MWHAHAHAHAMWHAHAHAA!!!

...OK, I'll stop with the Deja Vu jokes.

Yes, it has been some time since my last blog.  It's a shame, too, since I have many blogs I wish to create.  But, this semester has been, most stressful for sure so I might not post as many blogs as I'd like in the next few months. So, I hope you understand on that.  However, I DO plan on posting a blog or two on Spring Break so you can look forward to that.

Today I decided to do a review on a most interesting NES game: Deja Vu.  Is this mystery worth solving and going through?  Or should you just lose your memory of it entirely?

Deja Vu is a game that I recently (well, actually not that recently anymore since I planned on doing this review sooner) discovered up in the attic while I was cleaning up the house.  Along with many boxes of NES games (empty though), I also found a few other NES games including Sesame Street 123 and Bases Loaded.  Obviously, Deja Vu looks more of an interesting gmae so I tried that one.

For those that want an interesting story and a set up for a game, you certainly will get one for this game.  This game is very dark and immediately places you in harm's way where you have no idea what could come around the corner.  One moment you may be facing an eerie, empty room and the other you may find yourself face to face with an alligator!  Few games (especially these days) lack the tension feeling of wondering what's around the bend in this simple manner, and to me it's a bit of fresh air.    In a sense, it's as if this game is very dangerous, and trust me when I say that dangerous games are more entertaining for me than safe ones (why do you think I play difficult games often)?

This game has a lot of different scenarios ranging from creepy to funny.  You also have a limited amount of time to do something too sometimes, so you better do something fast!  I like the quick thinking moments that you have to do, such as if you see a mugger around the corner.  What do you do?  Do you try to run away?  Do you try to punch him?  Do you try to talk with him?  Scenarios like this also have different outcomes, so it truly is best to investigate.  Oftentimes, they can be very surprising indeed. 

Not only is it good to investigate on choices, but it is a good idea to search around everything as well.  The person narrating everything says some funny things sometimes and sometimes even taunts you.  For instance, if you look under a toilet lid, then the game says "you are relieved to find nothing inside".  Another instance, you speak to a butler that tells you to leave the house but the narrator states that "the guy looks like the classic wimp".  This narration gives you clues and hints on what to do next and reminds me of playing classic D and D where the dungeon master likes to make witty remarks on the situation.

I need to mention that the music is surprisingly really good as well.  Many catchy tunes are on here that either give you a sense of mystery or dread when it needs to.  Lots of good stuff, and I could easily see the ScrewAttack crew using some of these themes in their videos or something.  The tune that I plugged in the beginning is the one that plays the most often, and it's probably my favorite.  Although, there's nothing quite like a moment when some eerie music starts playing when you see a shadow in another room. >: )

This game has a lot of "AHA!" moments in there when you figure something out that makes you feel like the ultimate evil lord that you are.  Steps of progress in this game is always like an additional piece of candy to keep you going.  By the time you finish the game, it will feel like an achievement, in a way.

I also like how everything looks grimy or old in this game, as if you truly are in a dangerous part of town.  It gives me the sense of some crime TV show or something.

This game, while interesting, is far from perfect.

The most annoying thing about this game is the menu system and how clunky the controls are.  This is one of those games that probably would have been better off only being on the PC since using an NES controller for a point and click game....kinda isn't the best way to go if you know what I mean.  Moving around the pointer is very slow and moving around in your item menus gets old fast.  Something to tick you off is how you practically have to open boxes and such just to take out items.  OK then.  What's wrong with just having the items there?  It would certainly save some menu fumbling!  The worst is during the last part of the game where you have to get rid of all incriminating evidence by dumping it into the sewer.  I can just imagine Ace Harding (your character) toting around a massive backpack all over the place like Link or something just to fit everything he has.  No wonder muggers are always on his tail...

Another annoying part about the game is that this game simply just gives you no direction or hints on what you need to do next....so expect to die many stupid deaths.  Such as...oh I dunno, just walking and then falling down a pothole?  Lazy.  Most of the time you will be stuck just because you didn't open some desk that doesn't look like it has any drawers or anything. Getting stuck in a game like this is the worst, and unless you have an FAQ or THE POWER, NINTENDO POWER then you pretty much got an endless game over.  Like, how the hell would you know to use capsules to take medicine?  What's wrong with just drinking some of the medicine!!  You're life is on the line, pal!  Or, how would you know that you are supposed to shoot locks with a gun?  I waste hours looking for a key when I was supposed to just SHOOT IT!  Oh, and other than shooting locks, the gun is practically useless...  There are so many "How are you supposed to know how to do....?" moments that it definitely mars this game quite a bit.

Losing all money in this game is the worst, since the ONLY way to get more money in the game is by gambling.  Teach them while they're young!  Gambling is based off of luck, so expect to waste some time to get some cash. Oh, and don't think that the $20 bill you found in the game will be useful in paying the Taxi driver.  They only take coins, because they live in Ed Edd n' Eddy land or something.  Can't believe I made that reference...

When you see the green shirt wearing thug, you may as well just press reset.

This game also has limited continues, so it sucks that you have to go through the intro allllll over again if something like this happens.

The game is a little bit shorter than I would have liked.  I know that it's an NES game....but still.  RPG games on the NES sometimes last for hours, and I could expect this game to be a little longer than a 30 minute game.  Couldn't this game have more mysteries to solve or something?   Like in LA Noire?  Just saying.  Not a $60 back then for sure, more like a rental.

As I mentioned before, this game is VERY dark and there is little wonder as to why this game was hidden from me for all these years after playing it.  For starters, you can actually commit suicide right from the get go after you get the gun.  Yes, the game allows you to do that.  That's  a pretty cheery, right?  It gets better.

There are MANY ways to die/get a game over in this game that I could just go on and on about.  Here is a small list:

-Getting shot

-Getting arrested for theft

-Getting eaten

-Getting arrested for being framed for a murder

-Getting arrested for shooting an armless thug

-Taking poison

-Getting arrested for not paying a taxi fee

-Getting blown to bits by a bomb

-Falling down a pothole

-Trying to steal from a gun store

Here's more if you're curious.

Hmm...I don't think that's enough.  I think there also needs to be being warlock punched, going into a flamewar, doing too much homework, and watching Twilight but it's still a pretty decent-sized list.

Your character also seems to hate chocolate.  OK, unless it has almond paste in it or if you are allergic to it, then HOW IN THE WORLD COULD YOU HATE CHOCOLATE??  Like...I'm the king of evil over here and I like chocolate.  It takes something special to hate it.

This game is one of those games that you have some fun with for a little while on your first playthrough through, and then you're done with it unless you want to see some silly scenarios again for laughs.  It's like watching a late Friday night movie for the heck of it.  This game is worthy of a playthrough, but get ready to be frustrated with some menu fumbling and some moments where you shall be stuck.  It's certainly one of those FAQ games.

Therefore, this game gets...