Video Animer Reviews

Currently Playing

2011-03-08T11:18:00.000-05:00

Wow it's been a long time guys. Too long in fact. Thought I would come back with a new type of blog post called "Currently Playing". I'm sure you can guess what it's about, so let's jump right in.

Recently released Pixel Junk Shooter 2 is currently on the top of my list and would be the current disc in my PS3 if it wasn't a digital download. Like 2 suggests this is a sequel to the first, however I see it more as a continuation as the first only had 3 episodes with a cliff hanger ending. You begin right where you left off, in the belly of the last boss you fought. This game doesn't ease you into the game like most sequels. It's rather challenging with new suits and enemies. You do see reoccurring enemies and suits as well. I would say it's a perfect way to begin a sequel in all honesty. Instead of breaking off from the first and starting you at the beginning, you don't lose any powers, not that you can lose them as you must find a port to transform your ship. More sequels should function this way as just as in life you don't automatically start over.

But new suits and enemies aren't the only items being upgraded, the environment is as well. Instead of just elements like fire, water and ice they have now added acid like substances in liquid and bubble form. But acid is not the only thing floating around, there are also gastric bubbles that make it impossible for you to maneuver through. Instead you bounce off the walls until you can latch onto something or come out of the bubbles. Both of these new elements add new ways to play and new challenges.

So far Pixel Junk Shooter 2 is a downloadable game to be reckon with.

The other game on my list is Marvel vs. Capcom 3. I thoroughly enjoy them including Wesker and Chris Redfield from Resident Evil, as that is one of my favorite games and Jill is on the way. However I don't find myself using them much. I do lead towards the Capcom side when choosing my characters and I tend to lead towards faster ones as well as I'm a complete button masher.

I mainly like to play online with friends. I've been having a group going on online people I know and we have a good time. I even win some. I never said that fighters were my strong suit, but they are fun to play with friends.

Some of the characters are too powerful like with most 2D fighting games. Sentinel is a beast and not much fun to play against as he has a very high life bar as well as a couple long ranged weapons that are easy to use.

The one thing lacking in this game that really needs it is the ability to watch others fight while you are in a lobby with others. As it is now all you can see is which characters the fighters have chosen as well as their life bar. Oh and you can't forget the dancing player cards. Ya that will keep me focused while waiting for my turn...

But overall Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a solid 2D fighter especially if you are a fan of Marvel or Capcom characters.

Weekend Watch: E3 Edition

2010-06-12T23:16:00.006-04:00

E3, or Electronic Entertainment Expo, is a trade show that predominately showcases what video game companies have to offer within the year or next year. Typically, big surprises get leaked before it begins, or it gets revealed during the big press conferences. The big show officially starts on Monday, June 14 and goes through Wednesday, 16.

Stay tuned for more updates next week!

Weekend Watch Part 2: Disgaea Infinite PSP

2010-06-06T12:55:00.000-04:00

Originally Dan, the other reviewer was really excited about showcasing Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for our Weekend Watch as it is a really big title that a lot of people will be interested in, but there is a lesser known title also coming out for the PSP as well that some people might be interested in. If you are a fan of tactical RPGs then you might be familiar with the Disgaea series. Well this Tuesday, June 8th a side project if you will of the series is Disgaea Infinite. It has characters from the first and third Disgaea in a visual novel type game. You are a Prinny out to solve a mystery as you can travel through time to find clues. No this game might not be for everyone, but fans of the series might just get a kick out of this one.

Weekend Watch: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

2010-06-06T02:24:00.003-04:00

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is the next installment in the very successful Metal Gear series. Its touted to be a real successor in the Metal Gear franchise and not a spinoff title like the previous MGS PSP titles. It features the character Naked Snake, aka "Big Boss", as he leads his mercenary troupe against the Peace Sentinels. Included with the game is a co-op multiplayer experience unlike any in the series before, and is the first one to include a co-op mode. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker arrives in stores on Tuesday June 8th as a standalone game, a special edition, or as a game and PSP bundle.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten PS2 Games that Should be Re-Released for the PS3

2010-06-01T13:30:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I got myself the God of War collection for the PS3, which for those of you who don't know that comes with God of War and God of War 2, which are both classic PS2 games. Releasing this collection before the release of the God of War 3 was a smart move on Sony's part, but this then begs the question: What other PS2 games should be re-released for the PS3? I wanted to do this Top Ten back when I first got the GOW Collection, but I have been busy. But with a recent article on Kotaku bringing this topic into the light of day, got me thinking what's a better time to post this Top Ten. Here is it is in no particular order:

Top Ten PS2 Games that Should be Re-Released for the PS3

Fatal Frame Trilogy
Who doesn't love a good scare? Well besides people who are afraid of ghost, don't believe in such supernatural beings or small children. But this is one game that isn't afraid to take a different approach to the horror game genre. Instead of guns, knives and hand grenades your only weapon is a camera. At first you might be like "Wtf am I supposed to do with this thing? Ask them to say cheese? They are grabbing me and throwing shit at me!", but you soon figure out that it comes in handy with the soul stealing. Other than the weapon change, Fatal Frame still has all the elements of a classic survival horror: puzzles, minimal health items, creepy surroundings and even creepier foes.

Kingdom Hearts Collection
While we wait around for Square to stop releasing portable kingdom hearts games and just move on to the the third installment in this series, a PS3 collection would be nice. They can even release it a couple months before the third to hype it up in the same way the GOW collection did. Whether they want to include Re: Chain of Memories would be up to available disc space left over.

Katamari Collection
Katamari is one of those kooky games made by our friends overseas in the country of the rising sun. It's a puzzle game of sorts that's cute and funny. Rolling around a large ball has never been so much fun. 6 games so far have been made on 5 systems: PS2, PS3, PSP, XBOX 360, and the iPhone. The two we are interested in here are Katamari Damacy (the first in the series) and We Love Katamari, which were released on the PS2. With updated graphics this could be a really beautiful and colorful addition to a PS3 collection deal. Maybe they could even throw in Beautiful Katamari, which was released only for the 360. Touching up some of the environments, which have been criticized could help and having a Katamari online game for the PlayStation audience would be nice as well.

Persona 3 and 4
A mix of role playing elements and simulation, Persona is about a group of teenagers who call on their personas to battle creatures called shadows. These games are full of mystery and monsters. One of the fun things about this game is that the role playing aspect of the games is that it's a slice of life story with supernatural elements tacked on. Sure it may be a niche game, but with so many sequels and portable versions why not have a PS3 port?

Final Fantasy X-XII
Ok so all these games might not fit into a collection, but having them re-released singularly wouldn't be a bad idea. The Final Fantasy franchise is probably the biggest RPG franchise whether you agree or not if the games are still well made. Even with the controversy around Final Fantasy XIII and whether it's even an RPG or not and people thinking that SquareEnix has lost their touch for making Final Fantasy games, FFXIII still sold over 5.5 million copies and has been said to be the fastest selling Final Fantasy game. So there is no doubt that these games would sell or that they don't deserve a PS3 upgrade. The only issue here I see is that FFXI is a MMO and additional fees would have to be charged and might not work in a compilation, but separating the games wouldn't be a bad idea.

Silent Hill 2-4
Again I'm not sure if all the games can fit on one Blu-Ray disc, but without even a compilation, anyone of those games deserves a re-release. In my opinion Silent Hill is one of the scariest franchises out there and many people agree. We have already seen a Remake of the First Silent Hill for the Wii and the PSP, so why not remaster these classic games?

Resident Evil 4, Outbreak, Code Veronica

Resident Evil 4 is the best selling Resident Evil game to date. Even though it is one of my least favorite in the series even I can't deny it's popularity, plus Nintendo already made a re-release for the Wii way back when it first came out. I'm sure there are many gamers who would love to see it on their HD screens. And if there is room on the disc throwing Code Veronica and Outbreak couldn't hurt.

Shadow of Colossus and ICO
Both games were developed by Team Ico and are lesser known games for the PS2 outside of the gaming community, but inside both are loved for their originality, gameplay, and artwork. ICO is an adventure game set in a 3D world filled with puzzles. Shadow of Colossus is quite the opposite as it plays out like a boss battle, one right after the other. Both games deserve to see the light of day once again.

Devil May Cry 1-3
Filled with hacking enemies and solving puzzles, what more could a gamer want? Ok so maybe just a gamer who likes hack and slash kind of games, but that's a good chunk of them. It's pretty much GOW only set in modern times with guns and without the greek mythology part and less gore. But who can go wrong with a game that was supposed to be a Resident Evil title? Even with it's past, the Devil May Cry series has come into it's own and has made one hell of a series. Not only is it fun, but it's challenging, with Devil May Cry 3 being called one of the toughest games ever.

Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3
As one of the best stealth game series out there high in popularity these two games are another example of what gamers want. Metal Gear Solid 2 was rated the 3 best game on the PS2 by ratings scores after all. The AI system is also ranked among the best in stealth games. And with the hype around Peace Walker, the upcoming PSP game coming out next week, we know that Metal Gear Solid games are still high in demand.

Lost Planet 2 PS3 Review

2010-05-30T02:47:00.003-04:00

Lost Planet 2 is a third person shooter and sequel to Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. It has some good and low points, which I will give in the following review.

Story: The story starts off 10 years after the first game. The planet E.D.N. III has thawed out and reveals that the planet contains different environments such as lush jungles and arid deserts. It revolves around different factions fighting over Thermal Energy. Also, they are battling for control of the land from the monstrous Akrid, a species of insectoid aliens. The overall plot was quite a bit confusing since you never play as one faction only, as it switches every new episode.

5/10

Gameplay: Lost Planet 2 does shine in the gameplay department. The whole entire game can be played alone offline, with 2 player split screen co-op, or up to 4 player online co-op. As with games that have co-op, playing alone is a lot more difficult then with a couple buddies. The co-op AI is almost brain dead, often running into the line of fire and getting themselves killed. The only good side to this is the fact that they have no negative effect on your mission, which in turn ends up making them great cannon fodder. Also, if there is a specific objective to complete such as activating data posts, they'll do it. So the AI will be undoubtedly useful in some respects, but not others. Another problem I had is how easy it is to die sometimes. Sometimes, you'll be wondering how you got flung back 15 feet and land in a lake or get knocked off a cliff. Its extremely frustrating how often it happens. Otherwise, the core gameplay is quite solid with it's shooting mechanics and great use of the grappling anchor.

7/10

Graphics: As you can see on the cover of the box, Lost Planet 2 has some very big creatures. Its quite magnificent getting your ass handed to you by such large creatures. And the lush jungles are nothing to scoff at. It really feels like an alien world. And lets not forget the outrageous character designs. It feels like the more outlandish the faction, the more joy you get from playing as said faction.

8/10

Sound: As far as sound goes, its pretty average. The monster roaring is great, and the boss fight music is sorta epic, but its just ambient noise everywhere else. There's no jungle noises. I really miss that part of playing in a jungle environment. There's not even any female voices for the Femme Fatales faction. Its comical to hear a man's voice with a woman's body.

6/10

Overall, Lost Planet 2 is an average game at best. It does nothing out of the ordinary, and it just feels like Capcom could've done a lot better on the polish of the game. If you're looking for a co-op experience, the game would be a blast, but alone, its more of chore then a game.

Overall Score: 6/10

3D Dot Game Heroes PS3 Review

2010-05-30T02:09:00.002-04:00

Trying to think of what makes this game original and fresh is very hard as it is basically a homage to 2D adventure games of the past. It's true if you are a Zelda fan you will see similarity after similarity while you are playing 3D Dot Game Heroes, but what makes it stand out as a great game today?

3D Dot Games Heroes is a 2D adventure game brought into a 3D world without losing it's core. There isn't much to the story here as it's the basic the world is in parallel from a dark lord trying to take over the kingdom and you being the decedent of a great hero from time before, must go on an epic journey to save the land and restore peace. After the basic background story there isn't much after that, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad or boring game even if the story is an overused one. The whole game is a satire of previous games, most closely related to the Legend of Zelda series. Much wit and jokes are placed into this game.

The game plays itself out again like 2D adventure games of the past. You come across enemies pretty much everywhere except for towns where you will rest, restock on supplies and talk to the locals who will set you off on side quests or give you an important bit of information to help you on your way as well as a bit of humor. You will come across dungeons filled with enemies and puzzles as you work your way to treasures and eventually the boss guarding a powerful orb that will help you gain new magical powers and the strength to beat the main antagonist. The puzzles and exploration is where this game really shines. With a little know how and luck you can find just the right items to make a boss battle quick and painless. Exploration can also lead to an alternate ending and a different trophy if you find all the pieces.

The sound in this game really set you back to the 8 bit world of gaming. They did a wonderful job of creating new old pieces of music. The last dungeon piece is epic, while the world music reminds me of Zelda's theme while coming into it's own. The sound effects of monster getting destroyed and your character taking damage also seems very familiar, but instead of hurting the game for lack of originality it really helps set the mood that you are back in 1987.

The title pretty much sums up the graphics in this game. Most everything is built with dots (or blocks) to create a 3D world. The game does polish some of this off by adding reflective floors that almost look out of place with the rest of the world.

3D Dot Game Heroes also has great replay value short of you using a walkthrough, there is no way that you can find all this games hidden secrets in one go. After defeating the game you also get the option of playing in New Game + mode, which keeps some of the progress you made from your last save, such as small blocks used to trade towards new swords as well as all the monsters you have managed to categorize. With New Game + you also get the option of playing on a harder setting. As I've mentioned before getting the right equipment before a boss can make them quite easy to defeat so this will give you an added challenge.

This game also has a great character editor, which can have you playing around for hours or just a few minutes to make custom characters that you can use to play in your game. You can also upload them to your computer and share them with the online community to download themselves and use in their games. The editor is quite simple, but leaves room to really let your creativity fly. You build your character out of the small blocks that make up the this world. They do limit you to six colors, but you have a slightly larger color pallet to choose those colors from.

This may not be a Zelda title, but some have even gone so far as to saying that From Software knows how to make a better game then Nintendo does referring to Zelda games in recent years.

3D Dot Game Heroes gets a 9/10 from me for those of you who like to look at numbers. It really is a fun game full of explorations, dungeons and nostalgia. If you are a fan of 2D style Zelda games or a fan of adventure games, 3D Dot Game Heroes is a must have. Not only is the game only $40 and in some cases you can find it even cheaper, but it's a $40 game with more than 20 hours of gameplay. Well worth your money. For those who aren't fans of 2D style adventure games you will lose some of what makes this game so great, but there is still some humor to be found that anyone should get. And if you are looking for a good adventure game that gives you hours of gameplay for a great price this is your game.

Influence or Coincidence

2010-05-24T11:46:00.002-04:00

Recently I did a review for Ergo Proxy. Upon searching the web for box art I came across this:

Being the Evanescence fan that I am, I found the similarities between Amy Lee on the cover of Fallen and Re-l very interesting. I have no idea if the character designers had Amy Lee in mind or if they even know who she is, but with many American influences as I have stated in my review such as American band Radiohead for the ending theme song, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch. What is your take on it?

For those who don't know Ergo Proxy premiered in Japan on February 25, 2006 and Fallen was released on March 4, 2003.

Ergo Proxy Anime Review

2010-05-24T11:36:00.001-04:00

In a world where people and androids are born and made for a purpose to be an active and useful member of society, what happens when that purpose is taken away?

Ergo Proxy is a darker set, science fiction anime with a color pallet to match. It has Gothic and cyberpunk influences as well as an apocalyptic theme. At times I feel like I'm not watching an Anime at all. The characters have English names, most if not all the writing is in English and while their eyes are larger compared to their nose and mouths, they are not the traditional wide, round eyes that have become synonymous with anime. Even the title song is in English, with an ending theme by American rock band Radiohead.

English influences aside, Ergo Proxy has a great story without any current nationalities involved. In a post apocalyptic world where robots serve their human masters and God like creatures called Proxies are hidden from the every day citizens in Romdo, Re-l (pronounced Rielle) is an investigator looking into recent murders with her AutoReiv (android) Iggy when she encounters a monster. This sets things into motion for Re-l, which she can no longer take back the knowledge that she has gained. Another main character in the series is Vincent Law who is an immigrant to Romdo and has lost his memories. When he meets up with Re-l they both embark on a journey to discover the answers that they are both looking for.

Because of the dark tones and feel, many if not all of the characters in this anime are struggling with some sort of inner turmoil. Many themes are set on finding the true meaning of oneself, even in a society that has people born for a purpose. Many questions are brought up, but few answers are given as they are questions which one must look within themselves to answer. Many people can relate to the characters in this way as we are all searching for our own raison d'être (reason for being).

Throughout the anime we see a lot of mute colors with little exceptions when a city is said to be lively and thriving. In one instant Vincent is taken to a man's tower, who has saved him from a burning city. It overlooks the city that the man governs. The city is bright and thriving with lots of light colors, but as we discover that is not the case. With a flick of a switch the city is shown for what it really is: dark and crumbling with no one left. The colors play a key role in the feel of this anime, which I find important to point out.

Overall I find this anime to have important themes about one's raison d'être. But it is also entertaining with a sense of mystery and a variety of action scenes. Each character takes you on their own journey not focusing to heavily on one to give you a full sense of this world as all the pieces of their lives come together representing human kind. Mystery lovers will enjoy Ergo Proxy as it has much to discover.

Weekend Watch: Mod Nation Racers

2010-05-23T18:02:00.000-04:00

ModNation Racers is a racing game for the PS3 and the PSP all about customization. This game lets you customize your avatar, your car and creating your own tracks. Even their website allows a certain level of customization. Go ahead and check it out for yourself: http://www.modnation.com/en_us/index/. This game shares the Play, Share, Create mentality as LittleBigPlanet. ModNation Racers comes out on May 25, 2010. This game is already out in Europe.

Google goes Pac Man

2010-05-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

Today Google is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Pac-Man by changing up their logo in their normal fashion. What's not so normal is that this logo is a playable mini game of Pac-Man. As a gamer and someone who has a Bachelors in Communications with a concentration in digital media this excites me. If only more logos were this fun! Also it's noteworthy to say that if you play for a second time in a row and press the "Insert Coin" button Ms. Pac-Man will also appear in the logo allowing two players buy using the WADS keys or for a talented gamer to play both as once.

Weekend Watch: Red Dead Redemption

2010-05-16T01:28:00.000-04:00

Red Dead Redemption is the latest game that is coming out from famed studio Rockstar, who has created the best selling but controversial Grand Theft Auto series. It is a spiritual sequel of sorts of Red Dead Revolver. It is a sandbox styled game with a Spaghetti Western theme. Players will take the role of John Marston who is free to explore the world of Red Dead Redemption. His actions will affect an in game morality system such as robbing and looting people or non-lethally taking down outlaws. This will in turn affect how the NPCs around will react to Jonh. It also features a third-person shooting perspective and period-accurate weapons. Red Dead Redemption is out this Tuesday May 18th for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles Anime Review

2010-05-13T12:39:00.000-04:00

Magical powers, the ability to travel to new dimensions, a small fuzzy rabbit-like creature and an unspoken love that transcends them all. All that and more comes packaged in this 52 episode anime series.

Tsubasa is a heart warming tale about two friends, Sakura and Syaoran, who have been together since childhood on the verge of sharing their true feelings for each other when something mysterious happens. Sakura's memories are spread out through dimensions and without them she will die. Syaoran steps up and makes a deal with Yūko, also known as the Dimensional Witch among other things, to allow him and fellow travels to make the jump from one dimension to the next with the help of Mokona, a cute, rabbit-like creature with 108 special talents including dimensional travel. However for their wish of dimensional travel to be granted they must give up what is most important to them. In Syaoran's case he must give up all the memories Sakura has of him. So no matter how many memories she regains she will never remember Syaoran.

The story is filled with sorrow and laughter, which balance each other quite nicely. Sakura's loss memories play the largest role in the teams troubles, but the determination and strength they carry with them helps them over come each hardship they encounter in each new world. Add in a couple comic relief characters and you have yourself a story that touches your heart as well as your funny bone. However the story doesm't end here and leaves you with their quest incomplete, which has you yearning for more. Where this can normally be a bad thing, they do not disappoint with a movie and a few OVAs to keep you busy for a long time.

The art style for Tsubasa is done in the usual style with great detail and beautiful scenery. With dimensional travel possible there are many different places for the characters to travel to, so the worlds and backgrounds are always changing, keeping it fresh and a pleasure for the eyes. The one thing I did notice though was that after watching this you will certainly want to watch the movie and OVAs to continue on with the story. However after watching Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom I noticed a bit of different styles as well as costume changes which took me out of the world a bit. The artwork in the movie is still nothing to stick your nose up at it, but it would have been nice to keep the same style.

While the visuals draw your eyes into all new worlds of magic and mystery, the music orchestrate the true feelings and natures of the place. Some of it is very peaceful, while other pieces show the true malice of a character. All of it fits very nicely together giving you the feeling of the epic adventure that was bestowed upon the characters.

I highly recommend Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles. It has a great story and characters you can really become attached to. As the main characters bonds forms between themselves you feel as though a bond between them and yourself are also forming. You grow with the characters and their relationships. They generally become characters you care about. Plus there is so much story here with hours of entertainment. The story doesn't get old and has you craving more, which they kindly deliver.

Portal

2010-05-12T18:13:00.004-04:00

Portal is free on Steam for both PC and Mac users until May 24th, so if you want a piece of one of gamings most acclaimed titles, you'd be wise to hop onto Steam and download it now.

Steam for Mac comes to a computer near you TOMORROW!

2010-05-11T11:34:00.000-04:00

The wait is almost over for all you mac users who want to get in on what steam has to offer. Not all games however will be available, but mega hits like Halflife 2 and Portal sure will be. And guess who will be getting their copy of Portal? The game that spawned internet memes such as "The Cake is a Lie" will finally be in my grasp. Buying a game will allow you to use both the Mac and PC version which is a great plus for people who like to use both systems such as myself. Mac lovers: What will you be picking up?

Facebook Invades Video Animer

2010-05-11T11:23:00.000-04:00

Yes everything is about facebook these days. Even we are jumping in on it. So if you have a facebook and like what we do here please join the facebook group. It will keep you updated on what goes on over here, plus a discussion board where you can discuss topics I wouldn't normally bring up here or start your own.

Weekend Watch: 3D Dot Game Heroes

2010-05-09T23:44:00.004-04:00

Here is a PS3 adventure game that is not all about the graphics. In fact it brings homage to the old bit style of gaming, hopefully showing us all that a game does not have to be about the most high tech, realistic graphics, but instead immerse players in a world with a good story, game play and interesting characters. This game has already been compared to such games as the Legend of Zelda as players take their character through dungeons battling enemies and collecting treasures on an epic quest. 3D Dot Game Heroes comes out this Tuesday, May 11th.

While you wait to pick up your copy you can venture over to: http://designer.3ddotgameheroes.eu/ to create your own character 3D Dot Game Heroes style.

Check out my spinning Miku Hatsune head.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Review

2010-05-05T10:56:00.004-04:00

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a DS SRPG spinoff title of the successful Final Fantasy series. It is an Ivalice Alliance game, which has it set in Ivalice naturally. So without further ado, on to the review!

Story: You're a boy named Luso who is a school truant. Luso's teacher punishes him by making him help the librarian clean up the library on the last day of school. While waiting, Luso finds a magical book that sucks him into the world of Ivalice. And from there, its just a quest of finding his way back home. The game is kinda lacking in characters, only a few matter and most are just normal, generic stock characters. But the whole plot just feels like a Saturday morning cartoon, following more in the steps of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and not like the riveting story of the original Final Fantasy Tactics.

6/10

Gameplay: The gameplay has certainly improved since Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Its still the same isometric grid based battles, but with some minor changes. MP starts out at zero, but each turn rises up by 10. More job classes are available now, which only further increases the depth of the battle system. And a revamped Law system. Which brings me to another point. Some of the laws are just plain unfair, and probably only serve to irritate you. You'll find yourself kicking yourself when an enemy thief uses his steal command and successfully does it when the current law prohibits you from getting robbed.

8/10

Graphics: The graphics are almost just copy paste from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. The sprites are the same except for the new job classes and monsters, and the environment is pretty much the same. Almost all the character portraits are redrawn, with the exception of the barman. It just seems kinda lazy to me.

5/10

Sound: Final Fantasy has never skimped on music. Its fantastically done, and has some Final Fantasy 12 songs in it to boot. And the sound effects are also quite nice. Each bladed weapon gives off a different attack sound depending on what type of weapon it is.

9/10

Some of the things were done right, and some things needed improvement, but Square-Enix has released a fairly enjoyable game for any kind of Final Fantasy or general RPG fan.

Final Score: 7/10

Weekend Watch: Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake

2010-05-03T01:51:00.003-04:00

Another weekend with a new game to look out for. This time its Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake due out for the PSP this Tuesday. It is a PSP version of the hit PSN game Fat Princess that came out on the PS3 last Summer. This version has some differences with its PS3 cousin. First is the extended single player story. With a few extra missions , it'll definitely last longer. And let's not forget new game modes. Only downside is the reduced online capabilities due to the PSP hardware. It will be available as a PSN download or UMD.

Weekend Watch: Super Streetfighter 4

2010-04-26T01:13:00.004-04:00

Super Street Fighter 4 is the latest edition of the successful Street Fighter franchise due out this Tuesday for the PS3 and Xbox 360. It is an update to Street Fighter 4, which was previously released on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. It features a cast of returning characters, fan favorites, and brand new characters. I missed out on Street Fighter 4, but this looks like a very promising purchase for me. Or I might wait for the probably inevitable Super Street Fighter 4 Turbo...

Shakugan No Shana Season 1 Anime Review

2010-04-15T11:15:00.003-04:00

There is a secret battle going on as the balance of the world is constantly in danger. Entities know as the Denizens of the Crimson Realm freeze time in what is called a fuzetsu and steal the power of existence from unsuspecting humans. However the Lords from the Crimson Realm possesses humans giving them powers to stay unfrozen and great strength and abilities to fight off the Denizens. But when a person's power of existence is stolen they vanish from the world and a Flame Haze places a Torch in their place so they will gradually fade away and the people who knew them won't be thrown off balance from their sudden disappearance.

Shakugan No Shana follows the story of Yuji Sakai who finds himself captured in a fuzetsu caused by a couple Rinne who work for a Denizen, but Yuji is still able to move around. Here he meets a young flame haze he names Shana and discovers that he is no longer alive, but a torch himself.

This is a heartwarming story rich with fantasy elements and the love that grows between Shana and Yuji as they save the world. However sad the circumstances of their lives are you will be drawn into this story in spite of the main character being already dead from episode one. That's one thing I like about anime, not everything has to be all sunshine and rainbows all the time, but if you are someone who doesn't like misery or one who is easily depressed don't let the premise of this show deter you as the first season at least still has enough of that happy ending cliche to keep your own emotions at a good balance.

As for the characters themselves, most of them are relatable. Shana is a bit hot headed repeating "shut up, shut up, shut up!" when Yugi get's on her nerves, which becomes her catchphrase. It can be a bit much at time, but that is just part of her charm. Shana doesn't understand the human condition much, as she only sees herself as a flame haze and in the beginning mainly focuses on her duties as one. Though after staying with Yugi for a while she begins to soften up. Yuji is curious yet honorable. He of course is affected by the news that he is dead and struggles with his new existence, but that doesn't hold him back. He has a strong will and is kind hearted. As you meet more characters in this series you will find that they all have their own weaknesses and strengths. No one seems that they are perfect or impenetrable giving the circumstances of their mystical powers. The character interactions also consist of relatable themes such as duty, jealousy and love along with teen mischief.

Though there is some fan service here in the form of some large breasted characters in tiny bathing suits, which at times which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Though I find a little too much emphasis on that part of the female body as another flame haze dresses up in a kimono having their boobs ready to burst out. Also be prepared for a bit of brotherly/sisterly love and lots of wet kisses. However a bit of fan service does not deter me from the story or saying that I really loved this anime.

Since this is a story about keeping the balance of the world in tact you can expect a lot of battles and a lot of enemies. New Denizens come to town and pose a new threat to Shana and Yuji with them lasting only a few eposides so there is no one main antagonist. With so many enemies we get the feeling that the world is constantly in danger all over the world and not just in their city. Multiple main baddies also give us different types of battles, fighting styles and weapons to keep them fresh.

The art style and animation used in Shakugan No Shana is common in many animes keeping with the most noticeable feature of large eyed characters and the likes. The backgrounds are beautiful and the character art is stunning as flecks of fire encompass Shana as she transforms.

Seeing how this is just season one, the ending is left open having you crave for more story. The last few episodes are also epic and life changing that also lead for a good wrap up for the first season. If you are looking for a good, new anime series I would definitely say to pick this one up.

Videos fresh off the harddrive

2010-04-15T08:39:00.003-04:00

So these are the first two videos I made as a test for my new capture card. I think they turned out well, except for that little twitchy thing at the bottom. I'll figure that out some day. But without further ado, here they are!

Capture Device

2010-04-14T01:33:00.001-04:00

Your new reviewer has just got his hand on a nifty new capture card. Its a Dazzle DVC 100, so hopefully its quality is acceptable. Look for cool videos I'll post up with my reviews!

Battlefield Bad Company 2 PS3 Review

2010-04-08T09:28:00.006-04:00

Battlefield, a long running FPS franchise with a focus on vehicle and teamwork. The newest entry, Battlefield Bad Company 2 is no exception. Its an intense experience for fans of tactical action. My views on it are as thus follows:

Story: The game picks up after the events of Battlefield Bad Company. It stars the roles of a mercenary group called B Company which include members; Sarge the squad leader,Sweetwater the tech head, Haggard the demo expert, and Marlowe guy you play as. You are sent to recover a special weapons project from some Russians. The plot is not as lighthearted as the first Bad Company, but there are still some cool snickering moments.

7/10

Gameplay: This is where Battlefield Bad Company 2 shines. With a different array of weapons and vehicles, the action feels like its on a grander scale then it is. The controls are smooth and tight, being at the perfect sensitivity for this reviewer. The multiplayer is no slouch either. There is a definite learning curve, but you'll learn all of the tricks in due time while unlocking a multitude of weapon and vehicle upgrades to help you arm and disarm those M-Com stations.

10/10

Graphics: Another nice point to add to the game. No gray and brown here. The environment is full of lush plants and other flora. And the best part of it? Its destructible! Is there a house or hut in the way of your tank? Blow through it with your main cannon. Door blocking your way to the M-Com station? Knocking is the thing of the past when you have a pack of C4 attached to it. The Frostbite engine is truly amazing.

9/10

Sound: Unfortunately, the sound is not as impressive as the rest of the game. The guns firing all sound a little off, and tanks all sound very similiar. I feel as if they worked on this area of Bad Company 2, it would've been as close to a perfect FPS experience as possible.

7/10

All in all, its a very nice entry in the Battlefield series from DICE. Its very enjoyable, and with DLC being free for VIP members, which was included in brand new copies, DICE has a big hit in its hands.

Overall Score 8/10

Informational video by Pixelenemy on how to not suck at Bad Company 2

EA Promotional Video

10 Ten Video Game Names That Could Work In Real Life

2010-04-06T22:06:00.000-04:00

Time to start doing Top Tens again. I used to help out for a site doing top tens, which was a lot of fun for me and can spark debate as well as letting people know what's out there. Since I no longer help out at the previous mentioned site I thought I should continue them here. Maybe making this a regular thing once a month called Top Ten Tuesdays. Tell me what you think. Anyways I wanted to start out with something fun, as well as something that's been on my mind for who knows why.

This is a Top Ten for Video Game names that aren't everyday names such as Jill or Claire (from Resident Evil and are also very common names), but more unique names that could still be used in real life and wouldn't cause major head turns and name callings. So if you are looking for a unique baby name or a video game baby name then you might want to consider one of the following names.

10. Alucard (boy)

So this one is a bit more out there on the list then the rest, mainly because it's Dracula backwards. Alucard is a character in the video game Castlevania as well as being a character in the Anime Hellsing and Dracula's son in the film Son of Dracula. This name would suit any horror buff or vampire enthusiast as well as a fan of the Castlevania series.

9. Ash (boy)

Pokemon is one of the largest franchises when it comes to games and animes, so this name would be very well known to a bunch of school kids, which might lead to name calling or envy. However I find it very simplistic and unusual at the same time. It is also a more daring video game/anime name since it's so widely known.

8. Anju (girl)

Anju is a lesser known character in the Zelda series who is sometimes referred to as the Cucco lady, but in Majora's Mask she has lost her boyfriend and asks for link's help on finding him. I think this name would be perfect for a Zelda fan who didn't want to go out and name their child just that. Everyone will know where the name Zelda came from and could lead to teasing, but Anju is lesser known and more unique.

7. Dante (boy)

This name isn't that far out there, but I don't hear it every day either. Dante is the main character in the Devil May Cry series who is described as masculine and confident, not bad traits for a person to have. But he is also a half demon which gives him that dangerous side that girls just go for. Sure you might not want to think of your son as an up and coming ladies man, but it's still a cool name that doesn't necessarily have to be just a video game name for those on the fence about naming their son solely after a video game character.

6. Aya (girl)

Aya is the protaganist in playstation game Parasite Eve. It's a lesser known game, but will work for any survival horror/rpg fan. She is a strong, beautiful female character, which is sometimes hard to find in video games. Hence why I think this would be a good video game character to name your kid after.

5. Ryu (boy)

One of the main protagonist in the Street Fighter series whose name means Dragon in Japanese. Maybe I'm a sucker for dragon's with one tattooed on my foot, but I like the idea. Dragons in Asian cultures stands for power, strength and protection, not to mention that Ryu is one kick ass character, literally.

4. Aeris (girl)

Aeris hails from the most popular Final Fantasy game: Final Fantasy VII and is one of the most beloved female character in the series. She may have come to an untimely demise, but that didn't stop her from capturing our hearts.

3. Nariko (girl)

Heavenly Sword might not have been one of the best games in history, but that doesn't stop the main character's name from being a fun, unique name. Since it wasn't a very well known game a lot of people probably won't make the connection and it would be one of those unique names that people won't know where you came up with it if you choose not to confess your geeky love for video games.

2. Raiden (boy)

This name can be found in both the Metal Gear and the Mortal Kombat series, though pronounced slightly different in both: in Metal Gear it's pronounced R-eye-din and in Mortal Kombat it's pronounced RAY-din. Either way you say it, it's a name that is heavy in video game history as well as with the trends of all the Hayden, Jaden, and Caden names out today.

1. Kairi (girl)

She is one of the seven princesses of heart in the Kingdom Heart series and seriously what little girl doesn't want to go from a normal existence to realizing she is a princess. The name can also be interpreted as sea as Kai is the Japanese word for it. She may not be the most influential video game character out there, but it sure has a nice ring to it.

Honorable mention: Arcadia (girl)
Sure not a character from a game, but there is a niche game called Skies of Arcadia as well as being a name that can show your love for arcade games.

Weekend Watch: Trauma Team

2010-04-04T22:22:00.001-04:00

Another Atlus game, oh my! I swear they won't be all Atlus games in the future, but with Atlus announcing that the price for Trauma Team has already dropped to $39.99 and it's not even released yet, I thought it was a good time to announce this upcoming title. Trauma Team is part of the Trauma Center series, but unlike it's predicessors, Trauma Team will have you doing more than surgeries. This time around you will also get to do diagnostics, first response, autopsies and Endoscopies. Trauma Team is out May 18, 2010. To find out more you can watch the trailer below and visit the game's official site: http://www.atlus.com/traumateam/

Resident Evil Afterlife 3D Teaser

2010-04-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

The Resident Evil movies have always been in question of good taste towards the video game franchise. With a lead role not in the video games and some other pretty big changes have had fans of the games turn the other way. For being a fan of Resident Evil ever since I got my hands on the Directors Cut of the very first game for the PSX, I was extatic about the first movie. It was one of my favorite films of the time even after being so different. Sure I thought it could have used some more game elements, but I was taken on a ride and never looked back. As the sequels came I felt that it was losing some of it's magic and after the third movie I was less pumped about Resident Evil movies. When I first heard that the forth movie was going to be in 3D, I was a bit disappointed and hoped that it wouldn't just be another gimmick. However being a fan like I am, I knew I was going to see Afterlife no matter what. After seeing this trailer my hopes have brightened for the movie. The visuals are really stunning and seeing more monsters from the games makes me smile. Now I can't wait for September 10th. The teaser trailer is below for your viewing pleasure.

Resignation

2010-04-01T15:03:00.003-04:00

I feel as though I can not contribute as much here at Video Animer Reviews. I'm sorry to say that I will have to resign here as a reviewer for this great site. May it keep having fruitful reviews, and keep the quality of its predecessors.

Death Note Anime Review

2010-03-28T18:56:00.000-04:00

Death Note is pretty big among the Anime community. If you are a fan of anime, chances are that you've heard of it or even watched it. Death Note started out as a manga, then jumped into an anime series and has had three Japanese live action movies made after it. In 2011 North America will get a remake of the live action movies. The Japanese versions were separated into two films with a third film following one of the main characters on a side story. The Japanese films already condensed a a 108 chapter Manga and a 37 episode Anime into two films. I will be interested to how the American remake will fit so much content into one movie.

But what is all this hype about? For those who don't know the story, Death Note follows a bright high school student named Light Yagami who stumbles upon this magical note book that when a name is written down on it's pages while thinking of the individual they will die. This Death Note was dropped into the human world by a Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk who was looking to spice up his never ending life. He follows Light around as Light kills criminals with the Death Note to make a better world and dispense his kind of justice. However too many criminals are dying and it gathers the attention of many authorities including the Japanese police force and a mysterious independent crime investigator known only as L. L teams up with the Japanese police to find out the identity of this unknown killer dubbed by the public as Kira.

There is a reason why this anime is so popular, it really is that good. There is no gimmicks and fanservice here, just a good story that is smart and sets a moral dilemma. It's the basic good versus evil motif, but there are times when you are afflicted in deciding if Light is truly evil. Since the story follows light from beginning to end you get to really know his character. In the beginning it seems his actions come from a good place, that he is just a bit misguided, but the power corrupts him as he spirals out of control. Though in the end I could not stop routing for him. This does not mean that you are not routing for L either. L is also a very lovable character and I found myself routing for both sides. Very little do you see that happen as too much emphasis is shown to just one side of the story having the opposite side demonized. Both characters have their shining moments, while at other times you can't believe what they are about to do next. And I think that is what makes the story so enjoyable as well as making real, believable characters as no one is ultimately good or evil.

As for the technical aspects of this anime, I think that the visual and audio are amazing. The English voice acting was done very well, since I've pointed in the past that some anime fans can't stand most of the English Dubs. The style of it gives a very dark feeling for the most part since this is not a light hearted story. The themes and tone are very dark and serious most of the time so this anime might not be for everyone. However the visuals and content aren't as dark and gritty as say When They Cry or Hellsing.

Overall I would recommend this to anyone. Even trying to get Video Animer's other writer to check it out since he seems put off by the hype. If that is a concern of yours, it shouldn't be. This is one anime that I can say I have a hard time finding something I don't like about it.

Weekend Watch: Hexyz Force

2010-03-28T01:46:00.001-04:00

Weekend Watch is a new segment were we let you know about upcoming video games and animes. Let the anticipating... begin!

Our very first Weekend Watch will be about Atlus' upcoming title for the psp: Hexyz Force. We are still a few months away from this release, which first came out in Japan November 19, 2009 and will be released in the U.S. May 25, 2010, but this game is shaping up to be one good RPG. There are two sides to this story and you get to choose between light and dark in order to uncover the truth behind what is really going on. Having two sides of the story will give you hours of play time and replay value. Each side of the story is unique with a bit of over lapping as the characters meet so you will need to play through the game twice to get the full story.

If you would like to learn more about this game then you can view the gameplay trailer below and visit it's official site: http://www.atlus.com/hexyzforce/

Eye Candy

2010-03-24T09:32:00.001-04:00

So this blog looks pretty bland I know. In a couple of my earlier reviews for Littlebigplanet and Animal Crossing I added photos of the game to help you get a visual feel for the game as well as the review. It also brightens up the blog. But that was a special case since the games themselves had a device for taking in game pictures and saving them. I hate stealing peoples pictures even if I get permission. I like to give you guys a new perspective. So what I'm asking is what is a good device that I can buy that will hook up to my ps3, wii and perhaps even handheld games to take pictures and videos and then be able to get them onto my computer. FYI I don't have an SD slot for my computer. I also want good quality, maybe even HD, but I don't want to spend too much. I understand it won't be cheap, but I'm not looking for the highest quality either. Just something that would work for here and youtube. It also has to be relatively idiot proof. I know some about computers, but I am no expert.

Also I'm thinking of making a banner or background. What kind of ideas would you like to see for that?

New reviewer!?

2010-03-23T13:34:00.003-04:00

I'm the new reviewer here at Video Animer Reviews. I'll try to bring new reviews here in my own perspective. Hopefully you, the reader, will find my reviews interesting and objective. I have one review already under my belt, and you can check it out below.

WitchBlade Anime Review

2010-03-23T11:17:00.003-04:00

To start off my anime reviews I have decided to go with one of my favorite newer animes from the past couple of years.

Witchblade was based off of an American Comic Book unlike most animes which base themselves off of a manga series. There was also a television series in the U.S. by the same name. However the anime series is not based off of the original characters in the comic, but is placed in the future with a new blade wielder.

For those unfamiliar with with the story, a woman is chosen by the Witchblade to become a new warrior. In this case it's a young woman name Masane Amaha, who wakes up after a large unknown disaster in Japan losing all her memories of who she was before and carrying a baby in her arms. The actually story takes place a few years later as Masane and her daughter are trying to make a new start for themselves. However she has a hard time taking care of herself and creating a suitable environment for her daughter and the authorities step in to take her child away. After being placed in jail she is attacked by a strange mechanic monster which initiates the Witchblade for the first time. When enacted the wielder of the Witchblade gains super human abilities and an insatiable lust for battle. She is soon discovered by a company which produces weapons and they contract her to take care of a problem they have with some of their old weapons. All this happens while a rivial company has produced it's own set of Witchblades called Clone Blades. Masane must fight to help protect the ones she loves, even though it's killing her.

But this is not just a battle anime. It is filled with deep emotional connections, since the reason she fights is for her daughter. This anime is filled with emotions and has a bunch of laughter as well. You can really feel a deep connections with all the characters and it had me in tears at the end.

The style of this anime is just beautiful as well. However some of the drawings are a bit racy. The dvd is unedited, but some parts had to be covered up when it was aired. However there is no obscene images, just a lot of skin. But what can you expect when society is all about objectifying women. The guys will be sure to love that aspect of the anime as Masane has rather large breasts, which are the butt of a lot of jokes in this series, but that should not discourage female audiences as the storyline makes this a well worth anime for almost any viewer.

God of War 3 Review

2010-03-22T13:30:00.004-04:00

God of War 3 came out last week, and after a full week of playing it, I'm ready to give my views on it and give as honest of a review of it as I can.

For those who might not know, God of War 3 is the latest big name exclusive from Sony. Coming from an already successful series, a lot of the pressure is put on the developers to make God Of War 3 to exceed its predecessors. Have they succeeded?

Story: Having ended the previous game on a triumphant note, Kratos continues his journey for vengeance on the back of Gaia, along with the rest of the Titans up Mount Olympus. With Olympus in danger, Zeus rallies the other Olympians to fight back the Titans. This results in a large, spectacular battle between the two sides. There's some unexpected twists, but the story doesn't get complicated. It plays out mostly like a Greek tragedy.
8/10

Gameplay: God of War 3 is no slouch in the gameplay department. Kratos wields multiple weapons including his signature blades to the Nemean Cestus. And whats more, the magic is revamped from previous entries. Instead of choosing magic to use individually, its now tied to what weapon you currently have equipped. Controls are nice and tight for the most part except for doing double jumps. Somehow, it feels a little hinky after the previous two games.
9/10

Graphics: Its an eye pleaser. Everything is nice and crisp, and I've never seen more real looking water. And the presentation is all top notch. Never has brutally killing Kratos' enemies feel so satisfying to look at. The real clincher are the Titans. Twice you fight on a moving Titan, and its just spectacular that it will leave you in awe. By far one of, if not best looking PS3 game thus far.
10/10

Sound: The sound effects are just amazing. Hearing bones crunch, guts splatter, sirens screaming bloody murder is just phenomenal. The music is not shabby either. It's nice to hear dramatic music when exacting your revenge against the gods of Olympus.
8/10

All in all, its a very excellently made game, with high production values, non stop adrenaline, and all the testosterone you can get. Seriously, Kratos is one certified BAMF. Final thoughts are, if you've played the rest of the God of War series, then this game is a must have. And if you've never played a God of War game before, you should check it out anyways. It does not disappoint.

Overall Score: 9/10

A Merge of Interests

2010-03-22T12:22:00.001-04:00

As of today this will no longer be a blog for video games and like stories. I'm throwing Anime into the mix. Not much similarities there unless this was a Japanese Blogging Site, but it's not. I'm just merging two of my interests together.

I have been a fan of Anime for some time now, but recently gotten into the scene and culture around it. Also with the extra cash from working and no longer being in school has really helped me beef out my collection. I'm no where near Otaku status, but my interests in it has definitely strengthened.

So let me get right into it. The first discussion on my mind is a very popular one in the Anime community: Dubs versus Subs. Which is better? For those who don't know a Dub is the voice acting. Where an anime is done in Japan, all the voice acting is in Japanese, so to do an English Dub is to get English speaking voice actors. A sub is with the original voice acting and subtitles. This has recently come up on the NISA boards after they have decided to dive into the Anime buisness picking up 4 titles: Persona: Trinity Soul, Toradora, Pandora Hearts and Our Home’s Fox Deity. Since this is a new venture for them they don't have the cash right off to do English Dubs.

Personally I prefer dubs, but I also like having the original voice acting as an option. Why do I prefer dubs? Well here's my reasoning. The top most reason is my eyesight. I understand this isn't an issue for a lot of people out there, but reading all those subs really starts to hurt my eyes and can create headaches. I have bad vision as it is and its really tiresome to read all those subtitles.

Another thing is that all that reading really distracts you from the action. When i could be listening with my ears and watching the show, it ends up as me reading with a lot of pretty colors flashing by.

It's also nice to hear it in a language I can understand. That way I can listen to the meaning of the words more so then I can hearing it in another language. A lot of people might dispute this fact by saying that the English voice acting is usually done poorly, but I have not found that to be the case.

Now I'm not saying that if one day I learn Japanese and can understand it well enough to listen and comprehend what is going on, that I won't watch it in it's original form. I am no way discrediting original voice acting.

With that said, I will be doing a new review soon. If anyone still reads this, what would you guys like to see a review on? This can be game related as well.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon Wii Review

2010-03-22T10:01:00.009-04:00

This is a lesser know game for the Wii, but I guess you have to shovel through all the crap of what Wii calls games these days to find something decent apart from their main franchises, Wii Sports and Wii fit not included. I almost gave up on my Wii until I came across this game. The art style is beautiful for a Wii game, but for it not being HD I had no complaints. It shows that good graphics can come from a Wii game. But enough Wii bashing and more about the actual game.

Fragile Dreams is about a boy finding himself alone after the apocalypse. With a message from his dead grandfather telling him to head towards the red tower, he sets off along in the search for other survivors. You find many new friends along the way, most of them not being human. These new friends either help you or make you missions or "games" in order for you to gain their trust and let you continue on.

You the player have no idea why the world is in such a start at the beginning of the game, I'm still not sure if your character knew anything about it before you are revealed the answers near the end of the game. As you play you will find random items that you will hear a memory from when you go to rest at a campfire, which is your save point, health restorer, item management and shop all in one. I will go into greater details about campfires in a bit. In hearing these memories at the campfires you will learn that others around you knew something was going to happen, but it's very vague. But this just drove me to play more and more. I couldn't put the game down I was so intrigued in the story wanting to know more.

The game for me seemed to be a melting pot for an RPG and a survival horror game, though neither is done to the extreme. Your character will level as you battle enemies that appear only in certain sections of a room and once you leave that section they no longer follow you. You also have an array of weapons with different functions and attack points which break with use so you will have to carry more than one with you at a time and buy extras of the weapons you use most. You can also only store so much with you at a time, bringing me back to the Resident Evil style of carrying items. The game also has creepy settings and music making you beg for the few light areas of the game where you feel you can breath again as the brightness of your screen allows you to not only see all areas without your flashlight, but also gives you a safe secure feeling.

Some of the enemies can be truly creepy to add to that survival horror factor, or maybe it's just me. I don't like to face killer robots, maybe it's a terminator thing from my scarred childhood, but those things freaked me out. Among the killer robots, there were enemies like angry dogs, strange jellyfish and these strange crying women with pins coming out of their backs. When they curled up exposing a hole on their backs was the only time they were vulnerable to your attacks. I'm guessing they were test subjects, but that just made them a bit more creepy.

As for the Bosses, which is where I am less impressed with the game, they are not creepy in the slightest and the first few, which happens to be a floating mask is way too easy. I beat him in a matter of minutes each time and never received any damage. Some of the basic enemies in the game were much tougher then he was. And even the final boss was a quick battle where I never died once. In fact the only time I did die in the game was with the crying women. Those girls can be brutal.

With the difficulty of this game being a joke they sure give you a lot of save points which just insure your safe survival as you restore your health. There was a campfire every few rooms sometimes being only a couple rooms apart literally. It was nice though to be able to unload those random story revealing objects though as they took up space in your inventory. So when you come to a campfire you first open up any secret items you receive and then sometimes the merchant comes along, who is very weird may I add. He's almost creepy in his own right. After that you can organize your inventory and save.

The one thing that really confuses me about this game is all the cats that can be found just wandering around. You can buy or find a cat toy and use it to have the cat follow you in a small area. This seems pretty much pointless with the exception of one cat later in the game which ties into the story a tiny bit. Plus the cats help you out near the end of the game, but whether they continue to help you out if you haven't done this is something I don't know.

So what does it all boil down to?

Game Play 7/10
While it is a fun game to play, it is also a very easy game to play. It is also on the short side, but not as short as many of the newer games I've seen. It took me about 15 hours to complete which can be cut down if you don't like to explore like I do. But I did also feel like some areas, like this really long hallway, were there just to lengthen the game. While it does have a linear storyline some of the areas are pretty large and can be explored to find goodies which aren't necessary to complete the game since you do see the merchant a lot to get weapons and health items and the random items don't fill you in on the main reason why the world has ended. As for replay value this game doesn't have much. You can try to go through again and collect all the random items that you missed the first time, but I haven't found a way for you to know which you've collected and if you missed any and missing an item will not add anything new to the overall story.

Controls 7/10
I thought it was fun that the game utilizes the wiimote as the flashlight in game. A lot of the areas are rather dark so you really do need the flashlight to search around. You move by using the analog stick on the numchuck, but the combination of the two movements can become a bit tricky making it hard for you to turn around quickly with monsters all around you. The A button is your attack and action button and B is to cancel. Rarely you will need to crawl around, but it is used and is fairly easy by just tapping C to crouch and uncrouch. I hate it when a you have to hold down a button the whole time while crouching and crawling which you do not need to do here.

Graphics 9/10
Sure it's the Wii so no HD, but it doesn't mean that the art style of a game has to be lacking, which this game does not. I found the environments beautiful. The atmosphere also helps the game be a bit more creepier as things are dim and grimy looking at times, but it still manages to keep it's beauty. The cut scenes are nice and some near the beginning are even done in a anime style giving it a nice feel.

Sound 8/10
I enjoyed the music and was glad that I pre-ordered with a bonus of the sound track. I really enjoyed the music to the final battle and the music helps create a mood for the game, however I found it to be less creepy for the most part compared to other horror type games.

Story 9/10
As I've previously state I enjoyed the story and it had me hooked. Throughout the whole game you get little hints as to what was going on, but nothing to revealing that can have you guess as to what really happened. When it is finally revealed it is a bit strange, but I feel it doesn't disappoint. However I think that the story could have been strengthened a bit with a little more details throughout the game.

In the end I found this to be a good game worth my money to knock out in a weekend. If you are a wii owner and are looking for something other then party games and shovelware then I suggest you try out this game. If you are still unsure you can rent the game and finish it before you have to return it. But I for one am glad that I have added this game to my gaming collection.

Bayonetta PS3 Review

2010-03-07T23:18:00.002-05:00

I know I've been slacking lately on my reviews. I was gonna do an Uncharted 2 Review but I got busy. We all know it's a great game, winning the best game of 2009 at the Spike Video Game Awards and it receiving a perfect score by all the main reviewers. So my review probably wouldn't reflect on it any differently, but maybe I will review it as a request from a friend.

But back to the topic. Bayonetta is an action game that is very reminiscent of traditional 2D fighters. Your attacks are based on button pressing patterns, with the more complicated button combinations you do, the stronger your moves are. Of course there is so many combinations that this game becomes a button masher fast. It is nice that while the game loads, which it does a lot, it shows you all the button sequences to do these special moves and allows you to preform them while you wait for the game to load. Because of many complaints of the long loading times, there is a patch that allows you to do a hard drive install.

There are also many cutscenes with great battle scenes that make you wish that the actual battle went more like that. But when you get control back sometimes monsters are too far away and you just end up shooting them instead of using a special move, making the battles seem less epic. During some of the cutscenes enemies will talk in their native tongue, which you are provided with subtitles whether the characters are speaking English or not. But I found with at least one boss the subtitles moved to quickly and I couldn't keep up with what he was saying.

As for the story itself the story is quite cheesy with corny lines. You play as Bayonetta, one of the last Umbra Witches, who is fighting off heaven's army while regaining your memory back after a very long sleep at the bottom of a lake.

There are 16 chapters including a prologue and an epilogue. The chapters are a combination of linear level exploring, boss battles, and a couple vehicle shooters; the latter being overly long and quite boring. During boss battles I find I use the guns too much instead of one of the many melee combinations just for the fact the the boss is too far away for most of the fight. You will get a chance at the end of each boss fight to do a finishing move that involves Bayonetta's hair, which previously covered her bare body as some kind of catsuit, to turn into a creature that signals you to bash one button to power it up.

Game Play: 5/10
Nothing really new or innovating here. It's just a 2D button mashing fighter in a 3D world setting. The Linear levels also make it quite boring for a 3D game.

Controls: 7/10
Again nothing too innovating, but they aren't difficult to use. They also give you a lot of options for those willing to learn the combos and with all the combos listed in the loading screen with time to practice them you can because quite good at a few.

Graphics 7/10
The graphics aren't bad, but nothing groundbreaking or beautiful.

Sound 6/10
Soundtrack was nothing memorable. Voice acting wasn't horrible, but lots of cheesy lines.

Story 7/10
As I've stated you play as Bayonetta who has lost her memory of everything before she has awaken. It is slowly revealed which adds a little interest as you learn of the history when she does. However the characters are not memorable and you don't really feel a relation to them. This isn't a game where you will get lost in the story.

This is not a game that I would pick up for the full $60 asking price. wait for it to go down in price

Heavy Rain PS3 Review

2010-03-07T19:46:00.001-05:00

Heavy Rain is one of those games that was hyped up way before it's release and I personally think that it lives up to the hype. On the first playthrough the story was compelling and the battles where intense for a system that just made up of quick time events.. There were battles where I was on the edge of my seat hoping not to get crushed or beaten to death. Since Heavy Rain's game mechanics are set up for if a character dies they stay dead for the rest of the game, staying alive in a battle became a hell of a lot more important. However I did figure out that if you press start and quit the game while your character is dying and before it has a chance to save you can avoid the death and start over right at a certain place in the battle. Just make sure you watch for the origami figure in the bottom right hand of your screen before attempting such blasphemy as to not screw up your save.

The beginning of the game sets you up for the story and learning the controls. I think it easy you into the new system quite nicely. The only gripe I have about the controls is how they want you to walk. To move your character forward you press the R2 button to move your character forward and the left analog stick steers them in the direction you want to go. It is a bit weird to use and takes some getting used to. I also found it difficult to turn sometimes at a certain point in the game where a character has to crawl in a tight space. Other than that I found the controls quite enjoyable. Some of the control movements mirror what you do in the game making it seem like you are almost doing it yourself. The game Utalizes the motion controller in a good way that you don't see with a lot of Playstation games, especially since a lot of games seem to forget it's existence all together. This is refreshing to see with a Playstation game.

I keep mentioning that Heavy Rain has a compelling story, but I keep veering away from the topic. I don't want to give too much away seeing how this is a murder mystery game and the whole point is to find the murderer and save Ethan's son from dying. But I can say that when the murderer was revealed I did not see that one coming. As for the complaints about plot holes for your second time through, I did not feel the same way. I can see why all the characters did what they did, both playable and non playable characters. But again I don't want to go into details as to not spoil it for anyone.

As for the pacing in the game I did find it a bit slow at times, especially with the second playthrough because I already knew what was going to happen. With all the possibilities for this game and after hearing there are 7 different endings, I would have liked it if the Origami killer could have changed with the different choices you have made. It does have some replay value because of the different endings, but with most of the story remaining the same I can't see too much of it. But I think it does have a good solid first playthough with possibilities for replay. Though I did find the game to be on the shorter side as I played through it twice in less than a week.

Game Play 7/10
It's unique style is a nice break from so many games that come out with the same premise and control schemes. The pace can seem a bit slow at times, but other than that it's intense and compelling. Some of the tasks can be tricky to figure out what you need to do or if you have missed something, which in that case it's too late, so I don't find it too easy. Though the difficulty levels just seem to coincide with how well you know the controller giving you no extra challenge in the sense of detective work.

Controls 8/10
The controls for this game are pretty unique. The battle system is pretty different from a lot of games as it's a timed button pressing system. You only have a certain amount of time to press the correct button which can be tricky if you aren't used to the ps3 controller.

Graphics 8/10
This game has some pretty stunning graphics and utilizes bluray and the ps3 capabilities nicely. There are a few places that seem to look out of place. The scrambled eggs you make look nothing like eggs except for that it's yellow, and trust me I made them right because I got the trophy for it. They end up looking like some yellow jello mess. Most unappetizing. Throughout most of the game you do play in muted colors that helps set the dark tone and was in a film noir style which was nice.

Sound 8/10
The music helped set a eerie, depressing tone of the game though none of the music particularly stood out to me. The voice acting on the other hand was just horrible at times. When Ethan calls out for his son at different points in the game it's an ear sore. Luckily he only calls out his name when want him to by pressing the x button.

Story 8/10
As I mentioned the murder mystery aspect of the game was quite compelling and I was surprised when the killer was revealed. There are some slow parts, but not too many. On the second playthrough you do lose the element of surprise because you know who the murderer is, but I did not find any plot wholes because of it.

If you are looking for something a bit different and heavy in storyline based in film noir I would say this is a must buy for anyone with a PS3. The things to look out for currently though is there have been a few technical issues with the game. I had only experienced minor skipping and at one point the voices were out of sync with the graphics. However there have been reports of games freezing and then losing saved information. If this concerns you, then wait for a patch to come out.

Heavy Rain Demo

2010-02-06T12:48:00.003-05:00

So the Heavy Rain demo has been leaked from the UK and I got a chance to nab it. In this demo you get to play a short scene with two characters: Scott Shelby, a private investigator and Norman Jayden, an FBI agent. You start off as Scoot Shelby as it gives you a kick guide on how to control your character. The control scheme is pretty unique and uses the bottoms well, that is except for walking which I found awkward, but once you get used to it I'm sure it won't be that bad. Because the analog sticks do other actions, them make you hold down R2 to have them just walk and then you use the L analog stick to have them move in a different direction. Again why they didn't just have you use the L stick like a lot of other games is beyond me. After the brief intro you start your investigation by talking to the mother of a child who was killed by the Origami Killer. You have options on what you want to say to her, but I couldn't get her to talk, so whether she tells you anything or not I'm still not entirely sure. As this character you also come to a fight like situation where it has you pressing buttons that show up on the screen. If you hit the correct button in time you will throw some punches or dodge your opponent. If you don't hit the correct button in time then you will get hit or slammed up against a wall. I missed a couple of times, but overall kicked his ass. So it's nice to see that you don't have to get 100 percent to win. Because when your character dies, they stay dead and you continue with the story.

Next you play as Norman Jayden and get to do some investigating at a crime scene. If you have seen any previews with him you would know that he has special equiptment out of some science fiction movie. Special glasses and a pair of gloves let's you find and analyze evidence such a shoe prints and pollen that leads a trail in the air. As for investigating the evidence around you, you also get to check out the body. However you don't actually see much of the body. After you are done investigating you leave the site and the game shows you a preview of more to come.

I enjoyed this demo and it makes me want this game even more. A demo drops Feburary 11th for the states and the game comes out February 23rd.

Diary of a Gamer: It's Halloween

2009-10-31T12:37:00.006-04:00

It's Halloween and that means it's time for Jack-O-Lanterns and Scary Games in my book.

First off I would like to share my own Jack-O-Lantern. It's my first time making a game character in my pumpkin and I would say for my first try it's not bad at all. Take a look.

So if you are looking to scare yourself tonight and want something different then the horror movie marathon then why not have a horror game marathon. To me a game is even scarier then a movie and I do love my horror movies. With a game you go at your own pace and I feel because you are the one making the decisions, that you feel more like you are the character. That the killer isn't coming after the young starlet on the screen that you are screaming at your tv to not go in the basement, THE KILLER IS IN THE BASEMENT!, but instead you feel the killer is coming after you. So you are the one deciding should I go in there? Is there a monster in there.

But here are my top 5 scary videogames to play this halloween.

5. Haunting Ground PS2

Picking the 5th one was hard because I knew I had to cut it off somewhere, but what game would hold it's spot. I decided to go with this game because it's not played like most survival horror games, as you will see there are a couple on my list that go away from the norm of survival horror games in some way. Decide to mix up the list a bit. In this game the only defense you have is to hide. You must search a mansion to find a way, which is like many survival horror games, but in this one you have no weapons, however you will eventually get a helpful, friendly dog who helps you get items and fend off enemies.

4. Fatal Frame PS2

A classic survival game with a twist. Based off of a couple Japanese myths you go in search of your brother in a haunted mansion with a camera as your only weapon. These enemies are different from most as they can chase you threw walls and objects.

3. Eternal Darkness for Gamecube

If this game is a giant mind fuck, then I don't know what is. The game worlds and storyline is creepy on it's own, but this game has a few more unique tricks up it's sleeve. It breaks the forth wall really making you believe that you just might be going insane. When your characters sanity goes down effects start happening such as the volume lowering with a volume bar entering on screen.

2. Resident Evil PSX

You knew this had to be on my list somewhere. Zombies are just creepy on themselves, then mix in some abnormal monsters in an abandoned mansion with a double crossing boss. The have some cheap scares that will make you jump out of your seat and even though the dialog is a bit cheesy at times, the story will keep you intrigued.

1. Silent Hill PSX

Even though I talk about Resident Evil a lot when I talk about horror games, but Silent Hill was the scariest game I've ever played. The world surrounding you quickly changes from a eerie ash falling atmosphere to a completely degrading world from the aftermath of a fire. The creatures you come across do not attack you in horde, but show up randomly sometimes giving you a warning and sometimes not. The game really messes with your head as you search for your missing daughter.

Diary of a Gamer: New Segment

2009-10-21T08:41:00.006-04:00

Not so new seeing how I have already had none game review posts, but this way I can group them together and perhaps have a reason to update more.

So it's the Xmas Season. Pretty sad seeing how Halloween hasn't even come yet, but that complaint comes every year when stores start selling Xmas stuff next to the Halloween costumes. But this time also means that there are a lot of new and exciting game releases. The best games usually do come out around this time. So are there games that I'm looking forward to? Hell ya! Does this mean more reviews? Let's hope so, but my addiction of gaming leaves me to buy more games than I can keep up with. Which leaves even less time for reviews. Hense where I hope this segment will come in to pick up the slack.

A big release that just came out was Uncharted 2 for the PS3. I am already plugging away the hours. I'm half way through the story mode and am very pleased with what has come so far. The cut scenes are beautiful, the storyline is interesting, and the gameplay is amazing. And with the online multiplayer mode there is so much to do. I recommend the game fully, but if you want to wait a review might be coming.

Another big game coming out, this time for the Wii, is the New Super Mario Bros. which will bring you back to the gold old days of 2D gaming. This one peaks my interesting and I probably will end up picking it up sooner or later. If only it had online multiplayer as well.

Other releases are Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the DS, and Activision and MTV Games have a bunch of new music games that have recently been released or are soon on there way. So this holiday season should be full of new and fun games for any gamer.

However there are more games on the horizon past the holiday season. Mario Galaxy 2 is coming out next year for the Wii, as well as Heavy Rain for the PS3 and Bayonetta for the PS3 and 360. And in the distant future Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep for the PSP and Final Fantasy XIII.

I'm most looking forward to the games for the PS3. I feel a lack of excitement for my Wii these days feeling like a lot of games aren't being designed with my type of games in mind. Though New Super Mario Bros. does look intriguing however I'm put off by the idea that the game can play itself when things get too tough for some to handle. Sure I don't have to use it, but it's the idea of what games are coming to these days.

Then there's Bayonetta, which looks like it could be fun, but the PS3 port hasn't been done well so far. Sure it's not released yet and Sega, who has already owned up for it's mistakes on the poor graphic quaility to the PS3 version, still has time to spruce it up to the 360 version's standards. The PS3 does have better graphic capability, it's time that multi-platform games use what the PS3 is capable of even if it's just to match the 360 version. If we are going to shell out $60 for a game we want the best it can be and not another Ghost Busters issue.

So if you are looking for a new game there are plenty of new releases and up and comings to pick up. Don't let all that holiday time go to waste!

Fatal Frame PS2 Review

2009-09-24T10:49:00.002-04:00

So after a rant and a review on what makes a good survival horror game, I have found me one. All I had to do was search numerous Gamestops and reverse back a system. And it appears to be so good that it's still $40 used after 2 sequels, with a 4th in Japan, and for being a 7 year old game. Good thing I had coups.

Fatal Frame has all the elements of what makes a good survival horror game: monstrous foes, puzzles, creepy music and environments, and the fear of having a ghost pop out at you at any moment.

What makes this survival horror game different from it's competitors is the weapon system. Unlike having a gun and knife to fend off evil foes you use a camera to capture the ghosts energy. What makes that so interesting if the fact that it comes from reality or well what some people believe to be reality. The idea that a camera can capture your soul and allow you to see spirits is one deeply rooted in our history all over the world. It may not be your belief, but it's still neat idea for a game.

The first Fatal Frame is also based on a true story or well two. How many videogames out there can claim that? The idea that the game has basis in reality can make the reality of the gameplay more interesting and scary for some. Many people have in fact claimed that Fatal Frame is one of the scariest games out there. I won't deny that it's a scary game, but I believe that Silent Hill is the scariest shit out there. Now that really plays with your mind.

As for actual gameplay and story, I found it interesting and engaging. You first take the control of Mafuyu, a young man in search of his mentor who has gone missing inside of a haunted mansion. You don't control him for long. After finding a special camera know as Camera Obscura, and defeating your first ghost, he too goes missing. You then take control of Miku, Mafuyu's sister, as she goes on a hunt for him. She too finds the camera and searches deeper into the mansion for Mafuyu as she finds out the dark secrets that the mansion holds.

In this game you will not have hoards of ghosts attack you all at once, I think the most I had to fend off was 3 at a time, but that makes it scarier in my opinion. Not knowing when a ghost will appear and even have them move through walls is scary and adds a different bit of challenge to the game.

The controls are a bit clunky, think original Resident Evil as the control system is pretty much the same for walking and camera angles, and sometimes you will run into invisible objects. The system for walking up and down ladders is incredibly slow. You could get into some real trouble if you are heading down a ladder with a ghost chasing after you. What makes it worse is there is no button command to use a ladder, if you walk up close to it you just start climbing. Combine this with the changing camera angles for different areas and you could end up using the ladder 3 or 4 times in a row.

The game has two different endings, 3 if you have the xbox version. Both endings seem sad in their own way to me, but you will just have to play through to figure out what you think of them.

Fatal Frame gets a 4 out of 5 stars for unique weapons, scary situations, and a good storyline. I knocked off a point for clunky controls, but it's still manageable.

UNCHARTED: Drake's Fortune PS3 Review

2009-09-21T18:27:00.016-04:00

With Uncharted 2 just around the corner, I finally decided to pick up a copy of the original and give it go. After playing, it got me wondering why I didn't pick up this title sooner. It has a nice mix of a third person shooter, an adventure game, and a puzzle game all rolled into one with a few other surprise elements.

You are Nathan Drake, who sets out to find a treasure with hints and a map from your ancestor on the same hunt. Throughout the game you get some help and help out a couple of AI characters. Luckily these AI characters can't die that way you don't have to worry about saving their ass every five minutes. However in the storyline you do seem to be saving their asses quite a bit. One is a old friend and con artist, while the other is a film journalist. When your friend gets into trouble you question his motives, while when the female AI character (aka the film journalist, who you just can't seem to get rid of) is in trouble you have to be the hero and save the damsel in distress even though she can handle herself most of the time. She does rescue you a few times so it helps balance out this injustice. But I mostly kid. The dynamic between these characters help build a strong story.

As for the gameplay, there really is a lot to it. You have a variety of weapons, however you can only carry three weapons at a time: one sidearm; one machine gun, shot gun or sniper rifle; and a set of grenades at a time. So rationing ammo and deciding what weapon will be needed to carry on with you to the next part becomes a bit harder. If you do run out of ammo or just want a different kind of action you can do melee moves and combo attacks.

The puzzles and some other aspects of the game are very reminiscent of Tomb Raider. If Nathan drake had a higher voice and large breasts I might actually think I was playing one. The puzzles have you move or drag objects around and he jumps and clings to cliffs in a very similar way. But even with the similarities UNCHARTED is it's own game. The targeting system and health system is different. You can choose to have a cursor appear and aim for the enemy you want and not to just the closest one. There is also no health packs in UNCHARTED. If you get low on health the screen colors dim until they become black and white and the only way to recover is to stay out of the line of fire for a short amount of time. The swimming system is also different. Nathan cannot swim under water like Laura can, which I actually prefer since I hate water levels.

But enough with comparing UNCHARTED to other games. It can stand alone as a very strong game with many twists in turns and with a sequel on the way I can see this series lasting a long time. So UNCHARTED: Drake's Fortune gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Just a note for those of you picking UNCHARTED up after the PS3 update 3.0. Some people have reported the game freezing constantly forcing you to restart your system. There is now an optional update known as 3.1 that you can install that will fix this problem.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box DS Review

2009-09-21T10:28:00.005-04:00

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is the second in a series of puzzle games and the latest one to come stateside. Like the first game, Diabolical Box follows Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke to solve a mystery by solving puzzles. It's a point and click adventure with an intriguing storyline that separates this game from other puzzle games putting it in a class of it's own. There are over 100 puzzles in the game ranging from fairly easy to quite difficult which will keep you entertained and puzzled for hours.

I'm gonna to spend a good chunk of this review discussing the puzzles because this game at it's core is a puzzle game. There are a variety of different puzzles ranging from guessing the right item from a number of clues to classic peg board puzzles to sliding puzzles. Some of the puzzles are unique to the other puzzles in the game, while others are just a harder version of a previous puzzle. A couple use outside elements taking you away from the screen. One of them uses a paper ticket that is found in the game's booklet which is instructed for your use in game. The last puzzle in the story uses a feature that none other in the game uses, leaving you to really think about what you have to do. That puzzle was my favorite because it really utilizes all the features that make the DS so unique.

If you get stumped on one of these puzzles you can get up to three hints which can be unlocked by using hint coins found throughout the game hidden in the background. Most of the coins are easy to find and hidden in the same types of places that they would be found in the first Professor Layton game. I was hoping for more of a challenge looking for these coins, but since they are used as a helping tool and not necessary to finish the game it wasn't a big deal. Plus it might be nice to not struggle over where to find one of these when you really need one to be finish a puzzle that you just can't seem to figure out. But then it becomes even more easier to find them when you finish the hamster side quest puzzle as he actually will point out their location to you.

Speaking of these side quests, there are a few for you to accomplish as you head through story mode. Three are of them to be exact. You will run into a chef on the train who will tell you about his pet hamster and how he needs some exercise for he fears that he is too unhealthy from living in a kitchen feeding off all the scraps. There are five levels and once he is fit and feeling good he will help you find those hint coins.

Another of these side quests involves a broken camera you receive. Again you will find pieces after solving puzzles and then you have to put all the pieces together to fix the camera. Once the camera is fixed more puzzles will be available to you.

The last side quest is played by mixing herbs together to make tea for the towns people. This side quest was the least fun. The towns people randomly appear to be sweating, indicating that they need tea. But if you serve them the wrong tea they don't seem to want another cup until some random time later. It's a bit frustrating to serve them the wrong tea just to go back later and find out you still don't have it right.

Other than the extensive amount of puzzles there is a story that ties them together nicely. Some puzzles are even tied into the story, so not to make them just a random element. The story to Diabolical Box was nice and full of mystery. You discover a little more and more of the giant puzzle as you move along like any good story, too bad you don't have to figure this one out on your own. It is all revealed through cutscenes, sometimes being backed up with a puzzle.

The cutscenes are nice with three different kinds that move the story along. The best is the actual moving pictures with voice acting. The style, even though not realistic is quite nicely drawn. The other two types is a still frame of the two characters currently talking with subtitles. Some of them are voice acted while others are not. It leaves you wondering why all aren't voice acted.

This game has a good replay value. Even after the story is finished there might still be puzzles to be solved since you don't need to solve them all to finish the story mode. There are also more puzzles to be downloaded through wi-fi just like the first. With so many puzzles and a cute artistic style this is truely one game on the DS to not pass up. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Inside Game Informer

2009-08-14T21:51:00.008-04:00

Picking up my shiny new issue of Game Informer I headed right for the Dear GI section. I was a bit distracted talking to my brother, but then the world stopped as I honed onto the bold letters spelling out my name. I made it into Game Informer! Sure it's just the letters to the editor section, but to have an opinion published in a national magazine still feels pretty good. They did cut it down a bit, which was to be expected for space issues and they cleaned it up a bit. So here is a view of what showed up in the magazine.

In Issue 196, a reader called out Wii gamers by bringing up a few good games and asking why people weren't buying them. Here's my best answer: Just because you are a hardcore gamer doesn't mean that everyone likes the same type of hardcore games. I still enjoy my Wii and pick up a new game for it when it appeals to me, but for the types of games that I enjoy, being a multi-console gamer is the only way to go.

And just so you don't have to go back an entry, here is my full response that I sent into Game Informer.

Growing up with video games and owning consoles from Sony, Sega, and Nintendo had me in a bit of a quarrel as to what system to buy this generation. I ended up going with the Nintendo Wii back when it was still almost impossible to get one and the games were very much lacking. But it's innovated idea on gameplay and having a new Zelda game to boot had me wanting one. But after 2 years of owning one, I as a hardcore gamer who also likes "casual" games, was missing many of the hardcore games that were released for the PS3 and the 360. So I went out and bought a PS3 a few months ago. I now don't have the feeling of missing out on good hardcore games because they won't come to the Wii for one reason or another. That way I can still play games like Zelda and Mario Kart, but still not miss out on games like Resident Evil 5 and Prototype. In issue 196, Patrick brought up a few good games for hardcore gamers that came out for the Wii and asked why people weren't buying them. But just because you are a hardcore gamer doesn't mean that we all like the same type of hardcore games. I did, however, pick up Okami, but went with the ps2 version instead. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy my Wii and pick up a new game for it when it appeals to me, but overall Nintendo seems to have targeted the Wii more towards the "casual" gamer. For me being a multi-console gamer is the only way to go.

Here's some pics for those of you who don't get Game Informer. I got Cover 1 of 2, so if yours doesn't look like this then you probably got cover 2 for September 2009. (click on them to make them larger)

Fat Princess PS3 Review Download

2009-08-11T19:26:00.004-04:00

Who says a game for 14.99 can't be fun? I'm not sure if that has ever really been said, but people seem to think that if something is cheap it's not good. This is not the case with Fat Princess, which is a downloadable game for the Playstation 3. You play as a villager in a kingdom where your princess and a neighboring princess are addicted to cake. In this game the cake is not a lie! There are different tasks ranging from a capture the flag type game to being the first team to kill a certain number of the opposing teams to claiming all the towers on the map for your team. In any of the game types you can be a range of characters. Trying on different hats give you different abilities such as throwing fire, building and repairing buildings, shooting arrows, healing party members and the likes. These differences gives you a bunch of different ways to play giving the game more replay value.

In Fat Princess there are two modes of gameplay: a single player story mode and an online vs. mode. The single player mode as a whole is short, however some of the levels can be quite long, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I was on one level for a few hours, gave up, came back to it for a couple more hours of gameplay before finishing it. With a level just being one simple task this can get boring if it runs on for too long.

The online mode is where this game really shines. If it wasn't for the trophies, yes I just might be a trophy whore, I'm not sure if I would have finished the single player mode so soon. But playing online with friends is quite fun. There can be up to 32 players total which each team consisting of 16 people. If you don't have that many the remaining characters are replaced with A.I. characters. For the most part they are pretty easy when you place yourself up against them especially with real people on your team.

There are a couple of things that need some improving in my opinion. As a girl gamer I am used to being gypped when it comes to games for the most part. It's a man's world even though girl gamers are out there and not the ones just interested in silly little girl games. What I'm referring to in Fat Princess is your character. You can design your own character to an extent. You can change hair style and color, as well as eye color and facial hair. You can choose between a girl or a boy, which basically changes the voice of your character. So all is not lost for girl gamers. But the girl hairstyle choices are so small that there will either be girls with pigtails or a boys haircut. So that does mean that girl characters can have beards as well. A boy character can also choose to model the pigtails. As you go along you do unlock more hairstyles and colors, so maybe there is another girly hairstyle I just haven't unlocked yet. But either way this isn't a huge issue for me and am happy to sport my purple pigtails with blue skin.

The one thing that I wish they worked on more was giving us more maps. With only about 5 different maps it can get a little boring. Maybe this would be a good use of downloadable content.

All in all I find Fat Princess a good game well worth it's price tag with good online gameplay and funny commentary that ads a little personality to the game. I would give this game a 3.5 out of 5.

A Topic Worth Writing In For

2009-07-19T19:16:00.008-04:00

After subscribing to Game Informer for a few years now there hasn't been a topic I felt strong enough to voice my opinion on until now. Sadly it's not an article or a game feature, but someone instigating a debate on the Wii, it's hardcore games and the whiney SOB's that claim they are hardcore gamers. Hey! I'm a whiney SOB claiming to be a hardcore gamer, so I had to jump on my soapbox and write in. Here's how it went down.

Dear GI:

Hardcore Negligence

In the reader art section of issue 195, there was a picture of Jack from the under appreciated MadWorld. I'm one of the few who bought the game - it makes me wonder about gamers who cry on internet forums about Nintendo failing its hardcore audience on the Wii. I'm starting to think the opposite is true: the hardcore audience has failed Nintendo. Why didn't you buy MadWorld, House of the Dead, Okami and No more Heros? All of those titles should have sold more copies. If you call yourself hardcore, why aren't you buying the games made for you?

Patrick Borrelli
Via Email

Hardcore Wii owners, Patrick is calling you out. What do you have to say in your defense? Have hardcore gamers let Nintendo down? Drop us a line and share your thoughts.

My Response:

Growing up with video games and owning consoles from Sony, Sega, and Nintendo had me in a bit of a quarrel as to what system to buy this generation. I ended up going with the Nintendo Wii back when it was still almost impossible to get one and the games were very much lacking. But it's innovated idea on gameplay and having a new Zelda game to boot had me wanting one. But after 2 years of owning one, I as a hardcore gamer who also likes "casual" games, was missing many of the hardcore games that were released for the PS3 and the 360. So I went out and bought a PS3 a few months ago. I now don't have the feeling of missing out on good hardcore games because they won't come to the Wii for one reason or another. That way I can still play games like Zelda and Mario Kart, but still not miss out on games like Resident Evil 5 and Prototype. In issue 196, Patrick brought up a few good games for hardcore gamers that came out for the Wii and asked why people weren't buying them. But just because you are a hardcore gamer doesn't mean that we all like the same type of hardcore games. I did, however, pick up Okami, but went with the ps2 version instead. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy my Wii and pick up a new game for it when it appeals to me, but overall Nintendo seems to have targeted the Wii more towards the "casual" gamer. For me being a multi-console gamer is the only way to go.

Will I show up in a future issue of Game Informer? Only one way to find out. In the mean time I would like to continue this discussion here. Tell me your thoughts on Patrick's and my responses to this issue. What are your feelings on the Wii/Hardcore Gamer relationship? I love a good debate.

EDIT: I have added a poll listing hardcore games for the 3 major consoles with the appearance of the ps2 and the gamecube because the games where just to good to leave off and some are expecting sequels in the future. Also if I left out your favorite hardcore game I'm sorry. I have also only listed the latest in a series, not what I think is the best. I had to end the list somewhere. But since this is a poll about Nintendo leaving hardcore gamers out with their current console I thought that current games on current consoles should be looked at. Please take the poll seriously. I want to see hardcore gamers opinions on what good hardcore games are out there and what systems have the best hardcore games. This study will help with the discussion. Please feel free to choose more than one option since being a hardcore gamer means you play more than just 1 or 2 games.

The Survival Horror Horror

2009-07-02T19:01:00.015-04:00

This is not so much of a review, but more of a look at a specific genre of games and how it's evolving. I'm sure by the title you already guessed I'm talking about the Survival Horror Genre. Alone in the Dark and Sweet Home are among the first survival horror games, but the term was coined with the first Resident Evil. Resident Evil: Director's Cut for the Playstation was my first survival horror game and the standard I hold all the rest to.

So after completing Resident Evil 5 for the second time, I've been looking for new survival horror games to fix my itch. This is where the inspiration for this blog is coming from. I did some searches on the top survival horror games out there looking for more to play. Resident Evil always made the list. After being one of the most recognized survival horror game, with over 20 games and 4 movies, how could it not be. However, with most of the lists Resident Evil 4 was the Resident Evil game pf choice or placed higher then others. For me Resident Evil 4 was one of my least favorites, not to say that I have played all of the titles. But out of the main series, I feel it is lacking, while everyone gives their praises. This is where I feel the definition of survival horror is being turned upside-down.

The definition of survival horror can be easily broken down to a game where you try to survive in a really horrific, unreal situation. So yes Resident Evil 4 can technically be considered. But it's also about the build up to fear, the puzzles over the shoot 'em up style, conserving your ammo, and juggling your items. This is opposed to a shooter style like the game F.E.A.R., which is a horror type of game, but not a survival type at all. I believe Resident Evil 4 started moving towards a shooter style and away from the survival horror theme.

This move greatly saddens me. Especially since Resident Evil is one of my favorite games and others like it. Something about scaring the shit out of me intrigues me, though sometimes I find them to scary to play. An amusing thought I'm sure for someone who claims to love the games so much. Playing through Resident Evil 5 has made me miss the old style even more. Sure the graphics are fantastic and I take full advantage of the HD capabilities. But where were all the puzzles? Sure there are a few. The puzzle where you have to turn the mirrors to make the ancient elevators work wasn't bad, but it also seemed very Tomb Raideresque. Where are the password puzzles? Where are the puzzles where you have to have the right color combination of fuses to unlock something? Where are the objects that you have to find in order to move on or gain a new items? No broken shotgun to replace the real one so you can do a bait and switch just like in Indiana Jones? And all the key cards are obtained by killing a mini boss type of enemy instead of finding it hidden among a pile of papers or such like things? This just goes to show you that the games are heading more brawn then brains. The puzzles brought so much more to the game then we must kill everything in the way to survive. It gave more dimensions to the games and more game time since some of those puzzles can be pretty tricky.

I do have to give RE5 props though for the co-op campaign. Very few games have this, especially online. And they do it very well. Co-op campaign is lacking from a lot of games these days. Most multiplayer games are again strategic shoot up the other team before they get you. The only other game that I can think of that has co-op campaign that I've played was Obscure: The Aftermath for Wii, which is another survival horror title. It didn't have online play, which is too bad, but it didn't do half bad. It wasn't the best game I've ever played, but it was a lot of fun to play with a friend. It also kept the puzzles and I must add overly cheesy lines like a lot of survival horror games have, including the first Resident Evil. However playing with the AI when you don't have a friend can be difficult like with any AI character.

I know everything needs to evolve otherwise we would become bored of having the same kind of game over and over again. But that is what the different genres are for. Hell that's even what the different series of Resident Evil is for. From the main series to the survivor series to the chronicle series and so on. But bring back all the puzzles and the thrills instead of the kills. Though I do have to say that there are some freaky parts in RE5. I'm glad the lickers made a couple quite freaky and challenging appearances.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Beta PS3

2009-06-11T23:05:00.006-04:00

So I got my hands on an Uncharted 2: Among Theives Closed Beta Code. Now I don't know much about Uncharted seeing how I didn't play the first one, so storyline is lost on me. What I can report on is the gameplay. In the beta you can play multiplayer online with others who are in the beta. I luckily hooked up with someone I knew and was pleasently surprised that the mic worked on the beta. The gameplay mostly consisted of strategicly hiding behind boxes, couches and such and shooting hoards of soliders. You can also melee and kick and bunch the crap out of them. I noticed that if you decide to do hand to hand combat they go down faster then if you were to shoot the hell out of them. However if they have you in a strangle hold you are helpless to get out. Another player has to shoot them for the enemy to loosen their grip on your neck.

The health system is fairly simple. What is nice is that the color of the whole world around you fades until it goes into black and white. It's easier to tell when you are dying then keeping your eye on some sort of health bar. The color slowly becomes vibrant again as you stay out of the line of fire. If you get to badly hurt you will become paralized hoping that the other players can revive you before you completely die. So running out in the middle of the hoard is not a good idea. The player who will try to save your life will most likely die as well.

There are other actions. Once you clear out a hoard a red icon will appear. You have to find out where it is and set off an action. Usually moving an object so you can climb on it to gain access to another area. The Beta consisted of 3 or 4 areas, one with a mini boss, which your characters will comment on how you should kill him before he gets you, but really he was a piece of cake. The beta ends with another boss-like enemy jumping over a wall carrying a machine gun.

It was pretty fun, but something I will buy when the full version comes out. I'm still on the fence about it.

Resident Evil 5 PS3 Review

2009-03-25T09:50:00.014-04:00

Resident Evil is one of those games that helped start the survival horror revolution. It also helped revive the popularity of zombies and giving them a new twist on a real world situation that could cause a person to become a zombie. I'm not saying that we have the bio technology to actually pull it off, but it's not far from the truth with bio terrorism. This storyline to these games helped the games' popularity. The puzzles and cheap frights also made it a game you loved to play. Who can forget the Licker dashing by the window just as you turn a corner in RE2?

But recent RE games have drifted a bit from it's predecessors. In RE4 they decided to take the gameplay into a different direction along with the storyline. Sure Umbrella has been taken down, but bio weapons still live on, all thanks to Umbrella. The game changed more into a 3rd person shooter then a survival horror with hoards of zombie like people charging at you. They have become faster and smarter as well. The debate is out on whether these are zombies or not. Sure you could use the definition of a zombie as one who has lost all their personality and only has one basic function rather then that of a reannimated corpse, but what fun is that?

Resident Evil 5 is more like 4 then any other, but it brings back a villain that I am most happy with. I'm sure you all have heard who it is by now, but I'll keep it hush hush in this review. The big major change in RE5 that hasn't been done before in any other in this series is that you can choose to play alone with the AI character or with a partner either online or right next to you. I have to say that I love and hate this feature. I hate it when you play alone because AI characters are never really that helpful. Sure they will save your life when you are dying and they somewhat help you take out the bad guys, but in Boss battles it leaves more to be desired. But what can you really expect from an AI player? However, playing with a friend is a lot of fun. You just want to make sure that you have some sort of verbal communication with your partner if you are playing online. The button commands are general commands, but in this game you will need to strategize a bit more then just telling someone to come here.

This new game play has also taken out some of the puzzles you have seen before and is more about shooting the bad guys, just like in RE4. I don't recall seeing any puzzles asking you to enter a key code where you must find the code first, or ones where you have to put objects in a certain place in a machine to activate it. I dearly miss all the puzzles and would trade them in for hoards of zombie like people any day. The game does keep some puzzles though. But these puzzles have become more Tomb Raideresque. My brother loves Tomb Raider games and while playing he made a comment on how close it was. Luckily there was no swimming underwater. I'm not a fan of water levels.

The controls are also different from past versions. For those of us who played the older Resident Evil games, we got used to what have been named as tank controls. There was a lot of complaints about the way you controlled your character. I know when I first started it took some getting used to. And in RE5 I had to get used to controls all over again. What was once the x button for reading info and gathering items is now square. You still hold down a button to aim your gun, but it is now L1 instead of R1. Then you have to press R1 instead of x to shoot. This does leave you with fumbling around with the controls for a bit.

I was pretty happy with the storyline though, which brings back old characters and more back story on Umbrella. There is also a few new Enemies and a new form on the virus. Of course the enemies turn on each other and seem a bit too eager themselves to become monsters. The story does lead itself to some crazy storylines, but what can you expect from a game about a virus that turns people into monsters. I of course don't want to give up to much on the story and ruin the surprise for those who want to be surprised.

With all the changes it is proving hard for me to give this game a rating. It was even hard for me to even decide if I wanted to pick this game up. I am a fan of the older games and have been playing them since Resident Evil: Directors Cut. So ya from the beginning. I loved the style and puzzles in the game. The storyline was one that grabbed my attention, even with the cheesy dialog. I must say that the dialog gets better as the games go on, but the storylines seem to get worse. When I got RE4 I was highly disappointed. The thing I think that grabbed my attention and my decision to get RE5 was the storyline. As I said the return of one of the characters was a good selling point for me. I was also intrigued by being able to play RE with a friend. So I decided to give this game a try. With a friend along I couldn't stop playing this game. It is a lot of fun and I am glad that I did pick it up. However it did still leave me longing for the old games.

So for those reasons I reluctently give this game a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5.

Super Mario Bros 3 Retro Review

2009-03-10T11:11:00.009-04:00

Yes it's time for my first Retro Review. Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in 1990 in the U.S. for the Nintendo Entertainment system. Since then it has been released on several other consoles, the latest being on the Virtual Console for the Wii. Even without today's graphics, Super Mario Bros. 3 stands the test of time for one of the greatest platformers of all time. Or at leas that's what I think.

The game is a 1 to 2 player game, where you play as Mario and Luigi (second player being Luigi). There are 8 different worlds, which you view on a map like screen which Mario and Luigi use to travel from one level to the next, that hold many different levels that must be complete. You don't have to complete all the levels to move on. Some paths give you a choice to do one or the other.

Each map has a couple castles or more including the final castle. Defeating a castle, not counting the final castle, will crumble and a block will be unlocked on the map, allowing you to pass by the first few levels again without redoing them in the event that you die. Before entering the final castle of a world you talk to a subject of the King of the world. He tells you that the king has been transformed and you need to return his magic wand. You then enter the castle and travel to the end of the level to reach one of Bowser's children for a mini boss battle. I find them to be quite easy. Jumping on them three times kills them and if you do this fairly quickly you can defeat them without them barely moving. I find the level to get to the mini boss much harder to do then the acutal boss. If you do fail the first time a flying ship will move to another location on the map. This can become problematic if you didn't beat all the levels or if you died and some of the levels became unbeaten. So you may have to beat a few more levels before battling the final boss again. Once you defeat the final boss of the world the king recieves his magic wand and is back to his old self again. You also get a letter from peach which includes an item to help you on your way.

Each world has a different theme which can be a world filled most by water levels or my favorite, a world where everything is big. Mario stays the same size but blocks and enemies have grown about 4 times their normal size. Different themes allow different challenges in each world and help the game from becoming repetitive. Oh course each new world you come to will be more challenging then the last, as with the levels.

Also on the map are very short mini games. A mushroom shaped house leads you to a game which lets you choose from three chests. The chest you choose holds an item that then goes into your menu bar at the bottom as do the items you recieve in Peach's letters. These items can be used before entering a level. You press A and then select what you will want and Mario is transformed. It's very helpful indeed. Another mini game brings up a screen with three sliding parts. You press A three times to stop each of the scrolling parts. If they stop to form a complete item you get extra lives, depending on what the item is. A third mini game appears randomly after you complete a level. This mini game is a game of memory where you pick to cards and they stay up if they match. If you get it wrong twice you lose. But the board keeps whatever you have matched for next time the mini game comes up.

There are also new items that are introduced that it's predecessors did not have. P wings and a cloud are among the few that let you either skip a level or fly throughout the whole level. There are also three hidden flutes in the game that allow you to move to a whole new world. The flutes make it very easy to beat the game in no time, providing you can get past the last world quickly. With just two flutes and by defeating the first map you can get all the way to the last world, which is Bowser's fire like world.

This is a fun and challenging game for all ages which makes it the classic it is. If you have never played this game before and like platformers I highly recommend getting it.

Which is why I give Super Mario Bros. 3 a 4 out of 5 stars.

Game review: Chrono trigger (and remakes)

2009-03-06T14:20:00.003-05:00

Okay, to start this review off I would like to state I am the new reviewer. Well anyway chrono trigger has had two remakes after the original launch, now this was a good move for square cause so few gamers have played the first game. Now this game is probably the only game I am going to say is a must play if you like rpgs. Okay so now one of the things that makes the game good is it came out on the snes however its graphics seemed years ahead of the snes's time. Another good thing is unlike most rpgs of this time period the plot is incredibly well written and has about 8 hours of gameplay through the first playthrough(if you play flawlessly and manage to get through without dieing or having to grinding), another interesting thing about this is it has multiple endings, about 6 or so on the original.Now one of th egames other amazing features was multicharacter combos, and because the max party was three characters and there was seven or so possible party members, now this was a really good feature because I was pulled into replaying the game after getting every ending to see every move(I still haven't seen every move yet). One other thing about this game is the fact it includes time travel to different eras, and the actions you do in the past can affect the future. For example in the past you can do a mission to plant a bunch of trees, and if you do in the present there will be a huge forest and a temple featuring the party member you sent to plant the trees.

Now to cover the remakes, the ps1 remake was a full priced game, however its new features were good enough for the full price, however it was also marketed with ff5. Now to cover the new features, there were some anime cutscenes, and they added a music database and a few other neat features. Now the anniversary collection(its ps1 release) was my first entry into crono trigger, and I remember when I rented the anniversary collection all I would do was play crono trigger and ignore ff5.(I never purchased the collection). Now the other remake was the ds one, this is worth the 50$ price, however if you own the previous versions of chrono trigger the new features aren't worth it. They kept the old ps1 features, added a nice new long quest, three dungeons you have to complete to get a new ending that feels in some missing info, they also added a horrid monster raising system which I hate cause it was pointless, and having your creature evolve was random chance, and its more likely for your creature to devolve. Now lets end chrono trigger ds on a good note, the interface is completely customizable and made for the touch screen

Review summary
Original chrono trigger: 5 out of 5, nice graphics, interesting plot, nice gameplay features

anniversay collection chrono trigger: 5 out of 5, nice new anime cutscenes, the two games are worth the 40$ price tag and it was still lesser known during this release.

Chrono trigger ds : 4 out of 5, not enough new features for a 5 out of 5, but I would have to say if you need to buy a chrono trigger game, buy this one.

Now thanks for listening to my first review

Signed charon Aka Ryley

Singstar Series Playstation Review

2009-03-06T12:20:00.012-05:00

I was going to do a comparison on all the karaoke games out there to help people decide which one is right for them. As I started writing it I realized just how much information there is out there for these types of games, even though there is 4 main series out there. Plus there were karaoke games that didn’t appeal to me so I wouldn’t try them and be able to give you a full comparison and another one I only played at a friends and didn’t have enough information for me to compare it against the ones that I own. If you haven’t noticed in my past reviews, I like giving a detailed review to give you the best information possible. I do research on my games and play them most, if not all the way through. So under my own code of excellence that I strive for in my reviews, this comparison just wasn’t cutting it. So I decided to do a review on the Singstar series for the Playstation 3. From the choices of songs selections to the actual game play, this is my favorite of all the karaoke games out there.

There are many different Singstar title for you to choose from for the PS2 and a growing number for the PS3. The PS2 SingStars are more grouped into music genres with such titles as Singstar Pop, Singstar Rocks and Singstar Country. They also have titles by decades with Singstar '80's and Singstar 90's. The PS3 versions however take a little bit different approach by mixing their genres all into one disc with Singstar and Singstar Vol. 2. They also have released a Singstar ABBA and soon a Singstar Queen. Now if they only had Singstar Evanescence I would be all set.

The game basics is a karaoke game. When you choose a song the official video from the band plays with the actual track from the artist, unlike some karaoke games. The lyrics appear at the bottom and become highlighted over the word to sync with the song. It works just like any karaoke system would work in that matter. Which in practice mode is basically just karaoke with the video playing. It's also a good mode to just watch the music videos. In other modes: sing solo, duet, battle and pass the mic, are where the game part of Singstar comes out. These modes track you pitch as you sing through the song gaining you points as you hit the right ones. Easy gives you the widest area to get the pitch while hard gives you the least. At the end of the song you get rated by the number of points you rack up, giving them such names as hopeful, lead singer and singstar.

The online features of the game aren't bad, but could've been better. The PS2 Singstar doesn't have online options, no surprise there, but the PS3 titles do. If you select the online option it will give you a choice of going to their store, which currently has over 500 songs to download for $1.49 each. Which isn't a bad price for the offical music video that works in the game. If you go to itunes right now you can buy music videos for $1.49 or $1.99. The online store is also a great idea because some of the titles might have one or two songs that you actually want. So this way you can buy only the ones you want once you have bought a PS3 version. Not all the songs that are on the discs can be downloaded, so you might have to actually buy a disc if you can't live without a song.

Most of the songs that come on the disc and that are downloaded are edited to keep it's Teen rating. The song might replace the word with a more appropriate word, but that only happens if the real video is done that way. If the song just simply took out the word then it will be missing int he game as well. However the pitch bar is still present even with the word edited out. So you can still sing your songs uninterupted. But if you don't know the song very well you will have to fill in the pitch bar with whatever you can come up with. Which is another point about this game. Getting the right lyrics don't matter. Just the pitch.

Some songs however aren't edited. For example I Write Sins, Not Tragedies by Panic At The Disco. Normally when you see the video being played or hear the song on the radio, it cuts out the line "God Damn Door", and in the preview of this video on Singstar it does as well. But after downloading and playing the song, it does not. There was no warning when purchasing the actual track, however when going into the store it does give a disclaimer that song are not rated and that "Parental discretion is advised".

Another good thing about the online store is that you can also download songs from a bunch of different lanuages. All you do is set your settings to a different default lanuage and the store shows you all those songs. Trying doing 99 Red Balloons in German. However, depending on your region you have a slightly different songlist. Some songs cannot be bought if you live in the U.S. and some can't be bought in the U.K. I assume it has to do with liscening issues.

The other part of the online feature is creating a profile and uploading videos of yourself singing in the game using the Playstation Eye (a camera that can be bought seperatly for your playstation). This feature is something I never use, but I don't have a Playstation Eye. But for me without this feature, this game wouldn't get a lower score.

Then I was all ready to embarass myself by singing online with a random person to give you guys a complete review and realized that this feature doesn't exsist, which is a shame. I guess Singstar didn't feel the need to add this feature. Maybe because singing in a group is meant to be done when you are together. But this feature has been seen in a number of other karaoke games such as American Idol Encore 2 (multi console) and Lips (Xbox 360 exclusive). Now I don't have Singstar Vol. 2. So that might be an option.

One really good thing about the Singstar games is that if you aren't one of the lucky owners of a backwards compatible (b/c) PS3 you can still play PS2 titles using a disc swap system. Insert your PS3 version of singstar. Once you have gotten to the list of song choices press the select bottom and it will ask you to remove the current disc and put in a new Singstar title. This can be a ps2 version or another ps3 version. The tracks from the disc are now available to sing in the setting of the ps3 version. Although you can't play the songs on the previous disc, the downloaded songs still remain in your catalog. You can also do this if you have a ps2 version in your system (if you are using a ps2 or a b/c ps3), however you can only swap ps2 versions since it doesn't recognize the ps3 disc as a Singstar disc.

I would have to give the series a 4 out of 5 for music selection and using the real tracks and videos.

Jessie (aka Bloodyaftertaste)

Review Talk: MK Wii vs. LBP

2009-03-06T08:32:00.005-05:00

So I was getting some slack on why I gave Mario Kart Wii a 4 and LittleBigPlanet (LBP) a 5 from a friend yesterday. They know I have loved Mario Kart games ever since Super Mario Kart and were wondering why I thought LBP was a better game, even though she pointed out that they weren't the same kind of game to compare.

My answer wasn't because I think the LBP is the better game out of the two. Both are great games in their own rights. But if you notice from my review on MK Wii there are some points that I thought Nintendo could have done better with the game. It is hard with a sequel because there is certain aspects that are expected to be brought through to the next installment and then aslo push the game farther by adding new elements. So my answer was that they could add an update to incorporate wii speak, continue with allowing two players to play Grand Prix, and keep the special item idea. Would these features have pushed my rating to a 5? I'm still not sure. It is still just a sequel after all, though wii speak would've really helped.

LBP is an innovative and new game out there. It's something different and exciting. And no one can deny all the awards it has won. I'm not saying that the game didn't have it's faults. Nothing is perfect. But it's just a breath of fresh air and a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Either way, if you have a wii and a ps3 then I recommend getting both since they are respectively some of the best games for their system.

Jessie (aka Bloodyaftertaste)

A New reVIEWer

2009-03-05T20:15:00.003-05:00

I will be adding another reviewer here at Gamer 2 Gamer Reviews. I believe this addition will give a broader sense of the games out there and a lot more reviews to come. He's goes by Ferryman and I think he will make a great addition to Gamer 2 Gamer Reviews. He already has a couple of reviews in mind and you should see them up in the next few days if not sooner.

Mario Kart Wii Review

2009-03-05T08:45:00.019-05:00

Mario Kart Wii (MK Wii) is the 4th installment of the series for home console systems. So far one version has been released per console starting with Super Nintendo. There have also been a couple versions for Nintendo's handhelds and in arcades, Technically making Mario Kart Wii the 8th installment. Nintendo has found a formula that works and ran with it.

If you are new to the series you may be wondering what all the hoopla is about. The fundamentals is basically a racing game at it's core, but Nintendo has worked in it's magic and made it a game that is fun for both children and adults. Starting off you get to choose a mode in the kind of gameplay you would like. There are choices for racing against other players whether they be friends, online or computer players; time trials which pits you against a clock; or a battle mode. Then you will choose from an array of Nintendo characters, with the list adding more and more as the series continues. The characters come in three sizes going on what you would expect from the previous games that they have been in. Small characters range from toad to baby mario, medium characters may be the title character Mario to the beloved Yoshi (as you can see I don't play favorites), to large characters such as Donkey Kong and Bowser. Each size setting has a different attribute to racing. What you can expect from a small character is someone who is fast, but literally a push over. A character that is larger then one of these tiny little guys can easily bump them off the track. While a large character is slower, but you won't see many characters diverting them from their course. This can only mean that a medium character is somewhere in between.

But what are characters without them being in their element. The racing tracks to select are in the Mario World set of themes. Some courses inspired from an actual game such as Super Mario Sunshine to ones that are inspired by the feel of the realm. Many characters have their own course named after them such as Peach Beach (a classic course from Mario Kart Double Dash that makes it in as a returning course on Mario Kart Wii). The courses have only gotten more intricate and as graphics quality increases the scenes become more beautiful. But what can you expect from starting off with a 16 bit systems. However the old courses are still fun to play even without awesome graphics.

The courses themselves can be played one at a time or in cups which is the main goal of the game. In Mario Kart Wii there are the four main cups: Mushroom, Flower, Star and Special which include 4 courses in each that all brand new. Then there are four other cups: Shell, Banana, Leaf and Lighting with retro tracks from Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart Double Dash, and Mario Kart DS. Each cup has courses harder then the last. Achieving a gold medal on a cup can unlock a new cup at the current difficulty or a new character or kart.

Another standard in the Mario Kart world are the difficulty levels. To stay with the racing theme easy has become 50cc, medium 100cc, and hard being 150cc. If you have mastered all three difficulties on all the cups you can unlock what is called mirror. By choosing this difficulty you can play all the courses as if you were looking into a mirror. So if you normally would turn left, in mirror mode you would turn right. But it's not just all about the turns, the words are all written backwards as well. The computer players are just as hard as if you were on 150cc if not harder making this a whole new challenge.

The one feature that has stayed through all the versions is the option of picking up a question mark box, even though the design has changed throughout the years, and gaining a random item to foil your friends and cpu players. In MK Wii we see a lot of classics such as the banana peel for slipping up a competitor, shells to throll at other players, and a mushroom for a quick boost.

If you are sick of racing for the day (it won't last too long though because this game is really that fun), then you can go into battle modes which pit you against other players in a couple of challenges. For MK Wii you have a choice of "Balloon Battle" or "Coin Runner". In Balloon Battle you start off with three balloons of either red or blue floating above your head. That means there are two teams a red and a blue which is determined before you get on a track. There are a few track choices to choose from that are just open ended areas not like what you race on. From there you get ? boxes and use the items against the other team. There is a time limit and whichever teams destroys the most balloons from the other team wins. What's cool about teams is that an object will be surrounded by a colored glow. If it's from your team it can't hurt you.

In Coin Runners your job as a team is to gather the most coins before the timer runs out. Coins will drop down and you simply run over them to gather them up. However, don't think that they are yours to keep. ? boxes are also present and if you get hit with an object you lose your coins, scattering them around you to be collected by anyone once again.

Though being a sequel a few times over, Nintendo has added some cool new features to the game while taking away a couple of good ideas.

One of my favorite features with MK Wii is the addition of bikes. When you first start off collecting trophies in certain difficulty levels you don't get much of a choice on whether you want a bike or kart. In 50cc you can only use karts, in 100cc it's just the bikes, and in 150cc you can chose between the two. One you have earned a gold trophy in all the cups under one difficulty you can have the option of using either. Now I just use the bikes all the time. It's very easy in this game to choose a favorite character and bike/kart and just use it all the time. I'm guilty of this one myself. But with so many choices of characters and karts and bikes you might not want to limit yourself.

Another feature that I love is the online gameplay. Mario Kart is always more fun with human characters in the mix. Playing with friends is great. There is so much satisfaction in the game when you are trying to knock a friend who is in first place with an unavoidable blue shell rather than a cpu player. A feature that would have been nice for online play is adding the wii speak microphone. The microphone wasn't around when MK Wii was first released, but that doesn't mean we can't see an update.

And let's not forget about the wii wheel. MK Wii uses the motion sensor in the wiimote and paired with the wii wheel lets you feel like you have a real sterring wheel to control in front of you. I personally like using this feature, but not everyone does. For those who would rather not can use the wiimote and nunchuck, which is nice since you only get one wii wheel in the package. But hey it's free.

No matter how fun it is there is still some features that I miss from older installments. In MK Wii up to four people can make a profile and gain their own trophies, which is nice, but I can't help but feeling by putting in this feature they took out another. No longer can you play Grand Prix (which is the mode that pits you against 11 cpu players and you race to be the first and unlock a new item) with another player. In older installments for console versions of the game you could have two players compete in Grand Prix to unlock prizes. This game is really best played with other people, I can't stress that enough.

Another feature they didn't continue with was a couple of things created for Mario Kart Double Dash. In this gamecube installement you could have two characters on your chart for solo or team playing. The character in the front drove and the one in back throw the items. This was very good for holding two objects at once. The other feature I miss is that each character had a special that they could only get from a ? box. For example Mario and Luigi throw fire balls, Yoshi and Birdo through eggs which on impact dropped 3 more random items onto the course, and Baby Mario and Baby Luigi had chain chomp which dragged them through the course at higher speeds, but for only a short time.

So is Mario Kart Wii worth it. I certainly think so for people who played and loved the past installments as well as people new to the series.

I give this game 4 out of 5 stars.

Lost In Blue Wii Review

2009-03-03T18:18:00.000-05:00

With Nintendo's lack of releasing any really good games in the past few months aside from a couple, I was looking for a gem in the rough. I mean were are the Mario games? A new Zelda perhaps. I know these games take time, but I need something to feed my addiction. So I went to pick up "Lost In Blue". From what I saw it looked like it could be a fun game and for the $30 price tag I thought I would give it a shot.

After playing for only a few hours I don't feel like playing anymore. This may be an early trade in and a waste of my money. The beginning showed promise. You get lost on an island and have to build items and scavenge for food to survive. The first thing I noticed that there was too many cut scenes in the beginning. When I first get a game I want to play. A short cut scene is fine or you might be able to get away with a longer one if the graphics are good and/or you have a good storyline. The graphics here aren't anything special and the storyline is one that has been told a million times. Also a magor problem with watching the cut scenes is the dialog mixed in with the subtitles. There was a lot of subtitles and sometimes the characters would speak the lines. It was very annoying. What made it even more annoying was that the would only speak a short sentence out of the current subtitle on the screen.

The storyline is ok at best. As I mentioned it's been heard a million times before. The ship burns down and your character escapes on a life boat. But being curious like you are you go outside the life boat (this was one hi-tech life boat let me tell you) and fall off. You wash up onshore of a deserted island. You learn some of the basics on this island which is very small. You find no one and decide to make a makeshift raft out of a suitcase and some logs to sail to a nearby island. It doesn't take you very long to do so and you meet up with someone else from the boat. This person has now joined your party and you have to look after her as well.

After getting to this new island my character became sick after just one day. This disabled me from venturing too far and doing some of the mini games. A couple days later my party member became sick. I could not keep our hunger level above 20 out of 100 because they were too weak to stay out long enough to get sufficant amount of food and twigs to keep the fire going. Even in the beginning of the game it was hard for me too keep the hunger level up. They require a lot of food. To get the food you will either need to shake down trees, fish or dig it up. Fishing and digging become mini games. To fish you at least need a wood spear and later work your way up to a fishing pole and the likes. Using the wooden spear reminds me a lot of fishing in Amazon Trail if anyone remembers that game. Shadows of fish appear and you spear them. Once speared it shows you what you caught. Pretty much exactly like Amazon Trail, except the controls are much different. In Amazon Trail you just place your mouse over a moving fish and click your mouse at just the right moment. In Lost in Blue you cursor hovers around the middle with jerky movements and not a lot of control. It also times you just like Amazon Trail but you have a lot less time. But you can just go right back if you need more fish.

Digging in patches of dirt that is raised in a mound is also another mini game to gather food. You are also timed as you point your cursor around clicking the A button to dig around. You will find such items as different types of clams and worms. You will also find crabs and hermit crabs walking around for you to gather.

Once you have your food preparing it and cooking it brings you to another mini game. These mini games reminds me of Cooking Mama with cutting and flipping, but less fun since there is less variety. Does this game even have an origonal thought? From a boring overdone storyline, to mini games mimicaing other games before it, I don't think so.

The only thing that seems like a good idea is the animals each character has as a pet. Your character has a monkey and the other character has a dog. They help you out from time to time, but mainly they just add a cuteness factor to a cutesy cartoony style game.

Overall I give this game 2 out of 5 Stars for lack of origonality.

LittleBigPlanet PS3 Review

2009-03-03T16:42:00.000-05:00

What is this? A PS3 review? That can only mean on thing... I got a PS3! Yep it's super exciting.

I've heard so many good thing about LittleBigPlanet (LBP) that it was one of the reasons that I got my PS3, not counting the fact that Nintendo is really starting to disappoint. You'll see in my next review. All of the hype around the game was not wrong and I was happy that this was the first game I picked up for the PS3.

My Sack Girl

In LittleBigPlanet you are a sack person which throughout the game you collect clothes and cloths to decorate your character which allows you to customize him or her. It is a platform type game where you side scroll through levels filled with puzzles. But instead of this game being totally flat like old platform games like Mario, there is three rows you can walk on giving you some depth which allows you to walk behind or in front of enemies and decorations. This adds some difficulty to puzzles. The graphics and sound for this game is also amazing. The colors and designs are beautiful and the music is fun and origonal to listen to. Most of the time I turn down the volume in games because I don't like the music, but I haven't done that with LBP

The Pod

The central place for your sack person is their very own "Pod" which allows you to go between different planets and options for you to choose from. The game also allows you to decorate this Pod with the stickers and items you collect throughout the game. From your Pod you will step up to your control panel which looks exactly like your PS3 controller. Here you can choose between three planets: Options and network planet, your Play planet and the My Moon planet. The Play planet is where the main gameplay is that has levels pre-built by the creators. These levels are huge and well designed. It doesn't take too much time to get through them as they progressively get harder. But it has more of a challenge collecting all the items so the levels have a replay value. Some levels require 2 to 4 players in small sections to complete a task to collect certain items. You don't need multiple people to finish the level though. So don't worry if it's just you playing. Other parts of levels have triggers releasing more collectables triggered by stickers that are collected later on in different levels forcing you to play that level again to collect those items. Since the levels are so huge and well designed it isn't a chore to go back through them to collect everything. If you collect 100% of the items you get more items and finsihing the game without losing a life also gives your more items. This part alone will have you playing for hours even if you play through all the levels.

In game action

User Created Level (My level in the works. Notice I can fly, well only in the create mode)

The My Moon planet is also a great planet to visit. It's the planet that allows you to create your own levels putting the items you've collected to use. You can also create your own items and make them collectables in your levels. This is the place to let your imagionation go. Once you have created your level you can play through it any time you want and even put it online to let others play through and rate. Which then brings you back to the Play planet where it lets you play other user created levels. Some of the levels are just as in depth as the ones that come with the game and add many more hours of gameplay. You can also rate these levels after playing them on a 5 star system and even add a word about them that are pre chosen that remind me of those refridgator magnets that you combine to make a crazy sentence. These comments have words like creepy, points fest, boring, difficult, etc that helps other players know about the level before even playing it. Anything goes with these levels. Some really good ones that I've played have themes like a dinosaur world to a haunted house and even a Mario themed level. If you really like a level you can even heart it to find it easily the next time.

A user created level played online with multiplayer

The multiplayer aspect of this game is amazing as well. Whether you are playing offline or online it adds more to an already fantastic game. The game is still played full screen, so it doesn't devide up your view. Like I mentioned above some puzzels can only be solved with muliple players which adds different puzzels to the mix. You can also add multiplayer puzzeles while creating your own level. Having more people can help you get past tricky parts if you can't do it yourself. If your character dies and the other person can get past that certain part and passes by a save point your character will show up at that saved point. Having more people can also add some comedic moments where you can slap another character across the screen or drag them around. A couple draw backs to multiple players is since it is a full screen for all players the camera follows around the person farthest along which can leave people behind. Most people I found are good about not leaving someone behind but there are the occasional people who just tread on forward even if your puzzel requires something a little farther back that they haven't realized yet. However most people don't stay confused long. All in all it's a good time. If you have a mic it will be easier to communicate with people making it easier to get across an idea of how to solve the puzzle since typing it out is somewhat of a hassel when you are trying to play.

There is also some downloadable content that includes new outfits for your sack person. Some are free and others cost a couple of bucks to download. I'd say the free ones are worth it if you have the space, but it's up to you if you want to shell out the extra cash for other costumes. It doesn't inhance gameplay it just gives your more options to customize your character. It would be cool down the line if they had more levels to download, but with user created levels that might not be nessicary where they are free and some just a good as the creators levels.

LBP gets 5 out of 5 stars from me being the first game that I reviewed to get a perfect score.

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility Wii Review

2009-03-03T16:05:00.000-05:00

If you loved all the rest, this is a must have. If you never have played before but like sim type games you should defiantly check it out. In this version you move to an island that was once thriving with life but is no more. Your job is to bring it back to the beauty it once held by saving the Harvest Goddess. You start off sailing to the island, but rocky waters cause you to pass out after answering a few questions from the captain containing your name and the likes. You awake in the inn meeting a cast of characters and the mayor who gives you a tour. There is a beginning tutorial on a local farm to help you learn the ropes and then you get to choose one of three locations to be your farm. Later in the game you can buy the other locations if you like plus a new one.

In this version you do not start off with any animals like past versions. Just a plot of land and some seeds from the farm you helped. A hint I can give is that one bag of seeds fills 6 spaces, something I didn’t know which cost me a bit more in seeds. Starting off you will farm the land and do part time jobsfor people. Meeting more and more people will help you along by giving you tools to help farm and gather items. As you go on you can buy upgrades to your home and buildings for the animals.

This version allows you to choose the gender of your character, which if I’m not mistaken is only the second game to do so, the other being Island of Happiness for the DS. By choosing your Gender it affects who you will marry. Obviously if you are a girl you marry a good choice of guys and if you are a boy you have a good choice of girls to marry. Sorry no same sex couples. IMPORTANT: you must be warned. I haven’t experienced this, but there is a glitch if you decided to court Calvin. After you get 5 stars with him there is a cut scene to be initiated on the 10^thfreezes your game. If you are a girl, don’t bring him up to that 5^th star. floor of the mines. It

But don’t forget to help the Goddess, which you have periodical dreams about. By helping her you get access to new places on the map. The map is huge this time which then brings in loading screens, which to say there is a lot. It slows down game play, but is the only drawback I’ve seen so far besides the glitch, which again I haven’t experienced. It is a hassle because whenever you journey to a new part of the map or go indoors it appears. You do this a lot. Also by helping the Goddess via her elves you unlock new people who come to visit the island. The Taylor being the first.

This game is full of game play and well worth the asking price. So far I’ve played for about 15 hours and am a third of my way through fall of the first year. Though some of that time is for the loading screens. Which you start off in spring and each season has 28 days. There is no limit of years to play, or none that I’ve heard of, so you can take it at your own pace.

So glitches and loading times aside I give this game 4 out of 5 Stars.

Animal Crossing: City Folk with Wii Speak Wii Review

2009-03-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

The formula for this game is pretty much the same as the last two AC games. You start off moving to a town with no money. You do the odd tasks for Nook to pay off a very small portion of your debt and then you go onto the rest of the game. The purpose of the game...well to make money and friends. This version still has Nook's store, The Abel Sisters Clothing design store, the Museum which has the observatory and coffee shop just like the DS version, and the town hall. You sell and buy things at Nook's, buy and make clothes at the Abel Sisters, and give donations of fish, fossils, paintings or bugs to the museum. The town hall lets you pay off your loan to Nook for your house and all it's expansions, send mail to the animals in your town as well as your friends in your town and others, give donations to better the town, report any problems, etc. Most of these features can be found in one or both of the previous versions. This is the core part of the game because this is the stuff that you will be spending most of your time doing.

With the Wii version you also get the city. Going to the city is just a bus ride away and one of the loading screens which is pretty fast. It also has some familar faces. The only difference is now the are there everyday for you to vist instead of just certain days where they randomly decide to visit you. This includes Redd the black market dealer, Gracie who has her very own expensive shop called GracieGrace which she can only been seen on occasion, Katrina the fortune teller, and a couple others. New characters are Kick the shoe shinning skunk and a hair stylin' poodle.

Another important feature to talk about is the introduction of the Wii Speak Microphone. This is the first game that utalizes this feature. You use it when visiting a friend's town or when they visit yours. It's much easier then typing with the wiimote or typing with a keyboard which is sold seperatly. The microphone works well. You can talk to more than one person in the room. Though background noise can be heard whether it's a good thing or not. But the background noise is minimal and not really an issue. I think this is a great addition to the game and the system itself. I say it's about time that Nintendo started catching up with the other systems. Now if they could just make it work for Mario Kart.

Visiting friends towns can also add new gameplay that the creators might not have intended it too. Many people have created their own games to add more fun to this already addicting game. Games like Musuem Tag, Sardines, races and scavenger hunts. Also visiting friends towns can help with trading for things you are looking for and seeing what's for sale at their town's store.

The controls for this game work well. Depending on your preference you can use just the wiimote or the wiimote with the numchuck. The wiimote works by a lot of point and click controls for choosing which item to sell to Nook or give to Blathers (the owner of the museum). You can fish by clicking A or if you would rather use it more like a fishing pole you can swing it up and down to cast and pull your fish out. You walk by pressing down A and pointing you cursor in the director you want to go, or if you use the numchuck you can use the joystick to walk around. To get to other menus on screen you point your wiimote to the bottom of the screen and a menu bar comes up with your inventory, a list of fish and bugs you've caught, your clothing designs and more. You can also save anywhere in the game this time by clicking the save button when the menu comes up. That is a great improvement to the game.

And now for the verdict. This game is basically like an expanision without the expansion. Many of the old gameplay can be found here with only a few upgrades. Serious AC gamers will want to add this to their collection. It's still a fun and addicting game. This game can also work from causal gamers to the most avid gamers. But the person who will probably get the most use out of it is a first time user to Animal Crossing.

I give it 4 out of 5 Stars for it's addictiveness and the first game to use wii speak.

Some Screen Shots

And a video with K.K. Slider and the hidden Totaka's Song (Sorry for the poor video quality)

I also did a review for this game on amazon.com which can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3BWIWZAAI39QM/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001HZNR7K&nodeID=468642#wasThisHelpful. This review was done days after getting the game.

Shaun White Snowboarding Wii Review

2009-03-03T15:43:00.000-05:00

From one of the most hottest snowboarders today comes a game that I'm sure everyone has heard about. Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip (SWS). Shaun White was supposed to do for snowboarding games what Tony Hawk did for skateboarding games, but it fell short. This following review is for the Wii version of the game. Sadly I can't get my hands on a wii balance board, which might have knocked up the score of this game for my review for some originality and perhaps fun.

You start off with two characters: one with better jumping abilities and one who can ride faster then the rest. As you continue new riders tag along for the journey, all with their own specialty. During any event you can choose who you want to be your rider and another to be the cameraman. When you fill up the bar on the bottom right of your screen by doing tricks or collecting crowns you can use the camerman's special ability until the bar runs out. The mixing and matching of the characters adds a little interest in the way you play, however I was disappointed with the characters from the beginning. There is no customization at all. You can't change their clothes, build up their abilities, or even choose from regular or goofy style riding. The characters are what they are.

There aren't many tracks either. You get four per mountain with 5 mountains unless you got the target special edition. The tracks aren't very long either. With each track they give you challenges, up to four. You must complete the challenges to unlock more tracks on the mountain. When you first get to a mountain you have no choice what track or challenge you want to do, but the more you unlock the more choice you have. The challenges are what you would expect from a snowboarding game: racing, tricks and collecting trinkets, which happens to be trash. The races are too short. You also only race up to 2 other people or against the clock. All races are about 3 minutes or under. That just goes to show you how short the tracks are. For tricks there isn't much variety. You use just the wiimote to do the tricks. Just by tilting the wiimote you decide which way to turn or twist. The A and B buttons control the grabs. And that's pretty much it. When you do a course that requires tricks you either have to get a certain amount until you reach the end or in a certain time limit. For the trinket challanges you have to collect a certain number of soda cans that can be found on rails or at the top of jumps. Each track will have up to two challenges with two objectives in each challenge. With each mountain you travel too the amount you need to reach gets higher for both trick score and trinkets, and the races get a bit harder. But it's pretty much the same task over and over.

Another disappointing feature is the music. With these types of games music is a huge deal seeing how it not only ties into the game but the culture of these sports. The music does have a bit of variety ranging from Jefferson Airplane to Three Days Grace to Metro Station. You can shuffle through the songs by pressing the 1 button anywhere during the run just like you would use an iPod shuffle. Which if you haven't used a shuffle before I suggest not wasting your money on them. But only certain songs are played on certain tracks in this game. So even if you do find a few songs you like they aren't avaliable to listen to everywhere.

This game can also be played as a multi player, where you take the tracks in the single player game and compete either turn based or side by side in different challenges: racing and tricks. This adds to the game where you can push yourself against friends to add more to the competition mentality of the game.

The last thing i would like to mention about the game is that as you move on in the game completing challenges you get emails from characters, which is nothing special and I stopped reading them after the first couple. Also under the computer icon, where you find the emails, you can earn momentos, which are pictures of the game or drawings. You have to complete the extra challenge on each track, remember how I said there was too, to unlock these. They don't really add much to the game either.

Maybe I'm a bit cynical after playing SSX3, which is my favorite snowboarding game of all time. They set the bar high, which SWS couldn't even dream of reaching. They let you explore the mountain, had more tracks and they were a lot more interesting as well, the music list was huge and you could make your own playlist, plus they had character customizations. If I didn't have all that to compare SWS to I would still feel like this game was lacking. It's not one of the best games of all time. It was fun to play but there wasn't a lot of game time either. It's a good game to play on a weekend by yourself or with friends for a rental price, but it's not worth the $50 price tag.

All in all I give it 2 out of 5 Stars.

I struggled with whether to give it a 2 or 3. It does have some good playing time, but with all of what it's lacking and the price for what the game is i had to go with a 2. Now if you have the wii balance board maybe you could knock it up to a 3.

A New Veiw

2009-03-03T15:16:00.000-05:00

I started this review blog on another blog site. Not to name names, but some of the features were a bit disappointing. Plus a couple of friends have blogs here so I decided to have this is two locations instead of the one. At least for now.

New to Gamer 2 Gamer reviews? Then you might want to know just what the hell this is. I'm not a professional writer, I just love games. Games of any genre or console. I wanted to share what I think of games and hope that it will help people on their game purchases. I have bought a lot of games that I wish I never did and even with stores buying back I still lost money that should never have been spent. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. I know there are a lot of reputable sites and magazines that give you a review from people who love games, so why is my opinion more important then people who get paid to do what they love? Truth be told it's not. My opinion isn't more important then anyone else's. This is just a place to give people a chance to hear a different opinion. I want to start out by just sharing with my friends who love games what are some good choices out there. One day I hope for this to grow. But for now I'm just doing what I love: Video Games.