tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52531690750252711862024-03-13T03:04:13.009-07:00Life in 16-bitWelcome to my personal blog on my favourite pastime - videogames. Filled with awful writing and insane rantings.Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-88538457181987310322013-07-17T03:57:00.001-07:002013-07-17T03:57:10.772-07:00Arcade and Retro Podcast: 1993In this episode of the podcast we look and gaming and the games of 1993. It was quite an interesting year with the first real shift in videogames to 3D and some superb 16-bit titles released. Even the 8-bits didn't get ignored.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1880474348"><br /></a>
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-1993-special/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-1993-special/</a><br />
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<br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-62466339004159475682013-07-03T04:02:00.000-07:002013-07-03T04:02:03.035-07:00Arcade and Retro Podcast: Sonic the Hedgehog series!Part 1 and 2 of the Sonic podcast we recorded are finally up. You can get them here, hope you enjoy them:<br />
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Part 1<br />
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<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/sonic1/">http://arcadeandretro.com/sonic1/ </a><br />
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Part 2<br />
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<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-sonic-special-part-2/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-sonic-special-part-2/</a> <br />
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<br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-22261519393550966052013-06-28T11:27:00.002-07:002013-06-28T11:27:23.652-07:00Some recent acquisitions from the last few weeks<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Since I’m in college taking a break from coding
I might as well go through some of my recent acquisitions I picked up in the
last few weeks.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">First up is a US SNES.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVE6W9t8NGg/Uc3UsUQ3qgI/AAAAAAAABAk/WLdqxvMJWuc/s640/417941_10151669022213313_1568739850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVE6W9t8NGg/Uc3UsUQ3qgI/AAAAAAAABAk/WLdqxvMJWuc/s400/417941_10151669022213313_1568739850_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">While it’s as ugly as sin compared to the
Japanese and European console it does mean I can play all my games at the
correct speed of 60Hz and Mario RPG will now work. I do however need to get a
50/60Hz switch on it since a few on my PAL games won’t work due to a frequency
check on boot. At least I know someone handy with a soldering iron.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Since I got the US SNES I’ve been expanding my
quite meagre SNES collection lately. I’ve picked up quite a few of the more
common games but unfortunately I’ve noticed some of the ridiculous prices many
of these games are going for now. However I’ve also noticed that for many of
these stupidly priced US and PAL games the Japanese versions are going for a
fraction of the cost. Games like Super Castlevania IV go for silly money
considering how common they are. I picked up a JAP copy of that game and it
works perfectly and since there’s no text it’s not like I’m missing out. I also
noticed that one of the more expensive ‘vania games, Dracula X on the SNES, was
much cheaper as the Japanese version so I snapped that up.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QW8RNLF-ydY/Uc3UoxlFV8I/AAAAAAAABAg/TWGzeqGT0lA/s640/2013-06-04-104402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QW8RNLF-ydY/Uc3UoxlFV8I/AAAAAAAABAg/TWGzeqGT0lA/s400/2013-06-04-104402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Speaking of cheap Japanese versions of games I’ve
been busy building up a nice Gameboy collection. If you know your Gameboy games
then you know one of the harder to find games in Megaman 5. However Rockman 5
is very affordable and I picked it up. While the story is in Japanese I don’t
think I’m missing out too much.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">I also picked up two other Megaman gameboy
games, namely 3 and 4. I’ve not played 4 before but 3 was one of my favourite
games growing up but it was stolen on me so it’s great to have it back. I’ve
already played through it and beaten it and it’s as good as I remember and
still incredibly tough! You can see Hybrid Heaven in there as well. I picked it
up after hearing how bonkers it is. I’m playing it at the moment and it doesn’t
disappoint in that area.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qlRZcG5qhWc/Uc3U_AdfGKI/AAAAAAAABAs/AexFYU8QTnM/s640/2013-04-03-162003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qlRZcG5qhWc/Uc3U_AdfGKI/AAAAAAAABAs/AexFYU8QTnM/s320/2013-04-03-162003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">I’ve been wanting to get my hands on
Castlevania Legends for a while. I know it’s one of the poorer ‘vania games but
the ‘vania fan in me had to own it. I finally got it for a decent price from
Germany of all places. It’s not a terrible game, just frightfully dull. I
picked up Belmont’s Revenge to make up for it which is superb. I can’t get enough
of the music in that game.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj5U1UqUO5o/Uc3VDhF1ZqI/AAAAAAAABA0/rEVRpBEh9OI/s640/2013-05-15-124057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj5U1UqUO5o/Uc3VDhF1ZqI/AAAAAAAABA0/rEVRpBEh9OI/s320/2013-05-15-124057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Back to SNES games again I finally got my hands
on a game I’ve wanted for the last 20 years, the Firemen. After seeing great
reviews of it at the time of release I always wanted to give it a go but didn’t
have a SNES. When I eventually got a SNES the price had risen to silly levels
since the English language version was only ever released in Europe. To make
matters worse early emulators had trouble emulating a rain effect it used in
one of its levels making the game impossible for me to beat at the time. Well I
finally found a copy with a decent buy it now price from Germany. It cost me 60
euros which is expensive but a bit less than it normally goes for on auction.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvTGoaf0EBM/Uc3VH3nwE-I/AAAAAAAABA8/b6WWG7CGll8/s640/2013-05-15-124107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvTGoaf0EBM/Uc3VH3nwE-I/AAAAAAAABA8/b6WWG7CGll8/s320/2013-05-15-124107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">In the last few weeks I’ve also finally got my
Megadrive modded with a 50/60Hz and language switch and bought a RGB cable for
it meaning I can play games as they were intended. What pushed me to finally
get it modded is that I won a competition on Facebook for the 100<sup>th</sup>
Mega Everdrive from Stone Age Gamer. This thing is quite the piece of kit and
allows you to play any Megadrive/Genesis game from a SD card. I’ll write about it
some other time. Anyway I’ve busy building up my Megadrive collection as well.
I came across one of the best bargains I’ve gotten in a long time. I picked up
Alien Soldier for the Megadrive for 10 euros. This game usually goes for
significantly more and is very sought after since the English language version
is a European exclusive. I think they thought they had Alien Storm. I’m not
complaining!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQEGqfPrZpw/Uc3VUuKPtdI/AAAAAAAABBM/J6n6NKcAU60/s640/2013-05-15-124106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQEGqfPrZpw/Uc3VUuKPtdI/AAAAAAAABBM/J6n6NKcAU60/s320/2013-05-15-124106.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Lastly some weird imports. First is Gunhound
EX. I’ve not gotten around to playing it but looks like a Cybernator/Assault
Suit Valken clone and a very good one at that. G.Rev had something to do with
it so you can be sure there’s plenty of blasting action.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71vnn8eThYI/Uc3VZkUrWoI/AAAAAAAABBU/qmjqOIUcXFQ/s640/2013-03-27-131532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71vnn8eThYI/Uc3VZkUrWoI/AAAAAAAABBU/qmjqOIUcXFQ/s320/2013-03-27-131532.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Lastly I got a game that absolutely reeks of
shame, Gal*Gun. I bought this for a laugh when I saw on playasia that a budget
price version was released. It seemed like a really fun lightgun shooter at
first until I found out what the triangle button does in the game and now it
just seems a little bit creepy. One feature I thought was hilarious was the
panic button. Press select during the game and it will pause and overlay what
looks like a 8-bit RPG over the screen to hide your shameful game playing from
your family who don’t need any more reasons to be disappointed in you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWl0lM00dBc/Uc3VemY7nKI/AAAAAAAABBc/07YZOh4x96c/s640/2013-06-24-102350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWl0lM00dBc/Uc3VemY7nKI/AAAAAAAABBc/07YZOh4x96c/s320/2013-06-24-102350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-22587856361306107462013-06-07T09:19:00.000-07:002013-06-07T09:19:01.972-07:00My new game development blogHey,<br />
<br />
You might have noticed that I haven't been posted as regularly as I had been and it's all down to college. I'm back at school doing a crash course in programming and game design and it's taking up an awful lot of my time. I'll still be posting on this blog and hopefully a lot more since I'm finished exams.<br />
<br />
I have set up a development blog which will be detailing all the game projects I've working on, if you are interested then feel free to follow it. It's located here:<br />
<br />
<a class="user-link user-180 group-0" href="http://hg101.proboards.com/user/180" title="@wyrdwad">http://pixelatedwarrior.blogspot.ie/</a><br />
<br />
I've only got my first game project up but I'll post up my other one I finished in college as well as a gamejam game I created as well later. Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-70444646257215275762013-04-26T07:57:00.000-07:002013-04-26T08:15:05.243-07:00PSP retrospective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixq03AgKrZo/UXqI_AVG88I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/KojhiMvNhTQ/s1600/psp_3000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixq03AgKrZo/UXqI_AVG88I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/KojhiMvNhTQ/s400/psp_3000.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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It’s 2003. Sony is pretty much
the dominant force in the videogame market with the release of the hugely
successful Playstation and Playstation 2 consoles. While Nintendo flounder in
the home console market and vie for second place against the newcomer Microsoft
they still hold a strangle hold over the lucrative handheld market with the
Gameboy Advance. Nintendo had seen off SNK and its fantastic Neo Geo Pocket. Great
hardware and games couldn’t compete with the marketing force of Pokemon. The
only other competitor, the Bandai Wonderswan, never saw release outside Japan
where it remained a niche console. With Playstation synonymous with videogames
and the huge market share it held people wondered why Sony had not tried to
take on Nintendo in the handheld market with its own handheld console. It
seemed like the next logical step for Sony, it had already forced Sega out of
the hardware market and left Nintendo a shadow of its former self, quite the
feat for company only breaking into the market against two established leaders.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
2003 saw the beginnings of
rumours that Sony was prepared to make a move into the portable space. This was
confirmed at E3 2003 with the announcement of the Playstation Portable.
Although no hardware was shown, attachment of the Playstation name to the
hardware was more than enough to get many people excite. Despite Nintendo
stating that it was not worried it seemed like their last foothold in the games
industry was about to be stolen away from them. The shock announcement of Nintendo
DS at the tail end of 2003 didn’t help to change the perception that Nintendo
where far more worried than they let on. The DS seemed to be a stop gap measure
against the impending arrival of the PSP and even Nintendo didn’t seem to have
much faith in the system. It was starting to look like another Virtual Boy, a
console sent out to die against 32-bit rivals when the N64 was constantly
delayed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It wasn’t until E3 2004 that we
finally got to see the PSP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The PSP
surprised everyone. In comparison to the recently revealed DS the machine
looked a lot more modern and sleek. It had a d-pad as well as an analogue nub
and included all the buttons on the Playstation pad except for two of the
shoulder buttons. The biggest surprise was the screen. Full colour and 4.3
inches across the diagonal, it looked absolutely glorious. Games would run on a
proprietary optical format, UMD (universal media disc) which could also play
movies. The PSP came with functionality to play music and had wi-fi
capabilities. It was the full multimedia package in comparison to the DS which
was built only to play games.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The technical specifications of
the hardware completely dwarfed any other handheld device on the market. The
games shown at the launch at E3 demonstrated that the PSP was more than capable
of handling games close to the quality of the PS2. In comparison the DS was
demoing an upgraded port of Super Mario 64. Demos of Ridge Racer, Wipeout Pure
and Gran Turismo stunned attendees. A new Metal Gear game was demoed and the
announcement of support from a large number of publishers and developers meant
that the future looked bright for the PSP. The stage was set for a new market
leader in the handheld sector.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Launch</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The PSP was launched in Japan on
December 2004 and March 2005 in the US. Europe was supposed to share a
simultaneous release with the US. However, as always, Europe got shafted and
the release was delayed until September 2005, Sony citing the need to redirect
stock to the US and Japan due to shortages. To make matters worse the price was
$100 dollars more expensive in Europe. Despite these issues the PSP enjoyed a
very successful launch in all regions. It released after the Nintendo DS in all
regions but this didn’t seem to affect sales at all. The PSP managed to smash
the sales of the Nintendo DS everywhere. Tales of hardware selling out on
launch were common place. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At launch in Japan the only real
stand out games were Lumines and Ridge Racer but a steady trickle of quality
titles over the next three months meant that post launch wasn’t the usual dearth
of quality that most consoles experience. The European and US launches were
much better and the PSP enjoyed one of the strongest launch line ups of any
consoles.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTlIaLhzP1E/UXqKoePhJoI/AAAAAAAAA3k/Ky7MjPrij14/s1600/Lumines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTlIaLhzP1E/UXqKoePhJoI/AAAAAAAAA3k/Ky7MjPrij14/s400/Lumines.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lumines:</b> Lumines is one of the greatest puzzle games ever made and
was pretty much the best puzzle game on a handheld since Tetris. Created by
Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Rez fame, it combined excellent puzzle gameplay with
trippy visuals and music. It was the perfect PSP game and despite games taking
far too long when you became good at it, it was perfectly suited to the PSP and
its suspend feature. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ridge Racer:</b> The series that sold the public on the Playstation was
hoping to do the same with the PSP. Although mostly comprising of tracks from
previous Ridge Racer games the proposition of having Ridge Racer on a portable
was too good to pass up on. The classic arcade handling was still as fun as it
had always been and quick races suited the portable nature of the game.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wipeout Pure:</b> Ridge Racer was good but Wipeout Pure was far better.
A real killer app for the machine Wipeout looked and sounded fantastic and was
a real return to form for the series after the poor Wipeout Fusion. This
futuristic racing game proved to be well suited to portable gaming in
particular the spectacular and addictive ‘zone’ mode. Wipeout was also one of
the earliest console games to have DLC. New tracks, music, vehicles, etc. were
made available on a regular basis and could be downloaded for free to the
memory card. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0DhpbNsxb2w/UXqK4t58oJI/AAAAAAAAA3s/ERIkdxKTHtI/s1600/wipeout-pure-20050513034109357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0DhpbNsxb2w/UXqK4t58oJI/AAAAAAAAA3s/ERIkdxKTHtI/s400/wipeout-pure-20050513034109357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Everybody’s Golf:</b> This series gets rolled out by Sony for nearly
every hardware launch and unfortunately gets ignored every time. Anyone that
did pick it up was treated to one of the best golf sims money could buy.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Metal Gear Ac!d:</b> Those expecting a portable Metal Gear game were in
for a shock. There really is nothing like Ac!d out there. It’s a cross between
a strategy game, a card game and a stealth’em up... ok, let’s just say it’s
beyond classification. A very weird game with an even stranger story but one
that was quite fun once you understood the gameplay systems.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Archer Maclean’s Mercury:</b> Only a launch title in Europe but it was
one of the games that really defined the PSP. Mercury was a wonderful puzzle
game that required the player to guide a blob of liquid metal around a maze. This
game really showed off the power of the system. The physics of the liquid metal
blob still impress. Screw angry birds, this is how physics puzzlers should be
done.</div>
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Outside of those stand-out titles
were some very solid games. Virtua Tennis was very playable, Darkstalkers
Chronicles was a good conversion of the arcade game let down by dodgy controls
and Pursuit Force was dumb but great fun in short bursts.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEvstuPdxFw/UXqLJ2VRCiI/AAAAAAAAA34/Pjz5gKocpAQ/s1600/91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEvstuPdxFw/UXqLJ2VRCiI/AAAAAAAAA34/Pjz5gKocpAQ/s400/91.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It wasn’t all good news for Sony
however. The original model of PSP suffered badly from a myriad of design
flaws. Many people reported the Square button becoming unresponsive and stuck.
This was due to the size of the screen; the square button was placed right up
tight against the screen and would catch on it very easily. Some early UMD
drives also had a bad habit of ejecting at random which would send the UMD
flying out of the drive. The biggest problem was stuck or dead pixels. The LCD
screens used in the PSP were relatively new tech and prone to this problem.
Pixels would either appear white or else be stuck on the same colour. This
could happen over the lifetime of the device as well. Sony handled this extremely
poorly saying, first refusing outright to replace affected units (<a href="http://uk.gamespot.com/news/sony-responds-to-psp-dead-pixel-reports-6121092">http://uk.gamespot.com/news/sony-responds-to-psp-dead-pixel-reports-6121092</a>),
before changing their policy to PSPs affected by three or more dead pixels on
the screen. Nintendo in comparison replaced any DS unit with dead pixel issues.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQslpasIsx0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQslpasIsx0</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One of the more unfortunate
incidents to occur due to the delay in the launch of the PSP in Europe was the
closure of the legendary website Lik-Sang. The Hong Kong based Lik-Sang was the
go to website for people importing videogames and electronics. Not wanting to
wait an extra 6 months for the PSP many customers imported the PSP system. The
region free nature of the console and the fact that Europe was paying more made
this a no brainer. In August 2005 Sony took legal action against Lik-Sang for
importing the PSP to regions where it was not yet available saying it was
infringing on its trademarks. I’m no legal expert so won’t go into the details
but it resulted in the closing of the site. As a knock on effect many other
import sites stopped selling Sony goods to Europe until very recently, I myself
could not order the asian release of Demon’s Souls from Play-asia since it was
Sony published. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Piracy</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We come to piracy because
unfortunately for Sony the PSP was cracked very early in its life. The initial
PSP firmware was not very secure and within weeks hackers had full access to
the PSP system and could run unsigned code on it. Sony tried to stop this with
regular firmware updates but the cat was out of the bag and hackers kept
finding ways around the new security measures. Save game exploits in games such
as GTA Liberty City Stories allowed users to downgrade their PSP to earlier
vulnerable firmwares. Eventually downgrading became obsolete with the release
of custom firmware that allowed the running of unsigned code and as well as
containing all the features of the official firmware.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Hacking of the PSP revealed some
interesting information and allowed the running of some creative programs. The
CPU of the PSP was actually underclocked at 222 MHz and could be clocked to 333
MHz for increased performance in some games and applications at the expense of
battery life. This feature was left locked initially by Sony to be unlocked to
developers at a later date. A large variety of homebrew applications were
available. The PSP could emulate a variety of consoles but I found anything
from the SNES and beyond was very poor. You could even turn your PSP into a
universal remote. However the main use was to play pirated software which had a
very unfortunate affect on sales of PSP software. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiU7rwk4NKQ/UXqLboApf2I/AAAAAAAAA4A/u64FE9J4Fhg/s1600/28586641_90ba31a8ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiU7rwk4NKQ/UXqLboApf2I/AAAAAAAAA4A/u64FE9J4Fhg/s400/28586641_90ba31a8ae.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Startropics for the NES running on a emulator on PSP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
PSP software sales took a major
hit very early on and this really affected software releases particularly
outside Japan. The PSP continued to sell well throughout its lifetime but
software sales remained relatively low. Developers and publishers moved to the
more popular DS, itself affected by piracy but it had a larger install base.
Although a direct connection is impossible to prove it’s more than likely a
factor in the reason that games such as Valkyria Chronicles 3, Final Fantasy
Type-0, Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, Suikoden and Shin Megami Tensei Devil
Summoner to name a few have remained in Japan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PSP through the years</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2005</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
No different from any other console’s
launch year there were very few notable titles for the PSP. The PSP usually
gets criticised for having too many poor ports of PS2 games and 2005 was full
of them. There were countless ports of sports and wrestling titles and some
awful ports such as Prince of Persia Revelations and King Kong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However 2005 wasn’t a total
washout, look beyond those uninteresting ports and there was some diamonds in
the rough. Burnout translated wonderfully to the PSP with Burnout Legends. The
classic SNES game Megaman X received a decent remake in the form of Megaman:
Maverick Hunter X. Platform game fans were appeased with the respectable
Tokobot. Puzzle game fans also received the excellent Exit, just remember to
turn the annoying sound effects off! One game that gets unfortunately over
looked was Gripshift, a weird addictive mix of puzzle game and racer. Katamari
& Me was an ok if you wanted Katamari on the go but was really just a cheap
rehash of the previous two games.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vK_pxruGhTo/UXqMJk6BvWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/Yl6lTj2ZSW4/s1600/screen3ib_enl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vK_pxruGhTo/UXqMJk6BvWI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/Yl6lTj2ZSW4/s400/screen3ib_enl.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burnout Legends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Two games were released that
highlighted one PSP design flaw that many comment on, the lack of a second
analogue stick. Coded Arms from Konami was one of the first FPS games released
on the system and was ultimately let down by poor controls and boring level design.
In comparison SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo replaced aiming with a lock
on button and faired a lot better. The game also featured online and ad hoc
local multiplayer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Metal Gear also made an
appearance on the system but not as most people had imagined. Metal Gear Acid
(or Ac!d) was a bizarre mix of turn based stealth gameplay with a card based
system, MGA managed to confuse a lot of gamers. However give it some time and
it was one of the more interesting and entertaining games on the system even if
the story gives MGS4 a run for its money in the stupidity category.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The game that for many thought
would cement the PSP as the dominant handheld console was released this year,
GTA Liberty City Stories. Despite being a bit underwhelming compared to its
brethren on the PS2 and having awkward controls due to the lack of buttons and
a second analogue stick GTA:LCS was still GTA running on a handheld and could
not fail to impress. It was a good game and an amazing technical achievement.
One overlooked feature was that this was the first GTA to officially support
multiplayer through local ad hoc and online. I’ve not experienced it myself but
heard the multiplayer was superb and insanely chaotic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tBKbp3gtVg/UXqL45IbDsI/AAAAAAAAA4I/Ehkr2iRuu7s/s1600/GTA_LibertyCityStories_PSP_Editeur_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tBKbp3gtVg/UXqL45IbDsI/AAAAAAAAA4I/Ehkr2iRuu7s/s400/GTA_LibertyCityStories_PSP_Editeur_009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GTA: Liberty City Stories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A mention must also go out to an
unassuming release that would later shape the faith of the PSP. A port of the
PS2’s online game Monster Hunter was released on the PSP. This Phantasy Star
clone hardly set the sales charts on fire but this unassuming title would have
much greater influence later on. It also introduced gamers to the god awful
‘claw’ control scheme. Only people with high repetitive strain and cramp
resistance need apply.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfvqw9qLPsw/UXqYyuxgX9I/AAAAAAAAA7w/DtiMZvdKSpM/s1600/PSP_Claw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfvqw9qLPsw/UXqYyuxgX9I/AAAAAAAAA7w/DtiMZvdKSpM/s320/PSP_Claw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2006</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
2006 ended up being a fantastic
year to be a PSP owner. The DS had just become a phenomenon with the release of
Nintendogs and Brain Age but times didn’t look so desperate for the PSP and
piracy had yet to kill sales on the system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony however messed up their
advertising with two disastrous campaigns. The first was a blog/website called
‘All I want for Xmas is a PSP’. It followed the quest of a ‘hip’, ‘urban’
‘trendsetter’ (I’m running out of inverted commas) to get a PSP for Christmas.
It felt like it was written by a 40 year old who thought he knew how all the
hip kids talked. A bit of hacking later and it was found to have been created
by one of Sony’s advertising contractors. After some flat out denials Sony
apologised and a dreadful advertising company lost a contract. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0G0LlXv-nyI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The second awful advertising
campaign was the Dust ball campaign in Europe. I’m not even sure what they were
trying to go for here. Apparently the PSP was as exciting as carpet. At least
2006’s PSP releases would beg to different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xzs7824Ct6g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Again the PSP was riddled with
uninteresting ports but some were worth taking note of. Europe received ports
of the wonderful PS1 RPGs Tales of Eternia and Breath of Fire 3. Eternia had
never been released in Europe and both PSP releases strangely remained PAL
exclusives in the west. The US received a port of Valkyrie Profile, now
subtitled Lenneth; PAL territories would receive it the following year.
Although not a great port, the screen is stretched and a disgusting blur filter
is applied to the gorgeous 2D art, it was still better than forking out the
price on ebay for what had become a very rare and sought after RPG. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Another game that had become a
very expensive rarity was Gitaroo Man. One of the best rhythm action games and
made by the team behind Osu Tatake Ouedan, the PSP release was a great and more
affordable way to pick up this excellent game. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f840jzkYipU/UXqNDo3-psI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/sqcNV7hyk-4/s1600/d9015f78d848fa16c4c68bf45924c87a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f840jzkYipU/UXqNDo3-psI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/sqcNV7hyk-4/s400/d9015f78d848fa16c4c68bf45924c87a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tales of Eternia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Konami released Gradius
collection which contained Gradius 1-4 and Gradius Gaiden, formally a japan
only PS1 release and a very expensive one at that. Gradius Collection was a
bargain at the price and contained 5 of the best shmups ever made. Konami would
later release other shoot’em up collections including Twinbee, Parodius and
Salamander that would sadly stay exclusive to Japan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The popular Disgaea strategy RPG
also got a PSP release and it really suited the portable system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Of course it wasn’t all ports.
Sony supported its system with some excellent software. Field Commander was a
total shameless rip off of Nintendo’s Advance Wars but if you are going to rip
something off rip off the best. Field Commander proved to be an excellent
strategy title for PSP owners even if it didn’t have the charm of the Nintendo
original. Daxter, a spin-off of the popular Jak and Daxter, was a fantastic
looking platformer that was very playable from all accounts. It certainly
satisfied PSP users in need of a quality platforming fix.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxKe2_72Wt0/UXqNWUMQxeI/AAAAAAAAA4g/C8H28SaJkPQ/s1600/Field_Commander_in-game_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxKe2_72Wt0/UXqNWUMQxeI/AAAAAAAAA4g/C8H28SaJkPQ/s400/Field_Commander_in-game_image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field Commander</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The boring and dull Killzone
franchise even managed to produce something surprising. Killzone Liberation
abandoned the first person view of the console game and went for a top down
isometric view. The result was a surprisingly entertaining blaster from an
otherwise dull franchise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony even tried its hand at a
third person shooter with Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. It used a lock on
mechanic in place of dual analogue control and even had cover shooter elements.
It proved a big success with gamers and reviewers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The most interesting, and in my
opinion best, game that Sony released this year was Loco Roco. It was an
innovative platform game that saw you guide your Loco Rocos to the exit by
controlling the tilt of the landscape rather than the characters themselves. It
was enormously entertaining and had excellent music and visuals. The game was
unfortunately hounded by ridiculous claims that it was somehow racist.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq53bTr6WsM/UXqNp9fprxI/AAAAAAAAA4o/LO_65SPJos0/s1600/lrrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq53bTr6WsM/UXqNp9fprxI/AAAAAAAAA4o/LO_65SPJos0/s400/lrrs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The incredibly racist Loco Roco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It wasn’t all good for Sony, their
GTA wannabe Gangs of London proved to be a bit of a stinker and let many people
down. However GTA was on hand itself to alleviate any disappointments. GTA Vice
City Stories was an improvement on the previous GTA Liberty City Stories.
Despite the control issues persisting it was still a must have for the system
and a technical showcase.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A second Metal Gear Acid game was
released to confuse Metal Gear fans further. It was a small improvement on the
MGA gameplay so if you couldn’t get your head around that one then you’d be
equally lost with this one. Interestingly the game came with a piece of
cardboard that when folded up could be placed over the PSP screen and divided
the screen in half. You could then set the game to 3D and be treated to a
surprisingly effective stereoscopic 3D effect. Who needs a 3DS when you have a
PSP! That was not the end of Metal Gear on the PSP, Metal Gear Portable Ops
arrived in Japan and the US while PAL territories had to wait until May 2007.
Unlike the Acid games Portable Ops played just like previous metal gear games.
The game was now mission based and took place in much smaller areas but this
ultimately suited portable gameplay. While not the best Metal Gear game and
having some bad control problems it was still worth playing especially for
Metal Gear fans.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgS2DeY96SQ/UXqZ4xzhGiI/AAAAAAAAA78/rgxVjc1PrlU/s1600/solideyetobidacid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgS2DeY96SQ/UXqZ4xzhGiI/AAAAAAAAA78/rgxVjc1PrlU/s320/solideyetobidacid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal Gear Acid 2's 3D viewer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A surprising release for the PSP
was Tekken Dark Resurrection, surprising that it was released for the PSP
before the PS2 or 3 and also surprising how faithful it was to the arcade
machine. No matter your feelings on the series it was an impressive conversion
and a big seller for the system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSLnnbJ0Hcw/UXqN59hfS8I/AAAAAAAAA4w/Ts-glv2KTTw/s1600/WotR77UltimateG_G003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSLnnbJ0Hcw/UXqN59hfS8I/AAAAAAAAA4w/Ts-glv2KTTw/s400/WotR77UltimateG_G003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultimate Ghosts n'Goblins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As a massive fan of Ghouls
n’Ghosts I was really looking forward to Ultimate Ghosts n’Ghosts which was
being made by many of the original creators. It unfortunately turned out to be
a big disappointment despite what many reviews state from the time. While the
original games were extremely harsh but always fair this one was often unfair
with annoying respawning enemies harassing you constantly. This is coming from
someone that can one credit run the arcade Ghouls n’Ghosts. Annoying
exploration elements were also added. Capcom recognised the game had problems
and released an updated version in Japan that sadly remained there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Last I have to mention one of the
most underappreciated games on the PSP. Megaman Powered Up was a remake of the
first NES Megaman game but with many twists. While the original game was
available to play with updated graphics the game also gave the option to play
through a ‘New Style’ game. This new style re-imagined the levels, added two
new levels and bosses that had to be cut from the original and let you play
through the game as all 8 robot master bosses as well as an additional 2
characters. Not only that but each character would proceed through each level
differently opening up new areas. The icing on the cake however was an
extensive and brilliant level editor that predated little big planet. You could
create levels and share them on PSN and some of the fan-made levels are
exceptional. Don’t pass up on this gem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2007</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This was the year that the PSP
slowly died in the West and we got the tail end of big releases and also the
year of the PSP’s surprise resurrection in Japan. Piracy had taken a big
foothold in the market and was scaring away developers due to poor software
sales. Despite this unfortunate occurrence there was still quite a lot of
excellent software.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony’s support of the handheld
was again exceptional. A new Wipeout game, in the form of Wipeout Pulse, was
released and again was a great addition to the series and the PSP’s library.
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow followed on from the gameplay in Dark Mirror and
supposedly is another worthy third person shooter. The intriguing Patapon ended
up being one of the highlights of the year, it was a strange rhythm game where
the rhythm you keep determines the strength and type of attack of your Patapon
horde.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f6g8vk1Q0sc/UXqOktYNk5I/AAAAAAAAA44/DpKbQcfNETk/s1600/6897-Pata1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f6g8vk1Q0sc/UXqOktYNk5I/AAAAAAAAA44/DpKbQcfNETk/s400/6897-Pata1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patapon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ratchet and Clank Size Matters
arrived and while I’m not a fan of the series I’m sure this one was well
received by fans of the series if review scores are anything to go by.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Falcom’s Gurumin by some miracle
managed to find a release in the West. This wonderful Zelda clone often gets
overlooked but like all of Falcom’s games it’s excellently crafted and has
great music.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Silent Hill Origins, the first
portable entry in the series, was a decent survival horror game that was marred
by a crappy story by a team that wanted to copy Silent Hill 2 but didn’t
understand what made it so good. Unfortunately it was the start of a series of disappointing
western made silent Hill games. It was eventually was released on the PS2.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It took 17 years but Castlevania:
Rondo of Blood finally got a release in the West. Castlevania Dracula X
Chronicles was a remake of the classic PC Engine CD game but also contained the
original game and an updated version of Symphony of the Night, which now
allowed you to play as Maria. The package was excellent value for money. The
Rondo of Blood remake despite having dodgy 3D graphics still played great and
even improved on the original in a few ways. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrWCkA2ZMGU/UXqOyUlEGnI/AAAAAAAAA5E/TL8933xyaRQ/s1600/2276458063_fc4850f767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrWCkA2ZMGU/UXqOyUlEGnI/AAAAAAAAA5E/TL8933xyaRQ/s400/2276458063_fc4850f767.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castlevania: Dracula Chronicles X</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was a great year for RPG fans.
Final Fantasy Tactics was released on the PSP which was good news for European
gamers who missed out on the PS1 game. It’s one of the best RPGs ever made and
a great match for the portable system. New cutscenes were added and a much
needed new translation was applied. The unfortunate effect of FF Tactics being
released was that many other great RPGs were ignored. The most unfortunate was
Level 5’s excellent strategy RPG Jeanne D’Arc which missed out on a European
release. It had gorgeous visuals, great voice acting and a ‘historically
accurate’ account of the French fight against the demon summoning English
during the 100 year war. Brave Story released the same month also went
unnoticed despite being a great looking game with fun, traditional RPG
mechanics. Another release worth picking up was Sting’s excellent Riviera.
Playing like a mix between a RPG and visual novel it had a great story and
interesting battle system, just don’t play it with the awful English voices.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCo3J8mWYqE/UXqVInvehWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/a9ZYTgzxIqo/s1600/jeanne-d-arc-psp-ss1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCo3J8mWYqE/UXqVInvehWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/a9ZYTgzxIqo/s400/jeanne-d-arc-psp-ss1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanne d'Arc</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
2007 saw the release of two games
that changed the fortunes of the PSP in Japan. The first game was Crisis Core:
Final Fantasy VII, a prequel to the PS1 classic. Westerners would have to wait
until 2008 to play Crisis Core. The lure of the Final Fantasy VII name ensured
that the game sold ridiculous numbers. It also helped that it wasn’t a bad game
despite the god awful story. Crisis Core was so popular that it drove PSP sales
to silly levels and for the first time since release it managed to eclipse the
sales of the all conquering Nintendo DS. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kaubojcAeI/UXqPWUjGH1I/AAAAAAAAA5M/9opAdKx6CxQ/s1600/screenshot_psp_crisis_core_final_fantasy_vii028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kaubojcAeI/UXqPWUjGH1I/AAAAAAAAA5M/9opAdKx6CxQ/s400/screenshot_psp_crisis_core_final_fantasy_vii028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crisis Core: FFVII</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This PSP craze however wasn’t a
flash in the pan. Another game had been released just before Crisis Core and
that game was Monster Hunter Freedom 2. New PSP owners attracted to the
platform by Crisis Core discovered Monster Hunter through this game and became
addicted to cutting up monsters and making weapons and armour out of them. The
ad hoc multiplayer mode was well suited to crowded urban life in Japan and
multiplayer sessions took off on the Japans public transport system and it
school yards. The PSP and Monster Hunter were on the fast track to becoming
Japan’s biggest console and gaming franchise respectively.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bk3ENsBOB-s/UXqPeO9NJrI/AAAAAAAAA5U/OIcBI-uqGzE/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bk3ENsBOB-s/UXqPeO9NJrI/AAAAAAAAA5U/OIcBI-uqGzE/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster Hunter (2 I think?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2008</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This was a pretty bleak year for
PSP fans. While Japan was enjoying Monster Hunter mania and developers were
starting to take notice and switch development to the PSP there wasn’t much of
note released in Japan or in the rest of the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony were again doing a good job
of supporting the system. God of War: Chains of Olympus was their big title and
it was incredible. The God of War gameplay translated brilliantly to the PSP
since it didn’t rely on camera controls and it somehow managed to convey the
same sense of scale that it’s bigger brothers did on the PS2. It really showed
what was possible on the handheld. Sony also released sequels to Loco Roco and
Patapon. While there wasn’t much difference between these titles and the
predecessors the improvements were welcome and they were great additions to the
library. Platformer fans were satiated with Secret Agent Clank although reviews
of this title don’t seem that good.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvtP33OY5Yo/UXqPt04HfCI/AAAAAAAAA5c/JknwDaJTf1g/s1600/gow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvtP33OY5Yo/UXqPt04HfCI/AAAAAAAAA5c/JknwDaJTf1g/s400/gow2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God of War: Chains of Olympus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Space Invaders Extreme was
released on the PSP and DS and the PSP proved to be the best platform due to
its much better audio and visual capabilities. It was a trippy, psychedelic
reimagining of the classic title.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One game that got unfortunately
overlooked was Fading Shadows, it’s a fun little puzzle game that’s kind of
hard to describe so look it up!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2009</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This started off as another bad
year for the PSP in Europe. In Japan however a glut of software started to get
published off the back of the popularity of Monster Hunter. By the end of 2009
many of these Japanese games started to get published in the West and the PSP
got its second wind in the West with fans of niche Japanese titles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There were two big PSP
developments that coincided with each other in 2009. The first was Gran Turismo
finally getting released on the PSP. This game was used to show off the system
before it launched and was promised to be released shortly afterwards. It
quickly joined Duke Nukem Forever in the lists of potential Vapourware. When it
was eventually released the PSP was effectively dead in the West and nobody
really cared.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony used the release of Gran
Turismo to promote the new PSP model, the PSP Go. The PSP Go lacked a UMD drive
so relied on game purchases from PSN. Retailers weren’t happy considering they
usually make very little money on hardware sales and make most of it on
software sales. They either refused to stock it or kept it well hidden from
customers. Sony didn’t help either and it would seem they sent the system out
to die as an experiment on how well people would accept a digital only system.
The system was ultimately a failure.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HhAITuU0o0/UXqP_V-NYNI/AAAAAAAAA5k/X0sXo7xZRr0/s1600/Gran_turismo_PSP_screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HhAITuU0o0/UXqP_V-NYNI/AAAAAAAAA5k/X0sXo7xZRr0/s400/Gran_turismo_PSP_screen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gran Turismo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony did manage to release a
portable version of Little Big Planet that went down extremely well. It
featured everything from the PS3 game including the level creation and sharing
features that defined this title.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Resistance: Retribution by Sony
Bend studio was another third person lock on shooter and apparently pretty good
in keeping with the excellent quality Sony Bend have been producing. It also
featured quite an impressive fully featured competitive online mode.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Death throes of the PSP: 2009-present</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There’s a strange phenomenon that
sometimes happens in videogaming. The runner up and oft ignored console in a
generation receives a glut of amazing software in its last few months. It
happened with the Saturn, the Neo Geo Pocket, the Dreamcast and the Gamecube
and in 2009 the PSP pretty much became the Sega Saturn of this generation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
With the success of Monster
Hunter in Japan most Japanese developers were now developing for the PSP as
their primary platform. The PSP was resurrected as the must have platform for
gaming and there was an explosion of software for it. Japanese publishers were
releasing subpar Monster Hunter clones for the system that were pretty much
guaranteed sales of half a million units. It wasn’t just Monster Hunter clones,
many other types of games were released on the platform, many of which were
extremely good. While many of these remained in Japan a few small publishers
such as Aksys, XSeed, UFO, Atlus and Nippon Ichi brought the cream of the crop
to the US and released many digitally so that Europeans were not left out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sega decided to jump on the
Monster Hunter bandwagon by releasing Phantasy Star Portable, PSO is the game
Monster Hunter ripped off after all. Phantasy Star Portable was a superior
Monster Hunter clone but unfortunately for western gamers it only supported ad
hoc local multiplayer. This was rectified in the sequel which appeared in Japan
in 2009 and the west in 2010. It featured online multiplayer and was for all
intents and purposes a full PSO game on your PSP. Both games also managed to be
significantly better than PS Universe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The final big PSP release in the
West for Sega was Valkyria Chronicles 2. Fans of the fantastic PS3 original
were disappointed with the god awful story but the gameplay translated well to
the PSP. It featured hours of content and hundreds of missions and I was
particularly fond of the new classes that were introduced. It’s just a shame I
never got to experience the multiplayer in this title. Unfortunately poor sales
of this game meant Sega pulled out of publishing anymore PSP titles in the West
which meant the superb Valkyria Chronicles 3 was denied a release.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rbGi9sa4Mvw/UXqQf0YNjpI/AAAAAAAAA5w/kp0fNFyb9L4/s1600/vc2japanrandom530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rbGi9sa4Mvw/UXqQf0YNjpI/AAAAAAAAA5w/kp0fNFyb9L4/s400/vc2japanrandom530.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valkyria Chronicles 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Project Diva became a big Sega
franchise in Japan that would end up being one of the biggest on the PSP
platform. It was a rhythm action game featuring famous vocaloid music (fan made
music using synthesised voices) that had become hugely popular in Japan. Sega
could have sold thousands of copies based on the fact that Hatsume Miku was in
the game but they went all out and produced a rather excellent rhythm game.
There have been rumours of a PS3 release of the series coming soon to the west.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Square Enix was still a big
supporter of the PSP and brought over the weird Final Fantasy cross over
fighting game Dissidia. It played a bit like a hyperactive Virtual On and was
apparently pretty good. If you are looking for this game it’s best to hold off
and get the much improved sequel which included everything from the first game
as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Parasite Eve license was
resurrected on the PSP with Third Birthday, the name change due to Square Enix
losing the game rights to the original novel. The game was utterly daft in the
way only bad Square Enix stories could be but it made up for it with stunning
visuals and sold third person action.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-4RlOdzXYQ/UXqQy5kJmHI/AAAAAAAAA54/hMsaf5kUXq4/s1600/_-The-3rd-Birthday-PSP-_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-4RlOdzXYQ/UXqQy5kJmHI/AAAAAAAAA54/hMsaf5kUXq4/s400/_-The-3rd-Birthday-PSP-_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3rd Birthday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kingdom Hearts fans still waiting
on Kingdom Hearts 3 were left waiting still but at least they had Kingdom
Hearts: Birth by Sleep to play and it was supposedly one of, if not the best in
the series. Tetsuya Nomura might have created something that even out does
Twilight in terms of bad writing but Square Enix managed the impossible of
bringing the gorgeous visuals and setpieces of the PS2 games to the small
handheld system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Strategy RPG fans rejoiced when a
remake of Tactics Ogre was announced for the PSP. The original game is
considered by many to have one of the best stories ever written for a game,
it’s pretty much game of thrones but based on the 1990’s war in the Balkan
region. However the original had problems with a broken levelling up system.
The remake updated the gameplay and fixed the levelling problems and is
considered by many the finest game in the genre. It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>featured an innovative rewind mechanic that
let you rewind any mistakes made in battle but also let you turn back in time
in the story to experience the many different branching story paths and endings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSfHVbAIClw/UXqRAw_SiVI/AAAAAAAAA6A/IQhmjtFzZnY/s1600/20120905101551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hSfHVbAIClw/UXqRAw_SiVI/AAAAAAAAA6A/IQhmjtFzZnY/s400/20120905101551.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tactics Ogre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Of course Square Enix couldn’t
leave out its biggest franchise, Final Fantasy, and graced PSP owners with a
remake of FFIV. Unlike the DS remake which changed the gameplay significantly,
the PSP game played exactly like the SNES original but with new gorgeous
looking 2D art. As a bonus the mobile phone and wiiware sequel episodes were
also included as well as a new prologue chapter to link them together. While
this additional content was a bit crap the original game still holds its own as
one of the greatest RPGs ever made.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately the waning PSP
market meant that the West missed out on a brand new Final Fantasy game in the
form of Final Fantasy Type-0. I’ve not played it but everything points to it
being a fantastic addition to the franchise. Fingers crossed for a Vita
release.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Metal Gear Solid made one final
appearance on the PSP with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. It was a big
improvement on Portable Ops, most of all due to a far better control scheme.
One of the more interesting and amusing sections of the game have Snake
visiting the world of Monster Hunter, which I think just goes to show how
important that franchise was to the PSP.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_7suwdpxq2o/UXqROfw7PEI/AAAAAAAAA6I/ETjPQ89YlN4/s1600/Metal-Gear-Solid-Peace-Walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_7suwdpxq2o/UXqROfw7PEI/AAAAAAAAA6I/ETjPQ89YlN4/s400/Metal-Gear-Solid-Peace-Walker.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot Snake? MGS Peacewalker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking of Monster Hunter,
Capcom of course kept on releasing more games in the franchise ending with
Monster Hunter Portable 3<sup>rd</sup>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sony never really abandoned the
PSP either and supported it with a couple of releases. God of War: Ghosts of
Sparta, arrived on the PSP and proved to be more than a match for its home
console releases, some would say it was far better than the disappointing God
of War 3. Sony also released Patapon 3 although reports indicate it was
slightly disappointing. A strange release was White Knight Chronicles Origins
which Sony snuck out on to shelves in Europe but never got a US release.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In a move to combat the growing
popularity of smart phone gaming, Sony began digitally selling PSP minis. These
were much cheaper and smaller digital games, many of which were conversions of
mobile phone games. It was never going to put a dent in the smart phone market
but we did get some great games out of it including the excellent indie
platformer Where is My Heart? and the digital versions of the first two
Fighting Fantasy books.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75PaGDN-AJc/UXqRmLa3DnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/Wx-G9vpqAX0/s1600/WhereIsMyHeart_sc001.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75PaGDN-AJc/UXqRmLa3DnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/Wx-G9vpqAX0/s400/WhereIsMyHeart_sc001.png.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is my Heart?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
With the big names out of the way
it’s time to for the weird stuff that really defined the PSP in this era. Atlus
really went out of its way to support the PSP. The wonderfully quirky
platformer Hammerin’ Hero is a good game to look out for and a lot of fun.
Atlus was looking to build on the massive success Etrian Odyssey andthe <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>resurgence in popularity of the first person
dungeon crawler. It released the Wizardry spin-off Class of Heroes. It wasn’t
the best dungeon crawler, especially compared to Etrian Odyssey, but still
worth your time. One of their more over looked releases was Kenka Bancho:
Badass Rumble. It’s an open world game where you play as a bad ass school kid
brawling with other school kids and getting into insult fights with them. It
was utterly insane but a hell of a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2pRH4hiyHE/UXqSYSkEvJI/AAAAAAAAA6c/hPyjLQpxhzg/s1600/100418144724574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2pRH4hiyHE/UXqSYSkEvJI/AAAAAAAAA6c/hPyjLQpxhzg/s400/100418144724574.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Shin Megami Tensei made its
western debut on the PSP with Persona, Atlus had previously been denied by Sony
to bring Devil Summoner to the West. The original US release of Persona was
notorious for having a terrible localisation and half the game cut from it.
This release reinstated the missing content and had a much better localisation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
That wasn’t the end of the
Persona series on the PSP. Persona 3 Portable was a conversion of the amazing
PS2 original. While it didn’t include the extra material from the FES rerelease
it did have the option to play as a female protagonist which significantly
changed the social links. The new minimalistic interface was a step back but
was better suited to gaming on the go and sped the game up considerably.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin finally made its way to the West on the PSP. The
original PS1 releases of Persona 2 was released as two separate games but only
the second of these games made it to the US. Despite some changes from the
Japanese release (the removal of the dungeon designer) and Hitler now getting
some kick ass shades, it was great to finally be able to play this missing
chapter of the Persona series. Unfortunately the PSP release of the second part
of Persona 2, Eternal Punishment, didn’t get a western release but Atlus made
amends by releasing the PS1 version on PSN.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bx90tR_JwE/UXqTDa1UqcI/AAAAAAAAA6k/qOEqcUJpGHY/s1600/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable-20100604054627739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bx90tR_JwE/UXqTDa1UqcI/AAAAAAAAA6k/qOEqcUJpGHY/s400/shin-megami-tensei-persona-3-portable-20100604054627739.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Persona 3 Portable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Atlus continued its relationship
with Sting and continued releasing its quirky and inventive RPGs in the US and
on PSN for Europe. Sting’s Dept. Of Heaven series continued on PSP with the
release of Knights in the Knightmare and Gungnir. As usual for Sting these
weren’t your usual strategy RPGs, Knights in the Nightmare even contains
elements of bullet hell shooters of all things. Hexyz Force, another of Sting’s
strategy RPGs also made it to the West courtesy of Atlus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The last PSP release from Atlus
was <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time a
strategy RPG with dating sim elements.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nippon Ichi was also became a
great supporter of the PSP in its dying years. It released Disgaea 2 and again
the portable was the preferred method of experiencing this game. Disgaea also
got a spin-off in the form of Prinny: Can I really be a Hero? starring
everyone’s favourite exploding penguins. It was a strange very difficult
platformer that tasked the player with beating the game in 1000 lives. A very
similar sequel followed. Fans of Dungeon Keeper should check out Holy Invasion
of Privacy Badman: What did I do to Deserve this my Lord. It played every
similarly and tasked you with creating a dungeon to foil the plans of would be
adventurers. The weirdly named ZHP<b><i> </i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman was a
strange turn based rogue-like featuring Nippon Ichi’s unique humorous style or
writing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The small localisation company
XSeed took a big interest in the PSP. They formed a partnership with Falcom to
bring their games to the west and the first fruit of that union was the superb
Ys Seven. This ultra fast action RPG was heaps of fun and had Falcom’s
trademark amazing music. More releases of Ys games continued with Ys 1 and 2
Chronicles, a great update of the first two games in the series, and Ys: Oath
in Felghana, which is considered by many to be the best in the series.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZtivHs6Cwk/UXqTn7jyW1I/AAAAAAAAA6s/LFsu-4NISDA/s1600/screen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZtivHs6Cwk/UXqTn7jyW1I/AAAAAAAAA6s/LFsu-4NISDA/s400/screen1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ys Seven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Falcom relationship lead to
the release of Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky for PSP. It was the first
part in this excellent RPG series but despite fans clamouring for the sequels
and XSeed desperately wanting to release the next two games the current PSP
market prohibits it. XSeed are now looking into releasing the sequels on PC.
Fingers crossed we get to see these two games in English.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mega CD fans will remember Game
Arts delightful RPG Lunar. An update of Lunar called Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
was released by XSeed on the PSP and is a must have for anyone yet to
experience this great game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
XSeed also released the quirky
RPG Half Minute Hero which saw you trying to complete a full blown RPG in 30
second chunks. It’s now available on Steam and XBLA, just make sure to change
the settings to the much more appealing retro graphics. Dungeon crawler fans
should check out Unchained Blades which plays very close to old school Wizardry
games. One of the stranger releases from XSeed is Corpse Party. It’s a PSP
remake of a legendary NEC PC-98 homebrew horror game. Despite the cute visuals
it’s a surprisingly scary game thanks to some great writing and very effective
3D sound when using headphones. The sequel was also recently released by XSeed
on PSN.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FylmIjjII/UXqT2oD0bPI/AAAAAAAAA64/KvH8Rt_CvdU/s1600/corpse_party_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FylmIjjII/UXqT2oD0bPI/AAAAAAAAA64/KvH8Rt_CvdU/s400/corpse_party_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corpse Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Two other late PSP games worth
mentioning are Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom and Elminage Original.
Hakuoki is localisation of a Japanese dating sim released by Aksys in the West.
However unlike most dating sims this one belongs to the Otome genre where the
main character is a girl chatting up guys, which is a bit of a rarity in the West.
If you are comfortable with your sexuality and not afraid of catching the
‘ghey’ off it then it’s surprisingly enjoyable. Elminage Original is an entry
in a long running Wizardry style dungeon crawling series and is one of the best
games in the genre. The localisation by UFO Interactive is dreadful but the
gameplay is great and a patch is promised to fix the poor translation.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Go6yiY5TRA/UXqUOcc-WEI/AAAAAAAAA7A/NsfKx_nWzfw/s1600/HakuokiScreen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Go6yiY5TRA/UXqUOcc-WEI/AAAAAAAAA7A/NsfKx_nWzfw/s400/HakuokiScreen3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many men to choose from but I've only the one heart! Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’ll finish up with one mention
of a good import game that is well worth looking into. Gunhound EX is a
spiritual sequel to Assault Suit Valken (Cybernator for everyone else) and was
made with the help of shoot’em up experts G.Rev.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuR1y_G3XzY/UXqUj-Ty70I/AAAAAAAAA7I/t3y-0K1Z8YI/s1600/gunhound_ex1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuR1y_G3XzY/UXqUj-Ty70I/AAAAAAAAA7I/t3y-0K1Z8YI/s400/gunhound_ex1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunhound EX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Future</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Even with the Vita and 3DS
released there’s still life left in the PSP since with a little tweaking PSP
games can be made playable on the Vita. There have been a few surprise releases
recently with a few more on the way. Between the time I started writing this
and finishing there have already been two releases that almost completely past
me by. Natsume, the guys behind Harvest Moon, released Carnage Hearts Exa on
PSN. Some of you might remember the first Carnage Hearts for the PS1 that let
you build and set up AI for your robots and send them to do battle. This looks just
as much fun. The next is Black Rock Shooter released by NIS, a game based on a
frighteningly generic anime girl that was created for the music video for a
frighteningly generic fan made vocaloid track that somehow managed to gain huge
popularity in Japan. I’m not sure how good the game is but from videos it looks
like a bit of fun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll5V260JNus/UXqUzUBeK-I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Le2ZJR9D-PM/s1600/500091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll5V260JNus/UXqUzUBeK-I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Le2ZJR9D-PM/s400/500091.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Class of Heroes 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There are still releases coming
to the PSP. Aksys is planning to release Sweet Fuse on the PSP. It’s another
Otome dating sim and Aksys have been convinced to translate it due to the
surprising success of Hakuoki. Last is Class of Heroes 2 which is being
released as collaboration between Monkey Paw Games and Gaijin Works (set up by
Victor Ireland who many old schoolers will remember from Working Designs).
While the first game was a by the numbers dungeon crawler the sequel is
apparently far better. It was supposed to be released by now but is delayed due
to a rights issue with the opening video music track. You have to sign up if
you want a physical copy of this game and it is looking like it could very well
be the last physical release for the PSP in the West. There’s even talk of them
bringing out Class of Heroes 3 if the rights issue clears up soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In Summary.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While some might view the PSP as
a failure for Sony it couldn’t be further from the truth. According to
Wikipedia the system has sold 76+ million units worldwide, a staggeringly large
number. It was the first console to really challenge Nintendo’s stranglehold of
the market and was, at the time the most successful non-Nintendo handheld
released. If anything the PSP failed publishers when the market was completely
destroyed by piracy early on. Sony’s handling of the PSP was pretty good,
despite a few dodgy advertising campaigns. They never really abandoned the
format. Sony’s biggest problem was out of their control, Nintendo had managed
to pull off a miracle with their DS system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As a system I have some problems
with the PSP. There’s no denying the fantastic hardware and power of the
machine. However I feel it wasn’t as well suited to portable gaming as the DS.
The DS’s clamshell design helped protect the screen from damage whereas with
the PSP I’m constantly afraid of the screen getting scratched despite the nice
foam protector that came with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Using a disc medium was a bad
choice in my opinion. Battery life on early models was severely affected and was
pretty terrible in comparison to the DS. Hacking the console to play games from
the Pro Duo memory card was a viable option to increase battery life. Load
times were dreadful for the first few years until developers started to really
understand the hardware. As with nearly every Sony console the disc drive laser
was prone to failing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mXHf2pUBLU/UXqVfktvGhI/AAAAAAAAA7g/8xKUgVNusZ0/s1600/wp1-480x272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mXHf2pUBLU/UXqVfktvGhI/AAAAAAAAA7g/8xKUgVNusZ0/s400/wp1-480x272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The screen might have been a
technological marvel at release but on earlier models there was a lot of
ghosting. This wasn’t as noticeable in 3D games but severely affects the look
of 2D games. Battery persistence was also a big problem. As a handheld device I
usually found myself not playing the PSP for long stretches. If I wanted to
have a quick game of something on the device I would always need to charge it
up first because after a week of inactivity you could be guaranteed that the
battery would be empty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Thankfully the issues with
battery life and the screen were remedied in later iterations of the hardware.
I do however really like the suspend feature of the PSP which was much better
than the DS sleep mode which only turned off the back light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Of course the hardware doesn’t
really matter; it’s the software that counts and it was here that the PSP
excelled. The library might not have been as diverse as the DS but it still had
a wealth of excellent games, many of which are exclusive to the console. For
any fans of quirky Japanese games or RPGs it’s pretty much an essential console
to own.</div>
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<![endif]--><br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-6748432407329780432013-04-07T08:06:00.003-07:002013-04-07T08:06:30.734-07:00Phantasy Star Podcast!Well I've been very busy lately so haven't had much time to post but hopefully this will satisfy my millions of fans. Here's a link to a Phantasy Star podcast that we recorded recently. Hope you enjoy it!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-retro-podcast-15-phantasy-star-retrospective/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-retro-podcast-15-phantasy-star-retrospective/</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://i.eho.st/pp3er7kr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://i.eho.st/pp3er7kr.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-79485905261294092562013-03-08T08:59:00.000-08:002013-03-08T08:59:10.050-08:00Nintendo DS retrospective<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRHXT4IPFxQ/UToUZqRWWOI/AAAAAAAAA14/2OFuT4Ga8uI/s1600/Nintendo-DS_1711645b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRHXT4IPFxQ/UToUZqRWWOI/AAAAAAAAA14/2OFuT4Ga8uI/s320/Nintendo-DS_1711645b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Announcement and
build up to launch</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">For what became
the second best selling console of all time (according to wiki, I’m pretty sure
it’s the best selling) the DS had quite humble beginnings. Even Nintendo didn’t
hold out much hope. Despite the underperformance of the N64 and Gamecube,
Nintendo still had a vice like hold over the portable gaming market with the
Gameboy range. However that was about to be challenged by the arrival of the
Sony’s PSP which offered near PS2 levels of graphical and aural fidelity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The DS was announced
in early 2004 (21<sup>st</sup> of January is about as accurate as I can
predict) and the hardware shown a few weeks later. With its dual screens,
microphone and stylus controlled touch pad it was unlike any other console out
there. It was ugly and underpowered and the subject of a lot of gamer scorn
especially when compared to the high tech PSP. It felt like Nintendo was afraid
of losing its only stronghold, the handheld market, to Sony and had rushed out
a console to challenge it. Even Nintendo didn’t seem confident, announcing that
it wasn’t a successor to the Gamecube or the Gameboy line, although it was
backwards compatible with GBA software. To quote an article from Eurogamer from
around the time of the DS announcement:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">‘Nintendo
president Satoru Iwata has publicly stated that the company will be happy if
just ten per cent of people find the DS interesting enough to buy’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/comment_nintendods">http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/comment_nintendods</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The last time
Nintendo sounded this unsure about a console was the Virtual Boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">At E3 2004
Nintendo decided to show how the unique features of the DS could bring new
ideas to gaming. A strong showing garnered some positive public perception
although there was still concern that what was shown was nothing more than a
few tech demos and good ideas rather than fully fleshed out games. Showing
Super Mario 64 running on the machine showed that it was quite capable
technically but still far from matching the power of the PSP.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Launch</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Nintendo DS was
released across North American and Japan in winter 2004. PAL territories had to
wait until spring 2005.The DS just beat the PSP to store shelves in all
territories. Strangely for a Japanese product it launched in North America
first. It was quite a subdued launch in comparison to most modern console
launches with their massive queues outside stores at midnight. Many places
reported being sold out one launch day but my own experience was of strolling
into a very quiet Gamestop on my lunch break and picking one up no problem.
Initial sales were quite good and enough for Nintendo to be satisfied. Half a
million consoles were sold in the first week in America with a million sold by
the year end a month later. Despite the subdued launch it still went on to
break console launch sales records in many places although the fact that it was
well stocked might have been a contributing factor. In comparison the PSP
worldwide launches were much more hectic with shipments being sold out in hours
and a high number import consoles in European regions (which lead to Sony
calling out its lawyer brigade but that’s another story).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The launch line
up for the DS was surprisingly good. Super Mario 64 DS was the big launch title
and while technically impressive was ultimately a disappointing port due to the
lack of analogue controls and some late game breaking bugs. The best games of
the launch were the games that showed off the DS’s unique control inputs.
Warioware Touched! and Project Rub were the two that best showed off the unique
touch screen and microphone interface of the DS. Despite being rather short
they were a hell of a lot of fun. Puzzle game fans were well served with Mr.
Driller and the superb Zoo Keeper, the previously free flash game made a
surprisingly great fit on the DS. One title that gets over looked is Polarium,
a very minimalistic puzzle game that was released at a budget price. DS games
were supposed to come at two price points but Polarium is the only one I recall
being released at this budget price. Unfortunately the excellent rhythm game Daigasso!
Band Brothers was only available for the Japanese launch although the sequel
Jam with the Band did eventually get a surprise late European release in 2010</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcO_ZqpgV34/UToU6rdHFtI/AAAAAAAAA2A/4aIhQbYOzco/s1600/project+rub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcO_ZqpgV34/UToU6rdHFtI/AAAAAAAAA2A/4aIhQbYOzco/s320/project+rub.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Project Rub was kind of weird but in the best way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Of course there
was a lot of crap in the launch line up as well. Many were ports of older games
(Rayman DS) or mobile phone games (Asphalt GT) with tacked on touch screen
controls. Tacking on touch screen and microphone features unfortunately became
common place until developers understood the hardware. Then there were the
truly horrifyingly bad games like Sprung and Ping Pals (a rare mishap by
WayForward Technologies).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall it
wasn’t a bad launch line up although again comparing it to the PSP launch line
up it was quite lacking. The PSP had what I consider to be one of the most
impressive launch line ups of any console.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Post Launch</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then the
inevitable post launch drought settled in. I find it funny when people complain
there’s not enough new games on the WiiU and before that the 3DS as if it’s
something out of the ordinary where every console experiences a drought of
quality releases after launch. The DS was no different. There were a few long
quiet months with nothing of any worth appearing on the console.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Yoshi’s Touch
and Go was the first big game out of the gates and proved to be a huge
disappointment. It was nothing more than a tech demo stretched out into a full
release game. Things would have been bad for the DS if it the PSP wasn’t having
similar problems and suffered from a raft of terrible ports of PS2 games.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">All that changed
around in the Autumn of 2005. Konami released Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow on
the DS, a wonderful follow up to the DS’s Aria of Sorrow. Despite having some
tacked on touch interface and using that stupid ‘DS’ naming scheme of early
games Dawn of Sorrow was one of the best games in the long running franchise.
Dawn of Sorrow would be the first of many excellent Castlevania adventures on
the DS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7Z9FpYrFPM/UToVR3HruFI/AAAAAAAAA2I/JAt6Wah2cb8/s1600/dawn-of-sorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7Z9FpYrFPM/UToVR3HruFI/AAAAAAAAA2I/JAt6Wah2cb8/s1600/dawn-of-sorrow.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember when Castlevania used to be this awesome?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nintendo
followed up its successful Advance Wars series on the GBA with Advance Wars
Dual Strike. While it didn’t add much to the Advance Wars formula it was still
a must own for any strategy game fan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Puzzle fans were
satiated with Meteos. A strange puzzle game that used touch screen controls, it’s
a game that really wouldn’t have worked on any other system. Designed by Tetsuya
Mizuguchi, it was a good puzzler but not a patch on his other recent puzzle
game Lumines on the PSP.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In a big gamble
that paid off Capcom decided to release a remake of one of its visual novel
series and bring it to the West. Visual novels had always been popular in Japan
but the genre had died off with text based adventures in the West. A hilarious
comedy that was also a harsh satire of the Japanese legal system Phoenix
Wright: Ace Attorney became a surprise critical and commercial hit on the
system. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A localisation by the
translation legend Alexander O. Smith helped the game resonate with western
gamers and made Phoenix Wright into a successful franchise. It opened the doors
for many more visual novels such Hotel Dusk and Theresia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sfm-7epOfXg/UToVdCAj8cI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/uH0KCwy0x_I/s1600/487108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sfm-7epOfXg/UToVdCAj8cI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/uH0KCwy0x_I/s320/487108.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtroom justice was never sweeter. Or funnier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was the
release of Kirby: Canvas Curse, or Power Paintbrush in Europe, that really
showed the potential of touch control. Canvas Curse remains a unique game even
to this day. The player has limited control over the spherical ball of pinkness
and must instead rely on painting a path out for Kirby to traverse each
hazardous stage. Kirby: Canvas Curse remains one of the best games on the
system and showed developers how to utilise touch controls instead of
shoehorning them in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">However the
arrival of good software really wasn’t what pushed the DS into mass market
mainstream appeal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Nintendo DS
mania!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Over in Japan a
game released in April 2005 was making the headlines. Nintendogs was a pet simulator
and had a received a rare (at the time) 40/40 score from Famitsu. It was wildly
popular with children and especially females. Sales of the DS increased rapidly
on its release. It was the same story when it was released in the west. The DS
became one of the hottest gifts for Christmas 2005 but it proved only to be the
beginning of DS mania.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUVUlcZ5tKE/UToV9OSOrqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3hNhrWvQXA8/s1600/nintendogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUVUlcZ5tKE/UToV9OSOrqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/3hNhrWvQXA8/s320/nintendogs.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wanted to like this game but the dog just didn't understand my dublin accent :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The popularity
of the DS grew even further with the release of Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training:
How Old Is Your Brain? on May 2005 in Japan and Spring/Summer of 2006 in the
West. Nintendo had managed to entice the untapped female market with Nintendogs
and shrewdly targeted an older market. Brain Training was popular with people
of all ages. It wasn’t uncommon to see people of 50+ playing Brain Training on
their DS. It became one of the DS’s biggest sellers with close to 19 million
sales worldwide according to Wikipedia. With just two games Nintendo had
cleverly introduced gaming to people outside of the usual 10-25 year age range
that normally would never have considered gaming to be anything other than a
waste of time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It wasn’t until
the release of the DS Lite that the DS really hit its peak. Released in March
2006 and June 2006 in the rest of the world, the DS Lite was the console that
the DS should always have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smaller,
lighter and much more compact it’s one of the nicest looking and best designed
consoles ever made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People went crazy
for it. Nintendo could not keep up with demand in Japan where the DS Lite
constantly sold out on the day shipments arrived in shops and this continued
for months after release. Although not as bad in the West there were still
cases of shipments selling out and shortages during the Christmas period. The
arrival of the Pokemon juggernaut with Diamond and Pearl in 2007 meant
continuing DS Lite shortages in 2007. The DS had become the toy every kid wanted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGjf9ssMS0Y/UToWJb1MuqI/AAAAAAAAA2g/e5JYtBvggdg/s1600/nintendo-ds-lite-4ec-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGjf9ssMS0Y/UToWJb1MuqI/AAAAAAAAA2g/e5JYtBvggdg/s320/nintendo-ds-lite-4ec-800.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thing of beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Piracy</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately
the DS like the PSP was hit by piracy pretty early in its lifespan. Although I
can’t put an exact time frame on when DS flashcarts started to be made it looks
to be around 2006 when they first started to hit the market. With a cheap Chinese
made adapter and a micro SD card any owner with an internet connection had
access to the entire DS library. With none of the complex soldering or firmware
flashing required on other platforms quite literally a child could set up their
DS to play pirated software. By the following year anyone could go to a local market
and find a dodgy person selling overpriced flashcarts filled with pirated
games. You would be more likely to see a child with a flashcart in their DS
than a genuine game.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2b-X18cfTyM/UToWYmcWsBI/AAAAAAAAA2o/oN0D0MkjqWE/s1600/10705244-r4r4-dsr4ds-card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2b-X18cfTyM/UToWYmcWsBI/AAAAAAAAA2o/oN0D0MkjqWE/s320/10705244-r4r4-dsr4ds-card.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chinese ruin everything :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately
piracy stunted the DS market very far too early and many developers abandoned
the platform to work on mobile or PSP in the case of Japanese developers. By
2008 only big games, like Dragon Quest IX or Pokemon, or niche publishers with
dedicated fanbases, like Atlus or XSeed, could survive on the platform. While
the DS flashcarts did lead to some fantastic homebrew and fan translations of
games such as Nanashi no Game and Tales of Innocence the fact remains that
these games probably didn’t get English releases in the first place due to the
rampant piracy on the system. In the end many Japanese games such as Blood of
the Bahamut and ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat have remained untranslated and
unreleased to westerners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Games and
Legacy of the DS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The huge install
base of DS users and the low cost of making games on the system lead to a publishing
eco system similar to the Playstation and Playstation 2. With such a low
barrier of entry many small experimental games could be profitable with only
minor sales. Many of these were made for the Japanese market but small
publishers were willing to take risks publishing these games in the west. The
fact that the system was region free meant that word of mouth would spread
about great Japanese only DS games. Boing! Docomodake, Touch Detective and
their ilk would probably never have seen the light of day if it wasn’t for this
publishing eco system and import scene. Famously the superb rhythm action title
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! proved so popular<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>with importers that Nintendo westernised it as Elite Beat Agents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VViN3KEbdms/UToWp6e9bXI/AAAAAAAAA2w/VJ3PEJ67gYM/s1600/osu_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VViN3KEbdms/UToWp6e9bXI/AAAAAAAAA2w/VJ3PEJ67gYM/s400/osu_1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Linda Linda!'. You need to play this game!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">New game genres
and concepts were introduced by the DS and some old ones were resurrected.
There’s really no doubt that the DS and its touch screen were precursors to
today’s touch enabled mobile gaming. Considering Apple’s aversion to videogames
it might be a happy coincidence that the touch panel on the iPhone lent itself
to similar game types but no doubt a generation of developers were inspired by
ideas that started on the DS. The 3DS street pass idea began as a popular
feature in Dragon Quest IX where users could share maps with each other through
Wi-Fi. While the street pass feature didn’t make sense outside of Japan where
everyone was playing Dragon Quest IX, it evolved into the much better
implemented street pass feature of the 3DS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">As mentioned the
visual novel that was so popular in Japan was introduced to the west by Phoenix
Wright and was followed by games like 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors and Time
Hollow. The genre has also gained quite the niche for itself on the PC. Then there’s
the first person dungeon crawler. Despite having died in the West with the
Wizardry series first person dungeon crawlers remained popular in Japan. Etrian
Odyssey, released by Atlus in 2007, brought the old school dungeon crawler back
into the limelight and added its own modernised twist. It’s quite simply one of
the best RPGs ever made and led the way for many others in the genre such as
the excellent Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey and might even have had an
influence on the success of Legend of Grimrock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xu2CCkrEcfs/UToW95toj4I/AAAAAAAAA24/FDSWDN7mPEw/s1600/etrianodyssey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xu2CCkrEcfs/UToW95toj4I/AAAAAAAAA24/FDSWDN7mPEw/s320/etrianodyssey.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etrian Odyssey really is amazing. It's been reprinted by Atlus as well as it's two sequels so no excuse no to pick it up as well as Etrian Odyssey 4 coming to 3DS!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The DS was the
platform to own if you liked RPGs. People complain that there’s no good Japanese
RPGs anymore but that’s because they are playing the wrong platform. Old school
classics like the Dragon Quest games and Chrono Trigger were joined by highly
experimental RPGs such as The World Ends with You and Contact. Even the staid unchanging
Dragon Quest series decided to change things up with Dragon Quest IX being one
of the most progressive and forward thinking RPGs in recent years. Of course
there was Pokemon and if you were sick of that there was always the equally
good Dragon Quest Monsters. Strategy RPG fans were well served with the likes
of Front Mission and Shin Megami Tensei Devil Survivor. Even rogue-like games
were represented with Izuna the Unemployed Ninja and Shiren the Wanderer. Hell,
there’s even soccer RPGs in the form of the Inazuma Eleven games.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34YEoU2Uqcg/UToXya4jgFI/AAAAAAAAA3A/BK7uLJ5GLg4/s1600/dragon-quest-v-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34YEoU2Uqcg/UToXya4jgFI/AAAAAAAAA3A/BK7uLJ5GLg4/s400/dragon-quest-v-2.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you play one Dragon Quest game, make sure it's DQV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The DS’s biggest
success however was introducing people to gaming that may never have considered
gaming before. Finding a girl gamer my age is about as rare as a legendary
pokemon but the younger generation has a lot more females that game and it’s
pretty much a direct result of the DS and games like Nintendogs. Brain Training
may have also been responsible for introducing older people to games. While
Apple have now taken that baton from Nintendo it was Nintendo that really
started making gaming more acceptable to people that previously looked down on
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The success of
the DS brought Nintendo out of the rut it was in and inspired them to try
something different with the Wii. If it wasn’t for the DS, Nintendo might still
be the has-been it was in the early 2000’s except even worse with a weaker
handheld market to fall back on. I also believe New Super Mario Bros. DS was
the game that made Mario popular again. Despite it being far and away the most
disappointing of the main series Mario games it became possibly (reports are a
bit divided on this) the best selling game on the system. Now Mario merchandise
is everywhere.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">To Cap it off</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsDs8AwtXyk/UToYhtWfwwI/AAAAAAAAA3I/BQB8V-95zgI/s1600/Kirby+Canvas+Curse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsDs8AwtXyk/UToYhtWfwwI/AAAAAAAAA3I/BQB8V-95zgI/s400/Kirby+Canvas+Curse1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canvas Curse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> It’s amazing how
a console that seemed like such a rush job could become so successful. I doubt
even Nintendo expected the success they had with the DS. What I love about the
DS is the wide variety of software on the system that spans so many genres. It’s
got one of the best and most diverse libraries of any system and that for me
makes it my best system of all time (I’m sorry Super Nintendo). With game
budgets spiralling ever higher and the risk adverse nature of the games
industry it was nice to have that little handheld niche of creativity. I’m just
glad the 3DS seems to be following in the footsteps of the DS. </span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-71034707414247988692013-02-25T12:57:00.002-08:002013-02-25T12:57:50.511-08:00Podcasts!I've been a bit lax about posting lately, hopefully I can rectify that soon. Anyway to keep this blog active I've links to two podcasts I've been involved with lately.<br />
<br />
The first is a Christmas special of Arcade and Retro where we share Christmas gaming memories.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-xmas-xtravaganza/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-xmas-xtravaganza/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/LlX9T.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/LlX9T.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
The next is a podcast on Ghouls n'Ghosts/Ghosts n'Goblins, one of my favourite game series:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-ep-14-ghostsn-goblins/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-ep-14-ghostsn-goblins/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Jg0iKCk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://i.imgur.com/Jg0iKCk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-56358518178993031972013-01-18T15:45:00.000-08:002013-01-18T16:03:26.402-08:00Screw your newfangled MMO’s, I’m playing Phantasy Star Online<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa2kwPPZgro/UPndwCu9kRI/AAAAAAAAA1E/K5Zf7gEC2bI/s1600/PSO_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa2kwPPZgro/UPndwCu9kRI/AAAAAAAAA1E/K5Zf7gEC2bI/s400/PSO_Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I haven’t been posting much lately due to being back in
college again and being up to my eyes in work but I’ll try and keep the updates
coming. I’ve actually been making a game demo for college and really enjoying
it. I’ve also been learning programming for the first time which I surprisingly
love.</div>
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I just want to talk a bit lately about a game I’ve been
playing lately, Phantasy Star Online. Sega closed the PSO servers for good a
few years ago but thanks to some very dedicated fans there are free hacked
servers available to play the game on. This is my first experience with PSO
other than a quick 4 player Gamecube session which ended unceremoniously with one
of the players rage quitting because it was too slow. I didn’t own a Dreamcast
until well after it died and Irelands terrible online infrastructure until
recently stopped me from playing it.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6mY8eSY0W24/UPnd3xuqywI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ksXni9SXdbQ/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6mY8eSY0W24/UPnd3xuqywI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ksXni9SXdbQ/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my character Reissward arsing about on the Pioneer 2 hub. You'll see a lot of this place.</td></tr>
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Although billed as a MMO, PSO really isn’t anything like it.
It has more in common with Diablo 2 than anything else. You wander into one of
the 4 dungeons (well in Episode 1, there's even more in Episodes 2 and 4 which are also playable) in the game killing enemies and picking up random loot. There’s
a story there as well but I’m not far enough into it for it to have really gone
anywhere. If you want to play with other players you can create a game in the
lobby and wait for random people to join in, or you can join a game already in
progress. Up to 4 players can play together. PSO is far more action orientated
than most other Diablo style dungeon crawlers which for me makes it a lot of
more fun. There are some cool features like the telepipe item you can use so
new players can find you easily in whatever dungeon you are in. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qfntPOW9ec/UPneF1_C7vI/AAAAAAAAA1U/VDc-XqWbzyw/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qfntPOW9ec/UPneF1_C7vI/AAAAAAAAA1U/VDc-XqWbzyw/s400/Untitled1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a Dreamcast game PSO looks gorgeous and even better on PC.</td></tr>
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My first impressions of the game weren’t great. I picked a
magic user as my class and found the game very difficult in the beginning.
Thankfully there is no negative to dying in the server I’m playing on. However
the fun increases exponentially when you are playing with other people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined a few games in progress and levelled
up with these guys and now I have a nice death dealing mage on my hands. One
issue is that controlling the game with a keyboard takes some getting used to
especially if you want to use a mage or long range attacker. Even when you get
used to it I get the feeling that the game would play better with an analogue
pad (the version I’m playing does not support this).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The later episodes represent a big jump in visual quality.</td></tr>
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Anyway if you are curious about PSO and missed out like I
did, or want to relive the good old glory days of PSO before cheaters spoiled
it then give it a go. Since there’s only a very dedicated fanbase playing at
the moment there’s none of the griefing and cheating that plagued the games
original release. I’ve had a good few memorable moments already like the time
when I found one of the rarest swords in the game... twice in one session. That’s
beginners luck for you. You can download the game and client from this link
here: <a href="http://www.schtserv.com/">http://www.schtserv.com/</a>. I don’t
mind giving out the link because the game is pretty much abandonware since Sega
closed the servers and is no longer making money from the game. This game has
gotten me pretty excited for PSO 2.</div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-72270556988821684562012-12-05T18:09:00.001-08:002012-12-05T18:09:11.138-08:00Phantasy Star 3: Generations of Doom<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc4JgG449lU/UL_7KlQcHSI/AAAAAAAAAzs/zUVJak3btrM/s1600/586382_2185_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc4JgG449lU/UL_7KlQcHSI/AAAAAAAAAzs/zUVJak3btrM/s400/586382_2185_front.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> It’s the black
sheep of the Phantasy Star family, the one that nearly ruined the series. If you
look for online user reviews of Phantasy Star 3 you’d expect it to be one of
the worst games ever made. Many people feel it doesn’t quite fit the series and
was a massive step backwards. However Phantasy Star 3 is by no means a bad game
and in fact improves on Phantasy Star 2 in some ways.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The game begins
on the day Rhys, the crown prince of Landen, is to wed his love Maia, a girl
who was found washed up on shore suffering from amnesia. However
just before they can exchange vows Maia is stolen away by a Dragon who claims
to be of Layan ancestry. A thousand years prior a bitter war was fought between
two factions, one lead by Orakio and the other by the dark witch Laya. Nobody had seen a Layan in generations
until this Dragon appeared. Rhys vows to seek vengeance on the Layans and sets
off on a quest that will span three generations and reveal the secrets of the
world he lives in.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mqqIHnnAbM/UL_7aMHSN6I/AAAAAAAAAz8/er2ky8XEK6g/s1600/game033.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mqqIHnnAbM/UL_7aMHSN6I/AAAAAAAAAz8/er2ky8XEK6g/s400/game033.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And thus begins another epic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One problem many
people have with Phantasy Star 3 is that the setting is more medieval than
science fiction. While this may be true of the start of the game many sci-fi
elements slip in as the game progresses. Two combat cyborgs join the party and
the walkways between areas are full of complex machinery. The truth about this
world is slowly revealed over the course of the game. Revealing the truth about
the world was one of the game’s best moments and I found it quite a clever
twist.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The battle
system of Phantasy Star 3 follows the same fast paced battle system of Phantasy
Star 2. You have the choice of auto attacking for a round, auto attacking
indefinitely until you interrupt it or choosing what targets to attack or
techniques to use. While the encounter rate is quite high the battle system is
fast paced enough that it rarely annoys. Phantasy Star 3 is also quite a lot
easier than its two predecessors. While those games are incredibly tough and
require a lot of grinding to beat, levelling up in Phantasy Star 3 is very
quick and you can get through the game with little to no grinding. Dungeons are
also much smaller and more manageable than the sprawling labyrinths of previous
Phantasy Star games. It’s a lot easier to navigate them. You won’t be forced to
use a walkthrough or get out the graph paper just to find your way around them.
</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--05dg9zb97E/UL_7nwccyaI/AAAAAAAAA0E/OfZAqc2SYmA/s1600/battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--05dg9zb97E/UL_7nwccyaI/AAAAAAAAA0E/OfZAqc2SYmA/s400/battle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately
that’s where the improvements to the battle system end. The magic, or rather
technique system, is rather unique. You can pay a vendor to redistribute the
strength of your techniques. Strengthening one technique will weaken another.
The problem is that techniques are all pretty much worthless in the game other
than Gires, a healing technique that heals the entire party. You do more damage
with regular attacks and while some of the buff spells can totally break the
game I never once felt the need to use them. It’s an interesting system wasted
by the fact that techniques just aren’t worth using.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Wasted potential
really sums up Phantasy Star 3. The overworld graphics look a lot better than
in Phantasy Star 2 but in some areas it is really lacking. Towns look all the
same and are almost devoid of any NPCs to talk to. Even in desert or snow areas
the town will still have the same houses surrounded by green grass. The castles
in the game look and feel even sparser. The in-battle backgrounds will change
depending on where you are fighting, a feature weirdly dropped for Phantasy Star
2, and there’s some nice parallax scrolling effects. However the animation on
enemies is very disappointing. Phantasy Star set itself apart from its 8-bit contemporaries
with gorgeously animated enemies. Phantasy Star 2 went one better; battles were
filled with animations of your characters running up to attack enemies or
firing off spells. Character animations are missing from Phantasy Star 3 and
replaced with weapon effects like you would see in the early Dragon Quest games
and enemies remain motionless until they attack. These attack animations are
very disappointing, most never going over two frames of animation. One enemy attacks
by waggling his finger back and forth, another’s eyes will glow and the
strangest of all, one enemy will attack by flexing his pectorals. Not exactly
the most exciting of animations. Those zombie rabbits in Phantasy Star 2 that
shoved their spilling entrails back into their stomachs were disgusting but the
pixel art and animation looked stunning. The still anime cutscenes from the
first and second games are now a rarity replaced with tiny portraits of the
characters and text at important points in the game.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOzQiGXIGeU/UL_7uZYVcrI/AAAAAAAAA0M/fgPEzN70aOE/s1600/Phantasy+Star+III+-+Generations+of+Doom+(UE).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOzQiGXIGeU/UL_7uZYVcrI/AAAAAAAAA0M/fgPEzN70aOE/s400/Phantasy+Star+III+-+Generations+of+Doom+(UE).png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure which town this is because they all look near identical.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The world of
Phantasy Star 3 is quite intriguing as is the generation system from which the
title draws its name, Generations of Doom. At certain points in the game you must
choose a bride to marry. The story then continues on from the point of view of
the characters son. Depending on their mix of Orakian or Layan blood the
offspring can be either more focused on physical attacks, techniques or a mix
of both. You have to choose a bride twice during the game and depending on who
you choose the story and character you control will change. One particular combination
will even result in the birth of twins, a male and a female. This system has
the potential for the player to become emotionally invested in the characters
and their choices but unfortunately this isn’t fully realised. All characters
in the game are pretty much blank slates so it’s hard to become attached to
them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s telling that Dragon Quest V
which came out afterwards and also had a generational mechanic became one of
the most emotionally involving games of the 16-bit era. The story as a whole
could have done with more exposition. It’s an interesting premise but it’s
presented in a bare bones manner. NPCs and other characters that join your
party are barely fleshed out. While the beginning of the game does a good job
of guiding the player to where they need to go there are some ambiguous moments
later on that can leave you stumped unless you look up a FAQ on where to go
next unless you would prefer to wander about aimlessly for a while.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm9g62JQjWg/UL_78T2zVsI/AAAAAAAAA0U/giGMTUnDEpI/s1600/maia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm9g62JQjWg/UL_78T2zVsI/AAAAAAAAA0U/giGMTUnDEpI/s400/maia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what replaces the anime stills from the previous two games. At least the awesome 80's anime style is still present.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">What isn’t
disappointing is the soundtrack. It’s one of the best FM synth soundtracks ever
composed. The instrumentation might be a little lacking compared to later Megadrive
games but there’s no faulting the compositions. The title track which I’ve put
a link to below is one of the all time great pieces of videogame music. Another
nice touch is how the music changes in battle depending on how you are doing
and how the overworld music adds more instruments as you recruit more
characters.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5QyMnEoF0g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Phantasy Star 3
is far from a bad game. It’s a good game that just failed to live up to its
predecessors. In ways it is an improvement. It’s far more accessible due to its
much fairer difficulty level and smaller dungeons. The potential was there for
it to be something special but it never fulfilled its own ambitions. The battle
system is unique and fast paced but you can beat most of the game by just using
the auto attack command. The story goes to some very interesting places towards
the end but the bland characters and underutilised generation mechanic leaves
the player emotionally detached. It never reaches the heights of the Phantasy
Star 2’s social commentary and superb ending. If you are interested in the
Phantasy Star series don’t skip over this one. It’s fun, relatively short and
has some interesting features. Just be prepared for some measure of
disappointment when it’s all over. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JSZvoTGoQBY/UL_8PECfBXI/AAAAAAAAA0c/ZwFvpyfdRPA/s1600/pstar3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JSZvoTGoQBY/UL_8PECfBXI/AAAAAAAAA0c/ZwFvpyfdRPA/s400/pstar3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">All that leaves
me is Phantasy Star IV to play. I’ve started it and from the first few hours it’s
been absolutely superb and I hope to get a review up soon and maybe even get a
podcast out on the series.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2Y6FbP2zpI/UL_8ZODcCoI/AAAAAAAAA0k/UKO07Jzoe2g/s1600/1-ps3_1382.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2Y6FbP2zpI/UL_8ZODcCoI/AAAAAAAAA0k/UKO07Jzoe2g/s400/1-ps3_1382.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decisions, decisions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-90550824733322569672012-12-04T16:01:00.002-08:002012-12-04T16:01:12.995-08:00Sonic the Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure (Neo Geo Pocket)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ge_98gXvGOA/UL6OMIvJv1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/JaAzgWRsJ4c/s1600/title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ge_98gXvGOA/UL6OMIvJv1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/JaAzgWRsJ4c/s1600/title.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">You have to feel sorry for SNK and their
Neo Geo Pocket console. It was looking so good. They had a wonderful console
that boasted more power than the Gameboy Colour yet had far better battery
life. They even managed to tempt some third parties to publish for their
console. However they just could not compete with the juggernaut that Pokémon
became. Sonic the Hedgehog on the Neo Geo Pocket was a surprise third party
release for the Neo Geo Pocket and is to my knowledge the first time Sonic had
appeared on a non Sega console. I’m sure the fact that the Neo Geo Pocket could
link with the Dreamcast sweetened the deal but it was still a miraculous coup
for SNK to have such a big franchise appear on their fledgling handheld.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv95WahsfZ8/UL6ORD_o8UI/AAAAAAAAAyw/6Pc4qhxUF7o/s1600/sonic+NGP+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv95WahsfZ8/UL6ORD_o8UI/AAAAAAAAAyw/6Pc4qhxUF7o/s1600/sonic+NGP+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The usual 'Green Hill Zone' stage starts everything off.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Many people label Sonic Pocket Adventure as
a port of Sonic 2. They would be mistaken; Pocket Adventure is a unique sonic
game. The game’s looks borrow heavily from Sonic 2. If you have played that
game you will have a strong feeling of déjà vu. However the level design is
completely different. Art assets look like downscaled versions of Sonic 2’s art
and the borrowing doesn’t stop there. All the music is taken from Sonic 3. It’s
a bit of a bizarre combination when you hear Sonic 3 music over a level that
looks like it came from Sonic 2. Of course there are chaos emeralds to collect.
The special stage is accessed by finishing Act 1 with 50 rings, ala Sonic 1. The
special stage is ripped straight out of Sonic 2, which were my favourite Sonic special
stages. What I don’t like is how fiendishly difficult these stages are and the
fact that there’s only one chance in each zone to collect a chaos emerald.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In terms of visuals the special stages are more than a match for its Megadrive cousin</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> Pocket Adventure was developed by Dimps,
the same team that would later go on to create the Sonic Advance games for the
GBA. It plays remarkably close to the Megadrive games it is based on but
unfortunately falls foul to the same mishaps as the Advance games. Maybe it’s
the development team or the diminutive size of the NGP and GBA screens. Pocket
Adventure’ just like the Advance games’ is filled with leaps of faith and
pitfalls that aren’t avoidable without the power to see into the future. It
becomes more prevalent as the game advances. It’s not enough to ruin the game
but enough to annoy. Mostly the level design is pretty good.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Neo Geo Pocket hasn’t got many platform
games and Sonic Pocket Adventure would definitely be one of the best. It’s
fast, plays remarkably close to the Megadrive games and looks gorgeous. It’s definitely
worth picking up and is relatively cheap even in the gorgeous PAL mini MVS case
version. </span></div>
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Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-7972680185018161862012-11-16T13:38:00.000-08:002012-11-16T14:54:37.912-08:00The Sniper 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qM5dIhv4Wew/UKavoTUkAaI/AAAAAAAAAxc/nzLBl4RlgF4/s1600/967801da1a2102390925f809eec9011e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qM5dIhv4Wew/UKavoTUkAaI/AAAAAAAAAxc/nzLBl4RlgF4/s400/967801da1a2102390925f809eec9011e.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The PS2 era saw
a lot of weird releases, particularly in Europe. A few tiny publishers sprang
up and began localising some very obscure games for Europe and selling them at
budget prices. The vast majority of these games were taken from the Simple range
of Japanese games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were a series
of low budget games published by D3 Publisher. The PS2 series was named Simple
2000 because each game sold for 2000 yen, the PS1 series similarly was called
Simple 1500 again due to the price point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some absolute classics were released on
the series (Global Defence Force, which had a European release, is superb; I
really should review it soon), the majority was pretty terrible. The Sniper 2 for
the PS2 is a very good example. Unleashed on unsuspecting European gamers by Midas
Interactive, the supreme masters of publishing crappy Japanese games, The Sniper 2 is
now also available on the European PSN store.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The first Sniper
game was released on the PS1 and unfortunately/fortunately never got a western
release so it’s a good thing that there’s a plot in the intro. The plot
overview shows the first games most ‘exciting’ moments in all their low budget
PS1 ‘glory’ (I’ve a feeling I may run out of inverted commas before this review
is finished). And what a story it had. To summarise Harry, a fire fighter, while
saving a girl named Melissa stumbles across a Mafia counterfeit ring and as a
result loses his job and his girlfriend is killed by the Mafia. He then trains
to be top class sniper and returns to the city to exact his revenge. While on
this vigilante crusade Harry is contacted by an informant named CA. CA gives
Harry information on the Mafia to help him out. After he kills the Mafia boss he
finally meets CA. CA was Melissa, the girl he saved at the start. She also
possesses (wait for it) the memories of his murdered girlfriend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Who wrote this
shit?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3HtzJRgUv0/UKavwLzp2TI/AAAAAAAAAxk/g_dEP6xkiBM/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3HtzJRgUv0/UKavwLzp2TI/AAAAAAAAAxk/g_dEP6xkiBM/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope this isn't in game, it's the CGI intro. It looks even worse in game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Anyway the game
starts after these events. Harry and CA are on the run and pick up a guy named
Stanley whose car has broken down. They go to a diner of Stanley’s choosing and
then all hell breaks loose. They come under attack by Mafia, there’s another
killer (Harry knows he’s a killer because he smells the same as he does, as you
do) and the waitress turns out to be a CIA agent. What transpires afterwards is
another load of old nonsense involving the Mafia and bio weapons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The game is separated
into about 12 stages full of sniping fun. The sniping gameplay isn’t all that
bad. You can move about (extremely slowly) in a very limited sniping area and
can zoom in to take your shot. Your rifle has 3 levels of zoom and sways making
each shot a little more difficult to take. You also have to take into account
the time it will take for the bullet to reach your target making moving targets
quite a challenge. While the gameplay is solid if uninspired, the stages are
where the game shows its low budget origins. Most stages only require you to shoot
one target. This means most can end in roughly 5-10 seconds. Each one is
bookended by lengthy nonsensical cutscenes and loading times. Even more
ridiculous is that each stage is begins with the opening credit sequence and
ends with the closing credits. At first I thought the game was just horribly
broken until I realised that they were going for an episodic feel were each
stage in the game was supposed to represent an episode in a TV series. Very
clever, except for the fact that each stage can last maybe 10 seconds! What
were they thinking!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QraV2YgFKgg/UKav8jzuwBI/AAAAAAAAAxs/o16AHz5XjWU/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QraV2YgFKgg/UKav8jzuwBI/AAAAAAAAAxs/o16AHz5XjWU/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful vista in low poly land.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Later stages
just get frustrating. One involves setting off a fire alarm and killing the
target as he runs out of a nightclub. Your only clue to who the target is is a
black and white photograph of his back at the start of the level. The fact that
all the male game models are near identical other than the colour of their
clothing makes this stage a frustrating exercise in trial and error. Another
involves shooting out the tires of a speeding limousine and then killing the
target as he escapes. Actually landing a hit on the tires is nigh on impossible
at the speed it travels. And don’t get me started on the stage that requires
you to take out security cameras.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Ts14OEVgw/UKawQZdUtbI/AAAAAAAAAx0/xerVCrFfzXc/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Ts14OEVgw/UKawQZdUtbI/AAAAAAAAAx0/xerVCrFfzXc/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's your brief for the nightclub stage described above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2YQZDcfSWgM/UKawaCyZFpI/AAAAAAAAAx8/X3z9c6JMOrA/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2YQZDcfSWgM/UKawaCyZFpI/AAAAAAAAAx8/X3z9c6JMOrA/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the target in the crowd? It's like 'Where's Wally' at a Where's Wally convention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Each stage only
lasts at most 3 minutes, some as I said can be completed in 5 seconds and there
are only about 12 stages in the game. I’m amazed that they actually managed to
make a whole game and sell it when there’s so little content. If you skip the
cutscenes and don’t get stuck for too long on some of the more frustrating
areas then you could have this game finished off in about half an hour. However
once you finish the game, something else is revealed, the game has two
branching paths where you need an A+ or higher rating to access them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Accessing these
drove me demented. I tried the first stage and killed the first enemy in as
quick a time as possible. Then I did the same with a head shot. I couldn’t get
higher than a B-. I trawled the internet and found out that your ranking isn’t
based on how well you do. If you wait until there are less than 10 seconds left
on the clock to kill your target you are guaranteed an A ranking. I’d love to
slap the designer that thought this would be intuitive and not bother explaining
this at all in the game or in the instructions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PlTE7cucQM/UKawsjMcB0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/iYBHNiehCRw/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PlTE7cucQM/UKawsjMcB0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/iYBHNiehCRw/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_35.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Dramatic'. The true power of the PS2 'Emotion Engine'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m sure you’ve
noticed the ‘wonderful’ visuals in the screenshots throughout the review. It
really does look that bad. Even with the low polygon count and low resolution
textures the game still has the audacity to experience slow down problems
making some missions take even longer than they should. Special mention should
also go to the out of place jazz music used throughout the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">You really know
you are getting a complete turd when even the publisher can’t be bothered to
try and make the game sound appealing. Here’s the PSN blurb the publisher has
up to describe the game:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Get ready to
experience the most bizarre, eccentric and maddening game ever created!
Featuring a truly off-the-wall storyline, unbelievable character stereotypes
and one-dimensional gameplay, The Sniper 2 has earned its place amongst the
stars as a loveable cult classic.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAI2lXxqYgU/UKaw7xhiFmI/AAAAAAAAAyM/I5oZNQD_x8Y/s1600/TheSniper2_PS2_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAI2lXxqYgU/UKaw7xhiFmI/AAAAAAAAAyM/I5oZNQD_x8Y/s400/TheSniper2_PS2_30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This stage can also die screaming.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">You’re probably
thinking that you should avoid this game since even the publisher can’t bring
themselves to lie about its quality. However I recommend you definitely try
this game out. Sniper 2 is a hilarious experience in the same way that terrible
horror movies are enjoyable. It’s a total train wreck of a game but the story,
acting and just plain crappiness has somehow managed to make this game
transcend terrible to become almost enjoyable again. Play it with a group of
friends with a sense of humour and prepare to laugh your ass off. Even if you
hate it it’s so cheap you won’t feel out of pocket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Screenshots stolen from: <a href="http://superadventuresingaming.blogspot.ie/2012/03/sniper-2-ps2.html">http://superadventuresingaming.blogspot.ie/2012/03/sniper-2-ps2.html </a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Check out the
fan made trailer:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oYM-LjRw97s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-72275666166411692792012-10-31T06:50:00.003-07:002012-10-31T06:50:26.340-07:00Arcade and Retro Podcast Halloween Special: Resident EvilIn the spirit of Halloween and to mark the occasion of the recent
release of the latest title in the series we look back at the Resident
Evil games.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-resident-evil/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-resident-evil/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/CV3S5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://i.imgur.com/CV3S5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-71752326439221241632012-10-30T12:37:00.000-07:002012-10-30T12:37:29.874-07:00October Horrorthon: Parasite Eve<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zobvo0SsPNQ/UJAqZs5ofhI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/geWPQbwI6XM/s1600/pe1frontbz6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zobvo0SsPNQ/UJAqZs5ofhI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/geWPQbwI6XM/s1600/pe1frontbz6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was put off
playing Parasite Eve for a long time because here in Europe we only ever got
Parasite Eve 2. While I didn’t play much of PE2 it seemed like a very
lacklustre Resident Evil clone and didn’t hold my attention so I assumed the
original was the same. Turns out I was very wrong; Parasite Eve is a strange
mish-mash of action and RPG that works exceptionally well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I recently read
at Jeremy Parish’s Telebunny that Parasite Eve was a collaboration between the Japanese
Squaresoft and an American based team with CGI created by a big name Hollywood
effects studio. This would make a lot of sense since Parasite Eve is set in New
York during the Christmas holidays. When Japanese developers try to recreate
American culture they usually get it very wrong (gloriously so in the case of
the Mother series). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parasite Eve’s
depiction of New York nails the cop drama dynamic, albeit a cop drama filled
with horribly mutated creatures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUGgpVm5xgw/UJAqlh61E0I/AAAAAAAAAwY/Pfqdoq5Xq0U/s1600/Parasite_Eve-festive-431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUGgpVm5xgw/UJAqlh61E0I/AAAAAAAAAwY/Pfqdoq5Xq0U/s400/Parasite_Eve-festive-431.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The depiction of New York is surprisingly accurate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Parasite Eve is
a sequel to the horror/sci-fi novel of the same name by Hideaki Sena. The game
and book give a good science fiction explanation of the science behind the plot
but in short the mitochondria of human cells evolve enough to become sentient
and rebel against the rest of the cell to try and become their own form of
life. As someone with a PhD in science it actually makes some sense although it
gets a bit crazier in the videogame. The game opens with NYPD cop and protagonist
Aya Brea going to the opera with her bellend of a date. That’s when everything
goes wrong. When the female lead of the opera, Melissa, begins to sing the
audience start to burst into flames. Everyone except Aya seems to be affected.
It’s a wonderful piece of CGI that is up there with the best openings of any
game. Aya chases down horribly mutating Melissa who now calls herself Eve. It’s
not just people spontaneously bursting into flames that she has to contend with
but the local wildlife are also mutating into horrible creatures. Over the next
6 days Aya and the NYPD must hunt down and stop Eve’s malicious plans to create
a new dominant lifeform.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1XRu8Wqjzrg/UJAqy0dOyKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/A_1xXeCuPlU/s1600/A-paniced-audience-parasite-eve-25536460-640-480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1XRu8Wqjzrg/UJAqy0dOyKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/A_1xXeCuPlU/s400/A-paniced-audience-parasite-eve-25536460-640-480.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly 15 years on the opening cutscene is still disturbing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">At first glance
Parasite Eve looks like a Resident Evil clone. The backgrounds are CGI rendered
stills with polygonal models imposed on top of them. Parasite Eve is a more
linear experience that doesn’t focus on puzzles and searching for keys,
although there is a little of that. Some people will be glad to hear the
Parasite Eve does away with Resident Evil’s tank controls. Although battles
aren’t random, they trigger at certain points in the field and enemies are not
visible until battle is initiated. During battle you are free to move around
avoiding enemy attacks until your ATB gauge is full allowing you to attack,
cast ‘parasite energy’ (magic), or enter the menu. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you attack a wire frame appears around
your character showing the effective range of your weapon. Attack outside this
range and your shots will deal less damage and likely miss. It’s a bit like
Vagrant Story except it works a whole lot better since you can freely dodge
attacks. The depth comes from knowing the right time to attack since you are
stationary and vulnerable while attacking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span id="goog_1371549172"></span><span id="goog_1371549173"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvKhf7UXRq8/UJArNIhntwI/AAAAAAAAAww/F54ghx5mPRg/s1600/pe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvKhf7UXRq8/UJArNIhntwI/AAAAAAAAAww/F54ghx5mPRg/s400/pe3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are free to move to avoid attacks but once you commit to an attack you are locked into it and cannot move until the animation is complete. During this time enemies can freely attack you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Being an RPG you
can of course level up but the most important system in the game is weapon and
armour customisation. All weapons and armour have base stats as well as bonus
stats. These bonus stats can be transferred to other pieces of equipment. You
can build up some serious bonus stats using this system. You can also transfer
item abilities such as rapid fire, acid bullets or auto potion to pieces of equipment
using the same system. It’s a system that allows you to really craft your own
weapons. You can also carry over a piece of armour and a weapon to the EX mode,
a form of new game+. You’ll need them since this opens up a new rock hard 77
floor randomly generated dungeon in the Chrysler Building. Completing the
Chrysler Building gives the games true ending.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Parasite Eve the
game can be a little silly in places and doesn’t compare to the novel in terms
of narrative but it’s no less entertaining. Fighting grotesque mutants is fun
but the heart of the game is the characters themselves. Aya Brea is an excellent
strong female protagonist and the game never focuses on her sex appeal, an unfortunate
rarity in videogames. Her relationship with her fellow officers and Maede the Japanese
scientist is well fleshed out. Her partner Daniel is especially well written,
his terribly parenting skills make him a lot more believable. Then there is Eve
herself, a great villain that constantly harasses Aya throughout. It’s wonderfully
paced, clocking in at about 15 hours. Plot revelations and impressive CGI cutscenes
come thick and fast so there’s not a slow moment in the game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhGl9F1a2iE/UJArmII8mcI/AAAAAAAAAw4/rJlntMBZrgY/s1600/27092-117262-PE18jpg-468x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhGl9F1a2iE/UJArmII8mcI/AAAAAAAAAw4/rJlntMBZrgY/s400/27092-117262-PE18jpg-468x.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crappy dad, great cop partner. Why is Aya called Karen here? Answers on a postcard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The CGI
backgrounds and cutscenes look good for their time but have aged a little. The
CGI cutscenes are well directed which makes up for slightly dated CG.
Graphically it is somewhere between FFVII and FFVIII. They really managed to
achieve the cinematic feel the creators set out to achieve. The wintery New
York depicted in the game has echoes of cop dramas like Law and Order, except
with more mitochondrial monstrosities of course. The soundtrack, composed by
Yoko Shimomura of Street Fighter 2 and Kingdom Hearts fame, is excellent
despite a somewhat fake sounding opera sample. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Parasite Eve is
a wonderful combination of horror, action and RPG and I’m amazing Square has
never returned to the same gameplay formula. The battle system works
brilliantly and more RPGs should take from short length of the game. The lack
of filler and slow boring exposition scenes leaves the game excellently paced. The
contemporary setting is a refreshing alternative to the overdone fantasy and sci-fi
settings. I’d go so far as to say that Parasite Eve is the best combination of
action and RPG since Secret of Mana. The game is available on PSN although only in the US and Japan but Europeans still have access to to these stores so there's no excuse to miss out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-johrovXh0Uw/UJAr5bDgIvI/AAAAAAAAAxA/iayqRxuoj_U/s1600/56ee7_spot_g8-parasiteeve-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-johrovXh0Uw/UJAr5bDgIvI/AAAAAAAAAxA/iayqRxuoj_U/s400/56ee7_spot_g8-parasiteeve-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you don't play it Eve will set you on fire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-67722051047756133072012-10-26T08:10:00.002-07:002012-10-26T08:12:33.274-07:00Frog Fractions, the weirdest game of the year.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nw5Mw02mPWg/UIqnMjrAidI/AAAAAAAAAvc/bi-1ouVUCsU/s1600/frog+fractions+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nw5Mw02mPWg/UIqnMjrAidI/AAAAAAAAAvc/bi-1ouVUCsU/s400/frog+fractions+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My girlfriend showed me this game yesterday and it's popularity seems to have exploded since this morning. It starts off like a simple flash based game but once you get the dragon power up and start exploring it gets a hell of a lot weirder and funnier. Definitely give this a go, it won't take long to beat!<br />
<br />
Here's the link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions">http://twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions </a></div>
<br />
It starts off like a normal boring flash game:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQUQkGXyq4Q/UIqnk96BukI/AAAAAAAAAvs/5MM2YETcCXk/s1600/frog+fractions+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyC9AT9zfzM/UIqnWeZiXhI/AAAAAAAAAvk/cH9bZNU_QAY/s1600/frog+fractions+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyC9AT9zfzM/UIqnWeZiXhI/AAAAAAAAAvk/cH9bZNU_QAY/s400/frog+fractions+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Then gets weird:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQUQkGXyq4Q/UIqnk96BukI/AAAAAAAAAvs/5MM2YETcCXk/s1600/frog+fractions+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQUQkGXyq4Q/UIqnk96BukI/AAAAAAAAAvs/5MM2YETcCXk/s400/frog+fractions+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then a whole lot weirder:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nDWp6pHt6CU/UIqnyy-WgpI/AAAAAAAAAv0/NRufMRHR2Hc/s1600/frog+fractions+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nDWp6pHt6CU/UIqnyy-WgpI/AAAAAAAAAv0/NRufMRHR2Hc/s400/frog+fractions+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And this is only the start!<br />
<br />Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-54998784788811833142012-10-23T12:13:00.003-07:002012-10-23T12:13:58.872-07:00October Horrorthon: Luigi’s Mansion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWvlZAKhdow/UIbrthgpSGI/AAAAAAAAAuo/TZ64dSCnKWw/s1600/Lmbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWvlZAKhdow/UIbrthgpSGI/AAAAAAAAAuo/TZ64dSCnKWw/s320/Lmbox.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I own a pretty
extensive collection of Gamecube games but for some reason I never managed to
pick up Luigi’s Mansion until very recently. I guess I was put off this
Gamecube launch title by reviews complaining how short the game was. With some
games barely hitting a four hour completion time I think in retrospect Luigi’s
Mansion is a lot better than reviewers gave it credit for.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One day Luigi
receives a letter notifying him that he has won a mansion, although he never
remembers entering any competition. He goes out to view the mansion he has won
only to discover that it’s been overrun by ghosts. To make matters worse it
seems Mario is also missing. Thankfully he meets up with Professor E. Gad. With
the help of Prof. E. Gad’s Poltergust 3000 vacuum cleaner Luigi sets off to rid
the mansion of ghosts and hopefully find out what happened to Mario.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1sShsf8W78/UIbrzIAJh1I/AAAAAAAAAuw/ooJ_iENXFqs/s1600/297816-18323_2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1sShsf8W78/UIbrzIAJh1I/AAAAAAAAAuw/ooJ_iENXFqs/s400/297816-18323_2_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The obligatory shower scene</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> Luigi can’t just
use the vacuum cleaner to suck up ghosts directly. They first must be stunned. Usually
this involves letting the ghosts get as close to Luigi as possible before
shining your torch on them. This reveals their hearts, making them vulnerable
to your vacuum. The ghosts won’t give up without a struggle. Struggling ghosts
will drag you around the room while you try to ‘reel them in’ with your vacuum.
There are however other, unique, let’s say ‘boss’, ghosts that won’t reveal
their hearts as easily as the more common variety. Getting them to reveal their
hearts can lead to a puzzle or boss battle. A handy camera can give you hints
on how to make these ghosts reveal their hearts. Things get even more
complicated when fire, ice and water elements get added to your vacuum and
there are 50 mischievous Boos to find throughout the mansion. There’s plenty to
keep Luigi occupied.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdWlgNdhPDM/UIbr_pT1UNI/AAAAAAAAAu4/-3G475FkjBg/s1600/LuigisMansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdWlgNdhPDM/UIbr_pT1UNI/AAAAAAAAAu4/-3G475FkjBg/s400/LuigisMansion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who you gonna call?! Luigi???</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> As a launch
title for the Gamecube Luigi’s Mansion does an excellent job of showcasing the
hardware. The visuals are bold and cartoony and the ghost effects still
impress. The way the vacuum interacts with the environment is always
entertaining, especially the excellent cloth physics. There’s plenty of distortion
and reflection effects utilised not just for aesthetic purposes but also as
elements in many of the game’s puzzles. Despite the playful cartoon charms Luigi’s
Mansion does a great job of creating a creepy atmosphere. Shadows are cast by
your torch and lightning flashes outside. However my favourite touch is how
Luigi whistles the theme tune to himself which turns to a nervous hum in creepy
areas. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWI_8VBYdxo/UIbsP_Fu6QI/AAAAAAAAAvA/lhcjnrD7L6s/s1600/6679-luigi-s-mansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWI_8VBYdxo/UIbsP_Fu6QI/AAAAAAAAAvA/lhcjnrD7L6s/s400/6679-luigi-s-mansion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN-GB">Luigi’s Mansion
can be polished off in about 6 hours even if you take your time to collect all
50 Boos. That might seem short but it’s such a well paced game that there’s
never a dull moment. Each boss ghost is defeated is a different manner so
gameplay never ends up repeating itself. You can get it pretty cheap now so
really the short length isn’t an issue and you can enjoy it for what it is, one
of the best games on the Gamecube. It’s also good to see Luigi getting the
spotlight for once!</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-44177603804829143842012-10-19T07:09:00.000-07:002012-10-19T07:09:13.354-07:00October Horrorthon: Costume Quest<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2f3w8rOLYEM/UIFeMe6G6aI/AAAAAAAAAt0/7MCy5kk38Zc/s1600/Costume-quest-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2f3w8rOLYEM/UIFeMe6G6aI/AAAAAAAAAt0/7MCy5kk38Zc/s320/Costume-quest-cover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">OK there’s
nothing scary about Costume Quest but it is Halloween themed so it counts!
Costume Quest is a simple RPG game that follows a group of children out trick
or treating on Halloween. Things get a little more interesting when your
protagonist (you have a choice of a male of female protagonist) discovers a
sinister plot by creatures called ‘Grubbins’ to steal all the candy for an
unknown but more than likely nefarious deed. To make matters worse they have
mistaken your sibling for a giant candy and have taken him as well. You’ll have
to stop the Grubbins nefarious plans and get you brother back because you’ll be
in deep trouble if you return home without him!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The pedigree of
this game is obvious once you play it. The lead designer was Tasha Harris, a
former Pixar animator, and the legendary Tim Schafer helped with the
development as well. The game has bags of charm and is a very nostalgic
experience even if it represents a more American view of Halloween. I don’t
know any shopping centers in Ireland that are open for trick or treating and
most costumes in my youth had a black bin-liner poncho as a base. The writing
is witty and got a fair few laughs out of me. It’s got a very distinctive
charming visual style.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEIl3L5bDxc/UIFev6AgssI/AAAAAAAAAuM/FowLbIWh_Ec/s1600/63abec0fc7c13c37bf9f4d07499a3ca6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEIl3L5bDxc/UIFev6AgssI/AAAAAAAAAuM/FowLbIWh_Ec/s400/63abec0fc7c13c37bf9f4d07499a3ca6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are no
random battles in Costume Quest. Every time you trick or treat a house there’s
a chance you’ll either receive candy, which acts as currency in the game, or
you’ll be attacked by Grubbins. Later on you’ll see Grubbins walking around and
can get an upper hand in battle by sneaking up on them. Your powers in battle
are determined by what costume you have on and once you enter battle you take a
gigantic, more realistic form of the costume you are wearing, a nice play on the
active imaginations of children.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"> It borrows from the Mario RPG games using timed prompts to inflict more damage with basic attacks.</span> The battle system is quite simplistic but
since the game is quite short the game ends before you bore of it, unlike other
games like the woeful Legend of Dragoon. More costumes are unlocked by finding
their patterns and then searching each area for the parts required to complete
it. Some costumes also have functions outside of combat like the robot that
allows you to use ramps and the Luke Skywalker knock off which lights up dark
areas with his lightsaber.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Costume Quest is
a wonderfully charming bite sized RPG that’s well worth playing coming up to
Halloween. It is perfect adults looking for a shot of nostalgia and kids as
well since it’s short, easy and the punishment for failure is very lenient,
dropping you back to just before the last battle. One minor problem is the text
during cutscenes proceeds automatically and can be too fast for children but
other than that it’s one of the best downloadable games money can buy. There’s
also Christmas themed DLC called Grubbins on Ice which is included in the price
when bought on Steam. I know what I’ll be playing on the run up to the festive
season.</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-17063132641745172512012-10-16T11:42:00.000-07:002012-10-16T11:42:07.556-07:00October Horrorthon: Forbidden Siren 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73MUP5mzKHI/UH2pOwXbJMI/AAAAAAAAAs4/oSrruOOliOU/s1600/forbidden-siren-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73MUP5mzKHI/UH2pOwXbJMI/AAAAAAAAAs4/oSrruOOliOU/s320/forbidden-siren-21.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">About two years
ago I wrote about Forbidden Siren (<a href="http://lifein16bit.blogspot.ie/2010/12/forbidden-siren.html">http://lifein16bit.blogspot.ie/2010/12/forbidden-siren.html</a>).
The stealth based horror gameplay made it one of the most interesting horror
games I’ve played but was unfortunately let down by too many silly design
flaws. The sequel manages to address everything that was wrong with the
original game making it one of the best horror games available on the PS2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Forbidden Siren
2 follows a group of characters that have been mysteriously drawn to Yamijima
Island. 29 years ago an underwater power cable was cut and the entire
population of the island disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as this group of people reach the island it is hit by a massive
tsunami. When they awaken the island is teeming with Shibito out to kill them.
The events of 29 years previous seem to hold the clue to why they are here and
what is happening to them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o35yZAct0h8/UH2pV8cEXKI/AAAAAAAAAtA/Czh2QUXRl70/s1600/Forbidden_Siren_2-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o35yZAct0h8/UH2pV8cEXKI/AAAAAAAAAtA/Czh2QUXRl70/s400/Forbidden_Siren_2-07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shibito are back and as terrifying as ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> As in the
previous game the story is told from the perspective of about a dozen different
characters while the story jumps between different points in the timeline. The
game uses a Link Navigator to allow you to select what stage you want to play
and show where in the timeline it is. Usually you have a choice of multiple
stages to play as you see fit. One of the major problems of the original Forbidden
Siren was that each segment of the game had a secondary objective necessary to
complete the game and they were so obtuse that a FAQ was pretty much essential.
These secondary objectives return once again but thankfully Siren 2 gives hints
before the mission and clearly defines the objective. If a secondary objective
is required to advance to another stage the game clearly indicates which stage
the objective is in and states on the map screen what the objective is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Siren 2 is thankfully a much better designed
game and I never needed to confront a FAQ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7HRrn_lm1E/UH2p064NyZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/17RZMQRM_qU/s1600/forbidden_siren_2_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7HRrn_lm1E/UH2p064NyZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/17RZMQRM_qU/s400/forbidden_siren_2_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The original
Forbidden Siren is infamous for its high difficulty. Many characters were
unarmed or so weak that if a Shibito spotted them they were as good as dead.
Even when they were armed ammunition was so scarce that you could not afford to
waste a single bullet. While this made the game incredibly tense it also meant some
of the stages became an exercise in trial and error. The characters in Siren 2
are now more capable of defending themselves. Most stages are checkpointed to
further alleviate frustration. However make no mistake, Siren 2 is definitely
not a cake walk and enemies still pose a major threat and avoiding
confrontation is always preferable to combat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Forbidden
Siren series most distinguishing feature is ‘sightjacking’ where if you press
the right analog stick in the direction of an enemy or other character you can
see through their eyes. It’s a wonderful mechanic that is explored in even more
interesting ways other than learning enemy routes so you can avoid them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the characters has extremely poor
eyesight so you must sightjack his dog to help him see. Another character is
able to pick up psychic visions of the past in certain areas while another can
take control of sightjacked enemies for a limited period. The use of lighting
is also cleverly implemented. To offset the greater offensive capabilities of
the characters in Siren 2, Shibito have now become more aggressive and
intelligent. However you can now use darkened areas to hide yourself from them.
Later in the game Yamibito appear. Yamibito are like the Shibito except they
are damaged by light. You can use your flashlight to stun them or hide in well
lit areas safe from harm. I found this play on light and darkness a very
interesting mechanic. Shibito and Yamibito are natural enemies and you can use
this to your advantage, they will rather fight each other rather than attack
you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkqc4Z4aQ5I/UH2ph4Ps_JI/AAAAAAAAAtI/jBmi0io6p-c/s1600/forbidden_siren_2_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkqc4Z4aQ5I/UH2ph4Ps_JI/AAAAAAAAAtI/jBmi0io6p-c/s400/forbidden_siren_2_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sightjacking a Shibito. That's not you holding the gun, it's you in the Shibitos crosshairs</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Forbidden Siren
2 is one of the more visually stunning games on the PS2. The environments are
excellently rendered and the use of lighting, fog and other atmospheric effects
add greatly to the oppressive nature of the game. Characters faces have been
digitised from real actors and while the effect can end up in the uncanny
valley it does a great job of humanising the characters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">While Forbidden Siren
2 addresses all the problems with the original and adds its own interesting
twists to the gameplay it falls short in one area. The story of Forbidden Siren
2 is nowhere near as good as the original. It’s again told in a very obtuse
manner and most of the important points are hidden away in archive items you
must find during the game. It’s just not as satisfying once you piece it all
together. I really liked how the original game focused on the humanity of the
characters. Shibito being former humans carried out bizarre corrupted
imitations of their everyday routines. There was a strong focus on how the
characters dealt with the situation and how they were all slowly turning into
Shibito themselves. The characters of Forbidden Siren 2 are just not as
interesting and there’s nothing that comes close to the emotional highs of the
stories of Tomoko Maede or Risa Onda in the original. It’s still a well written
piece of horror fiction just not up to the standard of its predecessor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lSwlqUhQG4/UH2qBycnMGI/AAAAAAAAAtY/2fwQSuRmYXQ/s1600/Foto+Forbidden+Siren+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lSwlqUhQG4/UH2qBycnMGI/AAAAAAAAAtY/2fwQSuRmYXQ/s400/Foto+Forbidden+Siren+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yamibito are shrouded in black robes to protect from light but not well enough to avoid the light from your torch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7HRrn_lm1E/UH2p064NyZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/17RZMQRM_qU/s1600/forbidden_siren_2_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Forbidden Siren
2 is one of the best horror games ever made and well worth playing. The stealth
horror gameplay that showed so much potential in the original is now polished
and allowed to shine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s tense and
terrifying like all good horror games but without the frustrations of the first
game. The oppressive atmosphere is helped by some wonderfully realised visuals
and a superb soundtrack that gives the Silent Hill games a run for their money.
Another nice feature is that the game gives you the choice of English voice
acting or Japanese voice acting. The original game had Japanese characters
speaking with jarring English accents so playing with the original actors and
subtitles is a welcome addition. Unfortunately Forbidden Siren 2 was only
released in Japan and Europe meaning US players will have difficulty playing
this game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Just a small
note to end with, the game is very loosely tied to a Siren film. It’s not
required viewing to enjoy and understand the story but worth checking out for
fans of the series. My girlfriend really liked it while I found it very
disappointing.</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-21213962824350900762012-10-10T06:22:00.000-07:002012-10-10T06:22:04.373-07:00Prince of Persia (2008) <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0z6SoT3A0g/UHVt1GUUh4I/AAAAAAAAAsE/WwjiAcEDqKA/s1600/f5bb06ec5af393c86249122d84c9a970.9930b16c1f7abe69048aecb1172250da.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0z6SoT3A0g/UHVt1GUUh4I/AAAAAAAAAsE/WwjiAcEDqKA/s400/f5bb06ec5af393c86249122d84c9a970.9930b16c1f7abe69048aecb1172250da.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I was initially
very excited about this game after seeing the stunning launch trailer that was
accompanied by some Sigur Ros music. It looked stunning and had a feel to in
very much like Ico. I bought and played the game at launch and was quite
disappointed in it and it eventually got neglected when I moved on to something
else. I decided to go back to it to get it off my backlog and was pleasantly
surprised. The disappointment that it didn’t live up the previous excellent
Prince of Persia trilogy was a thing of the past and the game could now stand
on its own merits and I ended up rather enjoying it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This version of
Prince of Persia is in ways a brave move by Ubisoft. It plays completely differently
to the previous Prince of Persia games. The linear progress of previous games
is gone and replaced with a more open world consisting of many interconnected
areas. The game isn’t totally open world, there’s set paths between each area
and many are locked until you beat a boss or acquire an ability, but you are
free to tackle each area in any order. Each area is guarded by a boss that must
be defeated making the game similar in ways to Mega Man. Defeating the boss
purifies the area, opening up new paths, filling the area with light seeds
needed to unlock new abilities and changing the visuals to a more pleasing
natural look, which leads to the next point. This game is simply gorgeous and
still holds up. It’s got some really beautiful painterly visuals and some of
the vistas are spectacular. It’s very satisfying to watch the flora and fauna
return to an area after it has been purified. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4p2obQB7Ofc/UHVt9SV13cI/AAAAAAAAAsM/-PWvxLsbBQw/s1600/945943_20081112_screen007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4p2obQB7Ofc/UHVt9SV13cI/AAAAAAAAAsM/-PWvxLsbBQw/s400/945943_20081112_screen007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention how beautiful this game is?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The free running
platforming has also been changed from the older games. A complaint levelled at
this game is that the platforming is one big QTE sequence but I really didn’t
mind it. The platforming flows together and I like how each button corresponds
to either jump, the prince’s claw or getting a helping hand from Elika. The protagonist
can no longer die now, instead you are saved at the last minute by Elika and
returned to the last piece of solid ground you stood on. Although the challenge
of the old trilogy is gone a lot of the frustrations are alleviated. I don’t
see it as a compromise, more as Ubisoft trying something new. At the time it
was quite jarring but now most games are use similar mechanics and have become
just as easy. The extra abilities you gain are a bit less interesting, two of
them being simple teleports and can only be activated at certain spots.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4t0kM_xcj9Y/UHVuGMu8P6I/AAAAAAAAAsU/0WXyc1jhxvc/s1600/PrinceOfPersia4_Multi_Ed022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4t0kM_xcj9Y/UHVuGMu8P6I/AAAAAAAAAsU/0WXyc1jhxvc/s400/PrinceOfPersia4_Multi_Ed022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combat looks great but is ultimately shallow. Luckily it makes up a tiny portion of the game</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I have to admire
how Ubisoft handled the combat or lack thereof. There’s very little combat in
the game and other than the boss battles you can avoid confrontation completely
by reaching the enemy spawn area quick enough and stopping them before they
appear. Combat with the bosses is flashy with some very impressive combos but
ultimately a bit shallow and without tension because again you can’t die. Elika
will rescue you at the last minute and the only penalty is the boss gaining a
small portion of life back. I also admire how, like Prince of Persia: The Sands
of Time, despite having quite visceral combat it’s an entirely bloodless game
which really adds to the charm.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Prince of
Persia games are well known for their excellent storytelling and voice acting
and this iteration doesn’t disappoint. Although the story of a sealed god that
needs to be purified and sealed away again has been told ad nauseam, it’s the
delivery of the story here that impresses. Each area tells its own story and
you can stop and talk to Elika about each area, the boss and about herself. These
exchanges between herself and the protagonist are well written and delivered
excellently by Kari Wahlgren and the ever reliable and omnipresent Nolan North.
At the time of release I heard a lot of complaints about the ending but I loved
it, I thought it was a brave move. I thought they kind of ruined it in the DLC expansion;
it worked much better left as is.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kerNbmS-pD8/UHVuUGDxGaI/AAAAAAAAAsc/Vtaenc_W_tA/s1600/prince-of-persia-2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kerNbmS-pD8/UHVuUGDxGaI/AAAAAAAAAsc/Vtaenc_W_tA/s400/prince-of-persia-2008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four years on it's still a stunning game. The protagonist and Elika's relationship is handle well with some excellent writing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Prince of Persia
is well worth revisiting. Ignoring how disappointing it was compared to the
previous trilogy and taken on its own merits it’s a very enjoyable game that
looks gorgeous, has some great platforming that flows well and a well told
story. Sometimes it’s worth going back to older games with a more open mind, I
know I was pleasantly surprised when I did in this case.</span></div>
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Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-36169506420571572042012-10-04T08:51:00.005-07:002012-10-04T08:51:51.150-07:00Arcade & Retro Podcast 12: Street Fighter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/lcyP6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/lcyP6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-epiosde-12-street-fighter/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-epiosde-12-street-fighter/ </a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For this episode we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Street Fighter.
Podcast regulars Gavin, Sarah and Stephen (that's me) are joined by Brian, aka
Doom, one of the most prominent members of the Irish fighting game scene
and expert in all things Guile related.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Street Fighter had humble beginnings as a rather forgettable fighting
game but that quickly changed with the release of the seminal Street
Fighter 2. Street Fighter 2 set the template for all fighting games that
followed and changed the arcade and competitive gaming scene. This
explosion in popularity led to numerous updates, sequels and spin-offs.
It’s not just street fighter, we also touch on the games the series
influenced. Capcom’s rivalry with fellow fighting game developer SNK is
discussed, Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct are openly mocked and we
come to the conclusion that no fighting game will ever better the
magnificent Dino Rex. </div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-43063778190514707432012-09-27T07:49:00.001-07:002012-09-27T07:49:43.459-07:00Gaia Seed<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEkhaLf94p0/UGRm-zIYJnI/AAAAAAAAAq8/BpWVmQwjAFM/s1600/slps00624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEkhaLf94p0/UGRm-zIYJnI/AAAAAAAAAq8/BpWVmQwjAFM/s1600/slps00624.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Being one of the Playstation’s rarest
import shooters Gaia Seed has always been tantalisingly out of reach of most
people such as me. As of writing the cheapest copy on eBay is currently $159.
Thanks to the advent of digital distribution it can thankfully be picked up for
cheap on PSN. Monkeypaw games even brought the game to the US and EU so there’s
no need to mess about setting up a Japanese account and paying a premium for Japanese
PSN cards. I was looking forward to playing this game. It’s always good to play
an old-school hori shooter in a similar mould to R-type or Gradius since I’m
not a fan of the bullet hell genre. Unfortunately the steep price of the
physical release doesn’t reflect the quality of the game.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRsheyStUzs/UGRnSmY4R4I/AAAAAAAAArU/Q6aVh3kx3SU/s1600/gaiaseed3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRsheyStUzs/UGRnSmY4R4I/AAAAAAAAArU/Q6aVh3kx3SU/s1600/gaiaseed3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Gaia Seed isn’t very complex. There are
only two weapons to choose from, a spread weapon and a more powerful laser weapon.
The two varieties of sub-weapon similarly lack excitement, both are slow moving
projectiles and depending on what item you pick up you can trade power for spread.
What is different about this game is the shield gauge. Gaia Seed is very lenient in
comparison to other games in the genre. You can take multiple hits, only losing
a life if your shield gauge is depleted. Your shield gauge will regenerate over
time meaning it’s possible to come back from near death experiences.
Unfortunately this makes the game very easy to complete. I’m no expert at
shooter games but I managed to beat it on my first go with no continues. There’s
also a super weapon that once used recharges over time in a similar manner to
the shield bar.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6eSxzZCajs/UGRnFW5ZU9I/AAAAAAAAArE/J2ztAOJZUP8/s1600/gaiaseed13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6eSxzZCajs/UGRnFW5ZU9I/AAAAAAAAArE/J2ztAOJZUP8/s1600/gaiaseed13.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Graphically the game seems a bit cheap.
Games like Symphony of the Night, Gradius Gaiden, etc., have shown that the
Playstation is no slouch in the 2D department. Gaia Seed rarely displays
anything that would trouble a SNES. There’s a smattering of mode 7 type effects
and the game throws around a decent amount of objects, particularly the opening
stage, with no slow down. Many times the visuals take a turn for the surreal
and trippy. These moments are interspersed with some rather lazy backgrounds
that don’t even bother to use parallax scrolling to give them depth. This
laziness extends to the level design which rarely gets hectic. There are no
standout set pieces and it just feels bland overall. Boss designs are a little bit
more interesting but there are a few too many that are non-descript grey ships.
There are two ways to beat bosses, let a 2 minute timer run down or shoot them.
Whichever way you kill them makes no difference except for the final boss. The
only way to see the true ending and get to the real final boss is by running
the time down. The one standout in the game is the soundtrack which is a pretty
strange mix of genres but suits the strange mood and visuals of the game.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">There is a story in Gaia Seed although I’m
not sure what it is. It has quite a surreal attract screen which is narrated in
hilariously bad ‘Engrish’ by someone that has probably never spoken a word of
English in their life. It doesn’t help that he is barely audible. Both endings
are narrated by the same guy and I’m still not sure what happened in either of
them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYih_f9UpE0/UGRnLKQmOSI/AAAAAAAAArM/xCsz2e80oG0/s1600/1844062-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYih_f9UpE0/UGRnLKQmOSI/AAAAAAAAArM/xCsz2e80oG0/s1600/1844062-6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Gaia Seed is a mediocre game that is
totally outclassed by many games in its genre. There are far better shooters on
PSN including Gradius Gaiden, Raystorm and Einhander to name three. Its trippy visuals
and music never come close to the likes of G Darius, a far superior game to
Gaia Seed. I am glad that a PSN release has finally made this game available at
an affordable price and I commend Monkeypaw games for releasing it in the West.
More of these obscure forgotten games need to get exposure on digital download
services and it’s good to see other games like Tomba get the same treatment. For
the price I was glad to get to experience it even if it was ultimately
disappointing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Screenshots stolen from here: <a href="http://users.telenet.be/twin-dreams/PSone/Gaia_Seed.html">http://users.telenet.be/twin-dreams/PSone/Gaia_Seed.html</a> </span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-26378607103009282392012-09-21T14:11:00.001-07:002012-09-21T14:11:32.764-07:00Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEBwaW6GUQo/UFzVj-IMymI/AAAAAAAAAp4/szin2Dkbl6o/s1600/Dxccover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEBwaW6GUQo/UFzVj-IMymI/AAAAAAAAAp4/szin2Dkbl6o/s320/Dxccover.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Castlevania Rondo of Blood was always one
of my Holy Grail games. I’m a massive Castlevania fan and being denied the
ability to play what many consider to be the best game in the series was
maddening. The original was only ever released in Japan and on the PC-Engine
CD, an obscure piece of hardware that was never released in Europe. I was
pretty excited to find out that the original game was coming to PSP.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This release is a remake of the original
game with new 3D graphics replacing the 2D artwork of the original. I’d
normally complain about this because the new 3D makeover looks poor in
comparison to the original which had some of the best pixel art of the 16-bit
generation. However the original Rondo of Blood is included as an unlockable
secret as well as the PS1 classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It’s
worth mentioning that SotN comes with some improvements in this version,
Richter is playable from the start, as is Maria who was cut from the original
game and only appeared in the disappointing Saturn port of the game. My one
complaint is that these games should have been available from the start and not
as unlockables but if you want to unlock them quickly just check a FAQ.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIWgYiCZXUY/UFzVsHYUv0I/AAAAAAAAAqA/20nHUqViwTY/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tIWgYiCZXUY/UFzVsHYUv0I/AAAAAAAAAqA/20nHUqViwTY/s400/002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’ll start with the original Rondo of Blood.
It’s one of the all time great 16-bit games. Rondo of Blood is unlike many CD-ROM
based games of the time. The extra storage space afforded by the CD-ROM format wasn’t
used for grainy FMV cutscenes. Instead the developers choose to pack each level
with unique enemies, animations and intricate background details. The sprites
and animation are so good that many have been reused in Symphony of the Night
and the GBA/DS Castlevania games. There are some cutscenes but they are
elaborate fully voiced animations rather than grainy low quality FMV. A special
mention must go to the excellent sound effects and especially the music. As per
usual for a Castlevania game it delivers some excellent tune, this time streamed
in high quality from the CD.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The stages themselves are huge. The
majority of stages are filled with secrets and alternative routes. In a way it’s
very like Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse where you can take completely
different paths through the game. The game lets you revisit stages at will to
try and discover secrets and alternative stages, a nice touch that avoids
needlessly replaying early stages of the game. There are four maidens hidden in
the game that must be found before you can get the real ending which is another
reason to explore the game. One of the maidens, Maria, can act as a playable
character. She takes more damage than Richter but her animal based attacks are
a bit overpowered to compensate. Unlike Super Castlevania IV Richter can only
whip in one direction but has moderate control while jumping. It makes the game
less frustrating than the NES games but the whip is not so overpowered that
subweapons become useless like in Super Castlevania.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfyd79khU80/UFzXy8HY4TI/AAAAAAAAAqg/RKLQyrf6vEA/s1600/99899-castlevania-rondo-of-blood-turbografx-cd-screenshot-shipyards.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfyd79khU80/UFzXy8HY4TI/AAAAAAAAAqg/RKLQyrf6vEA/s400/99899-castlevania-rondo-of-blood-turbografx-cd-screenshot-shipyards.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ruw64iGTflQ/UFzWIwEyP6I/AAAAAAAAAqY/_rSpZ-1LfZA/s1600/gfs_3940_2_138_mid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Overall Rondo of Blood is one of the best
games of the 16-bit era. While I prefer Dracula’s Curse and Super Castlevania
IV it’s still one of the very best Castlevania games. It looks gorgeous, level
design is superb and there are a huge amount of alternative routes and stages
to discover which gives the game replayability that previous linear Castlevania
games couldn’t provide. It also has some of the best boss battles of the
series.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEoaHEyOcuM/UFzV8uLIaaI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/WHvfr22ISiA/s1600/88163681pv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEoaHEyOcuM/UFzV8uLIaaI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/WHvfr22ISiA/s400/88163681pv2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The main game on Dracula X Chronicles is a
remake of Rondo of Blood. While in many ways I feel it’s an excellent remake
there is one problem with the game. While Rondo of Blood is one of the best looking
games ever made with some of the best pixel art to grace any game the remake
uses 3D visuals that are less colourful and dull in comparison. Thankfully it’s
not all bad news. The remake adds its own subtle improvements to Rondo of Blood
differentiating it from the original and thus making the remake worth playing.
Many of the stages have received subtle additions and changes that will
surprise veterans of the PC-Engine original. Bosses as well have been tweaked
to keep them challenging and fresh. There are some big changes as well. The
alternative stage 5 has been completely replaced with a brand new stage. In the
original game this stage seemed like a bit of an afterthought and didn’t even
have a boss. The new stage is much better with a boss battle that might just be
the highlight of the remake. Another new boss has been added just before the
final fight with Dracula if you don’t find all the maidens before the end of
the game. This one is also great so is worth experiencing. If you do find all
the maidens you can skip this boss. However the final fight with Dracula adds
new a rock hard third form to the boss battle. Not present in the original.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUr4jKp1FW8/UFzVzw7L3TI/AAAAAAAAAqI/fZTTuvih6sY/s1600/938141_20070202_screen004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUr4jKp1FW8/UFzVzw7L3TI/AAAAAAAAAqI/fZTTuvih6sY/s400/938141_20070202_screen004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Usually I’d be against changes being made
to the original games vision but in this case since the original game is
included I’m much more receptive. The extra bosses are a welcome addition and
the new alternative stage 5 is an improvement over the original game. I’d go so
far to say that if the remake had the gorgeous 2D art of the original then it
would be the better game. One small complaint I have about the original is that
the 2D graphics don’t really suit the PSP-1000 screen. Blurring is much more noticeable
than in the 3D remake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really
play SotN but it’s a nice addition. If you haven’t played Symphony of the Night
then it’s a great way to experience it, it really is one of the greatest game
ever made. The emulation of Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night isn’t
perfect but it’s more than serviceable and if you are a stickler for good
emulation then the Virtual console version of Rondo is the one to go for.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles is pretty
much a must own for Castlevania fans and PSP owners. You can’t go wrong with
two of the best games ever made and an excellent remake of Rondo of Blood in
the same package.</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-14881142280002167852012-08-31T09:18:00.003-07:002012-08-31T09:18:34.033-07:00Malicious - PS3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48vGcWgS4kc/UEDhWDEHJLI/AAAAAAAAAo0/kxVeiSPzJgI/s1600/malicious3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48vGcWgS4kc/UEDhWDEHJLI/AAAAAAAAAo0/kxVeiSPzJgI/s400/malicious3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Well this game completely slipped under my
radar. I heard the guys on the WAHP podcast singing its praises so I was surprised
when I noticed it had turned up on the EU PSN without any fanfare. Malicious is
a 3D action game by Alvion, a developer I’ve not heard anything about and from
their Wikipedia page haven’t really done much of note. Hopefully that will
change because despite its short length Malicious looks and feels as polished
as any big name current gen title.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uE-OX7KAUZk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Malicious is a bit like a cross between
Mega Man and Devil May Cry. You have a choice of stages to tackle in whatever order
you want and by defeating the boss you gain extra abilities that will help you
in subsequent battles. Malicious however is a Boss Rush game. Each area is nothing
but a boss fight. The game might not sound substantial but each boss fight is
spectacular some even matching the scale of Shadow of the Colossus. Visually it’s
one of the best looking games on the PS3 with some spectacular art design on
show. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUc8zUBaRAM/UEDihteSlpI/AAAAAAAAAo8/b13MbVm-F-Y/s1600/full4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUc8zUBaRAM/UEDihteSlpI/AAAAAAAAAo8/b13MbVm-F-Y/s400/full4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The combat system is rather complex, a
little too complex perhaps. Once you master it it’s a joy to use but
unfortunately the game doesn’t do a good job of explaining how it works. You
gain ‘Aura’ from killing enemies and this can be used for a variety of
purposes. It can be used to heal, the more damage you take the more aura and
time it takes to heal yourself and you are in a very vulnerable state while
healing. You can also expend Aura to increase the damage of your attacks. What
the game doesn’t do a good job of explaining is that the best way to gain more
aura is to expend it in this way. Attacking the bosses many minions will
increase aura, however attacking them while expending aura will increase the
aura gain exponentially with you combo meter. It’s a bit counter intuitive but
once you make use of it the game because a lot more enjoyable. It took me a
long time to grasp how this all worked but once I did I started to have a lot
more fun.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XACmR88jMAg/UEDiu370ehI/AAAAAAAAApE/IPnTBobUzWU/s1600/full2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XACmR88jMAg/UEDiu370ehI/AAAAAAAAApE/IPnTBobUzWU/s400/full2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boss gave me awful trouble!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As you gain more abilities and fighting
styles from defeated bosses your attack options increase and you can create
some very impressive combos by switching between styles mid combo. These new
abilities should help you in boss battles but the difficulty rises as you
defeat each boss. Although this keeps the game from getting too easy I found
one of the bosses became a nightmare to beat if you leave her until last, she’s
the only one that is human sized and I recommend taking her out early on. I
left her until last in my first play through and had to restart since she became
so difficult.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtPh2zs8ddY/UEDjJUDJTyI/AAAAAAAAApc/1E1iUEE1lFY/s1600/full1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtPh2zs8ddY/UEDjJUDJTyI/AAAAAAAAApc/1E1iUEE1lFY/s400/full1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onclbUiSqVs/UEDjCNGE4BI/AAAAAAAAApU/qGPBD5jlsYg/s1600/full6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Despite my minor problems with the game you
should definitely pick it up. It’s a beautiful looking game, has an amazing
soundtrack and a really great combat system once you get the hang of it. I’d
love to see Alvion getting a publisher deal that allows them to flesh out the
ideas on show in Malicious. It’s obvious that they had much bigger plans for
this title; there’s a huge amount of backstory and the quality and polish of
the game is something you don’t expect from a downloadable title at this price.
They definitely have talent if this game is anything to go by.</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-74330444964393465702012-08-24T03:04:00.000-07:002012-08-24T03:04:29.914-07:00Arcade and Retro Podcast Episode 11: Piracy SpecialThe arcade and retro podcast is back after a bit of a hiatus. This week me and the guys and gal are discussing videogame piracy with a retrogame slant:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-episode-11-piracy-special/">http://arcadeandretro.com/arcade-and-retro-podcast-episode-11-piracy-special/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From schoolyards to Coffee Mornings, Dial up to internet, Double tape
decks to CD rips.Piracy has always been rife in the Videogame industry.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In this Episode Gavin,Sparks,Retro and Sera discuss the history and
effects of copied floppies, Duplicated Discs and of course recorded
tapes.We also discuss emulation, roms and archives.</div>
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Remember Kids Piracy is illegal, immoral and you will go to hell.</div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253169075025271186.post-23045589330348269882012-08-23T06:21:00.001-07:002012-08-23T06:21:59.656-07:00Valkyria Chronicles 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IAqdMD8sUTo/UDYr3viEHCI/AAAAAAAAAn8/G7Bzp9fjF6Y/s1600/Valkyria_Chronicles_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IAqdMD8sUTo/UDYr3viEHCI/AAAAAAAAAn8/G7Bzp9fjF6Y/s320/Valkyria_Chronicles_II.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The first Valkyria Chronicles game is one
of the best games on the PS3. It took the rock/paper/scissors mechanics of the
advance wars and fire emblem series and added its own real time twist to the strategy
RPG to create a very unique beast. It was and still is a beautiful looking game
and had a surprisingly engaging storyline that paralleled World War 2. I even
found myself quite moved at times especially when the team ends up in the
Darcsen concentration camps, the Darcsens of course representing the Jewish
people.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There was a lot of fan fury over the
announcement that the sequel would be released on the PSP. Initial reports
suggested that the battle grounds and team sizes you were allowed were greatly
reduced and the PSP was never going to replicate the beautiful visuals of the
original. While Valkyria Chronicles 2 is nowhere near the quality of the
original it’s still very much worth your time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9jH6mEn210/UDYtuM4Y37I/AAAAAAAAAoc/RWRuXDHI6Ns/s1600/valkyria_chronicles_12538994872078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9jH6mEn210/UDYtuM4Y37I/AAAAAAAAAoc/RWRuXDHI6Ns/s400/valkyria_chronicles_12538994872078.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You again have control over a tank and it's more customisable than ever! While not on par with the original, Valkyria Chronicles 2 is still a great looking game.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Valkyria Chronicles 2 takes place after
events in the first game when the invading Imperial forces have been driven out
of the region. However a civil war has broken out in Gallia, between the North
and the South, the Southern army lead by a group of aristocrats with racist
views on the Darcsen people. With parallels to the American Civil War, Valkyria
Chronicles has some very strong material to work with. Unfortunately the story
is muck. There’s none of the emotional highs of the first game mostly due to
the cast being a bunch of absolute fannies. Valkyria Chronicles 2 takes place
in a military academy, basically high school with guns. It’s a bit like Persona
3 and 4 but instead of a believable cast of teenagers what we have here is a
bunch of the worst kind of anime clichés. The main character is the worst; he’s
a total slacker and idiot that makes no effort to improve himself but for some
reason becomes the leader of a military unit. His laugh will send shivers down
your spine.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g980VnJwfd8/UDYsBVdY_8I/AAAAAAAAAoE/d9mYY_pC8mA/s1600/20822Valkyria_37--article_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g980VnJwfd8/UDYsBVdY_8I/AAAAAAAAAoE/d9mYY_pC8mA/s400/20822Valkyria_37--article_image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avan in the bottom left, the annoying bellend of a protagonist</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thankfully Valkyria Chronicles’ unique
strategic combat has transferred quite faithfully over to the PSP system with a
few new additions. Despite the battle areas being reduced in size you now have
to manage your forces over multiple battle areas, a good compromise that gives
every skirmish the large scope of the PS3 original on less capable hardware. The
selection of units to use has been greatly expanded upon. While initially there
are only 5 units to choose from each can be promoted to new specialist units.
For example scouts can become snipers or focus on grenades. There’s also a new
unit class added to Valkyria Chronicles 2 that can either focus on close range
combat or can become a support class by setting up minefields.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIFXeMAj444/UDYsR2z0KEI/AAAAAAAAAoM/isMnGN5qt3Q/s1600/20823Valkyria_38--article_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIFXeMAj444/UDYsR2z0KEI/AAAAAAAAAoM/isMnGN5qt3Q/s400/20823Valkyria_38--article_image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The strategic map overview. You can see in the bottom left the different battle areas you can jump between.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> Although a little disappointing compared to
its predecessor Valkyria Chronicles 2 is still an excellent game. There’s a
huge amount of content, about 80 hours worth to beat the story and probably
that again for the post game content. Sega also released some codes to unlock
extra characters and missions so it’s worth getting them off Sega’s website or
a FAQ. One other aspect that I haven’t covered since I never had a chance to
experience it is the multiplayer mode which consists of both co-op and
competitive modes. The first game was crying out for a multiplayer so I’m
pretty sure it works great on the PSP. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUuhBd5SWyg/UDYsoDcaB2I/AAAAAAAAAoU/QtjOckkwolE/s1600/new-picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUuhBd5SWyg/UDYsoDcaB2I/AAAAAAAAAoU/QtjOckkwolE/s400/new-picture1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the new close range specialists about to bring the hurt. They might not have the best mobility but do a lot of damage and swing their weapons in an arc.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> It’s just a shame that Sega decided to turn
Valkyria Chronicles into a PSP series. Low sales of Valkyria Chronicles 2 and
the death of the PSP market in the West means Sega are refusing to release
Valkyria Chronicles 3 in the West, a game which supposedly takes all of the
improvements in Valkyria Chronicles 2 and adds a decent narrative. At least
there’s some fan translators working on the project.</span></div>
Retr0gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690223519107108541noreply@blogger.com2