Posts
--- Man it took three years but I finally found a copy of the Adventures of Cookie and Cream in an EB Games bargain bin for $6.99. I probably could have gotten it off ebay all this time but it just gave me something to always look for any time I was in an EB Games (we have 5 of them in town, 3 of them within a square mile of each other.) Now I don't know what I'll do when flipping through the piles and piles of used games they can't give away. Honestly if you missed a bunch of the PS2 generation, go thumbing through their PS2 bins. The problem isn't the quality of titles, it's just the fact that I played or owned just about everything remotely interesting in the bins.
If you never got around to Cookie and Cream, don't let the cute exterior turn you off it is prehaps one of the best co-op game experiences of all-time, if not just for the PS2.
--- Speaking of EB Games, they have Moon for the DS for $20 already. I don't know if this will be the regular price point or just a limited thing but rush and grab it. I've always maintained that for $20 you rarely can go wrong with a title. What's strange is Moon was 2009's first must-own title just last month.
--- Going back to last week I said I wasn't entirely sold on Retro Game Challenge. Well slap me once more because it's pretty darn good. But the final selling point for me? XSeed games saying that the chances of localizing Fragile: Sayonara Tsuki-no-Haikyo hinged entirely on the sales of Retro Game Challenge.
Localizing games takes a lot of bank and apparently they need money still even though I've bought Populous DS, Shadow Hearts: From the New World, Wild ARMs 4 (sadly still in the shrink wrap,) Wild ARMs 5 (not in the shrink wrap but not beaten,) Valhalla Knights, Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground, and Brave Story: New Traveler from them. That's essentially everything XSeed's published in the US. I put up with Valhalla Knights and Dungeon Maker. I want my damn Fragile, but at least RGC is actually a much more enjoyable game than the chore that was Dungeon Maker.
So the short of it -- BUY RGC SO I CAN PLAY FRAGILE!
--- QuickJump Network has details on the handheld port of Disgaea 2...obviously in celebration of the impending relase of the new Prinny game on the PSP. The 'article' can be found by clicking.
Looks like some new weapon skills, a new Magi-Change and some new playable characters -- including Asagi, the Red Prism Ranger and Marjoly. It's Disgaea on the PSP, did you really need any more motivation?
--- Pwn or Die Blog presents 10 video game athletes that probably used steroids. Much more interesting than debating the morality of A-Rod.
--- Monster Hunter G for the Wii had its newest trailer released yesterday. I honestly hope Monster Hunter can make it big over here in America. Obviously it'll never reach the same level of fever as in Japan but Monster Hunter back for the PS2 is one of the few online community games I got 'hardcore' into. I don't do MMOs and I don't do FPS deathmatches but Monster Hunter was just darn right addictive and I shed a tear when Capcom finally closed the servers last year even though I had sold the game a while before.
The PSP Monster Hunter games though just never reached the same level thanks to only supporting (to my knowledge) ad-hoc local. It was hard enough finding people around here with PSPs when the game cam out. The complications became ten fold in finding someone with a PSP and a copy of the game.
I hate to rag on the Wii but a huge part of Monster Hunter is playing with other people. Is this really a game the Wii's majority target audience will be into? Will Friend Codes once again detract from people picking this one up? Anyone thinking about picking this up once (if) it comes Stateside?
--- Pretty good article from Final Fantasy Union about the decline of SquareEnix since they merged in 2003. You can click here for it. I'm guessing not too many people realized it was that bad.
But yeah, a year ago Last Remnant was probably my number one most anticipated title of 2008. I knew there was room to be letdown but I didn't expect it to be that bad. Horrible load times and stupid, uninspired gameplay 'strategy' killed it quickly. The other big release, Infinite Undiscovery is also considered a dissapointment but there's at least a few things I can point to there and say I enjoyed the title. Would I tell you to buy it at $60 retail? No, but it's easily worth the $30-40 most retailers smartly slashed it down to after its release.
Showing posts with label Retro Game Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Retro Game Challenge. Show all posts
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Games of the Week: Week 6
Week 6: February 9th - 15th
Not really a new feature but seeing as its new to the blog and not the message board I was previously doing it at, it's all new. It's pretty self explanatory. Every week (usually on Saturday but occasionally I can't get around to it until Monday) I like to go over the games to be released this week. It helps me decide what I'm going to purchase (or rent) and what to earmark for later. And hopefully it'll help you...or someone...do the same.
NINTENDO DS
Jake Power: Fireman
Moomin: The Great Autumn Party
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Retro Game Challenge
Not the best week for the DS but you still probably have Moon and My World My Way to plow through so not to worry. I don't mind Splinter Cell but Conviction didn't really hold my attention when it originally hit the consoles and it just seems like a game that one would rather play on a console. I love my DS but not every type of game is prefect for it.
The gem here though is Retro Game Challenge which throws 8-bit sort of gaming conventions at you in the form of eight robust, full games. There's a Galaga clone, a Star Solider clone, a side-scroller....even an RPG if you can believe it. All holding true to 8-bit conventions. Yes, the whole thought process that retro games are a lot more challenging has reached an almost mythic plateau of late, but there is quite a bit of truth to it -- for better or for worse. What we expect out of games and conventions in games have changed immensely in the last 20 years. And I guess that's what makes this package a breath of fresh air, because a lot of us grew up on those older conventions and miss them terribly.
According to advance reviews the eight games are very fun and full experiences but at this point, with so many amazing titles coming in just the first half of 2009 I have a hard time throwing down $30 when I already have quite a few retro games sitting around my game room or on my virutal console...and the ones I uhm haven't emulated.....er....
I'm sure the games are good but so are my Mega Man games or the multiple versions of Galaga I already have. Unless you have a hankering for a real good retro experience on your DS, I'd wait until its something you can pick up for about $20 or less.
PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
LocoRoco 2
A lot of people say 2008 was a bad year for the PSP. Wrong. The second half of 2008 was bad for the PSP. First half of 2008 was amazing. Releases in the second half became a trickle but 2009 for the PSP has started out fair enough with the port of the excellent Star Ocean 2 (which I honestly didn't play the first time around) and DJ Max Fever already hitting in the first 5 weeks of the year, and now we get the sequel to LocoRoco in week 6 and for only $20. If you own a PSP and don't have the first LocoRoco...then you probably don't own a PSP and need to stop lying.
With more of the same from the sequel I believe this one is a no brainer for PSP owners. There's quite a bit of simple smile-inducing charm that comes from LocoRoco that was only equaled on the PSP by Patapon in 2008 (ok, I'm probably doing a bit of disservice to Downstream Panic.) It's $20. If you have a PSP you at least deserve it to yourself to pick it up, especially if you skipped out on DJ Max.
PLAYSTATION 2
M&M Adventure
Yeah there's still stuff coming out on the PS2. But after two of the best RPGs ever to hit the system have hit in the past two months (Persona 4 and Ar Tonelico 2 for those wanting to keep score) it seems like the system just might be finally seeing itself out the door. I'm sure Madden 10 will come out in a PS2 flavor and that'll probably be the end for a while. Until indie guys in Japan start mucking around and putting stuff out much like they do from time to time on the Dreamcast and even the Genesis still. So I suggest getting your PS2 modded if you haven't already.
NINTENDO WII
NASCAR Kart Racing
House of the Dead: Overkill
Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
Deadly Creatures
House of the Dead actually ain't bad. I played a little bit of it this weekend and its a welcome addition to a Wii line-up devoid of titles that blend this sort of mature atmosphere and the casual feel of the system. It's probably a step or two behind HotD2 or even HoTD4 but it's definitely worth a flyer. The language could be toned down a bit though. I know you're trying for a mature title but it doesn't feel natural to throw it in every line. Still this is the Wii's first must-own of 2009.
I haven't really paid too much attention to Deadly Creatures when it was first announced; it honestly sounded like a joke title and the announcement came at a time when my faith in the platform was wanning. I think you can file it under a pleasant surprise if early reviews (#2) hold up. Just on originality it probably deserves a flyer for not only Wii owners but for those of us that claim (or bitch) nothing new is coming down the pipeline. You play either as a scorpion or a tarantula surviving in the world with this strange narrative encompassing it all. Definitely worth a look on that alone. Top it off with one of the best graphics package on the Wii and waggle controls for only secondary actions (showing other 3rd party developers how to get it right) and I think it goes alongside Overkill as a must get for Wii-owners.
Finally we have One-chan bara. Bikini-clad samurai chicks killing zombies. On the Wii. What more do you want? It looks like one hell of a guilty pleasure but I'm looking for a good hack'n'slash with Afro Samurai being a decent rental-only last week.
X BOX 360
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
Obviously the Wii and 360 One-chan bara games are off the same property but not the same game, with the Wii taking more advantage of the waggle controls and the 360 game taking advantage of -- you know -- graphics. I'll probably wind up getting both, but not right away.
MULTIPLATFORM (360 and PS3 titles)
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Project Origin: FEAR 2
I'm not entirely sure why it's Sonic's collection but for the price ($40) this is probably the best collection (to date, seeing as I have a couple other collections like it prior) encompassing the Genesis library. I still think there are some glaring omissions but licensing isn't always the easy thing on the face of the Earth to accomplish, especially over a decade later. Not only do you get to play these games in HD but the game is worth the price of admission alone for the three Phantasy Star titles. Try finding those three on ebay and spend less than $40.
As for Project Origin, I liked the original FEAR a lot but something about the demo didn't do it for me. I can't place my finger on it but a lot of amazing games had piss-poor demos this generation so I guess it at least makes the game a rental and wait and see. Maybe a buy -- if we've learned anything from the Japanese, pale-skinned children are scary as fuck. Project Origin is also available on the PC.
Not really a new feature but seeing as its new to the blog and not the message board I was previously doing it at, it's all new. It's pretty self explanatory. Every week (usually on Saturday but occasionally I can't get around to it until Monday) I like to go over the games to be released this week. It helps me decide what I'm going to purchase (or rent) and what to earmark for later. And hopefully it'll help you...or someone...do the same.
NINTENDO DS
Jake Power: Fireman
Moomin: The Great Autumn Party
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Retro Game Challenge
Not the best week for the DS but you still probably have Moon and My World My Way to plow through so not to worry. I don't mind Splinter Cell but Conviction didn't really hold my attention when it originally hit the consoles and it just seems like a game that one would rather play on a console. I love my DS but not every type of game is prefect for it.
The gem here though is Retro Game Challenge which throws 8-bit sort of gaming conventions at you in the form of eight robust, full games. There's a Galaga clone, a Star Solider clone, a side-scroller....even an RPG if you can believe it. All holding true to 8-bit conventions. Yes, the whole thought process that retro games are a lot more challenging has reached an almost mythic plateau of late, but there is quite a bit of truth to it -- for better or for worse. What we expect out of games and conventions in games have changed immensely in the last 20 years. And I guess that's what makes this package a breath of fresh air, because a lot of us grew up on those older conventions and miss them terribly.
According to advance reviews the eight games are very fun and full experiences but at this point, with so many amazing titles coming in just the first half of 2009 I have a hard time throwing down $30 when I already have quite a few retro games sitting around my game room or on my virutal console...and the ones I uhm haven't emulated.....er....
I'm sure the games are good but so are my Mega Man games or the multiple versions of Galaga I already have. Unless you have a hankering for a real good retro experience on your DS, I'd wait until its something you can pick up for about $20 or less.
PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
LocoRoco 2
A lot of people say 2008 was a bad year for the PSP. Wrong. The second half of 2008 was bad for the PSP. First half of 2008 was amazing. Releases in the second half became a trickle but 2009 for the PSP has started out fair enough with the port of the excellent Star Ocean 2 (which I honestly didn't play the first time around) and DJ Max Fever already hitting in the first 5 weeks of the year, and now we get the sequel to LocoRoco in week 6 and for only $20. If you own a PSP and don't have the first LocoRoco...then you probably don't own a PSP and need to stop lying.
With more of the same from the sequel I believe this one is a no brainer for PSP owners. There's quite a bit of simple smile-inducing charm that comes from LocoRoco that was only equaled on the PSP by Patapon in 2008 (ok, I'm probably doing a bit of disservice to Downstream Panic.) It's $20. If you have a PSP you at least deserve it to yourself to pick it up, especially if you skipped out on DJ Max.
PLAYSTATION 2
M&M Adventure
Yeah there's still stuff coming out on the PS2. But after two of the best RPGs ever to hit the system have hit in the past two months (Persona 4 and Ar Tonelico 2 for those wanting to keep score) it seems like the system just might be finally seeing itself out the door. I'm sure Madden 10 will come out in a PS2 flavor and that'll probably be the end for a while. Until indie guys in Japan start mucking around and putting stuff out much like they do from time to time on the Dreamcast and even the Genesis still. So I suggest getting your PS2 modded if you haven't already.
NINTENDO WII
NASCAR Kart Racing
House of the Dead: Overkill
Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
Deadly Creatures
House of the Dead actually ain't bad. I played a little bit of it this weekend and its a welcome addition to a Wii line-up devoid of titles that blend this sort of mature atmosphere and the casual feel of the system. It's probably a step or two behind HotD2 or even HoTD4 but it's definitely worth a flyer. The language could be toned down a bit though. I know you're trying for a mature title but it doesn't feel natural to throw it in every line. Still this is the Wii's first must-own of 2009.
I haven't really paid too much attention to Deadly Creatures when it was first announced; it honestly sounded like a joke title and the announcement came at a time when my faith in the platform was wanning. I think you can file it under a pleasant surprise if early reviews (#2) hold up. Just on originality it probably deserves a flyer for not only Wii owners but for those of us that claim (or bitch) nothing new is coming down the pipeline. You play either as a scorpion or a tarantula surviving in the world with this strange narrative encompassing it all. Definitely worth a look on that alone. Top it off with one of the best graphics package on the Wii and waggle controls for only secondary actions (showing other 3rd party developers how to get it right) and I think it goes alongside Overkill as a must get for Wii-owners.
Finally we have One-chan bara. Bikini-clad samurai chicks killing zombies. On the Wii. What more do you want? It looks like one hell of a guilty pleasure but I'm looking for a good hack'n'slash with Afro Samurai being a decent rental-only last week.
X BOX 360
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
Obviously the Wii and 360 One-chan bara games are off the same property but not the same game, with the Wii taking more advantage of the waggle controls and the 360 game taking advantage of -- you know -- graphics. I'll probably wind up getting both, but not right away.
MULTIPLATFORM (360 and PS3 titles)
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Project Origin: FEAR 2
I'm not entirely sure why it's Sonic's collection but for the price ($40) this is probably the best collection (to date, seeing as I have a couple other collections like it prior) encompassing the Genesis library. I still think there are some glaring omissions but licensing isn't always the easy thing on the face of the Earth to accomplish, especially over a decade later. Not only do you get to play these games in HD but the game is worth the price of admission alone for the three Phantasy Star titles. Try finding those three on ebay and spend less than $40.
As for Project Origin, I liked the original FEAR a lot but something about the demo didn't do it for me. I can't place my finger on it but a lot of amazing games had piss-poor demos this generation so I guess it at least makes the game a rental and wait and see. Maybe a buy -- if we've learned anything from the Japanese, pale-skinned children are scary as fuck. Project Origin is also available on the PC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
