Wii console I feel like I am 7 again. Bald Bull is still difficult, he's no Great Tiger though believe me. Little Mac returns still 5'7" and barely tilting the scales over 100 lbs. Oddly enough he is still 17, some of us age better then others I suppose. Most of the characters you know and love to beat down are back(along with their intro music if you can believe it) such as Glass Joe, Von Kaiser, King Hippo, Piston Hondo (was Honda back in the day but I guess Nintendo didn't want to pay for the name), Great Tiger, Don Flamenco, Soda Popinski, Bald Bull, Super Macho Man and the vicious Mr. Sandman from the original NES version. Only two characters made it from the less popular Super Punchout from SNES and those are Bear Hugger and Aran Ryan. The game also introduces a new character in Disco Kid who is more infatuated with himself more then winning a fight. Every fight introduces the character with a short movie which are in most cases pretty comical. The game is definitely worth it to anyone who loved the original NES version of the game.

From the opening bout against Glass Joe(almost an exact replica of my buddy Joel but with red hair, he was dubbed Glass Joel by McIver) to the championship bout against Mr. Sandman I was hooked. The cool part is that before you take on a fighter you can practice against them to pick up the patterns of how they fight. Those of us who played the NES version will have no problem getting through the Minor Circuit unless we have forgotten Glass Joe, Von Kaiser and King Hippo's weaknesses. The throwback fighters seem to have most of the same weaknesses from the previous version however unlike before you can't just retire as the champ. You have to fight them all again. I hate to admit this but I lost to Glass Joe in the rematch the first time. It honestly made me feel like less of a man. That was until I crushed him in the next bout. I am currently working on getting through the title defense portion of the game and can't say I have tired of it. Definitely has replay ability which is awesome for a game nowadays.

What keeps you playing is attempting to complete the many challenges of each fighter that are unlocked once you defeat them in career mode. There are three challenges for each fighter that once completed unlock special audio in your gallery. Some challenges are easier then others (such as finding Glass Joe's one punch weak spot) while others pose high difficulty(attempting to find all of the spots to get a star for your super punch). They get even harder in the title defense portion of the game. If that doesn't encourage more game play then maybe another new feature to the Punchout series will, the new Head to Head mode.

Finally you can take out your aggression on your friends who beat you down in real boxing (yes this means you McIver). This mode doesn't differ too much in game play from the regular modes minus the fact that you are no longer Little Mac and you have the ability to mutate into GIGA MAC. Instead you become Little _your name here__ vs. Little _your opponent's name_. An example of how two player mode plays is below as I give my two year old a much deserved beat down. Caylie (my 2 year old) can beat Glass Joe and her mommy but not so much me. I in no way tolerate child abuse, except in this case.

I know its cold blooded what I did to her but eventually she will be able to destroy us all. If a 2 year old can play who can't? There are two different controller options which are classic (use your Wii remote exactly like you would the old NES controller) or use the remote with the nunchuk attached and throw punches. Another cool function is using the balance board. With this you can control dodging and ducking. I am a creature of habit so I will stick to classic that is familiar to my inner child.

Comparing Mike Tyson's Punchout to Super Punchout is like comparing apples to brussel sprouts. I played the original version of the game over and over again however the SNES version just wasn't the same. I guess I'm partial to my childhood favorite. However this new installment put me in a time machine and brought back rainy days in front of my Nintendo writing down the codes in case Super Macho Man or Mr. Sandman would beat me into a bloody mess. The truth is they STILL beat me down in this new version but I will keep coming back for more.

So I will keep some room in my Punchout time machine and I look forward to seeing some of you there. Unfortunately due to a lack in online capabilities in the game I can't challenge any of you. Oh well, at least I will always have King Hippo.