Blogcritics Author: Aaron Auzins

PS2 Review: Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power

Aaron Auzins — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 22:15:25 EST

Koei's latest simulation requires a lot of management, but can it manage a great title?
Koei’s simulation titles might not be for everyone (and in some instances arguably repeat themselves over and over) but you can always depend on their quality of execution. If you enjoy the targeted genre, whether it is tactics or action, these titles always fit the bill and respectably, the company always returns the favor with extended...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

PS2 Review: The Red Star

Aaron Auzins — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 15:19:41 EDT

What is the biggest surprise about a game developed to near finish in 2004 and cast into obscurity following the bankruptcy of Acclaim Entertainment? It finally sees the light of day in 2007 and that it is still a fresh title and after almost three years on the shelf, it still exudes old-school awesomeness.While the originally planned release for the Xbox got the chop, The Red Star finally drops in on the Playstation 2, courtesy of XS Games, serving up its twitch combination of beat 'em up and bullet hell mechanics onto one platter. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, players are thrust into a warring alternate-history Russia, where explosions and shrapnel are a dime a dozen occurrence.The Red Star offers a total of three characters (one unlockable), each with different abilities and attacks to encourage replayability and strategy, and, of course, you can grab a buddy to cover your back in the game's two-player co-op mode. The game's shining charm is in its eclectic mix of brawling and shooting, mapping a series of melee attacks and combos to the square button and the player's gun to the circle button. In tandem with holds of the button, lock-ons and different directions of the analog stick, The Red Star provides a deceptively large selection of pain-inducing moves for players to execute.While each level becomes painfully predictable in nature - fight wave of minions, face large, bullet-spraying mechanical abomination, heal, repeat - the game is perfectly balanced and spaced out to the point where The Red Star avoids the obvious pitfall of tedium that plagues most beat 'em ups and shooters. Enemies come in a mix of types that can be killed in any fashion, force players to break down shields with melee attacks, require players to daze them so they can be blasted with gunfire and more. In later stages, the game won't hesitate to throw multiple types of these enemies onto the screen at once and it hardly leads to a dull moment.To further stray from the stereotypical conventions of shooters, the title isn't overly frustrating in difficulty by the second level. The difficulty scales appropriately with a moderate difficulty from the get go, escalating to frenzy-filled, sweat-inducing hardness in the game's final levels. Finishing The Red Star is an accomplishment, and a satisfying one at that.As fun as the title is, it is obvious, though, that the presentation also comes from 2004 - the character models are blocky, The Red Star license isn't used to its full potential, it's hard to care about the storyline and the game's audio is easily forgettable. While the game controls quite well, as necessary for such a title, there are some nuances with the lock-on mechanic, often traveling to an enemy that the player doesn't intend it to and positioning a player to attack in the wrong direction.Also, unfortunately, The Red Star isn't going to be a game suitable for everybody. The bullet dodging and frantic action provide a difficulty that may discourage players who aren't accustomed to the arcade style the game so accurately emulates.Regardless, The Red Star isn't a massively long title by any means, but it's a fun and challenging ride the whole way. Upgrades can be made to characters by spending points earned between levels, each player has an entirely separate attack and strategy style to encourage multiple playthroughs and it helps that the title is just plain fun for those who need straight, no-nonsense action. The concepts in The Red Star are by no means original, but they arranged in such a manner that the title is a must-have for arcade-style game enthusiasts and a fresh entry in the still strong library of Playstation 2 titles. The Red Star is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for Violence.

Aaron Auzins, better known as "nestlekwik," is an avid gamer and collector who resides in Ohio. He has written video gaming reviews for The Northwest Signal, The Disclaimer, personal Web sites, GameFAQs, BitSmack and on Sony's invitation-only Web log - The Gamer Advisory Panel.

Nintendo DS Review: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Aaron Auzins — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:24:21 EDT

While it may seem bizarre that wizards could take out armies of plague rats through a game of matching colored pieces together, that is exactly the premise of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Thankfully, the crazy spin on what is at heart Bejeweled offers up a great portable time-killer and one of the most unique game play experiences offered so far this year.Using the touch screen, players can switch the positions of two pieces on the game play field while in battle. Aligning three similar icons will remove them from the field and grant players with elemental mana to cast spells, extra experience points, gold to buy enhancement items and direct attacks to the opponent's hit points. Battles are turn-based so Puzzle Quest requires players to think multiple steps ahead to avoid running into a situation that benefits the opponent.There is actually a lot for players to do, all built around the extremely simple premise. A storymode features an overhead map, shops, quests and different territories to navigate across, a single-player mode that allows players to jump straight into a CPU match and wireless multiplayer for two players that deceptively offer up hours upon hours of game play. Much of the charm in Puzzle Quest is in the individual characters a player raises and outfits as they level up through the course of the game, and with all of the item options, experience to gain and strongholds to build, the replayability of the title is near limitless.This lasting appeal and unique play on what is one of the world's most popular casual games really gives Puzzle Quest its bang for the buck. While, very fortunately, the title holds up strongly in the game play department, it isn't as polished as a number of other DS titles, most notably in its weak sound and repetitive, generic music.Although many of them get recycled quite often, the character portraits feature a decent amount of detail. Other than that, though, every other graphic in the game is as simple as the game play itself. The biggest disappointment graphically is the lack of any real detail in the worlds presented in the quest mode. It's a bit nit-picky, but when 90 percent of the title is spent starring at small orbs, very little stands out in the visuals aside from the dialogue art.Much akin to Bejeweled, usage of the mouse when played on the computer, Puzzle Quest finds a perfect substitute in the Nintendo DS's touch screen. Switching puzzle pieces, navigating the maps and activating spells or purchasing goods couldn't have been made any easier. Occasionally players may accidentally touch a section of the play field they don't intend to, but after extended bouts of game play, this only happened to me a couple of times.It's hard to do an extensive review of a title that is so simple, but in text, it's hard to do Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords any justice - it has to be experienced in order to be understood and enjoyed. With its quick battle mode, the title is a perfect way to whittle away 15 minutes on the road and with its adventure mode, players can spend hours micromanaging their character let alone battling. Puzzle Quest is definitely the ticket to draw RPG fans and casual gamers alike to the Nintendo DS and definitely shouldn't be overlooked.Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB for Suggestive Themes. This title is also available on: PSP .

Gaming Import Overview for April 11, 2007

Aaron Auzins — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:34:01 EDT

OPM Feeling a Little BluWhile the U.S.’s Official Playstation Magazine stopped its presses at the beginning of the year, the U.K. is receiving the announcement, they can expect Blu-ray cover mounts beginning in June.Issue number seven of OPM, which goes on sale June 1, comes packed with the first playable Blu-ray disc featuring demos of SCEE and third-party titles. The specific contents of the medium have yet to be announced.Published by Future in the U.K., the company intends to support multimedia content and “unique user-generated content.” Official game and movie trailers pumped out in Hi-Definition capability are also promised to be featured on the future discs."We are delighted that Official PlayStation Magazine will deliver to its readers a monthly playable disc, and the world's first cover mounted Blu-ray disc,” commented OPM Publisher Matt Pierce. “Future has worked closely with Sony since 1995 to offer playable demo discs for Playstation, Playstation 2 and Playstation Portable and we will be working hard to ensure gamers get the very best content for their PS3 as well"Avid Playstation 3 owners in the U.K. will be able to snag the disc off shelves for the price of 5.99 €.Nintendo Supports U.S. on Piracy EffortDo you think game piracy isn’t a big deal? Nintendo does and it has commended the strong support it has received from the United States government in response to rabid piracy in China.The company estimates more than 7.7 million counterfeit video game products from more than 300 Chinese factories or retailers have been seized from the country in the past four years. In response, the U.S.’s trade representative is seeking formal consultations with China regarding its failure to meet obligations of the enforcement of copyright and intellectual property protection set forth by the World Trade Organization.Since many Chinese piracy outfits keep low numbers of stock and no records of sale, only one prosecution has been carried out, according to Nintendo, and many producers of the material continue to do so even after confiscations. This year, Nintendo has forwarded evidence regarding piracy in China, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay. In 2006 alone, the company is estimating a worldwide loss of $762 million due to pirated products.To help those who don’t follow the industry worldwide, I’ll try to help you understand the situation before you say “Wah, wah! Nintendo just recorded it’s biggest year ever, cry me a river!”:For those of us in the United States, piracy tends to bring up the thought of people downloading and sharing ISO files and burning them to a disc, but overseas piracy takes a different angle as well. Companies have notoriously hacked and ported ROMs of video games into cartridges they commonly sell on the market.I have encountered a number of pirated Game Boy Color carts (featuring ROMs of licensed work) in pawnshops and popular hacks such as the NES’s Somario (where Mario was transposed into the original Sonic the Hedgehog title) appear regularly online. Many of the ROM collection carts are deceptive to customers anyway, as a cart that claims, let’s say, 36 games on one cartridge, is usually just 12 different games reproduced exactly the same three times each.Many people may not realize this, but in many smaller countries overseas, pirated products can be more common in public than licensed products. I have a good friend who vacationed in the Philippines last year and he made note of the large number of pirated products blatantly displayed for sale in stores and malls. He also noted many of the arcade machines he saw were home console games doctored inside of a cabinet.This included a Dance Dance Revolution machine that was gutted and contained a Playstation One (at that time last summer, he said the Playstation One became more affordable and was a huge deal over there with games such as Crash Bandicoot just now becoming more popular) and the title Dance Dance Revolution Konamix. He noted the pad was one of the most unsafe playing surfaces he’s ever seen (he owns and operates arcades for a living and visits other locations frequently). Get this – the playing surface was two Playstation One console pads stuffed underneath the arcade sheet metal with no Plexiglas covering up the panels. When you stepped onto a panel, your foot sunk into the pad.Through all the piracy, Nintendo isn’t the only entity affected, though. Nintendo states more than 100 other companies who independently create, license, market and sell Nintendo products.Tan Announced as Miss MaxGamesDeborah Tan of Puchong was crowned Miss MaxGames and walked away with a Playstation 3 after topping 14 other contestants at the Hotlink Games and Anime Festival in Sungai Wang Plaza, Singapore, China.The 20-year-old Tan, part of the MaxGirls All-Star Team along with The Jenni, Kammy Aw and Chrysalis Chae, have also been awarded a MaxGames ambassador contract for the year. The contest pitted 15 female contestants from across the country on stage in mobile phone tournaments based on the games Antopia and The Duel Online.The mobile phone industry is a multi-billion dollar facet overseas and is quickly becoming wildly popular among Malaysian mobile users. Companies such as MaxGames, which offers subscription-based gaming and services, are looking to expand in territory as a revenue steam of nearly $57 billion dollars is predicted by Juniper Research for the mobile gaming market in the next six years.“Malaysia’s mobile gaming industry is still at its infancy stage compared to Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan,” said Maxis Head of Games and Entertainment Kee Saik Meng. “Nevertheless, it is growing by leaps and bounds, in line with the ongoing transition from 2.5G (generation) to 3G and the growing profile of young and trendy subscribers between the ages of 18 and 30, who are more receptive to innovative products and services.”For more information, visit the Miss MaxGames Web page.PS2 to Get BeanedMr. Bean is ready to hit video gaming alongside the silver screen, with Blast!’s recent announcement.The decorated film, television and animated star in the U.K. will be featured in his own Playstation 2 game hot off the heels of his Mr. Bean’s Holiday theatrical release. The game will feature three-dimensional levels filled with “tricky traps and problem solving” while on a quest to find his missing Teddy. Mr. Bean’s girlfriend Irma Gobb will also be featured in the title.Through Film Audience Research studies, a majority of surveyed children watch the show regularly and are fans of Mr. Bean. Thus, the game will be developed with younger gamers in mind.Japanese Console Releases for Thursday, April 12:The likelihood of domestic release rating is strictly the opinion of the author.Jissen Pachi-Slot Hisshouhou! Mister Magic Neo – Sega – Playstation 2Typical Japanese slots/gambling title featuring a magician theme and a network ranking system.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Simple 2000 Series Vol. 116: The Neko-Mura no Ninnin Pagu Daikan no Akugyou Sanmai – D3 Publisher – Playstation 2A new entry into the obviously long line of casual titles published by D3 in Japan.The game seems to take place in what the title suggests, a neko-mura, or “cat village.” Oddly enough, the screen captures almost look Pikimin-esque, with a number of other cats that can be grouped together to tackle huge foes that resemble Japanese oni, or “demons.”Some of the captures even have the kitties carrying different types of items around en mass, akin to the aforementioned Nintendo title. The felines are cute for sure, but there’s something about a group of cats manning a gigantic cannon that tells me they have a serious problem to fix.The game actually looks like it could be decent and it would serve as a Playstation alternative to the nicely done Pikimin series.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Nijuu Spy – Ubisoft - Playstation 2A brand new Splinter Cell title exclusive to Japan that takes place in the year 2025 starring a clone of Sam Fisher after the original died in a conflict during the Great Ninja War of 2019.Nah, just kidding. This is a Japanese port of the Double Agent title released in the U.S. late last year.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Grim Grimoire – Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) – Playstation 2In NIS-fashion, Grim Grimoire is another real-time fantasy strategy RPG for the Playstation 2. Judging from the main character’s pointy hat, broom and massive book in hand, magic seems to be the main force behind the title’s game play. Spell types are labeled glamour, alchemy, sorcery and necromancy and using casting circles, familiars can be summoned to do battle or mine crystals.Developed by Vanilla Ware, Grim Grimoire has already been announced for a North American release by NIS America with a tentative release of June. Much like other Japanese RPGs, the title is looking to feature some quality artwork and I’m adding it to my list of games to keep an eye on.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Chicken Little: Uchuu Saikyou no Team – Disney Interactive Studios – Nintendo DSAlready released in the U.S. as Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Little Mermaid: Ariel no Umi no Takaramono - Disney Interactive Studios – Nintendo DSYet another Disney title already released in the U.S., this one under the title Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: MiniMini Daikoushin! – Nintendo – Nintendo DSMario’s spin on a Lemming’s type game was released in the U.S. under the March of the Minis title way back in September.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Gyakuten Saiban 4 – Capcom – Nintendo DSApril 11, 2007 Import Overview Pick of the Week Ah, yes, Gyakuten Saiban finally makes its “built exclusively for the Nintendo DS” debut. Parts one and two, while available in ported DS form, were originally released on the Game Boy Advance, along with a third title yet to be ported. Gyakuten Saiban 4 is what we Americans call Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney … except part four subtracts Phoenix Wright from the equation.Good old Phoenix is known as Ryuuchi Naruhodoh in the Gyakuten Saiban series and the newest installment takes place seven years after the events that occur in Gyakuten Saiban 3. What doesn’t change is the classic Capcom courtroom simulation as Housuke Odoroki steps up to fill the shoes of Naruhodoh through gathering evidence, sweeping crime scenes and talking to witnesses.While Phoenix Wright 2 introduced the psyche lock system to us, Odoroki can use an ability that focuses on nervous habits of witnesses that allow him to see through lies or disguised emotions. Odoroki is tagged along by a magician named Minuki while he battles his prosecuting rival – his own brother.Gyakuten Saiban 4 will be coming in a limited edition package in Japan, costing a meaty $130 if imported online. Packaged in a nifty box that resembles a briefcase, contents include Gyakuten Saiban 4 (duh), a pair of red headphones bearing the game’s logo in white (a pre-order bonus that is included only as supplies last), a Gyakuten Saiban encyclopedia and a Gyakuten Saiban animation DVD. The game’s official Web site offers a playable Flash teaser for those who can understand Japanese.It is important to note while the other Gyakuten Saiban games have featured a selectable English language feature, Gyakuten Saiban 4 is strictly Japanese only. It will play perfectly in a Nintendo DS of a different format, but all text will be in Japanese. Capcom has been teasing gamers outside of Japan with the release of Phoenix Wright 3 and as long as the interest holds up, it’s likely we will be able to see the trials of Housuke Odoroki (who would be obviously renamed) stateside. I, for one, want this game now.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Taitsu-Kun: Joushi ga Ikari ni Kuisawayaka Manners – Success – Nintendo DSYet another game based on etiquette? It’s like game developers think Japanese people are rude or socially unaccepted or something.Some of the screen captures show some interesting items such as using the touch screen to properly eat a steak dinner in public. Statistics are tracked in five different areas based on performance and it seems that improper actions are rewarded with hilarious animations of a yellow-suited mascot getting the crap kicked out of him - my favorite being the woman in a mini-skirt putting him in a painful arm bar, which I couldn’t resist posting here.Once again, it seems a “game” of proper manners could use some use in the United States, but I don’t think we’ll see this one on our shelves.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Kakikomi Shiki “Hannya Shinkyou” Renshuu Chou DS – IE Institute – Nintendo DSAnother edutainment title produced for the DS. I came up dry with info on this one.Likelihood of Domestic Release: Watashi no Relaxuma – Rocket Company – Nintendo DSI can gather the game is about a bear, but he seems to … sit around in different rooms and to further complicate matters, the game’s official site has a stylus poking him in … places. Is that supposed to be scratching his butt? Other screens show voice recognition will play a role in the title as well.This title looks like what Animal Crossing would be if it took place in a single house. There’s options to decorate the bear in customizable shirts (or you can leave him bare – get it? A bare bear! Ha ha ha!). He also has a number of other animal friends to associate with and it appears there are some mini-games included as well.The star of the game is also featured in the kuma (“bear”) DS holder, which is probably a pre-order bonus or purchasable swag to accompany the title. It looks fuzzy and cute.Given the natural appeal animal simulation titles have had on the system, I wouldn’t say the title would never come to the U.S. In fact, I would love to have that DS holder. So, please, someone pick up the rights to this so I can carry my DS around inside of a bear’s head!Likelihood of Domestic Release:

Gaming Import Overview for April 5, 2007

Aaron Auzins — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 19:14:50 EDT

Here's the first in a (hopefully) regular series that details what's going on overseas in gaming. All of the titles listed in this feature are based off information received mostly for video games in Japan or Europe.This Crosses the Line Fortunately for European players, though, they will be pleased to know they will be receiving a quality first-party title that marks the DS entry into a long-running Japanese series.Recently, Nintendo announced it would be releasing Picross DS in Europe, making a U.S. release the only territory in question. Some players may remember the series' only entry into the U.S., when the debut title, Mario's Picross hit the Game Boy. Overseas in Japan, however, the series has enjoyed a much higher number of entries.Picross puts players to the task of using lineups of numbers to fill in squares on a grid to reveal a picture. Each puzzle features a time limit with errors deducting from the time left to finish the puzzle. The title features 300 different puzzles that range from a five by five grid to massive 20 by 20 mind-busters.The DS version allows players to create their own puzzles that can be used to challenge friends or uploaded to the Nintendo Wi-Fi service. A calendar mode throws a daily picross puzzle at players with results being charted to show a player's logical progression over time. By participating in the mode, new game modes including no xs, error search and memory will be unlocked by players.Even more unlockables include new skins, touch-screen mini games and more. The title will also allow for online multiplayer battles as well as local matches when the title hits shelves May 11.Here's hoping for a U.S. release of one of my favorite Game Boy titles.OUENDAN!!!! Along with Jump Super Stars, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! was the most-imported title for the Nintendo DS thanks to its unique and quirky game play.The success brought the title to the U.S. in the totally re-made form of Elite Beat Agents and it's no surprise that iNiS is back to the drawing board with an Osu! sequel: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. Yeah. That's a mouthful. According to Keiichi Yano of iNiS, the new bits of the title translate to "Burn! Hot Rhythm Soul!" Currently the title is still in development with a targeted release date sometime in 2007. Recently, a small number of screen captures were released, detailing a level that takes place in space and features one of the title's new characters in an organization rivaling Ouendan. The screen captures feature Kikuchi, who is lead under the tutelage of the flowing blonde locks of Saionji.As of right now, nothing has been noted whether or not a sequel of any form will be released in the United States, but the Ouendan! sequel has already had confirmation of a multiplayer mode for up to four players. Unfortunately for our friends in Europe, the original Elite Beat Agents has yet to hit DS systems, so news of a PAL sequel is even further down the road.Given previews seen at this year's Video Game Developer's Conference, it appears the core game play has remained completely unchanged. For those who missed out on the original title, Ouendan (which translates as cheer squad) is a motivational group that responds to people in need. Players assist those in need by tapping on circles that appear onscreen in rhythm to a popular song played throughout the stage. Other inputs require players to slide spheres along a set track or spin a meter as fast as they can.Also see Blogcritics' review of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! for the Nintendo DS.The Beat Goes On Konami of Japan's Web site reveals that two of its longest-running series are receiving even more sequel treatment.A new batch of location tests have been posted to take place between April 6-10 for the unoriginally titled Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2 to be held once again in Japan. The title has traded in its hot red presentation for a brand new, cooler blue and purple interface. Among the completely obvious song updates, the title now features character portraits that slide in when a player reaches specific combo increments and N.G. ratings are now displayed during the results screen.Konami will also be beta testing Guitar Freaks and Drummania V4, now subtitled RockXRock. Unlike the SuperNova 2 page, RockXRock's official site doesn't provide screen shots, so, at this time, it can't be told what new additions will be made aside from songs.Konami of Japan's arcade gateway also recently received an official site for the upcoming Eternal Knights game as well as more information on testing for the company's much-hyped Silent Hill cabinet.Tomorrow's Releases in Japan Here's all of the titles that will be releasing in Japan on April 5. Each title has a line indicating its likelihood of domestic release in the U.S., which is strictly the opinion of the author:Kageyama Method - Dennou Hanpuku: Tadashii Kanji Kaki to Rikun Nintendo DS - Published by Shogakukan Looking at some screen shots of this title, I couldn't gather much of what the concept was aside from arranging, or manipulating in some fashion, a load of kanji-inscripted tiles. Billed as an educational title, I would gather it aids in using Kanji in some fashion.Likelihood of domestic release: Meitantei Conan: Tantei Ryoku Trainer Nintendo DS - Published by Bandai Based off the popular Detective Conan, the series stars a young man proficient in soccer with the logic and deduction of a detective. However, one day, he is drugged with a substance that reverts him back to a little boy, but that doesn't stop him from getting involved in solving crimes while he seeks the people responsible for his plight.While not quite as popular in the United States, the series has received a short-lived anime run on Toonami, a published manga series and a collectable card game under the domesticated name Case Closed. While I couldn't gather exactly what this specific title is about, it is yet another game this week billed under the educational genre. While I suppose this title has a shred of possibility of being released in the U.S., Trainer joins a list of nearly 20 titles based off the license, none of which have been released stateside.Likelihood of domestic release: Shin Sangoku Musou DS: Fighter's Battle Nintendo DS - Published by Koei One of Koei's many releases this week in Japan, Fighter's Battle marks the series' second entry onto the DS. In the United States, we know Shin Sangoku Musou as Dynasty Warriors and a U.S. release has already been confirmed for July. Expect more beat-'em-up action than you can shake a stick with Koei's classic mix of battlefield strategy and action.Likelihood of domestic release: Watashi no Happy Manner Book Nintendo DS - Published by Taito This title is translated to "My Happy Manner Book." As the title suggests, this "game" is targeted toward females and totes a number of situations that promote proper manners and etiquette in social contexts or while conducting business. It seems unlikely this title would reach our shores, but something that teaches people manners could definitely find a use over here.Likelihood of domestic release: Harukanaru Toki no Kade 3: Izayoiki (Koei the Best) Playstation 2 - Published by Koei Aside from a packshot, I couldn't find any information on this title aside from the fact it is a role-playing game. This particular release is a "greatest hits" reprint of the title released in 2005.Likelihood of domestic release: Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel Playstation 2 - Published by Bandai-Namco Games This breaks in as the fourth title in the series of Narutimate games for the Playstation 2 system. This is the same series as the United State's Ultimate Ninja, which is only in its first installment with a sequel to hit in the third quarter. Accel is based on the Shippuuden anime series that details the second series of the Naruto manga. As long as the popularity of Naruto hangs on, it should be a given this title will be released once the U.S. finally catches up to this point in the series.Likelihood of domestic release: Neo Angelique (Koei the Best) Playstation 2 - Published by Koei RPG-themed title revolving around four male characters and a girl named Angelique. It appears there are relationship aspects to the game as Angelique serves up dinners and conversations to the adventurers. Part of Neoromance, the series has also spawned manga and anime adaptations. Released in 2006, this week's release is a reprint of the title.Likelihood of domestic release: Nobunaga no Yabou: Soutensoku with Power-Up Kit (Koei the Best) Playstation 2 - Published by Koei Daikoukai Jidai IV: Rota Nova (Koei the Best) Nobunaga no Yabou: Reppuuden with Power-Up Kit (Koei the Best) San Goku Shi VII (Koei the Best) PSP - Published by Koei Four more titles billed for reprinting by Koei.Likelihood of domestic release: Pro Yakyuu Netsu Star 2007 Playstation 2 - Published by Namco Star is a professional baseball title based on the Japanese sport.Likelihood of domestic release: Rakushou! Pachi-Slot Sengen 5: Rio Paradise Playstation 2 - Published by Tecmo A gambling title featuring trademark Tecmo T & A that even stretches over into a poster gamers can receive by pre-ordering the game. Every promotion I found online featured mostly the game's main character in various outfits and poses, thus, game play details are scarce in my mind.Likelihood of domestic release: Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 2 PSP - Published by Konami Based off Konami's long-running baseball franchise featuring chibi-characters without legs or arms.Likelihood of domestic release: Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. Portable PSP - Published by Bandai Famitsu eats up yet another Gundam title that pits man inside mech in intergalactic warfare. After the rating it gave the Playstation 3 Gundam launch title, whether that means the game is bad or good is up in the air. Japan is nuts over Gundam; the U.S. - not as much. Gundam games have about a 50/50 shot of being printed in NTSC format.Likelihood of domestic release: Barnyard: Shuyaku wa Ore, Ushi Nintendo Wii - Published by THQ Based off of the animated movie and game already released in the U.S. Famitsu gave this title its lowest overall score of the week.Likelihood of domestic release:

Smackdown! vs. Raw 2008 Officially Announced

Aaron Auzins — Mon, 2 Apr 2007 14:12:57 EDT

Fresh off the heels of World Wrestling Entertainment’s Wrestlemania 23, held on pay-per-view in Detroit last night, THQ is rolling out its official announcement of the inevitable production of WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008.Although THQ and WWE once again had some well-documented disputes, this time over territorial sales and licensing, it seems all is well as the companies are setting the stage to “deliver more depth and strategy with prominent new features, key annual enhancements and incredible graphics.” Most notably, however, is the extension to new hardware, as the title will debut on the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and the Playstation 3 along with the expected Xbox 360, Playstation 2 and PSP releases.The release quotes Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at THQ, as saying the title will also be developed for “wireless devices,” which indicates a mobile phone version of SvR 2008 will also see the light of day. While details are at a minimum at this time, the release describes the bare bones of SvR 2008’s “Superstar Fighting Styles” and “Struggle Submission System features.” This year’s iteration will feature eight styles of fighting that each hold their own strategies and exclusive attributes and a new submission mechanic allows players to manually control the amount of pressure applied on submissions with analog control. While no specifics were detailed in the release, the Nintendo DS will feature the obligatory touch screen controls along with “situation-based fighting with unique holds and a full year of nonstop action in WWE season mode.”Outside of the immediate game play, Extreme Championship Wrestling will be fully represented in 2008 and a “variety of Superstars, arenas and weapons” will be implemented into the title. THQ is also hearing what fans had to say about the previous effort and the title is being developed with “significant updates” including (obviously) new rosters, more environmental hotspots, a mode combining aspects of the series’ season and general manager modes, additions and improvements to the game’s out-of-ring action, enhanced online features and more.The 2008 release will mark the second year in the series’ production with the same title being produced multi-platform as opposed to the company’s previous approach, releasing individual titles for each system. No release dates were announced in the release, but given the track record of Smackdown! Vs. Raw titles, the games should start hitting shelves sometime in November.

Xbox 360 Review: Dance Dance Revolution Universe

Aaron Auzins — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:24:34 EDT

Dance Dance Revolution Universe boldly goes where no rhythm dancing title has gone before, making it the first DDR game to hit the new generation of console systems. Using the Xbox 360, Universe stays true to the Xbox's Ultramix format but still manages to maintain its own identity with a fresh mix of 70-plus new songs, beefier visuals, and online modes.What hasn't changed an ounce, though, is the tried-but-true arrow-stepping formula that has kept feet flowing since 1998 and staying true to its title, this DDR is in fact universal in the sense it is accessible to beginners and experts alike.Players who have never stepped up to the pad before will find solace in the game's Basic Edition, which holds a dancer's hands through a number of lesson modes and tutorials. On the other hand, at the push of a button, novices and experts can jump straight into the eye-crossing frenzy of the game's more difficult levels as well as have access to the full buffet of game modes.In essence, Universe copies the setup of Ultramix 4 with completely redone presentation, bringing in the power courses (tunes mixed into a nonstop course of nearly 10 straight minutes of game play), relay modes, an expanded quest mode, challenge mode, multiplayer party modes and online modes. The party modes throw in the usual array of multiplayer modes, quadruple pad dancing and more, which also carry over into the game's exceptional online capabilities that feature leaderboards and downloadable content.Unlockables and achievements tally mostly through the game's quest modes, which features a map of the United States and all of the territories players can conquer through the art of dance. By entering a state, players will then have unlimited tries to meet a pre-determined criteria and success grants them currency and access to special events and competitions. Thankfully, the quest mode in Universe isn't limited to one player, allowing buddies to join in on the quest to dig deep for the game's decent chunk of hidden songs.Universe features more than 100 minutes of music and the title brings forth a ton of original music that is sure to please fans of electronic. Very few of the title's tunes fall into the mainstream category, bringing out the fresh change of pace most music games (many of which have been other DDR titles admittedly) have been lacking recently.Konami really opens the vault for Universe, featuring throwback tracks, a few recent pop hits, a number of original tracks from low-key electronic artists and some great Konami video game themes that really add variety and flair to the song list. A sprinkle of a few DDR original tracks and exclusive remixes are there to remind players they are playing a DDR title, but, much like in the Ultramix titles, the list is so unique to the version, it doesn't seem like you are playing yet another arcade ported Playstation 2 game.Konami made the most use out of the Xbox 360 hardware by pushing video effects and trippy visuals that nearly burn straight through the retina. Colors explode everywhere and the characters look very detailed and crisp with fluid dancing animations, but this is seriously the first DDR title where I found the backgrounds and animations to be so distracting I had to turn them off. Coupled with the fact the HUD is changed in some modes and the step rating/combo indicator is relocated, enlarged and animated even more, the fantastic visuals unfortunately come across as an occasion hindrance that obstructs a player's view of the scrolling arrows.As a DDR enthusiast, it's great to finally see more songs feature oni ("demon") difficulties, including in songs that never had the difficulty option when it originally appeared in arcades, most notably in Johnny Desire's version of Hot Limit of DDR 5th Mix's long version fame, where the lyrics are so indiscernible, people make the joke of "We drink Ritalin" as being part of the chorus. The difficulty really throws some tough step charts at expert players that should keep them satisfied, and if not, the challenge mode features some truly brutal stipulations that should illicit many a curse word.However, as a minor irritation, when selecting the oni difficulty in game play, when players switch songs, the game automatically defaults the difficulty back to beginner instead of heavy and if players forget, they'll have to suffer a beginner step chart or end the current song and go back through the menu. A minor point to make, for sure, but it still makes for an irritating exercise for expert players.Elsewhere, aside from an ear-grating announcer (which I also turn off), the sound and control of Universe is just as tight and pleasing as ever. The pad controller, which features a cord thanks to Microsoft's proprietary policy, works just as well as any other dance pad bundled with a DDR game. By scraping up four pads, Universe steps in as the Xbox 360's answer to a fun multiplayer party title. Unfortunately, to make the multiplayer modes work on foot, players are going to have to pony up for more pads or hope they have friends with extra dance pads.Players worried about Universe being a mere Ultramix upgrade won't have to worry anymore. The game's featured songs are 100 percent original to the title and thanks to downloadable content, Universe should have players occupied for quite some time (or until the next version is available). Through edit, online, party and challenge modes, the title makes for the most enjoyable entry into the series Konami has released to the United States in the past couple of years.Dance Dance Revolution Universe is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB for Lyrics, Suggestive Themes.

PSP Review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

Aaron Auzins — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:21:07 EDT

While Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure may fall victim to its cute exterior and little girl protagonist, gamers who are quick to dismiss the title based on its looks alone are going to miss out on one the PSP's best recently-released adventure titles.The game definitely provides a deceptive surface, starring a 10-year old girl named Parin on a quest to rid her world of phantoms. However, much like last year's portable drill fest, Drill Dozer, underneath the hood lies a title with a large number of items to unearth and collect, battle intensive game play and clever boss battles.The story involves Parin, who lives in a small mining town with her grandfather, encountering a young girl being tormented by a stray dog. After Parin chases the dog away, she discovers the girl is actually a monster, beings which are invisible to adults in the world of Gurumin.Befriending the monster, Parin is allowed to enter a crack in a wall behind her home and visit Monster Village. However, while inside, evil spirits known as Phantoms invade the village and abduct most of the inhabitants. Eager to help, Parin learns of the Legendary Drill, a weapon powerful enough to destroy the spirits. Once the drill is in hand, Parin drops the good girl act and hands out the pain through a number of upgradeable attacks and projectile moves.What evolves from the story's introduction is a very enjoyable platforming title with a mix of RPG elements in upgrading and outfitting Parin and the drill. By smashing the environment and enemies to bits, players can pick up a number of coins and items as well as junk that can be later turned into more items. Laying waste to everything that isn't a wall allows players to unearth the game's 90 different items through five total difficulty levels.By attacking enemies, players will build up a meter that strengthens up the power of the Legendary Drill. Much like some Zelda titles, a full meter allows the drill to shoot energy projectiles at enemies while allowing for maximum damage to be dealt. Players will have to keep Parin out of danger, though, as being hit by enemies not only reduces hit points but the drill's power meter.Gurumin looks great on the PSP, featuring a vivid anime style that presents great facial expressions that reflect the current situation and livens up the game's cut scenes. Even smaller details include a number of great lighting effects that flow from the motion of the drill and emphasize the animations in the title. The differing environments also provide a fair amount of detail, making Gurumin a title that is pleasant to look at while whacking away the phantom denizens.The cut scenes are further supplemented by some quality vocal work that pushes along the game's story. Both the voice acting and the revving of the drill are thankfully the best audio features of the title as those two features are the predominant sources of sound players will hear in Gurumin. There are a few other nice touches including sound effects that differ depending on what type of item the drill is striking, but unfortunately the limited music in the title take a definitive backseat to the sound effects.For the most part, the game play in Gurumin controls very nicely, but during game play players will have to occasionally fight the camera as well as enemies. The most particular problem stems from the amount of zoom the camera gives to the action. While the tight view gives the title a good amount of graphical flair, fighting off groups of multiple phantoms can be a bit of an exercise if there are baddies hidden from view off screen.There are unfortunately a few elements that slow up the process of the game, including disc access and backtracking. Finding elements crucial to the progression of the story requires players to return to town every time and is further crutched by loading every time Parin enters a brand new area. While it is bearable and not as bad as other PSP titles, the frequent access breaks up what is otherwise an enjoyable action-packed RPG romp.The main story isn't among the longest in terms of longevity, but completists will have a ball uncovering all the nooks and crannies Gurumin has to offer. Through the course of the action-packed romp featuring more than 40 types of enemies, players can unlock costumes and mini-games among the collectable accessories and medals awarded for completing quests.Overall, Gurumin definitely warrants a look from anyone who wants to plug a new game play experience into their PSP. Packed with run and jump action against hoards of enemies and a ton of extras to comb through, the title joins the growing library of strong titles on Sony's portable system. While it looks cute and cuddly on the outside, Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure provides some definite action bang for the buck on the go.Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB and contains Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Tobacco Reference.

PS2 Review: Ghost Rider

Aaron Auzins — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:57:22 EDT

Riding in on top of the fiery success of the box office title (no puns intended), Ghost Rider leaps off the pages of Marvel's comic book series and is raring to go on the Playstation 2. The superhero has a number of powers and weapons at his disposal, but is his first solo video game effort a blaze of glory or does it go down in flames?Carrying on from the storyline presented in the recent motion picture, Ghost Rider travels to hell to learn he now has to appease Mephisto, the being who now owns Johnny Blaze's soul in return for his powers, or else lose his girlfriend to the blazing depths of the netherworld. After Blackheart and denizens of hell escape and look to make the apocalypse arrive early, Rider is now forced to take on a hoard of demons with his chains, shotgun, retribution powers and motorcycle.Just looking at the title, players will get exactly what they will expect from Ghost Rider - an attempted marriage at successful action titles such as God of War and Devil May Cry, and unfortunately for the title, it's a comparison that just can't be avoided. While mashing up two of the Playstation 2's all-time greatest action titles sounds great on paper, with unoriginal execution and an extreme exercise in repetition, Rider may work only as a rental to appease hardcore fans of the anti-hero and the slash 'em up genre.The core premise of the title revolves around Ghost Rider and his encounters with huge groups of enemies of which to battle throughout a number of diverse stages. Climax did well implementing powers and abilities into the game as not only does Rider take a page from Kratos and rip up enemies using brutal attacks from his chains, but damage increases meters that allow him to also fire off the hell shotgun, use proximity blasts and enter retribution. While in retribution mode, Johnny pumps up and not only do his speed and attack greatly increase, but with a press of a button, the penance stare can be unleashed which either obliterates a minor enemy or greatly damages bigger foes.Offing enemies allows the hero to collect orbs, which act as money to purchase new moves, upgrades and extra media content such as comics, interviews and more. Unlike similar titles, though, Ghost Rider throws too many orbs at players and unfortunately, the character will reach maximum potential after just a portion of the game. While the extras are nice, nobody without interest in the comic series or movie will probably care all that much to go out of their way to unlock them.While recklessly swinging chains is a majority of the game, the title breaks up the battles with riding scenarios. Ghost Rider wouldn't be much of a rider without a ride and certain levels put players in the driver's seat of his trusty trademark motorcycle. Riding through the terrain, players will take care of business by melee attacking with the chains or through the bike's gunfire. A number of grisly traps and pitfalls will also be thrown in the way, requiring well-timed dodges and jumps at high speed.The most disappointing factor of Ghost Rider is that it has the formula to be an interesting and enjoyable game, but when so many elements are borrowed from other titles, it can't be helped but be compared to titles of much higher quality, and while the game offers a short and mediocre play through at best, nothing is done exceptionally well.The game's visuals get the job done with semi-detailed environments and decent character models, but a real lack of variety is a huge damper on the title's presentation. Even noticeable effects such as the emphasis of motion, the blurring of the penance stare and blazing of fire during game play lose their appeal after the thousandth time Ghost Rider swings his chain. After fighting the same two demon types over and over, it left me begging for the game to move on and present me with something new.While the levels on foot at least show off a little architecture and subtleties, the driving environments tend to look generic and repetitive and revving the bike through levels doesn't really exude the sense of speed it should. The title also makes use of static comic panels with voiceovers to push the story along. The art brings the style of the comic to players' screens, but it does little to add punch to a game in sore need of an eye-catching visual.Battles do, however, ring in some nice sound effects whether it's the screeching of demons or Ghost Rider screaming at suffering enemies in the midst of a penance stare. The decent voice work for the title also stands out and adds some pizzazz to battles and the game's otherwise average storytelling.If Ghost Rider's music stood out as much as the sound effects, however, it would have served as the game's saving grace in presentation. Entering into battle brings in a looping guitar riff that grates the nerves after a while and most of the other tunes are easily forgettable.Fighting with Ghost Rider's chains should feel quite comfortable to fans of God of War as long as the sometimes awkward camera doesn't interfere (the right stick makes Ghost Rider roll a la God of War instead of controlling the camera) - in fact, a lot of Ghost Rider's moves seem to be directly copied from the aforementioned title. Mixing up a combination of weak and strong attacks allow Rider to execute standard combos, launch enemies for an air beating or grab dazed enemies for a PG-13 execution. While hardly original, the format works well in Ghost Rider and flows pretty well until the constant button mashing leads to mass repetition.The problem with playing the title, though, is it reeks of borrowed material and its one defining difference, the driving segments, are poorly designed and do not control as well as the other sections of the game. Constant panning replays of jumps break up what should be fast, furious action and taking down enemies is more of a mindless shooting gallery than brutal high-speed combat. The only thing that dictates player involvement in these segments is the constant jumps and occasional turns.The combo ranking system, similar to Devil May Cry's, offers players a chance to boost rewards from defeated enemies but also play a role in breaking shields found around some enemies. These shields require a specific level on the ranking meter in order for Ghost Rider to be able to smash them and make the enemy vulnerable. Unfortunately, this usually leads to much frustration as groups of enemies can find their way through a player's offense and land a blow that makes the ranking meter reset.As said before, players will max characters out fast, meaning at best, an average gamers will blow through the title in a handful of hours. Most of the replayability comes from unlocking all the extras, which, because of the masses of orbs thrown at players, shouldn't be a difficult task. Regrettably, this forces Ghost Rider a one-day play-and-forget affair.Ghost Rider for the Playstation 2 has some good concepts behind it, but when you boil it down, they are all someone else's concepts. While there's nothing wrong with building upon something successful, the title does little to build upon those concepts and players are left with a completely average at best debut for Ghost Rider. The extreme repetition and uninteresting driving segments really bump the game down a notch but those looking for a burst of mindless action or something bearing Ghost Rider's name, a rental of Ghost Rider will definitely suffice.Ghost Rider is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB and contains Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence. This game is also available on: PC, PSP.

PS2 Review: Arena Football: Road to Glory

Aaron Auzins — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:38:16 EDT

As the popularity of the Arena Football League grows, so does Electronic Art’s representation of the league on home video gaming systems. To follow up last year’s fresh entry into sports video gaming, EA is hitting the Playstation 2 with Arena Football: Road to Glory.Unfortunately for pigskin fanatics looking for a huge follow up to last year’s effort, sadly, if you took away the menus and put Arena Football and Arena Football: Road to Glory side-by-side, very few people would be able to pinpoint which game is which. Hopping in for one last go at the previous generation of systems, the title adds a new chunk of features that makes Road to Glory more appealing than its predecessor but those features are hardly new to the sports game genre.As an off-season alternative to the NFL, AFL steps in to provide a more action-oriented take on the classic sport. With teams of eight players taking both offensive and defensive roles on a 50-yard field as well as walls on the sidelines, games are high-scoring, long-passing, smash mouth affairs.On the whole, EA captures the heart of the AFL fairly well in the presentation of its video game adaptation.The menus are clean and easy to navigate, the character models are up to par with the Madden and NCAA levels and the animations are less canned than in past sports games. While the main visual focus of the game is spot on, however, the environments are far less appealing. The stadiums are generic at best and the crowds look incredibly washed out. That being said, as long as the game is motion and distracts a gamer’s eye from the surroundings, Road to Glory features a number of well-done collision animations to stimulate a sports fan’s enjoyment.On the other spectrum of presentation, Road to Glory fails to please with its recycled sound and lack of play-by-play and color commentary. While the title’s sound effects are spot-on with what is happening on-screen, the generic public announcement post-play dictation fails to impress in a field of sports games that emulate the commentary of actual television events. As much as wicked tackles and wall hits are pleasing to the ears, what players do not hear in the field of commentary is the title’s most glaring weakness.Fans of EA’s other football franchises who didn’t check out the first Arena Football title should be pleased to know Road to Glory plays almost identically to the company’s other franchises. Those not accustomed to the AFL will learn the nuances of the league’s differing rules quickly, thanks to constant reminders and a number of tutorials. While the difference in rules is enough to make the title a slightly different play experience, the implementation of simultaneous quarterback and receiver control is yet another addition that gives players full control over what is happening on the field.While the feature can feel rather awkward, especially at first, Road to Glory allows players to switch to a receiver before the snap and control the quarterback with the right analog stick. The combination of controls allows players to have full control of the current play but on the same token it takes away a number of useful quarterback controls such as leading and directing passes. Regardless it’s not a necessary option and can be used as a take-it-or-leave-it experiment.Unfortunately for football enthusiasts, the AFL titles will have players taking to the air for a majority of the game. Even in short range situations, the nature of the game allows for defensive backs to regularly punish runners rushing through the line. A number of different pass plays feature short range options, though, acting as a better alternative to sucker in the defense and give running backs some breathing room and yardage.Much like the Madden cards and challenges, Road to Glory features a number of criteria that unlock classic (though obscure) AFL teams when met through in-game play. This year’s entry also implements the classic creation features that allow for custom players and teams.When you toss in the AFL’s developmental league, the af2, Road to Glory’s set of features definitely beefs up quite a bit, but still most of these features have seen the light of day for quite some time and fail to really spike the replayability and value of the title. Even with the injection of novelty, including a field goal challenge, the title still lacks a number of potent features packed within other football titles from even five years ago.However, it’s not to say Road to Glory doesn’t have its merits. When you boil it down to what counts, the game play is still satisfying and slamming the offense into submission never gets old through the game’s vicious hit animations and trash talking. With the AFL’s trademark walls and nets, a number of play situations that are impossible in other football titles come into light and ensure that players will make use of the instant replay feature to relive the game’s thunderous tackles, wall flips, fumbles and interceptions.Road to Glory also supports the oft-not-used online features of the Playstation 2 and, even locally, the game can lead to heated two-player battles in the arena. Thanks to the game’s tight controls, the title is easily accessible to anyone who has tossed the virtual pigskin before and at $29.99, it serves as an appropriate bridge to the next Madden and NCAA offerings. While the title lacks on features or revolutionary content, there is still fun to be had in between the walls and Road to Glory is enough to whet the appetite of anyone looking to put a smashing hit on another player.Arena Football: Road to Glory is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB and contains Language and Mild Violence.